Tourist Visa To U.s.a.

[Jeff1]

Does anyone know about how long it take's for a Thai wife to get approved for a tourist visa ? How long is it good for ?

Thank you ,

Jeff

[penelope]

Before my wife was an Aussie citizen, she filled in the form and got one on the spot (3 months for a 2 week holiday).That was pre 9/11 though.Maybe an interview is now required.

[sbk]

Hi Jeff, before, she would have put in her application and supporting documents and either the visa would have been granted the next day or she would have been scheduled for an interview, usually one week later. Now, I believe, everyone needs an interview. Be aware that they are quite strict with spouses of American citizens, she must show that she has significant ties to Thailand. House ownership, bank account, land ownership, letter from employer, vehicle ownership, previous visas showing she has travelled. etc. It is not necessary to supply all of these documents but the more she can show, the easier it is. Also, if you do not live in Bangkok it is possible to re-schedule the interview, we did it by email, as recommended by the embassy and got an interview the next day.

Also, it used to be possible to receive a multiple entry visa valid for 5-10 years. I don't know anymore but it is worth trying for. I am guessing they only give out single entry visas, ie next time she must apply again, but request the multiple entry one, you never know, the consular officer may be feeling generous the day you go.

The amount of time she can stay will be stamped in her passport upon arrival in the US, usually it's 3 months, it can be as long as 6.

[lopburi3]

If you live in the USA and your wife is Thai it is going to be very hard to prove she plans to return to Thailand at the end of a visit. Believe she will be subject to same checks as any tourist plus questioning on why she is not living with her husband (if you are indeed still living in US as listed in bio data).

If you are living/working/retired here in Thailand she would have a valid reason for tourist visa and as SBK says they can be valid up to 10 years. My wife has always received six months entry (for 3 week stay - last 4 months ago).

[Jeff1]

Thank you for your replies, She is in the U.S.A. with me now but waiting for her travel docs. it is taking very long. If she leaves without them she cant get back in.

It would mean that she left her case for green card and would have to start all over again. However she does not want a green card. What we want is to come and go as we please. As you can imagin nobody want's to hear that.

I asked because her friend just came here on a tourist visa and from what I got out of it was that ( My Thai is not that good ) it took only 3 days , A hundred dollars and she got a 6 month visa ! She does own a house and has a job .

Thanks again,

Jeff

[KevinN]

Three days is kinda hard to believe,,I have a Thai friend,female that wanted to go to USA on a fiancee visa,her friend in the US was a college professor and she was very well educated,and from a very good family,and owned a 6 M baht home in BKK and it took her about 6 months to get the visa.From what I hear from the folks at INS in the USA,it is next to impossible to get a tourist visa to the USA for a wife and specially if you live there.

Don't you have to have a green card to remain in the USA visa free and come and go at will?

[sbk]

KevinN, the friend got the tourist visa, and yes, 3 days sounds about right.

If your wife has a green card already (or is in the process of applying for one) then it is probably best to keep it as then it is easier to come and go. The only drawback being that she cannot leave the US for more than one year at a time. If she wants to leave for longer than that she must apply for re-entry permit, which allows for 2 years out of the US. Tell her to be patient and wait for the documentation to come through. If she is already in the pipeline pulling out now could jeopardize future applications.

And she would find it nearly impossible to get a tourist visa if you continue to live in the US. My husband and I both live here in thailand and I have had a one-year visa continuously for 11 years, he owns his business etc so he had no problem getting a tourist visa but I think your wife would be unable to show sufficient ties to Thailand if you continued to live in the US. Also, my understanding is that after 9/11 the embassies no longer issue tourist visas valid for 10 years so she would have to reapply every trip.

Again, although the whole bureaucratic process is very frustrating, she will be much better off in the long run if she is patient and lets the green card process run its course.

[Jeff1]

Thank you SBK,

Good advice, I think the same way.

However it might be cheaper to leave tomorrow, after getting a $454.00 phone bill

from her calling home all the time

But on a marrage visa it took almost a year to get get her here.

I guess I will just have to suffer

Thanks again,

Jeff

[Estrella]

Hey Jeff!

Did she use a calling card ? Direct normal phone is unaffordable. Here are some link for a very good deal to save up money for phonebill

www.netphonecard.com

The sound quality is even better than normal home phone. Dont waste more money on da phone bill!

[Jeff1]

Thank you for the phonecard info. I will check into it right away. Now im using

10-10-345 it's 40 cents to connect and 21 cents a miniute. Im wondering if the cheapest way is to do the calls on the computer. But im no computer wiz, so it might be hard for me . But anyway, I will check into netphonecard thank you so much.

Jeff

[KevinN]

Jeff; If you have a Thai Visa or Mastercard, then use it to open a ICONNECT here acct thru your MSN messinger and computer calls would be 1 or 2 pennys a minute to call thailand,but if you use a US based card the calls will be about 20 cents and the quality is piss poor,

[lopburi3]

Calls to Thailand have several factors involved. If to a land line number in Bangkok they can be very cheap (about 1.5c per minute with calling cards). Upcountry to cell phones are much higher priced (although this may go down with new long distance rates in country now). I used the most expensive calling card with per second billing/no connect charge at 15c per minute to cell phones on trip last year and quality was very good. You can do much better than that 21c per minute.

[El_D]

Tourist Visa for Thai wife--------I did my research, put the paperwork together (mostly showing that I had a job and ties to Thailand--one of which was a recently signed house lease).

Turned it all in one day, went back the next day and she had a 10 year multiple entry visa. She's been to the US with me twice & was given 6 months each time before she was required to leave, even though we told the immigration guys that we were only staying two weeks.

This was in June of 2002, so definitely post 9/11.

