Us Visa In Cm

[funcat]

I need to go to US for couple of months and would like to take my daughter,who has US passport and my Thai wife as well,so wonder about the visa process....has anybody recently went trough that and how hard is to get the visa these days?

I've tried that about 6 years ago and her visa was denied for 'just because' reasons,so just wonder if anything has changed for better...or worse?

...also how long does it take to get actual appointment after you pay the money at the post office and get your pin....

Regards

[CMSteve]

The wife made hers about 3 months ago. The appointment was the next available (believe it was Tues the next week). It a couple of hours in total, mostly waiting through the queue. The actual interview was about 5 mins. Make sure you triple check all the necessary paperwork, pad a bank account in her name, have a GOOD reason(s) for her to come back, and if possible, do the interview in English.

good luck!!!

[Hugh Jarse]

On a related matter. I too would like to visit the USA for a short holiday. I have a UK passport. In a previous passport I have a US visa which states :" valid indefinately for multiple visits" I know that the US no longer issue these visas, but would they recognise and accept this visa if I just turned up? Advice appreciated.

[mania]

On a related matter. I too would like to visit the USA for a short holiday. I have a UK passport. In a previous passport I have a US visa which states :" valid indefinately for multiple visits" I know that the US no longer issue these visas, but would they recognize and accept this visa if I just turned up? Advice appreciated.

http://www.visitusa.org.uk/Visa-and-ESTA-Information/125

Under the US Visa Waiver Program, many British Citizens holding a UK passport do not require a US visa providing:

1. Duration of stay is not more than 90 days and traveller holds a valid ticket for onward or return travel.

2. Passport is valid for at least 90 days from date of entry into the United States.

3. Travel is for business, tourism or transit only.

4. Traveller is not a journalist on assignment nor an individual seeking gainful employment.

5. Traveller has never been arrested (even if the arrest did not lead to a conviction) and has not been convicted of a crime.

6. Traveller has not been refused entry into or deported from the

   United States and has not previously violated the terms of admission

   under the visa waiver program.

7. Traveller is in possession of an individual machine readable passport.

8. USA entry procedures have changed and UK travellers to the USA

   under the Visa Waiver Scheme must now complete the I-94W form online

   using the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) system - for

   more details, please visit our ESTA page

Visit the US Embassy site for more on the Visa Waiver Program information.

[Hugh Jarse]

On a related matter. I too would like to visit the USA for a short holiday. I have a UK passport. In a previous passport I have a US visa which states :" valid indefinately for multiple visits" I know that the US no longer issue these visas, but would they recognize and accept this visa if I just turned up? Advice appreciated.

http://www.visitusa.org.uk/Visa-and-ESTA-Information/125

>

Under the US Visa Waiver Program, many British Citizens holding a UK passport do not require a US visa providing:

1. Duration of stay is not more than 90 days and traveller holds a valid ticket for onward or return travel.

2. Passport is valid for at least 90 days from date of entry into the United States.

3. Travel is for business, tourism or transit only.

4. Traveller is not a journalist on assignment nor an individual seeking gainful employment.

5. Traveller has never been arrested (even if the arrest did not lead to a conviction) and has not been convicted of a crime.

6. Traveller has not been refused entry into or deported from the

   United States and has not previously violated the terms of admission

   under the visa waiver program.

7. Traveller is in possession of an individual machine readable passport.

8. USA entry procedures have changed and UK travellers to the USA

   under the Visa Waiver Scheme must now complete the I-94W form online

   using the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) system - for

   more details, please visit our ESTA page

Visit the US Embassy site for more on the Visa Waiver Program information.

Thank you ,very helpful.

[funcat]

The wife made hers about 3 months ago. The appointment was the next available (believe it was Tues the next week). It a couple of hours in total, mostly waiting through the queue. The actual interview was about 5 mins. Make sure you triple check all the necessary paperwork, pad a bank account in her name, have a GOOD reason(s) for her to come back, and if possible, do the interview in English.

good luck!!!

Thanks CMSteve....you didn't mention,if she was granted the visa,or not ?

[CMSteve]

Yes, she got a 10yr Multi entry tourist visa. they had a few questions as to why I was not sponsoring her for a green card, but the simple true answer was that we live here and are really just going for a holiday..

