visa options for Thai woman with two American children

[Heng]

... with a caveat of not having any immediate travel plans to the US. Is there a visa class for this type of situation? For this particular individual (she's my cousin), married to an US born Thai (like myself) with US citizenship. We want her to be able to hop on a plane like the rest of us should we all decide to relocate without having to queue up at the embassey Fall of Saigon style. I see there is a Green Card option that can be applied for overseas, but it seems that they still frown on Green Card holders spending most of their time outside of the US.

Kind of a tangent to the Singapore permanent residency thread in terms of it being a plan B or C should the LOS be less "Smiles" in the future.

[beachproperty]

Apply for a tourist visa.....probably get 1 year tourist (if you can get one) or maybe a 10 year one (I know of some Thai's that have gotten that on the first go).

If you get a 1 year tourist visa (travel to the US and ...very important ...RETURN when your supposed to ) .....when it expires, apply again and you will probably get a 10 year tourist visa

Obviously not as good as what you're looking for but will cover your butt when you want to exit if some extreme circumstance should arise in Thailand (as it seems that is what you're worried about)

[Heng]

thanks for the reply. Standard B-2 visa? Or is there a another classification? Also, would you happen to know if you need to have a plane ticket at the time of application or if there is any fineprint that says the "spirit" of the tourist visa is that you plan to use it soon? Because as mentioned, it's likely that it won't be used.... although, I suppose it could be a good excuse for a vacation.

[beachproperty]

thanks for the reply. Standard B-2 visa? Or is there a another classification? Also, would you happen to know if you need to have a plane ticket at the time of application or if there is any fineprint that says the "spirit" of the tourist visa is that you plan to use it soon? Because as mentioned, it's likely that it won't be used.... although, I suppose it could be a good excuse for a vacation.

No expert on the matter ....so don't know if it is a "Standard B-2 " visa....Just know that my significant other and her children are Thai and they got 1 year tourist visa at first... then when that expired they got a 10 year tourist visa ...Had no plane ticket prior to applying and don't believe it says anything about using soon.

US immigration is just worried about someone flying to the US and just "disappearing" there. So had to show material ties to Thailand ....ie..Job, real estate, children in school etc. to prove that they would return ( this was for the first 1 year visa) ...after they traveled to the US and returned the 10 year visa was a cakewalk (easy)

[JLCrab]

In an extreme situation, a Thai citizen is allowed up to 6 months visa-exempt entry to Bermuda and then you could work things out from there.

[NeverSure]

^^^ What does that mean please?

[JLCrab]

^^^ What does that mean please?

If it is important that a Thai citizen leave Thailand ASAP ...