Your Thai girlfriend will need a US visa to visit you in the US. The type of visa she will need depends on the purpose of her trip and her intentions while she is in the US. There are many types of available US visa for Thai girlfriend and there are few things to remember as well.
When applying for the US visa, your Thai girlfriend should be aware that US immigration authorities assume that everyone who wants to visit the US wants to immigrate there and live there permanently, even if they are just applying for a tourist visa. Because your girlfriend has a boyfriend in the US it will be even harder for her to disprove this assumption. They generally consider your relationship evidence that supports the assumption that she may want to move to the US permanently. They will not accept either your statement or her statement without additional proof. Here are some of the US Visa for Thai girlfriend.
US Tourist Visa
So, while nothing prohibits your Thai girlfriend from applying for a US tourist visa if she wants to visit you in the US as a tourist, it is unlikely that she will be granted a tourist visa. Of course, her circumstances are unique and she may be able to provide enough proof to convince the visa officer that she will return to Thailand. Before she makes her US Tourist Visa application she should gather all the evidence she has in preparation for the visa interview. It is a good idea to get the help of an experienced US immigration attorney. Siam Legal can help her put together a convincing set of documents based on her specific situation.
5 Factors to Consider when Applying for the US Tourist Visa for Thai Girlfriend
- Reason for the Visit
Your Thai girlfriend must present sufficient grounds and reasons why they would like to visit the US. She must provide travel itineraries that show activities and schedules during the stay in the US. - Length and Place of stay in the US
Upon application, your Thai girlfriend has to declare the length of time he/she intends to stay in the US and must provide a date of return to Thailand. Ideally, 3 to 4 weeks would be a good length of stay, especially for first-time travelers. She must present hotel accommodation and bookings which shows the place where he/she will stay in the US. - Employment in Thailand
-Having a job in Thailand will not guarantee to have the visa issued. However, having employment will increase the chances of getting a tourist visa. Immigration officers also look at the length of your current and previous employment, the type of job you have or had, and your current salary income. - Property and Personal Asset
Aside from employment, having financial assets are required to establish the ability to support the visit, evidence of property and financial assets should also be provided as evidence that your Thai girlfriend’s connections to the home country. Evidence can include ownership of real estate property, business, or house. - Travel History
If your Thai girlfriend has previously visited countries outside Thailand for tourism, and have not overstayed or have followed the allowable stay provided by the immigration, then she is more likely establishing the trust of the visa officer that she will not overstay during her visit to the U.S. and that you will return to Thailand after her vacation.
US K1 Fiancee Visa
If your Thai girlfriend doesn’t just want to visit the US as a tourist, there are a number of other types of US visas available. These include the US K1 fiancee visa, student visas, work visas, and immigrant visas.
If you and your girlfriend are planning to get married, you may want to officially “pop the question” and apply for a K1 fiance visa.
Requirements for US K-1 Fiancee visa
- You must be a US Citizen to petition for the K-1 Visa;
- You must have met your Thai fiancée face to face during the last two years. There are exceptions such as those pertaining to religious rites
- You and your Thai fiancée must pass a criminal record check for the K-1 Visa;
- Your Thai girlfriend or fiancée must pass a medical examination for the K-1 Visa;
- You must meet the financial requirements for the K-1 Visa; (petitioner is able to meet the income eligibility requirement in the Affidavit of Support he or she must show that his/her income is 100% of the poverty line depending on the state where you are from.
- You and your Thai fiancée must be free to marry to obtain a K-1 Visa.
- You must have the intention to marry your Thai fiancée within 90 days of arriving in the United States as the K-1 Visa is only valid for 90 days.
If you and your Thai girlfriend are unsure whether you want to get married, she should not apply for a US fiancee visa or K1 visa. The application process for a K1 visa is lengthy and requires you both to swear under oath that you intend to marry within 90 days of her arrival in the US.
However, if you do want to get married eventually, the K1 visa may be the best choice for your girlfriend. You may have a couple of months to a year from when you start the process to when she arrives in the US to spend more time together and get to know each other since the K1 application process generally takes at least 6 months and she will have 6 months after the K1 visa is issued to make her travel plans to the US.
Not yet ready to start your application?
How about a free consultation with an immigration consultant from Siam Legal International to discuss which visa is better for your Thai girlfriend, whether it is a US Tourist Visa or US K1 Fiance Visa? Schedule a telephone consultation with Siam Legal.
Ken Graham US Immigration Attorney Partner, Siam Legal International |
Natdaphon Luengsawang Senior US Visa Consultant Siam Legal International |
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