Tourist Visa To Us

[NovaBlue05]

We want to bring my sister in law over to visit us in the US. When she went for her interview, she was told by the Embassy staff that she had inadequate funds in her bank account. She is unemployed and is a full time caretaker for the mother in law back on the farm so she has no income and we provide living expenses along with a couple of other siblings. Does anyone know what kind of bank balance they might be looking for ?

[mmcsusnret]

Unfortunatly there is no magic number that they want to see in a bank account. They look for strong ties such as a house in her name, property, jobs, school etc., that shows strong ties that would indicate a return to Thailand. Also, they don't consider family ties to be all that strong to indicate a return.

It helps to have some money in the bank but realistically that is the worst thing for the US Embassy to look at because it could be withdrawn the day after a visa is issued. My wife (and we had been married for more than 1 year) was initially turned down for a tourist visa because not showing sufficient ties to indicate a return. Her bank book showed 100 k baht, had 2 houses and a 10 rai plot of land, 4 kids from her first marriage but no job or school to return to. I was with her at the time of the interview (allowed then) and asked if me having a work permit, an ongoing contract for work, being here for a long time already and I was intending to return would make any differnce. He gave it to her because I had strong ties to Thialand, and we had proved that she had strong ties to me.

Go figure!

[NovaBlue05]

I thought the concept of the bank account as an indicator seemed kind of senseless for the very reasons you mention. She has her name as owner of the farmhouse and 12 rai of land it sits on and that is something she can't withdraw and take with her but the discussion never got beyond the bank account.

[nakachalet]

reasons for rejection of a tourist visa are numerous indeed. about two years ago, i accompanied a solid thai lady, owner of a resort, to the us embassy for a tourist visa interview.

the interviewer was concerned that this young lady would not return to thailand. she wrote in her explanations that while she would be traveling around the world with her two children, the resort would be taken care of by her elder sister--phee yai who was another wealthy young lady in town, owning business of her own and numerous chanotes and all.

while the interview was on going, an assistant of the interviewer placed a call directly to the resort and inquired

about the ownership.

fortunately the front desk lady told the caller that....

"the owner is not present at the premise, the owner is in bkk for some government interview"

--which was fine and dandy.

then the caller, never identied herself, asked further, how about ms savanart? is she there?

the front desk lady told the caller that there was no ms savanart at the resort.

"are you sure, ms savanart is not there?"

"no, i never heard of this name before. is she a burmese day laborer?"

"ms savanart is supposed to take care of the resort though."

"no, i don't think so. i am in charge here. and i never heard of that name."

"well, is the owner's sister around, i like to talk to her."

"she is not here. she comes here only to have dinners."

"are you sure that there is no ms savanart at the resort?"

"yes, i am sure. i work here several years already. i know everything around here.

the owner is going to america soon with her american husband."

summarily, the interviewer told the visa applicant that she was a liar, she has no intention of returning to thailand

and that she has no sister by the name of savanart and the resort personnel never heard of ms savanart either and that there was no ms savanart at the resort. most importantly, she was already married to an american".

this young thai applicant was crying exiting the interview room exploding with thai expletives--CHAN YOUNG PAN

NUNG SOW UUU. CHAN YOUNG MAI DAI TANG NGAN GUB KHAI.

i attempted to intervene but was told that the interview was over and the case was closed.

i took a number and waited patiently for my turn to speak to someone.

when my number was called, i informed the lady that the interviewer was very crude and rude and if i do not get an official explanation as to the reasons of rejection, i would email my senator who also happened to be the chair of the ways and means committee.... then the embassador himself would have to answer my inquiry instead.... lol (yes, i really knew my senator).

the official explanation in the folder was the applicant was not telling the truth and that it was confirmed by the resort personnel that there was no ms savanart whom the applicant stated was her older sister and that the applicant was already married to an american.... case closed.

some might doubt how could i be so sure that such was the sequent of events that day?

the whole conversation was captured by a hidden video cam in the resort office.

the sad point was the resort owner did really have an older sister by that name, but the resort personnel only

knew her by her nickname--phee yai, not savanart--her legal thai name....

a very sad story. yes, the embassy has numerous reasons to reject an application.

