Thai National Transiting In The Usa

[Benjawan]

Hi Everyone,

I am going to travel to Guatemala from Thailand for a short contract (10 days) this month. I want to take my Thai Girlfriend with me. We would like to Transit (just change planes) in the USA. LAX probably, on the way there and on the way back.

Does she need a visa to do this and if so what kind?

Assuming that she does need a visa, how much hassle, what are her chances?

Here is some info about her.

She is 29 years old, divorced with two children from her former marraige.

She has been living with me (British Citizen) for the past 2 years, in Phuket. Her children stay with her Mum in Khon Kaen. I am also divorced from a Thai.

She is in full time employment with my Thai company, (That is I am the managing director)I do not have a work permit for Thailand, I am classed as a tourist. The company never has any contracts in Thailand, it is all abroad.

She can show salary going into her account for the last 2 years. Her current salary is 80,000 Thai Baht per month,

She has over 30 Rai of land in Khon Kaen in her name. We are also having a house built currently in Khon Kaen.

She has about 100,000 Bt Savings and credit cards in her own name.

She has travel insurance.

She has travelled almost everywhere I have been for the last two years including about 5 trips to the UK. She is now on her third UK tourist visa in a row, this time they gave her a 2 year multiple entry visa. (Issued in British Embassy Doha)

She has had plenty of other visas to plenty of other countries we have visited together.

She already has her visa for Guatemala.

Will she have to have a medical / Blood test to apply for a visa, and if so are there any approved hospitals in Phuket or Khon Kaen? Does this mean the US Immigration will have/ are entitled to have a copy of her DNA ?

Any info would be much appricated, we could transit in Heathrow or Madrid instead if this is going to be a big story.

Any info from Board members would be really great.

[johnb]

Hi Everyone,

I am going to travel to Guatemala from Thailand for a short contract (10 days) this month. I want to take my Thai Girlfriend with me. We would like to Transit (just change planes) in the USA. LAX probably, on the way there and on the way back.

Does she need a visa to do this and if so what kind?

Assuming that she does need a visa, how much hassle, what are her chances?

Here is some info about her.

She is 29 years old, divorced with two children from her former marraige.

She has been living with me (British Citizen) for the past 2 years, in Phuket. Her children stay with her Mum in Khon Kaen. I am also divorced from a Thai.

She is in full time employment with my Thai company, (That is I am the managing director)I do not have a work permit for Thailand, I am classed as a tourist. The company never has any contracts in Thailand, it is all abroad.

She can show salary going into her account for the last 2 years. Her current salary is 80,000 Thai Baht per month,

She has over 30 Rai of land in Khon Kaen in her name. We are also having a house built currently in Khon Kaen.

She has about 100,000 Bt Savings and credit cards in her own name.

She has travel insurance.

She has travelled almost everywhere I have been for the last two years including about 5 trips to the UK. She is now on her third UK tourist visa in a row, this time they gave her a 2 year multiple entry visa. (Issued in British Embassy Doha)

She has had plenty of other visas to plenty of other countries we have visited together.

She already has her visa for Guatemala.

Will she have to have a medical / Blood test to apply for a visa, and if so are there any approved hospitals in Phuket or Khon Kaen? Does this mean the US Immigration will have/ are entitled to have a copy of her DNA ?

Any info would be much appricated, we could transit in Heathrow or Madrid instead if this is going to be a big story.

Any info from Board members would be really great.

Benjawan

IMHO - if you are not entering the USA but just transiting through on a booked flight then you do not need a visa as you are not leaving airside

Johnb

[taxout]

She certainly needs a visa to transit the US, even under the conditions you've described.

The Transit-Without-Visa and International-to-International programs, which eliminated the need for visas in these circumstances, have been suspended since August, 2003.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/iti_transit.xml

[Naam]

Hi Everyone,

I am going to travel to Guatemala from Thailand for a short contract (10 days) this month. I want to take my Thai Girlfriend with me. We would like to Transit (just change planes) in the USA. LAX probably, on the way there and on the way back.

Does she need a visa to do this and if so what kind?

Assuming that she does need a visa, how much hassle, what are her chances?

Here is some info about her.

She is 29 years old, divorced with two children from her former marraige.

She has been living with me (British Citizen) for the past 2 years, in Phuket. Her children stay with her Mum in Khon Kaen. I am also divorced from a Thai.

She is in full time employment with my Thai company, (That is I am the managing director)I do not have a work permit for Thailand, I am classed as a tourist. The company never has any contracts in Thailand, it is all abroad.

She can show salary going into her account for the last 2 years. Her current salary is 80,000 Thai Baht per month,

She has over 30 Rai of land in Khon Kaen in her name. We are also having a house built currently in Khon Kaen.

She has about 100,000 Bt Savings and credit cards in her own name.

She has travel insurance.

She has travelled almost everywhere I have been for the last two years including about 5 trips to the UK. She is now on her third UK tourist visa in a row, this time they gave her a 2 year multiple entry visa. (Issued in British Embassy Doha)

She has had plenty of other visas to plenty of other countries we have visited together.

She already has her visa for Guatemala.

Will she have to have a medical / Blood test to apply for a visa, and if so are there any approved hospitals in Phuket or Khon Kaen? Does this mean the US Immigration will have/ are entitled to have a copy of her DNA ?

