Hi,

My wife's best friend getting married in Monterey, Mexico. She wants us to join them for the wedding in August this year.

Looks like a flight into Houston and then over the border into Mexico.

Never been to the states with my wife. I'm British, so can go in on a visa exempt entry I believe.

What is the process for my wife ? What type of visa and how long to obtain ? Any potential hiccups in the process ?

Thanks

As long as its a "transit" flight .....no visa needed

Better read this: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/other/transit.html

Mac

At best getting the visa will be a bit of hassle. At worst it will be a major nuisance. Simplest would be to fly to USA (LAX, Houston or Dallas) and just connect in airport to flight to Monterrey. All airside transit, no USA visa, but will need Mexico visa in any event. Mexico visa for Brit is simple wave-by but Thai will need proper visa. Same for return back via USA, whatever visa she may get will need validity for exit and return back to USA.

There is a bit of sightseeing planned in US too, so need a visa.

No need for Mexican visa if she has a valid US visa.

Looks like it's a 5000+ baht visa just for a single visit !

Apply for a B2 visitor/tourist visa. It's not as hard as many think. Check your application for errors several times and then check it again. The application will require an interview. She should have all supporting paperwork in order and (assuming you live in Thailand) she should have your passport with current and past visa/work permits, etc, etc flagged for the Con. Op to review.

Start here>> http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/non-immigrant_visas.html

Good luck, and have a great trip.

At best getting the visa will be a bit of hassle. At worst it will be a major nuisance. Simplest would be to fly to USA (LAX, Houston or Dallas) and just connect in airport to flight to Monterrey. All airside transit, no USA visa, but will need Mexico visa in any event. Mexico visa for Brit is simple wave-by but Thai will need proper visa. Same for return back via USA, whatever visa she may get will need validity for exit and return back to USA.

At US airports all arriving international passengers must go through immigration and customs. There is not an "inside immigration" airside since there is no exit immigration in the US.

As a non US citizen with a Thai wife, the OP's wife will have little problems getting a tourist visa since there is little reason for her not to return to Thailand. Just be sure to show her relationship to you and your ties to Thailand.

TH

If the non-US citizen's Thai wife (and I'm not referring to the OP here) had, many moons ago, worked in the bar business, would this affect the grant of a B2 tourist visa for a short holiday?