Usa Visa For Thai National Help

[scottydel]

Hi,

Has anyone had to apply for a non-immigrant tourist visa to the USA (via the US Embassy in Bangkok) for their Thai girlfriend, boyfriend or friend?

I have a Thai son (2 1/2 years old) with dual citizenship, and his Mom is a Thai National. We are not married. I am trying to apply for a visa for her so the three of us can visit my family in the USA for the first time, and I had a few questions.

• Is the visa interview given in English or Thai?
  
• Any extra documents or information you found helpful?
  

I just found out via the US Embassy's website that I am not allowed to accompany her into the interview. Here are the basic facts about my son's mother that have me a little concerned about her chances of being approved:

• She does not have a bank account
  
• She hardly speaks any English
  
• She is from a poor, under-educated muslim family in the deep south (her spoken Bangkok Thai isn't that strong)
  

On the bright side (I think) here are the basic facts about her that might make her chances good:

• She has a solid employment history in Thailand (8 years in a resort)
  
• She has another Thai son (good family ties to Thailand)
  
• Our son is a US Citizen (good family ties to the USA)
  
• I am by no means super wealthy, but I should be able to show that I can support her financially in the USA
  

If anyone has been through the interview process before, I'd appreciate any thoughts you might have.

Thanks,

Scott

[lopburi3]

Good tie to the US is not a positive for a tourist visa as the need is to prove she will return to Thailand. As you are not married (assuming you have strong tie here) it would seem difficult. But with son paperwork and letter from you and evidence of your long term ties to Thailand it might be possible. The need is to satisy the officer that she will return and not get married/apply for change of status while in the US (or just disappear). This is based on her alone by law but in cases like this you would be a key tie (if married and settled here). As you are not that may also be seen as a negative. Believe it may be very difficult without explanation (which you do not need to make here). But if they feel she is being honest it could happen. Normally they can speak in Thai or English. You could sit in the breezeway area or visit ACSU next door during interview in case they would like to speak with you.

[scottydel]

Thanks for your response, very helpful. It's funny she actually doesn't want to go (very down home local girl, close to her family, scared of the "big world") but I am twisting her arm so our son can visit the US for his first time. I'll probably have to push her ont the plane to leave Thailand...and the Embassy may actually think she won't want to come back. Hope they can take it on a case-by-base basis to get down to the truth.

So I am allowed to include a written statement that she can bring into the interview explaining our situation? That would help since I am not allowed to accompany her.

[gosompoi]

First off Good luck, from your other posts it seems you are on a tourist visa too. I have done what you are trying. I have succeeded but not on the first try. I have many Thai friends who have gotten a US tourist visa. But none a single women with little means of supporting herself. If you have a any chance I would suggest you go with her and bring the US citizen child. Bring letters from all family in the USA that the child is going to visit. Include a note with your passport that you are willing to speak with the interviewer and answer questions. Then you wait with her and hang with the child but still in view of the window when she is interviewed. Bring your the child’s US passport. Your only chance is that as the mother of an American child she is traveling to the USA because it would be a great hardship for the child to travel without the mother. Since you are not married a K1 (fiancée) visa might be easier but an ED visa would be impossible from your description of her background.

[scottydel]

Thanks for the response. I wasn't going to bring our son, but I will now. I will def. include a brief letter stating I'm available to answer questions and describing the "gist" of the situation. I'm not sure if her ties to Thailand are strong enough in their eyes, and I certainly have few solid ties here. Financially speaking I make good money in America, but haven't really focused much on working here. Been hanging out with my son and living off savings.

If we get completely canned. I'll consider what all is involved in getting a fiancee visa and marrying her. Not looking forward to having to go that route though. We are really not *together* romantically anymore, I'm just trying to do the right thing for my son. I'd like to get him educated partially if not entirely outside of Thailand (at least in the academic sense). In exchange for his hopefully living in America full-time not too far down the road, I'm willing to remain part of her family and (of course) help them out financially, and sponsor the mom to come and visit him (like I'm trying to do now). The funny thing is she isn't really that keen on going to the US (very scared and truly a local thai), and we might get rejected on grounds she will never want to leave.

There is little chance of her applying for an education visa, she didn't finish high school in Thailand and I think it's pretty far out of reach to consider that. Thanks again...all of the replies seem to be inching me closer to at least maximizing my odds, which will help soften the blow when we probably get rejected

But I am still hopeful...

Scott