Mother-in-Law and Neice

[Eddie & Yana 2]

Hello!

I'm looking to get my mother-in-law a tourist visa to come visit us in the United States. My wife has just gotten a job, and won't be able to leave on vacation anytime soon to go visit her family, and her mother has never really traveled, so we thought it would be an awesome thing to have her come visit. There is a couple stipulations, however:

1: She takes care of her grand daughter, our niece. So our niece would need to join her (she's 7 years old).

2: My wife is a green card holder, I am USC.

3: My mother-in-law is from the Lisu Hilltribe, she was born and raised with no education. She's 60 years old. Her native language is Lisu, and her Thai is poor. She takes care of two of our other nieces as well, but their mothers are willing to watch them while they are on visit.

4: She will be staying with us the entire time, but American life definitely would not suit her. She has strong ties back to her Lisu village. She could barely speak the native language of Thailand, let alone be in an entire country speaking a language that is completely foreign. She is a farmer.

5: She receives support from us and her other daughters, and we could give her the financial support to show that she would have enough money to spend while in America, though all her expenses would be paid by us, is there an estimate of how much she would have to show in her bank account to be approved?

Just trying to work through all of this, but it's a strange situation. Especially since we are looking at how she is going to do at the interview with poor Thai skills. Anyone have any experience with a hilltribe in-law?

Thanks very much, I've been reading through articles for days trying to find a comparable situation.

[Karee 4,190]

Hello!

I'm looking to get my mother-in-law a tourist visa to come visit us in the United States. My wife has just gotten a job, and won't be able to leave on vacation anytime soon to go visit her family, and her mother has never really traveled, so we thought it would be an awesome thing to have her come visit. There is a couple stipulations, however:

1: She takes care of her grand daughter, our niece. So our niece would need to join her (she's 7 years old).

2: My wife is a green card holder, I am USC.

3: My mother-in-law is from the Lisu Hilltribe, she was born and raised with no education. She's 60 years old. Her native language is Lisu, and her Thai is poor. She takes care of two of our other nieces as well, but their mothers are willing to watch them while they are on visit.

4: She will be staying with us the entire time, but American life definitely would not suit her. She has strong ties back to her Lisu village. She could barely speak the native language of Thailand, let alone be in an entire country speaking a language that is completely foreign. She is a farmer.

5: She receives support from us and her other daughters, and we could give her the financial support to show that she would have enough money to spend while in America, though all her expenses would be paid by us, is there an estimate of how much she would have to show in her bank account to be approved?

Just trying to work through all of this, but it's a strange situation. Especially since we are looking at how she is going to do at the interview with poor Thai skills. Anyone have any experience with a hilltribe in-law?

Thanks very much, I've been reading through articles for days trying to find a comparable situation.

I think that's going to be a tough one. Does she have any land? The #1 thing is they need to be convinced of, is that she will return to Thailand. And the burden of proof is on her. You and your wife pretty much have nothing to do with it.

Edited October 2, 2012 by Karee

[Eddie & Yana 2]

Also, how do we deal with the Neice situation, would there be any stipulations to her coming with her since it's not her daughter, but it's her grand daughter? We would consider legal domestic adoption as an option if that would help the situation, since she pretty much is her mother, albeit not her biological.

[Karee 4,190]

Also, how do we deal with the Neice situation, would there be any stipulations to her coming with her since it's not her daughter, but it's her grand daughter? We would consider legal domestic adoption as an option if that would help the situation, since she pretty much is her mother, albeit not her biological.

Not sure about the neice coming here on a tourist visa. You migth ping SIam Legal or one of those outfits over there. Beware of them just robbing you blind though.

As far as adoption in Thailand, it's pretty tough. Are either of the biological parents alive? If they are, gonna be tough. I've been trying to figure out how to get my neice here for years. So far the best answer I got from a lawyer was try to get her here on a tourist visa, and then try to adopt her here. Adoption laws in Thailand are very strict from what I was told a few years back.

[Boiler 45,558]

Forthe child to travel you need the Parents permission.

The consulate should be able to handle the language issue with notice.

The I 134 is unenforceable but might be handy for her to have.

[Ning 619]

Hello!