I guess I was lucky........

[Jeff1]

Hello,

Kevin, No sir , I do not have a Thai credit card yet. When we finally do get back to Thailand , I will open a bank account , build a house and get a credit card. With luck & time we will get our wish. To stay in Thailand for six months and return to

U.S.A. for six months to work. I own my own business so it can be done for a few more years until we can stay permantly in Thailand ( another post and more questions for another day )

Lopburi3, Yes , all the calls are to cell phones. most to Korat and some just outside of Bangkok.

Now that we started the green card prosess, ( takes 2 years to complete )

it is hard to leave ( U.S.A. ) without fear of her being turned away when she comes back . I Just dont know what wold be better. Getting travel documents 4 months or so before we want to leave again , or forgetting the green card and just going with the tourist visa for her.

You all have been so kind, I can't thank you all enough.

The first drink's on me...Whenever we get back.

Take care,

Jeff

[lopburi3]

The fact she has been in the US on an immigrant visa and turned it down (if she leaves) I believe would go a long way to proving she was not intending to say in the USA if she applies for a tourist visa. But it is an exceptional case and with you having a business/living in the US might be hard for them to accept. As you don't yet seem to have a clear timeframe for moving here think you would be better to continue the green card process.

My guess is that she is very homesick (especially this time of the year). The local Thai Wats can often help a lot; as well as going out to Thai restaurants (even working in one?). Viewing Thai Rath and other newspapers online might help also. From phone bill suspect she has too much dead time on her hands.

[Jeff1]

Sorry Lopburi3, if i was not clear. She is here on a spouce visa. Has been here for 10 months now.

You are probally right about waiting for the green card process, but alot of waiting.

She is very close with her family, but like's it here very much also. It is the first time she has been away from them , on a airplane for that matter. I will search around for a wat here in Chicago, good idea, thanks.

Jeff

[norseman]

You should be able to get what is called an advance parole which will allow at least one or sometimes several re-entries to the US. My wife and I did this several times while we were waiting for her green card to be approved. It took almost 2 years for us to get her green card. Things have slowed down terribly!

The advance parole will cost you around $100 US but is relatively simple to file. We are from North Dakota and always went to the St Paul MN office and were able to get everything taken care of with no trouble. They usually mail all of the documents to you within a week.

Good Luck.

[Alberta]

From what I hear from the folks at INS in the USA,it is next to impossible to get a tourist visa to the USA for a wife and specially if you live there.

You had better beleive that you will be in for a rough time for sure. The interview will be adversarial and she will have to prove to the officers satisfaction that she has such significant social and economic ties to Thailand that he will be assurred she will not remain illegally in the States. Most applicants are denied on initial interview and the $100 fee is not refunded. If the Thais applied the same criteria to Americans wanting to visit Thailand for a long term there would be few tourists here.

[lopburi3]

Most applicants are denied on initial interview

I don't believe it. Can you cite a source for that information?

I can say we had absulatly no problem and interview was most pleasant. That was before 9/11 but since then the DOS has advised all expats married to foreign nationals to obtain and keep current a valid visa to the USA in official communications.

In Jeffs case the fact she had given up green card process would be very stong evidence that she did not desire to live in USA. But feel they would be better served to wait out the process to keep future open.

[Jeff1]

Norseman, Yes we did apply for advanced paroll ie. travel documents. have a reciept date of Oct. 11. As of yesterday I ws told that the sixty day max. waiting perid ment nothing. As there still working on Sept. 15 cases was told it could take two months or more extra !

At this time she really does not want to wait anymore and I dont either..as long as she can come and go on a tourist visa . Another good point Lobpuri3 about giving up the green card case. Also when we get back to Thailand we will start building a house, that and our true desire to split our time for a year or two ( no more ) Im

hopeing will be enough for her to come back with me for six months .

Best wishes,

Jeff

[penelope]

From what I hear from the folks at INS in the USA,it is next to impossible to get a tourist visa to the USA for a wife and specially if you live there.

You had better beleive that you will be in for a rough time for sure. The interview will be adversarial and she will have to prove to the officers satisfaction that she has such significant social and economic ties to Thailand that he will be assurred she will not remain illegally in the States. Most applicants are denied on initial interview and the $100 fee is not refunded. If the Thais applied the same criteria to Americans wanting to visit Thailand for a long term there would be few tourists here.

Sounds like the immigration guys are tough these days.

Probably easier to get an Aussie or NZL passport(and travel to USA on 90 day Visa on arrivals), than it is to get a USA tourist Visa !!

[Sojourner]

Jeff1, here's a couple you can try. She's gotta be freezing her duff off right now. LOL

Wat Khamermetta

4716 North Winthrop Avenue

Chicago, IL 60640

Tel: (773) 989-0969

Fax: (773) 989-0933

Wat Phrasriratanamahadatu

4735 North Magnolia Avenue

Chicago, IL 60640

Tel: (773) 784-0257

Fax: (773) 784-0235

URL: http://www.watphrasri.iirt.net

E-mail: [email protected]

[Jeff1]

Thank you Sojouner,

That helps alot ! I only found one in Oak Park and that is very far for us. these places are much closer and they are close to the Thai market that we go to .

Im suprised I missed them , but there is alot going on down there and one really has to keep there eye's on the road !

Yes, she is freezing her bum off!! Today -7 degrees. Did not stop her from wanting to go shopping

Best wishes,

Jeff

[Jeff1]

For those that are interested, My darkink wife today recieved her travel doucments

that only took 5 months ! Funny thing is , that they gave her two , To return to the U.S., Could be helpfull . She ( we ) will come home next wednesday. Thank you all for all of you help and input

Jeff