Usa B2 Visa? / Any Experience With The New Ds-160

[globalhopkinations]

Hello everybody,

My girlfriend and I will be trying to apply for a tourist visa (I believe a USA B2 visa)for her very shortly for a trip to my home in Michigan and a little traveling in the late Aug – early Sept time frame. I'm curious if anybody has any experience with these new DS-160 forms they've just implemented? It's my understanding this takes the place of a bunch of forms they used to need, and this will be the only form we need?. Does anybody know if you still need to get a PIN or is this, a part of that form, and if not are there any advantages to purchasing the PIN for the interview at a Thai post office of can I do it online for her, and does anybody have the correct link to purchase online? "Any advice or opinions on our chances are greatly appreciated, also if I need corrected on my understanding of any of this please inform" Ok here is our info.

I'm a 28 year old American been working in Iraq and Afghanistan sense '04, She is a 29 year old Thai girl. We've met and been together sense early Jan of '09. She leases and runs a clothing shop and has been doing that sense late '07 Last Sept. She has Thai tax records for her clothing shop sense July '09, she has a little over a ¼ mill bht in the bank. We got her a Shengen visa and we went to Spain for about 20 days last Sept., she's also gotten a Dubai visa and met me there for new year's last year. So this shows a little bit that she's traveled and returned. She's currently trying to get a loan from the bank to purchase her own shophouse to expand her business (and this brings me to another point, would it be better to wait to apply till after she finds out about the loan and gets the Shophouse, showing more reason to come back) Also with the Embassy just closing everything about applying worries me a little. We have plenty of email traffic and picks from our travels and my 5 visits from last year and my last month long holiday with her (meeting mom and all) and traveling numerous places together. She does not currently have any land in her name and the truck she's just paid off is in her moms name. For the last year and 5 months I've been going to see her in thailand on my vacations and would like to go home my next one and she and I would like her to go with(She has some money like I stated before, so can she state she's funding this or do I need to write something I am, she likes to pay for stuff but of course I'm always there to take care when need so I need to know how to write this down on the app, I will be the one buying the plane tickets though. While in USA we'll be staying with my family for a couple days then traveling stying in hotels, as I rent my houses out and they are full currently. Because of my job in a warzone I can't always be exact with my vacation dates so do we need exact dates or can we ask for a 20-25 day travel window end of aug early sept. and I wouldn't think the plane tickets need to be bought before the appointment? Will she need a letter from me or my family inviting her, or can she get a visa without invitation letter? Thanks for any advice and let me know if or what I may be missing,

thank you All

Edited May 24, 2010 by 7by7

[globalhopkinations]

Not sure if the lack of replies was something I said wrong or lack of knowledge with this new DS-160 form, but anyways we've gotten everything filled out submitted and a PIN purchased to make an appointment. I understand with the embassy being closed and all, things would be possibly busy with trying to get a appointment but, after 3 days of looking numerous times daily theres no opening for the next 5 years. Is it possible they did this just till the embassy reopens or is it that hard to get a appointment? She still has to stop by the post office and pay for the visa application fee but if theres no chance of getting an appointment i'm questioning the waste of money.

Just a shot in the dark but anybody know if theres been any talk of allowing people to go to the Chang Mai US embassy during this situation?

[7by7]

Maybe the font you used meant people gave up trying to read it? Speaking personally, I find that extra large fonts hurt my eyes and are difficult to read. Just a thought, so I've edited it to reduce the font size.

For the latest information regarding US visa submissions etc, click here.

[globalhopkinations]

Well after 2 days of logging into the visapoint appointment website periodically ALL day for the last 3 or so days, late today there was 1 green box needed to make our appointment. Confirmed for the second week of June, I've herd a lot of different info on what paperowrk she should bring with her so I'll write down what we're planing on having her bring and if I'm missing anything could you guys let me know? Please

1. Her passport and copies of mine including pages showing all my trips to Thailand to see her. Obviously her visa app payment reciept and visa app confirmation letter, along with appointment confirmation paper

2. Her business registration/ tax papers bank statements (at least 6 months worth) showing the money she and her shop makes, possibly even lease agreement she has for the shop

3. She has a motorbike but not sure this is even worth bringing copy of ownership, she has a truck but it in her moms name so I guess technically it wouldn't be considered hers

4. Pics and some email traffic showing our relationship and length.

5. Her passport shows the 2 previous travels outside of Thailand (Spain and Dubai) so this shows she's left and returned before

6. A invite letter from myself asking her to accompany me on holiday to America, Also thinking about having my Sister or Mom write on she speaks to both my mom and sister on messenger from time to time, and my sister spent time with us in Thailand in April, so they would both be a point of contact.

7. My work contract that states when I was hired and when the contract will be completed, How nesessary are some check stubs?

8. A couple of my bank statements showing I have enough money to pay for her and I while there on holiday

This seems like a lot of info to me but I guess it''s better to have more than enough than not enough, If you guys can give any advice if I'm missing something I'd greatly appreciate it.

[khunjake]

Sorry to be the bearer of potentially bad news, but unless she can prove ties back to Thailand (good enough reason for her to leave the US and go back to Thailand once admitted), it will be very, very difficult for the visa officer to approve the application. Unless she has property, children or other significant items of personal value in Thailand, then all I can say is good luck. If you plan of getting married someday, then you can take the K-1 fiance visa route which which have a much better shot.

[globalhopkinations]

Well, it's a no go, denied. And after only 6 questions

1. who's paying for plane ticket? Both of us.

