A Few Questions Regarding B-2 Tourist Visa And Application Process

[thanew]

I was about to start the Visa application process for my wife as we were planning to go to the US to visit family in mid to late 2011, however some on another forum had stated that it was very hard for a spouse to get a tourist visa these days. My first question is, has anyone had any experience lately regarding the application for a B-2 for their wife rather than getting a IR/CR-1

The reason we are going for a B-2 rather than getting IR/CR-1 is due to the fact that I am currently not residing in the United States as I am currently on a work visa in Macau, which is about to be extended for an additional two years. We would like to apply in Hong Kong, however we were wondering if this would be possible if my wife was given a derivative visa for here in Macau, if so is she going to be required to stay here for a certain amount of time first, or would the visa stamp for a year be enough to allow us to apply?

Thanks!

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Reckon a tourist visa for your wife should be (operative word here is "should") a shoe-in since you're sort of longish termed employed in Macau.

Do a search on this forum for "tourist," there's a bunch of threads on the subject of tourist visas to the U.S. Here's just one:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/410068-need-advice-on-american-10-yr-tourist-visa/page__p__3979289__hl__tourist__fromsearch__1#entry3979289

The main thing the interviewing ConOff is interested in is some real indication that your wife won't be staying in the U.S. So since you're employed overseas, it's likely that she'd be returning to Macau with you. BTW, does her passport indicate longterm stays in Macau with you? Hope so, that'd help.

Be sure to include your passport with her application as the ConOff will probably like to look at your status in Macau. Include your employment contract.

Note, on my Thai wife's several applications, all approved, for tourist visas, it was my documentation that was looked at, she didn't have much.

And, yes, apply in Hong Kong, that's your best option, and it also looks good that she has a "derivative" visa for Macau. http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/niv.html

Mac

[thanew]

Thanks Mac! Your response is very helpful.

My wife does have quite a few long term stays with me here, and quite a few stamps and visas from other SEA countries as she's been traveling with me for work as well.