If I marry a Thai national, can she enter the US with me without a visa?

Feb 28, 2024
8 months ago
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I recently joined and have a question about marriage I hope someone can help me with. If I marry a Thai national would she be recognized by US as my wife and allow for entry to America with me without a visa, and if not would it be difficult to get a visa for her? I am in Thailand presently on a Tourist visa.
6,488
views
11
likes
166
all likes
62
replies
1
images
28
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
Getting married to a Thai national does not allow her to enter the US without a visa. Despite being married, she will need to apply for a spousal visa (CR-1 or IR-1) to enter the US, which is a complex and lengthy process that can take up to two years. There are other visa options like a B-2 tourist visa for short visits, but obtaining any visa can be difficult and is subject to various criteria.
Steve *******
So you are not married yet so still early days, may I ask how long have you been together?
Steve *******
Ha ha ha entry without a visa, go on tell another one
Kal *********
It's difficult.::

It will earlier if u have her walk through the San Diego boarder ...

migrant crossing... Chinese now the #1 migrant crossing SoCal border
Chris *******
She must get a visa

If married already

It must be a green card

You must live in USA 6 months

Or

You can try the b visa

Very difficult to get

Must prove you are not staying in USA

Tourist visa

My girl friend then now my wife was denied

Good luck 👍

The easiest is a fiancé visa

However if married

Not permitted anymore

The green card is 1-2 years

1.5 expect
Giorgio ******
do fish have wings?

do chicken have teeth ??
Cliff *********
5555 no
Keith *******
Go to the Embassy or Consulate and speak to someone in citizen services, they will be able to tell you everything you will need. She will still have to get a spousal visa.
Albert ********
I married a Thai lady 17 years ago. This was based on a Fiance visa granted in the US embassy. I would assume it still works that way. You need to be legally married in USA .that will grant her entrance in and out of USA.
Jack ****************
If wishes were fishes...
Bob *********
If going on wife visa, she will need to pass the background test, and embassy interview. It will take you 2 years of, waiting to get her a visa and green card. Your best bet is fiance visa, which will take a year after above checks
Mike *********
A friend of mine just went through the married visa process and it’s already over 1 year but they are close to getting it. He came to Thailand and married her then they started the process about 1.5 years ago. Took some time before starting the application by getting translated docs.
Victor **********
Try crossing the Mexican border. I've heard you just need to make an appointment in the app and make up a saddening story about your life😀 as easy as booking a haircut appointment!
Tom *********
Tom *********
@Gabriel *******
I had my sailboat in Mexico for 4 years. I've seen the issue from both directions. The difference now is there are more people from countries other than the America's. When there's an actual statute at our most famous port of entry that has a plaque saying: "Give me your poor, destitute, weak" ... and they actually come one should be ready to deal with them. The ability to do so has been stonewalled because the status quo benefits agribusiness, and the restaurant hotel industries.
Gabriel ********
@Tom ********
I’m all for immigration, we thrive on it and must have it…that immigration needs to adhere to protocol however and when it doesn’t it becomes a threat
Tom *********
@Gabriel *******
and the problem is global in nature. People in the US are often myopic to that fact.
Gabriel ********
Tom *********
@Gabriel *******
the 7 day average for entry is 9,600 according to DHS. Don't believe everything the media tells you.
Gabriel ********
@Tom ********
I’m familiar with that number…you may also note that yesterday set the record at over 10k…regardless, illegal immigration is very much alive at our southern border in numbers we haven’t seen in modern times
Tom *********
@Victor *********
you're wrong. I lived on the border in Arizona and been to Mexico hundreds of times. How about you? Ever been to MX?
Gabriel ********
@Tom ********
he’s not wrong…I lived on the border too…yesterday alone over 10,000 people crossed that border illegally and unfettered in Texas/az/cali…it’s the single biggest issue in the upcoming election
James *********
@Gabriel *******
Yea, for the trump arse lickers it is...
Gary ******
James *********
Gabriel ********
@James ********
it’s a problem for everyone when people enter any nation unfettered
Frank **********
Unfortunately the deck is stacked against you. Very hard to get a visa.
Bart **************
She does not qualify for entry without a visa just because you're married. It may help her get a partner visa, but as others have said, de facto relationships also qualify so this is not required. Neither is it sufficient. There are other criteria applicable. It's not at all easy to get that visa.
John ********
The sad things is, you can just walk across the border from Mexico, no visa no passport. But you want to come the right way it’s too hard.
Tom *********
It must be ok to jump to conclusions. You do it so well.
Tom *********
Keith Lacey you'd do the same as them were the situation reversed.
Keith *******
@Tom ********
liberal logic, so it must be OK to ignore immigration law. Does Thai immigration need to check your papers? ....
James *********
@John *******
now that's a mouthful of horse shit....
John ********
@James ********
they’re doing it everyday thanks to Biden.
Tom *********
@John *******
can you really? I lived for 7 years on the border in Arizona. I'll bet you $500 usd dollars you'd never make it.
John ********
@Tom ********
there doing it everyday !
Keith *******
@Tom ********
Ummm 10 million or more illegals here since Biden was elected would love to collect your $500 .....
Michael ***********
@Keith ******
10 mil, sounds like Fox News numbers !!
Keith *******
Tom *********
@Keith ******
No its not since Biden was elected. 10.5 to 12 million is the estimated number of all illegals from all countries at every port of entry.
Keith *******
@Tom ********
ummm yes, since Biden took office. Those are the "known" numbers since Biden took office. Another several million guestimated that were not actually seen, during that same time frame. These numbers are not only at the ports of entry, but along the entire Southern border over all 4 border States. There were estimates of 10 to 20 million already here before Biden took office. His administration is responsible for a currently open border. Anyone that thinks otherwise is just not paying attention or willfully ignoring it.
Gary ***********
@Tom ********
Texas is the easy border to cross... lol
Keith *******
@Gary **********
The Texas Governor has put the brakes on a lot of the illegal crossing recently. Still flooding in through the other three States though.
Andy **********
@Tom ********
I certainly had to show a British passport crossing from Mexico to the US. On the other hand, Mexico seemed most welcoming to the Gringos. No need for passport coming from US to Mexico. Seemed like rank hypocrisy. Interestingly, passports, in the modern sense, were originally used to stop people leaving not entering. Only trusted people were given passports.
Art ************
I would stay in Thailand and don't go back to the US.
Jack ****************
Ken *******
Check out USCIS website it lays all the forms needed. It is time consuming but they lay everything out for you. I brought my wife to America on a k1 visa and her daughter on a cr2 visa. Just takes time
Richard ******
If I were you I would contact the USA embassy in Bangkok and find out exactly what they require to get you wife legally in the USA 🇺🇸.