PERHAPS, BY THE VERY NATURE OF THEIR DETAIL INVESTIGATIONS.... THERE WAS NO REPEAT OF THE NINE-ELEVEN, SO FAR.

[NovaBlue05]

I suppose I could put Bt200k into her bank acct and run her through again. That shouldn't raise any eyebrows. An unemployed, Isaan woman in a tiny village with a quarter million just appearing in her bank account.

[mmcsusnret]

It might work or might not work as it seems the Embassy is concerned for constant deposits and withdrawals (an actual working account) rather a lump sum one time deposit obviously made to meet a goal of just showing some money to meet a requirement and then it would be withdrawn defeating the intent of the embassy. A more clever method that would take somewhat longer is to make reasonable smaller deposits over a period of time and indicate that you are paying her to take care of the mother-in-law, and build up the account slowly with some withdrawals and deposits at varying times and amounts to show a working account. For example deposit 20 K to start then she withdraws 3 K and a few days later deposits another amount, another periodic 20K deposit and so on while it builds up.

I think that it would make more sense to have a system where a guarantor could put a cash bond to ensure the person returned. Similar to bailing some one out of jail, it the return is not made the guarantor would be responsible, but even that would have risks and possible abuses to the system, but for honest but poorer family members who honestly just want to visit the US I think it would be worth a try. It would help families stay in contact and see their immigrated members and allow the immigrated one to build a career and life without having to take the time to go home for a visist.

[NovaBlue05]

I don't have much faith in bureacracies coming up with sensible, innovative and effective ways to conduct their business. They tend to take the shotgun approach to everything. In effect, we are paying her to take care of mom only our payment covers living expenses.

Maybe I missed it, but I am surprised that they wouldn't be more concerned that the traveler have health insurance that covers them while in the US.

[callao]

We want to bring my sister in law over to visit us in the US. When she went for her interview, she was told by the Embassy staff that she had inadequate funds in her bank account. She is unemployed and is a full time caretaker for the mother in law back on the farm so she has no income and we provide living expenses along with a couple of other siblings. Does anyone know what kind of bank balance they might be looking for ?

I think the US embassy thinks that any girl from SE asia applying for a tourist visa will end up staying there working in a massage parlor and pop a kid out once they get there and go on welfare, so they make it very difficult, my daughter who's a student at U of California said her Thai friend there had to show $21000 for expences before they would issue a student visa for UCB, tourist visa they want $$ in the bank and STRONG TIES in thailand that will make her come back, as in good job or successful business, I tryed a couple of times for someone and finally gave up till things change, Obama is much more liberal than GW so it may change in the future

[nakachalet]

for those nonacademics but streetwise and worldwise, who are unfamiliar with abbreviations, such as UCB which stands for university of california at berkely (town) at northern part of california, which is only about 30 min drive from san francisco, which i visited weekly for gourmet european, chinese, thai, indian, middle east dining, completed with belly dancing shows. usc and surrounding areas practically has everything to offer including classified substances, if you have cash.... usc was well known over the world around 1970 when berkely students sparkled the fire that brought closure to vietnam war and johnson administration....

don't get me wrong, usc is a first rate university and the amount of 21,000 usd per callao's daughter who must be extraordinary to land a seat there--mentioned as a prerequisite, is barely sufficient for a student to just survive just for a year at usc. how do i know? unfortunately, i was not very smart.... and as a professional student, it took me some 30 odds yrs before i finally work up and realized that enough is enough.... and i am dropping out.... lol

callao, as per the massage parlor, i am sure you already know that us govt and european countries will issue visa for masseuse and masseur, when they are certificated as such by thai govt and furthermore to be certified as a coach-trainer, one has to complete some 900+ hrs of training under supervision regulated by dept of health and passing numerous examinations including anatomy which is also required for first yr med students. not easy krup.

and while i was studying and researching in the states, since 1960, the ins which is now timely called homeland security was trying to locate students and visitors entering into the territory of usa but then never exiting.... by now it could have very well multiplied to several millions.... should the usa be concerned? paraticularly with robinhoods (persons entering usa and disappearing from record, and pilots learning only to how to land.... just to mention a few).