Any info would be much appricated, we could transit in Heathrow or Madrid instead if this is going to be a big story.

Any info from Board members would be really great.

Benjawan

IMHO - if you are not entering the USA but just transiting through on a booked flight then you do not need a visa as you are not leaving airside

Johnb

that is not quite correct. U.S. airports do not have transit areas (as other airports have). it is therefore recommended to apply for a transit visa.

[thaihome]

As the USA does not have exit immigration, all depature gates, both domestic and international are inside immigration. If arriving on a international flight, you must go through immigration in order to connect to another flight, even if it is another international one.

Not sure if transist visa are issued as there would be no way to control exiting from airport instead of catching connecting flght.

Interesting question, let us know what you find out.

TH

[Benjawan]

As the USA does not have exit immigration, all depature gates, both domestic and international are inside immigration. If arriving on a international flight, you must go through immigration in order to connect to another flight, even if it is another international one.

Not sure if transist visa are issued as there would be no way to control exiting from airport instead of catching connecting flght.

Interesting question, let us know what you find out.

TH

Thanks for the helpful replies. It seems that she needs a C1 Transit visa, which would entitle her to stay in the USA for up to 29 days. Actually she would need 2 x C1 visas one for the way there and one for the way back. You would think I could just call the US embassy in Bangkok and ask, but that is not possible. You have to book an appointment to ask a question and that costs 760Bt !!!!. I might try either an agency in Bangkok or an embassy in another country. Anyone know a good US visa agency in Bangkok? I am pretty sure she can get the visa, I just don't want to stuff up the application.

[kenk3z]

Wow - 29 days in each direction! No restrictions otherwise? That's almost as good as a tourist visa.

You just pick a country that has no restrictions on Thais for tourist visas, and go there for one day. The 29 days before and the 29 days after you can spend in the USA as a transit location.

Somehow I feel there must be additional restrictions.........

kenk3z

[Benjawan]

There will be restrictions, it will probably be just as hard to get the transit visa as it is to get a regualar tourist visa. (perhaps a little easier)

A nearby country Thais don't need a visa (in Advance) for is Argentina. But If I were an embassy official I would be more convinced if the final destination required a visa and the applicant had it already. Guatemala is not a good example as there is no embassy in Bangkok, she had to send her passport to the Embassy in Japan. But there is an Embasy for Uraguay in Bangkok.............

However from what I have read on this site it seems that the US tourist visas are 10 year multiple entry so if I wanted to take my GF to USA I would make the extra effort and go for that.

[JohnJr]

You could route your flight through Narita to Tijuana Mexico and bye pass US immigration.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread....ghlight=tijuana

[Benjawan]

That is a good Idea, I will look into it, it still would mean a visa for Japan though, Thais have to have one incase the onward flight is cancelled ARRRRH. but it probably would be way easier than the US visa. Thanks for the idea.

[pgs]

be aware that even thinking of going near the US now gives them full right to full background checks on you BEFORE your plane leaves the first airport.

They will have: Rego & licence details / full list of every country you have ever been to / any financial details / land holdings / access to your email (sounds off, but is correct - they will check it if you raise a flag or complain about it. best to give the travel agent a new hotmail or yahoo address). But wait, there's more: before you land in the US, they will have had a list of what movies you watched & what you ate - just in case it gives a different story of your religion.

Nothing like a little paranoia there. Personally, I couldn't be paid enough to go to the US.

[thaihome]

That is a good Idea, I will look into it, it still would mean a visa for Japan though, Thais have to have one incase the onward flight is cancelled ARRRRH. but it probably would be way easier than the US visa. Thanks for the idea.

No need for Japanese visa if tranisiting through Narita. Have done it many times and you don't enter Japan.

TH

[JaiDamJungLoei]

That is a good Idea, I will look into it, it still would mean a visa for Japan though, Thais have to have one incase the onward flight is cancelled ARRRRH. but it probably would be way easier than the US visa. Thanks for the idea.

No need for Japanese visa if tranisiting through Narita. Have done it many times and you don't enter Japan.

TH

That is correct. When you get to Narita you will be run through security and sent to the departure area, where you will wait for your plane - even if it's late. No entry into Japan is allowed.

Last year there was a snow storm in Narita that closed the airport for a day. Over 10,000 people were stuck in the departure areas for up to 48 hours. If you're worried, bring enough cash to eat at airport restaurants, a couple changes of cloths and a blanket to sleep on in the terminal.

Getting a US transit visa is as hard as getting a tourist visa, so you might as well apply for a multiple entry tourist visa. My sister in law applied for a tourist visa last year and the embassy gave her a 10 year multiple entry. This surprised me, as the US had stopped issuing the 10 year visa for several years. Your GF will need to show sufficient evidence that she will not want to overstay. After that it's all up to the consular office she talks to.

FYI, if you are not listed as an additional person on her embassy appointment, you will not be allowed in the embassy unless you are a US citizen. Due to school constaints, one of my nieces had a separate appointment for a tourist visa from my sister in law. Her mom was not listed on her appointment, as her mom already had a visa. The embassy entry people denied entry to her mom, and then the consular officer denied my niece's visa because her mom wasn't with her. They had to wait two months for a new appointment, and pay the fee again.