What is the process and challenges for a Thai national to obtain a tourist visa to the USA?

@Bruce ********

this is just for a tourist visa? Crazy how long it is

@Dave ********

if lucky, bus to NYC and stay in a time square hotel

Most of the people coming across the border nowadays are non-Mexican. They are literally flying in from other countries mailing their passport to a friend in America and then just walking across illegal crossings. Worst case scenario they deport you at a court hearing 3 to 5 years later

 but hey if you wanna try it legally and get a person from Thailand to come over to see you your chances are slim to none. 

@Bruce ********

Who said anything about doing it “properly”.

With absolutely no penalties for crossing over the border Why would anybody wanna do it properly nowadays? That’s why 160 thousand people cross our borders illegally every month. There’s no penalty whatsoever when you get caught. 

@Bruce ********

it’s a legit answer I know 3 people who have personally just walked across the border. 

Play blended in with the illegals crossing got fingerprinted and they gave him a packet and sent them on a bus to northern Ohio. They are allowed to stay until their court date which probably won’t be for 3 to 5 years. They flew from Haiti to Mexico and walked right across the border into Texas. About the easiest thing I’ve ever seen.  The only downfall was paying $800 for a fucking wristband from the cartel. And the $800 total (about $260 each) allowed all three of them to cross

@Robert *********

yeah Dude, way off. These immigration rules and policies were in effect WAY before the bad Orangeman went into office. Please take your fact-less political BS to a political forum.

@Robert *********

permanent TDS

@อ้วน ********

USA messed up, Trumpers don’t even want tourists, any sort of illegal entrant has a chance to stay, and no provision for an American to be a guarantor except marriage. My friend has several full passports with stamps from many Schengen and other non 5-eyes countries.

Sorry to hear that, that had to be incredibly frustrating. But I appreciate the info, best to have realistic expectations.

@อ้วน ********

same my partner. Job, money in bank, no mention of me, 2 week trip as a tourist. No questions didn’t look at documents

@อ้วน ********

nothing

@Ross *******

what did they ask her?

Phil Jones Actually not true. Many Southeast Asians just want to travel. Their income levels are higher than they were 30 - 40 years ago when the current rules were made. Many are wealthy or upper middle class. They're not interested in overstaying.

Highest percentage of overstays:

According to the Homeland Security report from March 30, 2020, the average overall Non-immigrant overstay percentage average only 1.03%.

Thailand is not specifically on the list of countries. The Top Five percentage countries with overstays: Portugal, Spain, Chile, Greece, and Lithuania. The top percentage being Portugal with 1.8% or 3,275 overstays.

Thailand is a Non Visa Waiver (NVW) country and the number of overstays for that category are 2.55%, less than the student overstay average of 2.71%.

There are some countries with a smaller number of visitors, but a much higher level of overstays, mostly from African nations.

@Michael **********

My comment is based on personal experience. I’m always shocked how many folks overstay. I realize this isn’t statistically valid but I’d bet on it.

@Eric *********

I'm not sure that there is proof that a lot of Thai people overstay in the USA. The immigration rules seem to reflect the Viet Nam war era and aren't appropriate for the present day.

@Bruce ********

My Thai girlfriend (now wife) applied for a tourist visa two times already over the past few years. The first time we meticulously prepared everything on our own, and the second time we hired an agency which her friends said was a 'sure thing'. She was summarily denied both times without the agent even appearing to look at the paperwork. Now that we're married we're going to try again, but I've heard some stories about wives being denied even when they have property, children, etc. It's really a messed-up system.

@Bruce ********

- It isn’t for everyone, the US seems to be a bleeding heart for some. This is why the US needs a total immigration reform. It’s an unfair system that essentially incentivizes and rewards the illegal immigrants that come through our Southern Borders.

“Robin Hood” is a Thai term for illegally immigrating.

@Bruce ********

my condolences.

@Bruce ********

yessir. And taxi from airport to downtown exactly 4x more expensive in LA than BKK for same distance

Nik Dadd need 100k baht in bank account in her name only for 90 days for Mexico visa. Your entry routing might work lol. And hell, you need food stamps here. This just cost me $32 in LA 😂😂😂

@Bruce ********

no matter where she enters from, she needs a visa and there is no visa on arrivals for Thai’s (at any entry point)

@Bruce ********

Even if she did get a visa (it’s not impossible) for Mexico. And you tried to go through land border. They would turn her away. My Filipino wife was a permanent resident of Canada. We lived in Winnipeg. I was driving to Windsor Ontario. I wanted to go through Sault Ste. Marie Michigan because it saves 12 hours of driving. U.S. immigration wouldn’t let us drive through. It’s a 6 hour drive. The female immigration officer was stamping her refusal for entry papers like she caught Al Capone. Coming back I went through Detroit tunnel. I had a Customs Officer. I already knew my plate was in their system. I pulled up. Flashed my badge. (I worked for CBSA) First question. “All Canadian?” I no sir my wife is a permanent resident we’re just driving through cuz it’s only 6 hours. He nodded his head, he understood. Then cocked his head to go through. “Thank you very much!” He had common sense.

I looked into Mexico. Make sure she has money in bank. A criminal record check. A return flight and hotel booking. Ties to bring her back to Thailand. She could probably get one.

@Bruce ********

thais need a US visa, so it’s no way they would let her through. 

@Bruce ********

She would need a visa for Mexico and it’s not easy to get. I already looked at it for my fiancé. And the U.S visa is extremely difficult to get. She needs very strong ties to Thailand and money in the bank. Same thing for Canada.

@Bruce ********

i don’t think it would be any easier at all. And for Mexico visa, she needs 100k baht in her bank account for 90 days before she can book an interview at consulate in BKK

@Robert *********

the statistics are easy to find.

I heard they only approve 30%.