I'm looking to get my mother-in-law a tourist visa to come visit us in the United States. My wife has just gotten a job, and won't be able to leave on vacation anytime soon to go visit her family, and her mother has never really traveled, so we thought it would be an awesome thing to have her come visit. There is a couple stipulations, however:

1: She takes care of her grand daughter, our niece. So our niece would need to join her (she's 7 years old).

2: My wife is a green card holder, I am USC.

3: My mother-in-law is from the Lisu Hilltribe, she was born and raised with no education. She's 60 years old. Her native language is Lisu, and her Thai is poor. She takes care of two of our other nieces as well, but their mothers are willing to watch them while they are on visit.

4: She will be staying with us the entire time, but American life definitely would not suit her. She has strong ties back to her Lisu village. She could barely speak the native language of Thailand, let alone be in an entire country speaking a language that is completely foreign. She is a farmer.

5: She receives support from us and her other daughters, and we could give her the financial support to show that she would have enough money to spend while in America, though all her expenses would be paid by us, is there an estimate of how much she would have to show in her bank account to be approved?

Just trying to work through all of this, but it's a strange situation. Especially since we are looking at how she is going to do at the interview with poor Thai skills. Anyone have any experience with a hilltribe in-law?

Thanks very much, I've been reading through articles for days trying to find a comparable situation.

[Ning 619]

Like all of these this is a very unique situation.

# 1 If the niece MUST go there is zero chance of obtaing these visas.

# 2 You and your wifes status means nothing. These people will each have to apply and the cases be judged on the merits of each app.

# 3 Being a 60 year old Lisu helps if anyone truly understands what that means. She would never want to live in the USA. The question is will the officer know that? How can that be proven? That is key to this application. No one cares about her devotion to the others in the family because few know what that really means.

# 4 See # 3.

# 5 Anyone that knows about the Lisu would know that she doesnt need a bank.

This is all about her being able to present her case. Difficult I know but it can be done. She will never be granted a visa if she cant get her story in front of the officer. On the surface she will be denied as many are.

Key here is her age and that fact that she is Lisu. Bringing the niece in looks like a planned escort to the USA. She must do this alone.

You must concentrate on educating her as to presenting her case. Language can be overcome by sending someone with her to translate. However you must show her exactly how to get past the initial probable denial.

You can fill out the forms for her then scan them to her. The only chance you then have is to attempt to write a letter explaining her situation in hopes the officer will consider what you say in the decision. If you do that I caution you to use care in the choice of words and content.

I doubt you will find anything to compare this to and it really wouldnt matter anyway. Each of these are done as individual cases. Every person with a tourist visa is considered an intending immigrant. Concentrate on this aspect. She must prove beyond doubt she MUST return.

[Eddie & Yana 2]

The only reason our niece really needs to come is because she's too young to take care of herself (she's the youngest) and her mother isn't willing to watch her. It would probably be years until our mother-in-law would be willing to come visit without her. Is there no way of presenting the story that would circumvent this issue? It's annoying that the people with mal-intent have made this such a difficult problem. :\

[Ning 619]

The only reason our niece really needs to come is because she's too young to take care of herself (she's the youngest) and her mother isn't willing to watch her. It would probably be years until our mother-in-law would be willing to come visit without her. Is there no way of presenting the story that would circumvent this issue? It's annoying that the people with mal-intent have made this such a difficult problem. :\

The only way you will ever know or possibly be able to accept the outcome is if you have them apply. No one here can determin what will happen exactly. You will invest about 500 dollars in this and several weeks of your time if you want an official responce.

However when it comes to the child it will be next to impossible. The child would need written permision obtained by using a copy of the sample letter issued by the embassy which is submitted in Lisu and English. The letter would signed by the parent with legal custody. The parent would probably have to go to the embassy for an interview. The embassy will view this as an attempt to circumvent the immigration process. The child can not PROVE she MUST return. If there is ANY chance she wont they will not issue a visa. Especially to a child such as this. The explanation that the mother wont take care of the child is enough in its self.

The visa would be denied before the child ever got to the window in my opinion. What would the child or her bio parent say to convince the officer to grant the visa? This is the problem. If attempted they wont be there long.

You and I both know this problem is nothing new in Thailand when it comes to child care. Her mother may say she wont take care but in our country there are always people that will. This is done many times in Thailand including in my own family.