I want to get a tourist visa for my Thai National wife. However, she was born in early 1960s in a remote village and was never issued a birth certificate.

Without a birth certificate, how much of a problem is this going to be just to get a tourist visa to come the the US to visit my family?

Do not recall it being required for tourist visa application - we had previously obtained immigration clearance (before deciding to live here) and believe had to provide alternate paperwork for that process - many people do not have birth certificates so local paperwork from officials/family is often required as an alternative.

But your use of the term "come to" and "visit family" may be a problem if you do not have solid ties to living in Thailand; as if not living here and married the assumption is that this may be an attempt to avoid normal immigrant visa process and once in USA a change of status might be requested.

Do not recall it being required for tourist visa application - we had previously obtained immigration clearance (before deciding to live here) and believe had to provide alternate paperwork for that process - many people do not have birth certificates so local paperwork from officials/family is often required as an alternative.

But your use of the term "come to" and "visit family" may be a problem if you do not have solid ties to living in Thailand; as if not living here and married the assumption is that this may be an attempt to avoid normal immigrant visa process and once in USA a change of status might be requested.

I've been marriage and living in Thailand since 2008 with the exception of one solo trip to the US in 2009. We're both retired. My wife has the house, land, car, motorcycles in her name and a son, daughter-in-law, in-laws, and immediate family in Thailand. I'm the one that wants her to go and meet my family. She's be happy to stay in Thailand and let me go alone. She has no interest in living in the US. Neither do I.

But instead of saying "go to" you said "come to" which kind of takes that living in Thailand record and makes it appear it is in the past. Just saying be very careful of such things as they can be very strict in that regard - be sure she has full information on your retirement here and such. That said it should not be much of a problem as not a new marriage and older folks - I was in room when wife was interviewed and officer asked me to appear when wife said had been approved for immigration but decided not to do - I showed that paper and interview was over and normal 10 year visa was issued.

Don't need a "birth certificate" ....Just need a passport.

That being said ....A newly issued passport with nothing in it may pose a problem on your application. You may want to take her a some trips to Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia etc to show she travels and comes home.

How will your wife get a passport without a birth certificate? Went through all this no birth certificate with an ex wife, can be overcome.

"I've been marriage and living in Thailand since 2008 with the exception of one solo trip to the US in 2009. We're both retired. My wife has the house, land, car, motorcycles in her name and a son, daughter-in-law, in-laws, and immediate family in Thailand."

Some advice as my wife has been refused twice. The above is pretty much my story except I had only been here 6 years, and there isn't son. The son is a plus if he is young and not going with you. My wife's interview was mostly about me. Questions like "Why does he like living in Thailand?". Although, she had a copy of my passport with marriage extensions, they wanted see my passport, which I had with me outside. They would not let her go out to get it. Give your wife your passport when she goes in.