Tourist Visa to USA for Thai Wife...questions!

by **semperfiguy** » January 29, 2012, 1:13 pm

In times past I have sponsored two foreign wives for immigration to the US, and both are now US citizens. My last experience was in 1991, and back in those days the process was relatively simplified and inexpensive and I had absolutely no hitches. I have now been retired and living in Thailand on a Non-Immigrant O-A Retirement Visa with my new wife (legally married) for the past 19 months and I have no intention of moving back to the US; however, later this year I would like to take my wife on a two week tour to meet my family and friends. My wife taught English in the government school system for 18 years, but took an early retirement when we married. Our car is paid for and our home will be paid in full this year, but currently all marital assets are in my name only.

Having said that, is there anyone on this forum who has been in a similar situation and whose wife has successfully (or unsuccessfully) obtained a tourist visa to the USA? Will you kindly elaborate on your experience with comments and suggestions. Thanks in advance!

by **Asiaphile** » January 29, 2012, 1:53 pm

On thaivisa.com there is a special section ('Visas and Migration to Other Countries') on how to obtain a foreign visa for your Thai spouse.
This post might be helpful: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/481 ... try4777229

by **BobHelm** » January 29, 2012, 1:54 pm

Don't know about the USA semperfi, but to the UK I would think that a Thai national with no large financial assets & not in full time employment would not stand a snowballs' chance in hell of getting a Tourist Visa.

The applicant has to convince the officials that they have every intention of exiting the UK before their visa expires.
Without assets & employment that is going to be a very difficult thing to do.
I know that a few years ago an application for a Tourist visa to the UK could not even be made unless the applicant had a certain amount of money in the bank. I'm not sure if that has changed now or not, but in general it has got much harder to obtain a Tourist visa to the UK, rather than easier...
If your spouse is well world travelled & has a passport full of visas to foreign countries then that could also act in their favour as it is an indication that they have been happy to apply by the rules before. If your wife has a brand new passport with no foreign travel indicated then, frankly that is another strike against.

The officials can only go by the facts presented to them, I think you are going to have a hard time convincing them unless you get a few 'facts' on your side first...
A bit of foreign travel maybe, if only in Asia...some assets in her name...Although I wonder why her name is not on the deeds to the land that your house is on. That could then, with the most favourable light presented on it, be seen as quite a considerable asset...

by **Allen A Hale** » January 30, 2012, 12:39 am

Semperfiguy: I have sent you two PMs with info regarding my personal experience regarding a visa for my wife.

by **rct** » January 30, 2012, 10:52 am

In 2002 when we first applied for my wife's Ameican tourist visa, prior to being married, and note she was a new college graduate from ABAC, she was denied the US visa because we did NOT show adequate proof that "her economic anchor is in Thailand." We showed one bank book from her mother, one of many, with huge amounts in and out on almost daily basis due to cash flow in business dealings, however the balance was small and that bottom line number was the only number they cared about. DENIED!

We reapplied the next day, of course paying all the fees a second time which I was not too happy about, and this second time showing all relevant documents related to MY presence in Thailand, since we were in fact saying that I am/was her "economic anchor." I showed my condo ownership document, etc. We secured the visa, and again a second visa a year later, each time only for the length of time we said we would travel in the US, and each time she was required to report back to the US embassy in Bangkok after the journey, to prove to them she returned. Again this was prior to being married.

I was at the embassy this morning with my family, new passports for both myself and my 5 year old son. The new appointment systems makes sense, it is much less crowded at the embassy, both the "foreigner" side as well as the American Citizen Services side. We were in and out within 30 minutes.

Tourist Visa to USA for Thai Wife...questions!