[Pakboong]

I thought the concept of the bank account as an indicator seemed kind of senseless for the very reasons you mention. She has her name as owner of the farmhouse and 12 rai of land it sits on and that is something she can't withdraw and take with her but the discussion never got beyond the bank account.

Income tax with-holding records hold much more weight than bank accounts.

[Pakboong]

I suppose I could put Bt200k into her bank acct and run her through again. That shouldn't raise any eyebrows. An unemployed, Isaan woman in a tiny village with a quarter million just appearing in her bank account.

Should show tax records for the money or they assume it is the H2 visa (hooker on holiday).

[NovaBlue05]

First off...She aint a looker.....much less a hooker. She's 47 & overweight. She has a heart of gold and, while the other 9 siblings left home, she stayed behind to take care of Mom (now 83) on the farm so it's the only life she knows. Only the most jaded & twisted embassy buffoon could think she was coming to the US to troll for a husband. She had one woman from a Thailand tour company tell her she should have 500k baht in her bank acct. hel_l, half of Americans probably dont have 500k baht in equivilent USD in their bank acct.

I provided a copy of my tax returns, a letter explaining that her roundtrip air & expenses would be covered entirely while here. hel_l...I could temporarily throw 500K into her account if I thought it would work but I doubt it. It doesn't matter to me other than the whole concept pisses me off on principle.

The US Embassy probably has direction from the current government that, unless the Isaanites are coming south to wash dishes in our restuarants, change linens in our hotels or staff our brothels, the we want to keep them back up on the farm.

[thaihome]

What the consulate looks for is a reason to return and a reason not to stay in the US. In your case, you are trying to bring your wife’s sister to the US, ostensibly for a visit. If you look at from their perspective, you would see why they turned the visa down. The suspicion would be that your wife is trying to help her sister, who appears to have little future in Thailand to come to the US and she would likely stay, illegally, once she got there. Nothing you provided addressed that suspicion, and I’m not even sure there is anything that would.

TH

[Pakboong]

First off...She aint a looker.....much less a hooker. She's 47 & overweight. She has a heart of gold and, while the other 9 siblings left home, she stayed behind to take care of Mom (now 83) on the farm so it's the only life she knows. Only the most jaded & twisted embassy buffoon could think she was coming to the US to troll for a husband. She had one woman from a Thailand tour company tell her she should have 500k baht in her bank acct. hel_l, half of Americans probably dont have 500k baht in equivilent USD in their bank acct.

I provided a copy of my tax returns, a letter explaining that her roundtrip air & expenses would be covered entirely while here. hel_l...I could temporarily throw 500K into her account if I thought it would work but I doubt it. It doesn't matter to me other than the whole concept pisses me off on principle.

The US Embassy probably has direction from the current government that, unless the Isaanites are coming south to wash dishes in our restuarants, change linens in our hotels or staff our brothels, the we want to keep them back up on the farm.

The embassy wants assurance that she can afford to travel to the US on holiday and will return to a life in Thailand. Your money has little to do with those considerations. It is very subjective and refusal is common. One particular Immigration Lawyer has made the comment on Stickman that over 90% of tourist visa applications for Thai Women under 30 are disapproved. True or not, the number is high. Does she have the kind of life that would allow her to vacation in the US and return to Thailand. Your tax info is not relevant to that issue. Her tax records are. Typically she has not paid income tax in her life and that is a big factor. I personally know of 3 overstays who have been in the US for years. Most Thais don't generally see it as wrong to not return to Thailand and think nothing of just staying.

[NovaBlue05]

Edited July 21, 2009 by NovaBlue05

[callao]

[/quote

Bottom line is if you can throw enough money at it (I'd guess $20,000) create some paperwork you probably could do it but that is probably more than most guys are willing to do, ME INCLUDED, The guy at the Laos US embassy told me straight up to start marriage proceding and try for a fiance visa or forget it, regular village girls are not going to get a tourist visa, they all think once they have a falang friend that they can do it, only to be bummed about it after, so if you you want her to come get one of your buddys to propose, just kidding, callao