The wife made hers about 3 months ago. The appointment was the next available (believe it was Tues the next week). It a couple of hours in total, mostly waiting through the queue. The actual interview was about 5 mins. Make sure you triple check all the necessary paperwork, pad a bank account in her name, have a GOOD reason(s) for her to come back, and if possible, do the interview in English.

good luck!!!

Thanks CMSteve....you didn't mention,if she was granted the visa,or not ?

[funcat]

Yes, she got a 10yr Multi entry tourist visa. they had a few questions as to why I was not sponsoring her for a green card, but the simple true answer was that we live here and are really just going for a holiday..

The wife made hers about 3 months ago. The appointment was the next available (believe it was Tues the next week). It a couple of hours in total, mostly waiting through the queue. The actual interview was about 5 mins. Make sure you triple check all the necessary paperwork, pad a bank account in her name, have a GOOD reason(s) for her to come back, and if possible, do the interview in English.

good luck!!!

Thanks CMSteve....you didn't mention,if she was granted the visa,or not ?

OK...Thanks again...

[hellodolly]

Yes, she got a 10yr Multi entry tourist visa. they had a few questions as to why I was not sponsoring her for a green card, but the simple true answer was that we live here and are really just going for a holiday..

The wife made hers about 3 months ago. The appointment was the next available (believe it was Tues the next week). It a couple of hours in total, mostly waiting through the queue. The actual interview was about 5 mins. Make sure you triple check all the necessary paperwork, pad a bank account in her name, have a GOOD reason(s) for her to come back, and if possible, do the interview in English.

good luck!!!

Thanks CMSteve....you didn't mention,if she was granted the visa,or not ?

Would a very health bank account sufficed if she owned no property. I had heard 200,000 baht would do the trick? Seemed low to me.

Also how much did you have to pay for her interview. Nothing free any more.

[CMSteve]

It all depends on the interviewer. At that point it is all in their hands. I've also read that the interviewers are trained to assume that you are not coming back. It is the interviewee's job to change that perception. To that point a large amount of money and no "ties" to Thailand sounds more like a emigrant... Make it a point to show that she has family/job/something here that she is coming back for. May also help to write a sponsor letter. Not so much on the financial side but to assure them that she will return ( and that you will make sure of it)

Yes, she got a 10yr Multi entry tourist visa. they had a few questions as to why I was not sponsoring her for a green card, but the simple true answer was that we live here and are really just going for a holiday..

The wife made hers about 3 months ago. The appointment was the next available (believe it was Tues the next week). It a couple of hours in total, mostly waiting through the queue. The actual interview was about 5 mins. Make sure you triple check all the necessary paperwork, pad a bank account in her name, have a GOOD reason(s) for her to come back, and if possible, do the interview in English.

good luck!!!

Thanks CMSteve....you didn't mention,if she was granted the visa,or not ?

Would a very health bank account sufficed if she owned no property. I had heard 200,000 baht would do the trick? Seemed low to me.

Also how much did you have to pay for her interview. Nothing free any more.

[mania]

It all depends on the interviewer. At that point it is all in their hands. I've also read that the interviewers are trained to assume that you are not coming back. It is the interviewee's job to change that perception. To that point a large amount of money and no "ties" to Thailand sounds more like a emigrant... Make it a point to show that she has family/job/something here that she is coming back for. May also help to write a sponsor letter. Not so much on the financial side but to assure them that she will return ( and that you will make sure of it)

That is the crux of it.

Back when my wife was my gf we wanted a tourist visa for her to the US

The main thing to show is that she has compelling reasons to return to Thailand.

Money in the bank is good to show she will not be a burden on the hosting country but does nothing for

showing compelling reasons to return. In fact could be a hindrance if that is the only thing she is using as proof.

At the time we put a couple hundred thousand in an account in her name but more importantly

I explained in a letter that she would have no housing/food/travel expense etc. &

that she had medical insurance to cover her while in the USA. So again no burden/risk to hosting country.

I also outlined her whole family all of whom live in Thailand.

Noted her property/home in Thailand & mortgage

Noted her business in Thailand, car etc.

Although everyone told us not to even try as we would be refused due to her just being my girl friend

she would be considered a flight risk.

