Advice And/Or Good Immigration Lawyer

[Nisa]

I am wondering if anybody has any first hand experience (or that of a good friend or family member) getting an immigration (or tourist ) Visa to the US where there were extra issues involved.

I would look forward to speaking more by email or PM as I really don't need to share all the details here but the gist of the issue is this...

About 5 or 6-years ago my Thai wife plead guilty to a minor crime (using a false document). She received no jail time or fine but the crime carries a maximum possible sentence of 2-years which makes it a crime of "moral turpitude" under US immigration laws which requires a waiver such as hardship to over come.

A year later she and her finance at the time applied for a finance visa which was met with the response that they would need to provide more information for approval under the hardship clause. During this time the broke up and stopped pursuing a visa. I have since been told that this resulted in her being denied a Visa. ie. by not responding it is considered to have been "denied a visa to the US"

One year ago she (we) attempted to get a tourist visa but it was denied with the reason that they needed more proof of her ties to Thailand as well as the previous arrest. It seemed like BS because they didn't even care about the numerous papers she brought showing ties to Thailand (house, family, banks....). In fact they didn't deny her at the office and we were 100% honest on the application. They actually took her passport that day to mail back to her which is usually only done when you are approved and they issue a visa.

I later spoke to a lawyer briefly who told me that he was sure the real reason for the tourist denial was her previous immigrant denial (because she stopped pursuing it = denial) and he said he doubted ever if they would give her a tourist visa because she was denied an immigrant Visa.

We have been together 3-years and were married about 4-months ago in Thailand. I am not sure how if at all this will change the circumstances towards a visa. Other possible relevant facts are that I am 45 and she is 37 and she has legally changed her passport and ID card to my last name. I have spent most all of the last few years in Thailand but just came back to the USA (Friday) to find different employment and imagine I will be here about 6 to 8 weeks depending if I take a job I can do working from Thailand such as over phone & internet but it really is time I got back into a career in the US as opposed to just making enough to get by working a job I can do from Thailand.

So............... I guess I am wondering if anybody has any advice or knows an attorney who has experience with these types of issues. The goal of course would be for her to move to the US but would really love to have her get a tourist visa since it is much quicker and will give her an opportunity to experience how happy she would be living here. Any advice would be welcome as I am not even sure if it would be wise for us to apply for an immigration visa and then contact an attorney when problems arise or if it is better to just use an attorney from the start ... keeping in mind I am not rich with money to throw away. Also not even sure if I would have better odds working with an attorney & embassy here as opposed to Thailand or even if this is an option with her there. There really are too many questions I have to list here but the gist is that I am not even sure what would be the best first steps and would love to speak to somebody with some experience or get refereed to an attorney who would be able to lay out my options and honest likelihood of success before retaining them.

I already shared more personal information here than I would have preferred but please feel free to personal message me to talk more.