Tourist Visa for Non-Immigrant Spouse

[jamster0105 7]

OK, I hope someone out there can help me with this. I am a US Citizen currently working and living in Bangkok with a Filipina spouse. We are both working in Thailand legally with Non-B immigrant visa's and we are considering travelling to the US for a vacation this coming holiday season. Neither one of us is planning on doing the K-1 or the IR visa at this time since we both enjoy living in Thailand. My wife has never been to the US and we have I would like for both her and my family/friends to all meet. We've both been married for 6 months and we can provide proof of residency here in Thailand along with working contracts? My questions is this: Will it be difficult to get a tourist visa for my wife since I am a US citizen? Will they decline her because of the risk of her staying there? Or should we just wait until we process for her to immigrate to the US? I hope someone out there has been in my situation before and can help answer these questions for me...Thank you all for your time.

[Ivy. 113]

My questions is this: Will it be difficult to get a tourist visa for my wife since I am a US citizen? Will they decline her because of the risk of her staying there? Or should we just wait until we process for her to immigrate to the US? I hope someone out there has been in my situation before and can help answer these questions for me...Thank you all for your time.

From what I've heard or read about tourist visas - they need to be convinced your wife will not stay there once she enters the US. So, what they're looking for is some kind of proof that she indeed will come back - this is usually being employed, owning a house or apt in the country you're coming from, having children that are staying behind during the trip..

I think a valid visa for Thailand, proof of residency and her work contract would suffice to show them that she plans to come back. That would be enough in my country anyway, so I think it basically comes down to how paranoid people working in US Embassy there are.

[Zee Bee 61]

I think the fact that both of you are working in Thailand will probably work in your favor. I would include some of your employment info as well to let the CO know that you are still working there.

Good luck.

[Ning 619]

OK, I hope someone out there can help me with this. I am a US Citizen currently working and living in Bangkok with a Filipina spouse. We are both working in Thailand legally with Non-B immigrant visa's and we are considering travelling to the US for a vacation this coming holiday season. Neither one of us is planning on doing the K-1 or the IR visa at this time since we both enjoy living in Thailand. My wife has never been to the US and we have I would like for both her and my family/friends to all meet. We've both been married for 6 months and we can provide proof of residency here in Thailand along with working contracts? My questions is this: Will it be difficult to get a tourist visa for my wife since I am a US citizen? Will they decline her because of the risk of her staying there? Or should we just wait until we process for her to immigrate to the US? I hope someone out there has been in my situation before and can help answer these questions for me...Thank you all for your time.

We were denied a tourist visa 3 times in a similar situation. The reason was the inability to meet the "strongest ties rule".

I was told by an officer at the BKK Embassy " your paper work is perfect & I believe everything you are telling me but if I give you a visa I will be fired that day". He said they feel the Thai & yourself will NOT return to Thailand. That is the history of the biggest percentage of appilcants. He said it was a " catch 22".

Dont be surprised when they turn you down.

We filed & later recieved a K 3. The process is long ,a pain, & expensive but worth it.

[jamster0105 7]

OK, I hope someone out there can help me with this. I am a US Citizen currently working and living in Bangkok with a Filipina spouse. We are both working in Thailand legally with Non-B immigrant visa's and we are considering travelling to the US for a vacation this coming holiday season. Neither one of us is planning on doing the K-1 or the IR visa at this time since we both enjoy living in Thailand. My wife has never been to the US and we have I would like for both her and my family/friends to all meet. We've both been married for 6 months and we can provide proof of residency here in Thailand along with working contracts? My questions is this: Will it be difficult to get a tourist visa for my wife since I am a US citizen? Will they decline her because of the risk of her staying there? Or should we just wait until we process for her to immigrate to the US? I hope someone out there has been in my situation before and can help answer these questions for me...Thank you all for your time.

We were denied a tourist visa 3 times in a similar situation. The reason was the inability to meet the "strongest ties rule".

I was told by an officer at the BKK Embassy " your paper work is perfect & I believe everything you are telling me but if I give you a visa I will be fired that day". He said they feel the Thai & yourself will NOT return to Thailand. That is the history of the biggest percentage of appilcants. He said it was a " catch 22".

Dont be surprised when they turn you down.

We filed & later recieved a K 3. The process is long ,a pain, & expensive but worth it.

Thank you all for the helpful information...my wife and I decided that she will go back to the Philippines and I will go back to the US so that we can start the I-130 petition....It looks as if we will be doing this in late august or early september.

[Todd-Leah 0]

OK, I hope someone out there can help me with this. I am a US Citizen currently working and living in Bangkok with a Filipina spouse. We are both working in Thailand legally with Non-B immigrant visa's and we are considering travelling to the US for a vacation this coming holiday season. Neither one of us is planning on doing the K-1 or the IR visa at this time since we both enjoy living in Thailand. My wife has never been to the US and we have I would like for both her and my family/friends to all meet. We've both been married for 6 months and we can provide proof of residency here in Thailand along with working contracts? My questions is this: Will it be difficult to get a tourist visa for my wife since I am a US citizen? Will they decline her because of the risk of her staying there? Or should we just wait until we process for her to immigrate to the US? I hope someone out there has been in my situation before and can help answer these questions for me...Thank you all for your time.

We were denied a tourist visa 3 times in a similar situation. The reason was the inability to meet the "strongest ties rule".

I was told by an officer at the BKK Embassy " your paper work is perfect & I believe everything you are telling me but if I give you a visa I will be fired that day". He said they feel the Thai & yourself will NOT return to Thailand. That is the history of the biggest percentage of appilcants. He said it was a " catch 22".

Dont be surprised when they turn you down.

We filed & later recieved a K 3. The process is long ,a pain, & expensive but worth it.

Thank you all for the helpful information...my wife and I decided that she will go back to the Philippines and I will go back to the US so that we can start the I-130 petition....It looks as if we will be doing this in late august or early september.

Since both of you are in Thailand with valid working permit, why not consider doing DCF ?

Leah

Edited July 5, 2008 by Todd-Leah

[rin and john 71]

Agree with Leah. Check with the embassy in Bangkok about filing the I-130 there.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/visas.html

Check out the VJ guide.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=dcf

John