So you’ve met the woman of your dreams here in the Land of Smiles and you want to take her back to the US. A lot of erroneous information floats around about the US Immigration process particularly with regard to the tourist visa and hopefully this little article will clear up some of the confusion.
The Tourist Visa for your Thai Fiancee
I hear many people discuss the tourist visa in various forums and blogs and mostly I hear about how easy they are to obtain for Thai girls. It’s true that the United States Embassy in Bangkok is somewhat less reluctant to grant tourist visas than other diplomatic missions. That being said, they are still difficult to obtain. I usually tell people that the rejection rate is about 95% and I usually receive and incredulous response because they know someone who got one for their Thai girlfriend, fiancee, or wife. That may be the case, however, the Bangkok Embassy denies many tourist visas on a daily basis and they are not likely to alter this system. The overall rejection rate for Thais wishing to obtain a tourist visa is very high. The reason for this high rejection rate is the fact that a Thai applicant must overcome the presumption that they are merely using the tourist visa as a means for going to the US in an effort to permanently remain.
This presumption can be rebutted by showing “strong ties” to the Kingdom of Thailand, in short: money talks. Overall, “strong ties” implies financial ties, i. e. a well paying career or property in Thailand (condominium, home, company, assets, etc. ) that would require a trip back to the Kingdom. Many US Citizen boyfriends, fiances, and husbands looking to assist Thais coming to America inadvertently may be hurting the Thais chances of getting a tourist visa.
Say you take your Thai girlfriend or fiance to the US Embassy in Bangkok and tell them you want to get a tourist visa to show her around America. Immediately you have given more evidence in favor of denying the tourist visa because it looks as though you may use this visa to get married which would reinforce the presumption that she is simply using the visa to go to the US to remain. Also, if by chance you two get this visa and go to the US to subsequently get married then US Immigration can (and many times does) construe this as an attempt to defraud the US government.
With such a high rejection rate and the other risks involved if marriage is even a remote possibility and the US Citizen boyfriend or fiancé lives in the US, then it is a better option to file for a K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa with USCIS in order to bring the Thai loved one back to the US.
Thanks for Reading,
Benjamin W. Hart, Esq.
Posts Tagged ‘Land Of Smiles’
Bringing a Thai Girlfriend to the Usa: Facts About the Tourist Visa
December 9th, 2009Family Travel Destinations in Thailand
December 8th, 2009Thailand means “land of the free” and is famously acknowledged as the “land of smiles”. You will realize why it is so called when you are relaxing in a beach looking at your children sporting smiles as wide as the estuary of an ocean amuse at the water’s edge without absolutely any care whatsoever. The kingdom boasts a wealth of culture and tradition. It also has the scenic beauty of a multifaceted countryside and gives satisfaction for everyone. Thailand has an enviable history, tropical climate and well known hospitality which is just perfect for families of all kinds ranging from the enterprising to the lazy and vacation minded families searching for pleasure.
The three major destinations that suits families are Hua Hin, Phuket and Bangkok. Hua Hin can be reached from Bangkok with a three-hour drive or a short flight. It offers safe swimming beaches, golf courses, spa resorts and magnificent shopping facilities. This is the oldest and most traditional Thai resort and is a real mixture of the attractions of a contemporary holiday destination with the beauty and fascination of a still bustling fishing port.
While most other Thai holiday destinations are specifically aiming at foreign tourists, Hua Hin is a holiday resort for families. Besides boasting a stunning beach which is as long as 5 miles, Hua Hin offers the highest density of world class golf courses anywhere in Thailand. However, it is not yet recognized as an international golf destination. Green-fees and other costs are at the moment among the cheapest in the world and course maintenance and services are excellent. Apart from sun-filled days on the beach, leisure activities for the whole family include all kinds of water sports.
In the surrounding areas around the town you can find exceptional parks and peaks, caves and waterfalls. Once it is evening the winding roads with numerous and diverse shops make a fantastic stroll. The restaurants constructed on stilts into the sea provide excellent seafood in the legendary and unmatched preparation of the Thai cuisine. Hua Hin offers you everything needed for a unique holiday experience.
Phuket Island is arguably the most celebrated tourist destination in Thailand. Phuket is widely known as the “pearl of the south” and has an excellent selection of resorts from three to five star. There is a compelling scenery on display and the main attractions include the majestic limestone scenery of Phang Nga Bay, the admirable Phi Phi Island and other options like elephant rides, canoeing, rock climbing and horse riding are also available. It also offers tourists the chance for sightseeing around the historic temples, shopping in the alluring markets and nature reserves where you can enjoy a comfortable holiday on journeys to Thailand.
