I am a US citizen my fiancee is Lao

[wasabi 4]

I am in Bangkok Thailand on a student Visa and would like to stay here about another year, though it's not imperative that I do if a visa could be obtained in less time than that. Because my fiancee is from Laos she is permitted to obtain monthly visas to stay here as long as she exits the country every 30 days. We both live together in an apartment in Bangkok and would like to move to the USA after marriage and hopefully being granted a visa.

Does anyone know if we need to go to Laos to get married? After that can I do the IR-1 process while I stay here in Bangkok? I still have a US bank account and address if needed. I also have a US job that I do remotely with sufficient salary to meet the I864 requirements. Is the IR-1 process the best option? I would like her to have a multi entry visa rather than single entry when we get to the USA.

Also should I not mention that I am presently in Bangkok Thailand but rather do everything through my US address?

[redglasses 1]

You can get married anywhere you want as long as it is legally performed.

I am not sure if it is easy to go for DFC in Thailand when your fiancee is Lao,

but I think it isn't impossible. Let's see what others say.

Assuming your fiancee and you will get married in near future and the timeline at the bottom of your message (signiture) is nothing to do with your current situation, the option is not IR1 but CR1.

My husband and I are both living in Japan and we put our Japanese address on all forms, but didn't have any problem.

Good luck!

[vbtbmrt 2]

that is correct you can marry anywhere but to be eligible for IR-1 you have to be married for 2 years

you can file for dcf you have live in that country for more then 6 months you should do dcf it is a little quicker and you can do it all right there good luck

[wasabi 4]

That signature has nothing to do with my present situation, I have deleted it.

I am a resident of Thailand however I am here on a student visa, I don't know if I can do DCF while on that or not.

Edited August 12, 2008 by wasabi

[wasabi 4]

Also I have just read that it is very difficult for a foreigner to marry a Laotion in Laos. You have to go through all kinds of checks and get approval from a village headmaster. My Fiancee has been living in Thailand for almost 20 years now however she is not a citizen of Thailand but working through the Lao system could be very difficult. Thus DCF here in Bangkok would be great. I will have been here 6 months November 2nd 2008.

http://laos.usembassy.gov/marriage_in_laos.html

[Yiyi and Chris 0]

Try and research for DCF, it's the best option you have... even if the Bangkok consulate doesnt allow it, and you have to move to Laos (both of you) for 6 months...

Your fiancee can easily get a residency card at bangkok (try that too)

You can also come back to the US, apply for a CR1, be appart from each other (sometimes even a year or more) and get the visa, by the way with this you will have problems because you haven't filed any tax return (i assume) so you will have a hard time gathering the information that the National Visa Center will request...

Good Luck

Edited August 12, 2008 by Yiyi and Chris

[wasabi 4]

I have filed US tax returns every year even though I at times do not live in the US. I work for a US company and am paid in US dollars to a US bank but can work 100% remote so I can live in Thailand if I chose. My fiancee and I don't particularly want to go to Laos more than needed. I would like to do the DCF method if possible. I don't want to return to the US and have to spend a year apart. I respect and understand many must do this but if I can avoid it I'd like to.

[Yiyi and Chris 0]

well knowing that... Absolutly! you should try the DCF, get a thailand residency for her after that everything should be smooth