How can I help my Thai partner obtain a US tourist visa to attend a wedding?

Mar 19, 2024
7 months ago
Ken ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Im here in retirement visa. I’m planning on going back to US mid-May to attend best friends wedding and be for a month Would love to get my Thai partner to be there with family and friends but I know I know not easy.

I think it’s about assets and perceived escape potential.

She owns property, homes, has teenage daughters she’s responsible for, job but not regular like corporate income. We’ve together a little less than a year - that may be a qualifying or disqualifying factor.

Don’t tell me it’s not easy I know - but maybe there is the right person to ask and maybe make it happen. Like an agency

Thanks
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the challenges faced by an expat in Thailand who wishes to bring his Thai partner to the US for a wedding. He seeks advice on potential avenues to secure a tourist visa for her amidst short notice and the complexities surrounding visa applications. Comments from the community provide insights into the difficulties of obtaining a US tourist visa for Thai nationals, including the importance of organizing documentation and the likelihood of denial based on various factors such as assets and travel history.
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Stuart ***********
A Thai visa agent can't guarantee you a visa for the USA. All they can do is organise the proof that you have to provide anyway, so you would be wasting your money. They can't bribe someone in the usa to guarantee success.

Get your proof (lots of it) organised, cover everything requested by immigration, with each document numbered and a list of all the documents. Then submit it yourself. If your proof is badly organised or missing, the chances are they will reject the application.

Good luck.
Bob **********
If you can do it ,it will take a lot of time most are denied on first application
Neil ********
Get her to be seen to fund it as a holiday and apply for a tourist visa quickly. You will have to book flights and show hotel or family residence
Ken ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Neil *******
Yes....can book a flight but using my miles....might not look right. Probably have to be a paid flight ya?
Neil ********
@Ken *******
just need to show the flight info and not how it is paid for. They just want to know it’s booked as a return flight.
Chris *******
I tried tourist visa first

Sane background

Denied

If it would have been finance visa

Easier

I never re tried

Just married

Got her green card

We’re in usa now leaving to come back today

Good luck
Ken ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ******
finance or fiance?
Chris *******
@Ken *******
Thank you

Fiancé
Wilhelmina ********
A B2-visa is still OK for May. Read thoroughly, including how to expedite an appointment. No agency required, you and your gf DIY by using that wedding thingy. Start doing things now though.
Ken ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wilhelmina *******
that would be nice
Ken ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes I think maybe not work with short notice but good to have connections. One thought is if we travel regionally together to place she can go (like Vietnam) and return again - then that looks good like we are able to go somewhere and actually return 😂
กะลาสี *****
American here who has tried to get my Thai WIFE a US tourist visa in the past and I've had no luck. I could move back to the US & apply for a green card for her but that would take months and honestly, neither of us want to live in the US anyway. I do not believe the odds are in your favor but I wish you good luck regardless.
Ruth *******
Where are you, for starters? I think Brandon I right, but you could ask an agent. I know of one with a great reputation (no personal experience) in Bangkok, but that does you no good if you’re elsewhere.
Ken ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ruth ******
Koh Samui but we travel around - Thursday in Bangkok on way to Chiang Mai visit
Ruth *******
@Ken *******
if you’re not staying put to go through the process, you’ve further reduced the chances of finding a solution. Sorry.
Ken ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ruth ******
I’m here. She owns home here. We are just driving like small trip
James *********
@Ken *******
agent in Thailand will be NO help for this situation.
Ruth *******
@Ken *******
I would suggest looking for a local agent ASAP and ask.
Terary **********
Getting a US visa for a Thai person is a lottery. Even if you have all the requirements it's still a crap-shoot. I have a buddy married to a Thai lady 20+ years. They lived in the US for a few years. She didn't want the green card so gave it up. She has an abundance of assets (not wealthy but comfortable), has family here, educated with a masters degree. She had to apply for a tourist visa a few times. The US embassy is the US government so there is very little you can do ( bribes, agents, etc).

Try and try again. Or have the wedding in Bali...
Ken ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Terary *********
but she is lucky girl
Ady ******
Try key visa in Pattaya they can get her a visa
Mark ********
@Ady *****
They can circumvent US immigration from Pattaya....WOW!
Thomas *******
@Mark *******
They fly them to Mexico and walk over with everyone else. Bonus is they get EBT cards, an apt. and your choice of mini van. Sorry to be a smartA**, but it was hard to resist.
Aaron *******
@Thomas ******
And false.
Ady ******
@Mark *******
they done mine to get my wife to England while I was in Thailand
Jeffrey **********
@Ady *****
England is now in America?
Ady ******
@Jeffrey *********
he’s in Thailand and wants to take his lady to America it doesn’t matter where he wants to take her he can just use an agent
Mark ********
@Ady *****
Having done all this through to citizenship when it was actually easier and i use the word easier lightly i have no idea how you think an agent can influence a foreign governement. If you are talking about them falsifying documents to do so i think they are pretty cute about that now and it will likely end up a permanent refusal...
Thomas *******
@Mark *******
The only thing they will accomplish by using an agent to HOPEFULLY get a U.S. visa will be contributing to an agent's pocketbook. They will be no closer to their destination and maybe even further away after using an agent after trying to circumvent what the U.S. requires.
Brandon ************
I'm honestly not sure you even have enough time at this point. Mid May is only 2 months away, and appointments at the embassy for tourist visas are usually booked out for multiple months.
Thomas *******
@Brandon ***********
I got the K1 visa way back in 2009 and it took 18 months. She could try for a tourist visa with no mention of a boyfriend and having assets back home. I think that would be her best choice. The May timeline IMO is out of the question. If she mentions a relationship, I think it would make it even harder. This is from talking to others that tried to get a Thai GF into the U.S..
Thomas *******
Do you agree that there is nothing an agency can do for you as far as dealing with the American Embassy? I see people recommending an agency and I think that's just a waste of money as they have no say-so in what the embassy says, unless there might be backdoor workings going on.
Brandon ************
@Thomas ******
pretty much. I'd call it a waste of money
Brandon ************
@Thomas ******
K1 is down to about 9 months now. But still not an easy process.
Wilhelmina ********
@Brandon ***********
Correct. Unless, he would start looking for means to get a special schedule like now, but really, likely unlikely under the rules and procedures. Too late indeed.
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