us tourist visa for my thai wife

[pepo]

I'm trying to get my Thai wife a tourist visa to go to the US, so that she can go with me and my seven months old son to visit my family members in December. I got married in 2011 and this is my second year with a retirement visa for Thailand. We have a house, two car garage, two cars, six rai of land that we use for farming and a store that we build in our village. I work for the US Government in Afghanistan and travel to Thailand to be with my wife and sons every three months. what is my chance in getting her a US tourist visa

[ubonjoe]

Since you have an extension and are always returning to here after your work outside the country that will be proof you have a reason to return here that is just as important as you wife proving she will return.

There should be no problem for her to get the visa.

[pepo]

Ubonjoe, Thank you very much for your reply it was very helpful. what about her interview at the consulate? My wife doesn't not speak go English. will that be a problem?

[pepo]

Does anybody else have so info on my wife tourist visa?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

The interviewing consular officer will be able to speak Thai, that's a requirement for their job.

When your wife goes in for the interview she should have right up front:

-- a short cover letter from you explaining your relationship, length of time,

-- your passport with the Retirement extensions flagged,

-- copy of your contract for work in the Sandbox, and something that shows that the work is ongoing, will extend beyond your scheduled return to Thailand.

-- shot comment on cars, land, shop.

The inteviewing ConOff probably won't even get to the ownership of cars and such, but could have the blue books, chanote, etc, with her.

I think she'll have a good chance for the visa. Pls report back on how it goes.

Mac

[lopburi3]

As said it should not be any problem and Consular Officers can speak Thai. Key is that you are not intending to move to US bypassing normal immigration procedures so having been married 4 years and you having extended visa here and wife having property here should go a long way. In my case had proof of approved immigrant process that we never bothered to obtain visa for as decided to remain here and that was end of discussion as solid proof did not intend to shortcut system. Have a return date in mind even if final travel is not yet arranged and if store operating what arrangements that means. Honest answers with real information should be all that is required.

[mikebell]

I got my wife a visa 5 years ago. I was not impressed with the service then (tho' it may have improved.) The on-line form kept crashing; They required an address where we would be staying (I eventually put The Bellagio Las Vegas) ; the appointment was difficult to get (I tried at 5am;) the appointment time was insulting - only 7.30 am so necessitating an overnight stay in BKK; despite arriving, as instructed, it took 4 hours for her to be seen; the interview was a formality - an American speaking pigeon Thai. I'd just vowed that I would never spend any tourist American $ again when she emerged with a 10 year visa! I can't remember ticking that box or paying for it. We've been back twice since.

I am a Brit living in Thailand with no where near the assets you have described so you should have no trouble.

[Gumballl]

I got my wife a visa 5 years ago. I was not impressed with the service then (tho' it may have improved.) The on-line form kept crashing; They required an address where we would be staying (I eventually put The Bellagio Las Vegas) ; the appointment was difficult to get (I tried at 5am;) the appointment time was insulting - only 7.30 am so necessitating an overnight stay in BKK; despite arriving, as instructed, it took 4 hours for her to be seen; the interview was a formality - an American speaking pigeon Thai. I'd just vowed that I would never spend any tourist American $ again when she emerged with a 10 year visa! I can't remember ticking that box or paying for it. We've been back twice since.

I am a Brit living in Thailand with no where near the assets you have described so you should have no trouble.

Why was a 7:30am appointment insulting? Were you expecting an operation similar to a 24-hour McDonalds, where you can just pop in at your leisure? I bet the Brit embassy doesn't operate like this.

As for the interview, it is to go over the information that has been provided to verify that such is true and correct, and to get a feel as to whether the person being interview is telling the truth.

Unlike many countries, the US actually has numerous applicants seeking visas (whether for tourism, immigration, or business), and because the hours of operation at the Consulate are finite on any given day, one can expect long delays during the interviewing process. In other words, on the day of your wife's appointment, she was not the only one being interviewed.

[islandguy]

some notes from last weeks experience:

applicants were allowed to carry a bag into embassy, unlike what is stated on web site

wife spent about 2 hours standing in line inside the building. Wear comfortable shoes

her photo had too dark a background. was able to make another photo inside but added time to process

in her case, an easy application to get approved. biggest question was about me, the husband, think that he was trying to find out if she was going to go in on a tourist visa and then apply for a change of status was. She replied, yes she knew she could apply for a green card, and yes she wanted a tourist visa instead. That worked for her.

Didn't feel anybody was very friendly except for the helpful and very low status lady security guard at the front.

I would say that is a stressful experience, not made easier by the staff. Urge your wife to stay cool, think about what she is about to say, and keep the answers brief. My wife said many applicants were stressed, angry, or losing their cool.

Edited August 16, 2015 by islandguy

[islandguy]

Update: passport was mailed the following day, Friday, and delivered to her workplace late Monday. 10 year multiple entry (seems to be the norm).

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Well, good, congrats.. Have a nice trip.

Mac