Bangkok, the busy capital city of Thailand, is famous for many historic pagodas, monuments and tourist attractions. Some of the popular sights are the Chao Praya River on which Royal Barge parades took place, The Grand Palace – the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, the Marble Temple, the Golden Mount and other favorite destinations include the Temple of the Golden Buddha which is home to an image of the Buddha which is three meters tall and made of solid gold, the National Museum and the Royal Barge Museum. Bangkok has achieved fame also for its shopping district and its life after dark unfolds with clubs and bars functioning throughout day and night. So if you are planning an overseas family trip, there may not be too many better choices than the diverse and awe inspiring country of Thailand.
Why is Thailand Such a Popular Travel Destination?
December 2nd, 2009Thailand, or the “Land of Smiles”, as it is also called, is one of the most popular tourist destinations. When you ask someone what are his top travel destinations, Thailand will often be the answer. What makes Thailand such a popular tourist destination? We will see that there are quite a few contributing factors that make Thailand such a popular country.
First of all, Thailand isn’t called the “Land of Smiles” for nothing; there is a good reason why it has that name. Thailand has the reputation of being a country that is extremely hospitable for tourists. Thais are such nice people, always smiling and trying to help whenever they can. They are genuinely interested and have at heart that everyone who visit’s Thailand enjoys their stay. Even though this is a very good reason to visit Thailand, there are a few more that make’s it a must for any tourist.
Another reason would be the rich culture and history of the country. When you visit Thailand, you will be amazed at the number of great temples that you can find a bit everywhere. While in Bangkok, everyone should stop by the Grand palace and the temple of the Emerald Buddha. After that, whether you go up North towards Chiang Mai or down south towards Phuket, you will find many temples and a rich culture that is truly unique. Ayutthaya is such a grand sight to behold and is an UNESCO world heritage site. But there are not only nice temples and ruins to visit in Thailand, the natural beauty of the country is one of its greatest assets.
Beautiful beaches in the South, mountains and rainforest to the North, there is really something for everyone in Thailand. Phuket is one of the top destinations in South East Asia and for good reasons. The beaches are superb, the weather is great, what can you ask more? In Thailand there are more beautiful beaches than you can possibly hope to visit during your trip, so you should choose carefully. Koh Phi Phi is one of the most popular and became famous after the movie The Beach. There are hundred of tourists that visit Koh Phi Phi every day. But the North also has its charm, although a different kind of charm. If you want to do some jungle trek, you will be very happy by going around Chiang Mai. It is a very fulfilling experience to do a jungle trek in the mountains around Chiang Mai and to visit some small villages.
Shopping is another reason why so many people go to Thailand. Bangkok is quickly becoming a shopper’s paradise. There are huge shopping malls being built around the city and the prices are very good. You can find many bargains if you look around and can also find the top brands in the bigger shopping malls such as Siam Paragon and Central World. If you stop by Bangkok, you should definitely go to the Chatuchak weekend market, the biggest open market in the world. There are over 15,000 stalls and each day hundred of thousands of people go to the market.
Thai food is another reason why people want to go to Thailand. Everyone knows about Thai food, it is very popular and gaining in popularity in Europe and North America. In Thailand, Thai food is much better than what you will find anywhere else and there are restaurants everywhere. There is so much choice of food that when arriving in Thailand you won’t know where to eat. Thai cuisine is very diverse, as there are specialties form the North of Thailand and also form the South. You should definitely try a Pad Thai when you arrive in Thailand, you will fall in love with that meal.
Finally, the last reason is the price. Aside from the air ticket, staying in Thailand is very cheap. You can find nice hotels for about 30$ US and if you eat in smaller restaurants it will cost you around 2$. Activities are also very cheap, as is travel. Staying in Thailand won’t cost you as much as the air ticket if you want to stay on a budget. You could easily spend a lot of money if you stay in the top hotels, as there are prices for everyone, but you can also easily spend very little each day.
So with all these nice factors that make Thailand truly unique, it is no wonder that it is such a popular destination. Everyone should visit Thailand at least once in their life. All of these factors individually could be enough to visit this wonderful country, but when you add them all together, you get a destination that you won’t want to leave.
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By: Michael DeVries
