Major Disappointment!

[maxx58]

Today my girlfriend was denied a Tourist Visa from the American Embassy in Bangkok.

We were planning to visit my family this summer and also stay for a few days in Manhattan.

She is 37 years old, has been working for years at five star hotels, has gone to school to learn English in Australia, has gotten visas to visit England, France, and Italy. I don't understand how she could be considered a risk.

She was told because I have not lived here that long (14 months) and that she was not married, that was the reason for the denial.

Bastards!!!

[marcusd]

Something else. Bangkok is pretty flexible.

Have you prepared visas before? There are so many hoops and hurdles disguised in what appears to be a simple easy question when in reality the question has sinister undertones

Marcusd. Via tapatalk

[brewsterbudgen]

She might have been better off if she hadn't mentioned you. Plenty of Thais, with money, jobs and travel history, get tourist visas for genuine tourist reasons. As soon as a boyfriend is involved it becomes more complicated.

[ubonjoe]

Apparently your ties to Thailand were no strong enough to convince them she would return.

What is your status here? Are you on a visa or an extension of stay from immigration? That is an important proof that you will return. Did you supply in evidence of this to them? Did she have your passport to show them?

[maxx58]

Apparently your ties to Thailand were no strong enough to convince them she would return.

What is your status here? Are you on a visa or an extension of stay from immigration? That is an important proof that you will return. Did you supply in evidence of this to them? Did she have your passport to show them?

I'm retired and living here on the second year of my O-A visa.

I guess your right, he must have felt that my ties were not strong enough here and that she was a possible flight risk, even though she has travelled extensively to first world countries and returned home.

I just thought that he would be more perceptive as to the sincerity of my girlfriend's intentions.

[ubonjoe]

Apparently your ties to Thailand were no strong enough to convince them she would return.

What is your status here? Are you on a visa or an extension of stay from immigration? That is an important proof that you will return. Did you supply in evidence of this to them? Did she have your passport to show them?

I'm retired and living here on the second year of my O-A visa.

I guess your right, he must have felt that my ties were not strong enough here and that she was a possible flight risk, even though she has travelled extensively to first world countries and returned home.

I just thought that he would be more perceptive as to the sincerity of my girlfriend's intentions.

Did you attach copies of your passport pages with the application. If you are on the second year of your OA visa (unless you actually have an extension of stay from immigration) you would need a re-entry permit for your trip.(same for the extension). Having the re-entry permit might of helped. Having your passport also helps when she went for the interview also.

Did she have a letter from her employer stating she would still have job when she returned.

If you both could show more proof of your reasons to return she could apply again.

[maxx58]

I know that I will need a re-entry permit for my return.

Although my girlfriend didn't have my passport with her at the interview, he never asked her for it. I don't see how this would have helped.

She had a letter from her employer.

Apply again? I'm already out $160. I'll wait until after we get married and try again next summer.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

"Although my girlfriend didn't have my passport with her at the interview, he never asked her for it. I don't see how this would have helped."

Girl Friend visas are often heavily related to the status in Thailand of the Boy Friend, the presumption being that if he is going to return here, the GF will also come back. Thus, while the interviewing ConOff didn't ask to look at your passport, her having it right up front on top of the application with your visa status here flagged, would have helped. Plus, as UbonJoe mentioned, having the Re-Entry Permit flagged adds to the presumption that you're going to return.

Do you rent an apartment here? If in your name, having that available also adds to the package, as would your bank book, car or motorcycle registration, etc, all in your name. I even have a couple of magazines delivered here from the U.S.

Mac

[maxx58]

I thought that all of the emphasis would be on my girlfriend. I even had the three year condo lease put in her name as proof of her sincerity on returning when she did apply for a visa. I never thought that my status would come into play.

After reading the replies I have come to realise how wrong I was.

Thanks for the advice and I hope that someone can learn from my mistake.

We are going to get married at the end of this year and will try again for next summer.