It has been 54 years since me and my Thai wife returned to the USA 🇺🇸.

We made many trips to the embassy.
Dirk **************
If you marry a Thai national, she would not automatically be recognized as your wife by the US government for the purpose of entry into the country without a visa. She would need to apply for a visa, such as a spousal visa (CR-1 or IR-1), to enter the US as your spouse. The process of obtaining a spousal visa is complex and very time-consuming (almost two years as it involves both the U.S. State Department and the Department of Homeland Security)If you just want her to come to visit a B-2 tourist visa is sufficient and easier to obtain.
Chris ***********
If or when?
Kool *******
There is no difference being married, or not, in trying to get her a visa to the US. She can still be rejected either way.
Cary ******
Check out www.visa journey.com. Helpful when I was trying to figure out how to go through the process.

It was easier as a fiancé than a spouse but my experience is over 10 years old.
Ken ***********
@Cary *****
i get a dead link
Cary ******
@Ken ******
****************************
Ken ***********
@Cary *****
many thanks
Eric **********
@Cary *****
I second VisaJourney. Very helpful.
Stuart *********
Just because you are legally married does not entitle your wife to travel with you to the US without a valid visa.

There are specific groups on Facebook about obtaining US visas. Try checking some of those out.

It is by no means an easy task to obtain one.
Steve *******
@Stuart ********
he is not married
Stuart *********
@Steve ******
I’ve no idea. The OP said they were.
Steve *******
@Stuart ********
he did not
Sean *********
@Stuart ********
yep. Easier to have her fly to Mexico and get escorted across in a luxury bus or flown in. Make sure she votes Democrat. She will even get a free luxury hotel room and $2200 a month. Courtesy of the American tax payers
Jeffrey *******
@Sean ********
Thai cannot fly to MX without a visa.
Sean *********
@Jeffrey ******
that’s unfortunate.
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else