But we went ahead, were honest & ultimately successful. All of her friends many of which were more financially well off

than her were quite shocked as they had also tried but were not successful.

PS: To Hello Dolly I can say that in 2007 the interview was $100 USD

Non refundable regardless of outcome.

[Dante99]

On a related matter. I too would like to visit the USA for a short holiday. I have a UK passport. In a previous passport I have a US visa which states :" valid indefinately for multiple visits" I know that the US no longer issue these visas, but would they recognize and accept this visa if I just turned up? Advice appreciated.

http://www.visitusa.org.uk/Visa-and-ESTA-Information/125

>

Under the US Visa Waiver Program, many British Citizens holding a UK passport do not require a US visa providing:

1. Duration of stay is not more than 90 days and traveller holds a valid ticket for onward or return travel.

2. Passport is valid for at least 90 days from date of entry into the United States.

3. Travel is for business, tourism or transit only.

4. Traveller is not a journalist on assignment nor an individual seeking gainful employment.

5. Traveller has never been arrested (even if the arrest did not lead to a conviction) and has not been convicted of a crime.

6. Traveller has not been refused entry into or deported from the

   United States and has not previously violated the terms of admission

   under the visa waiver program.

7. Traveller is in possession of an individual machine readable passport.

8. USA entry procedures have changed and UK travellers to the USA

   under the Visa Waiver Scheme must now complete the I-94W form online

   using the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) system - for

   more details, please visit our ESTA page

Visit the US Embassy site for more on the Visa Waiver Program information.

Thank you ,very helpful.

US State Department/Embassy information online indicates that if a person takes their old expired passport with a currently valid US visa in it and their new passport, US Immigration will view the visa to be a valid visa and permit entry assuming there are no other issues. I think the Chiang Mai Consul website gives the same information on a question and answer page.

[Hugh Jarse]

On a related matter. I too would like to visit the USA for a short holiday. I have a UK passport. In a previous passport I have a US visa which states :" valid indefinately for multiple visits" I know that the US no longer issue these visas, but would they recognize and accept this visa if I just turned up? Advice appreciated.

http://www.visitusa.org.uk/Visa-and-ESTA-Information/125

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blockquote>

>

Under the US Visa Waiver Program, many British Citizens holding a UK passport do not require a US visa providing:

1. Duration of stay is not more than 90 days and traveller holds a valid ticket for onward or return travel.

2. Passport is valid for at least 90 days from date of entry into the United States.

3. Travel is for business, tourism or transit only.

4. Traveller is not a journalist on assignment nor an individual seeking gainful employment.

5. Traveller has never been arrested (even if the arrest did not lead to a conviction) and has not been convicted of a crime.

6. Traveller has not been refused entry into or deported from the

   United States and has not previously violated the terms of admission

   under the visa waiver program.

7. Traveller is in possession of an individual machine readable passport.

8. USA entry procedures have changed and UK travellers to the USA

   under the Visa Waiver Scheme must now complete the I-94W form online

   using the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) system - for

   more details, please visit our ESTA page

Visit the US Embassy site for more on the Visa Waiver Program information.

Thank you ,very helpful.

US State Department/Embassy information online indicates that if a person takes their old expired passport with a currently valid US visa in it and their new passport, US Immigration will view the visa to be a valid visa and permit entry assuming there are no other issues. I think the Chiang Mai Consul website gives the same information on a question and answer page.

Thank you Dante for this, so my old visa is still valid.

[Ticketmaster]

I am a US citizen and my wife was denied 4 years ago after a 2 minute interview, despite the fact that: she speaks English, was and had been a government school teacher for 26 years, owned real property (pre-marital), owned a car (premarital), had a substantial bank account of her own (also premarital), had no debt or criminal record. Her application was scorched earth complete (I am a recovering lawyer). We went in with complete confidence. I remember my shock at the arbitrary, no appeal denial. The guy did not even look at her file or the cover letter. He based his denial upon the fact that I did not yet have a marriage visa and there was a possiblity I was trying to sneak her in. I found this out from a guy I know who was working inside the consulate as an intern at the time. &lt;deleted&gt; the US, I'll never go back. There are plenty of other countries that welcome our tourist dollars.

I wish you luck.