2. How long have we been together? 1 and half year (Jan '09)

3. Where u visiting and show me on map? Grand Rapids MI and pointed on map

4. Where u visited before? Spain and Dubai

5. Who went with when u visited the EU? Myself the boyfriend

6. Do you have a baby? No

then she was told no and giving a paper stating she didn't fit the requirements of proving she would return

We both feel cheated the guy at the window didn't even look at the stack of paperwork she had gathered bank statements for her business 3 years of lease agreement for her business, agreement between sellers, the bank and her on the shop-house she's buying and signing papers on the 15th next week. I'd like to say we'd feel better if the man took even 2 minutes to look at her papers and then said no but 5 minutes asking 6 questions and not look at the paperwork. Was thinking about waiting till after she gets the shop-house next week and trying again but if she gets asked the same questions and told no owning property won't matter. I read at http://bangkok.usemb...on-policy.html that policy is when reapplying your next interview is sapose to be with a different officer / interviewer. Anybody who's reapplied for a US tourist visa whats your experience with this?

Thanks again

[duran]

Well, it's a no go, denied. And after only 6 questions

1. who's paying for plane ticket? Both of us.

2. How long have we been together? 1 and half year (Jan '09)

3. Where u visiting and show me on map? Grand Rapids MI and pointed on map

4. Where u visited before? Spain and Dubai

5. Who went with when u visited the EU? Myself the boyfriend

6. Do you have a baby? No

then she was told no and giving a paper stating she didn't fit the requirements of proving she would return

We both feel cheated the guy at the window didn't even look at the stack of paperwork she had gathered bank statements for her business 3 years of lease agreement for her business, agreement between sellers, the bank and her on the shop-house she's buying and signing papers on the 15th next week. I'd like to say we'd feel better if the man took even 2 minutes to look at her papers and then said no but 5 minutes asking 6 questions and not look at the paperwork. Was thinking about waiting till after she gets the shop-house next week and trying again but if she gets asked the same questions and told no owning property won't matter. I read at http://bangkok.usemb...on-policy.html that policy is when reapplying your next interview is sapose to be with a different officer / interviewer. Anybody who's reapplied for a US tourist visa whats your experience with this?

Thanks again

Sorry to hear that man. I wonder, when she reapplies, will there be some material change in her circumstances that might increase her chances? For example, will she be purchasing her shop house? If not, I would be curious to know if a different interviewer is all it takes to get a green light. My thought is probably not, unfortunately. But who knows? Good luck.

[DirectorIntegrityLegal]

Sorry to hear about your denial. Unfortunately Section 214b of the US Immigration and Nationality Act effectively ties the officers hands when making these adjudications. Furthermore, she is likely to be denied on the same grounds in the future unless she can show radical changes to her circumstances. If you are interested in eventually marrying and moving to the USA, then you may look into the K-1 or the CR-1, but, in my opinion, the odds of getting a future B2 are low.

Although not particularly reassuring, I hope this was helpful.

All the Best!

Ben Hart

US Immigration Attorney

Integrity Legal

[Replogle]

There appears to be quite a few retired U.S. nationals both young and old, happily married to former bar girls for less than a decade that are unable to gain entry into the United States to visit family members, regardless of their "strong ties" to Thailand. Many couples have children with with dual nationality status, have possessions and responsibilities inside Thailand, and so forth. This is an expats' Achilles' heel, since none of the existing visa categories (K1, K3, CR1, IR1...) apply. Simply put, if you're residing in Thailand and married to a bar girl who's now a stay-at-home mom, then you can forget about visiting relatives in the States as a family for at least 10 years.

So, what's a fellow to do? He's met the woman of his dreams, a healthy non-smoking non-tattooed condom-using prostitute, lives comfortably in Thailand with absolutely no desire to return and stay in the United States permanently, but only to visit his immediate relatives for a short time. He's shrugged off the silly American stereotypes placed upon Thai women (by those perhaps not so pretty or lucky) whilst living well in LOS, and convinced that as soon as the wife and kids have a taste of the bitter cold and frozen, dated fish, they'll be eager to head back to the sun and plenty. One suggestion would be to call the U.S. Department of State and ask some unorthodox questions, such as "Shall a former American porn star return to the U.S. after having sex with a soi(street) dog?" or "Are their any known statistics pertaining to American servicemen impregnating/abandoning gullible underage Thai females?" 'Course, questions will accomplish nothing, yet exposing double standards to those unaware may be an enjoyable activity. Another suggestion would be to inform groups that America isn't such a great place to visit after all. It is a nation mired in debt, loaded with aliens lacking documents (many infected with tuberculosis), food is more sparse and expensive, less respect and care for elders, not tourist friendly. The list goes on... Knowledge in the hands of foolhardy Thai nationals translates into less revenue for Uncle Sam.

Future U.S. Immigration policy may change allowing those with legitimate intentions to visit their relatives, but as America pretends to be a moral, decent and wealthy country, chances are slim to none that anything will change within the foreseeable future.

Edited June 9, 2010 by Replogle

[duran]

To the original poster - FYI according to the US Embassy's facebook page, they just posted a "how to" video and instructions on how to fill out the DS-160.

[globalhopkinations]

Thank you for all the replies to my original post, after she signed/purchased the Shophouse and we changed the application she pays for the trip not me, she was approved this morning

We are both ecstatic :D

[mizzi39]

Congratulations! Hope she gets the full 10 years. Mizzi

[globalhopkinations]

She didn't get the 10 year which is OK with me we'll deal with it when we wanna go back. But I'm curious, under the Entries part on her visa it says M. Seems very odd but does this mean multiple, of coarse only for the 2 months the visas good for but just curious. If this is the case it could allow us to cross the border to see Niagara falls from US and Canada and then return back. Or maybe it's just as much hassle to get her a Canadian day visa too who knows just thinking.

[duran]

Thank you for all the replies to my original post, after she signed/purchased the Shophouse and we changed the application she pays for the trip not me, she was approved this morning

We are both ecstatic :D

That's great to hear man, congrats and have a great trip!