Lawyers Of Melbourne

posted by lawyersofmelbourne.com.au admin on Oct 29

Thai and US Immigration Traveling to Thailand or taking a loved one back to the USA from Thailand are two endeavors which require preparation and patience. If one evaluates the Immigration rules for the US and Thailand, it is immediatey apparent that Thailand has a less convoluted body of regulations. At the same time, Thailand accords foreigners with easier access to the country than the USA. Currently, Thailand allows people from many different countries to enter the Kingdom visa free. For those who enter Thailand without a proper visa, they may gain presence based upon a visa exemption. Most non-immigrants must depart the Kingdom within thirty days. With that in mind, a person entering Thailand at a land border upon a visa exemption will only be granted a 15 day stay in the Kingdom. Those who wish to remain within the borders of the Kingdom of Thailand for a longer duration can apply to obtain a Thai visa at a consular post outside of the Kingdom of Thailand. Common Thailand visa Categories are: Business, Tourist, Education, and “Other” which is used as something of a catch-all category. Trying to contrast the difference between the US and Thai Immigration systems immediately makes apparent the differences between these two seemingly similar processes. In the case of the Thai system, the rules are somewhat lax, however under the US system the rules have become increasingly stringent. There was a time when it was possible that a US tourist visa could be acquired without sitting for an interview. Since September 11th, the United States Embassy in Bangkok has required interviews for those applying for American tourist visas. There is not a fiance visa category for non-Thai citizens. Multi-national Thai couples who would like to remain in Thailand can apply for an “O” visa, but only if one of them is a Citizen or resident of Thailand. That being said, a visa application which is based upon an intent to marry a Thai is unlikely to receive approval. On the other hand, many foreign fiances of American Citizens come to America in order to get married. Many people submit a K1 visa application to be ultimately adjudicated at the US Embassy in Thailand. US-Thai couples who are successful with obtaining the K1 fiancee visa often marry in the USA and the Thai citizen adjusts their status to lawful permanent residence. Unlike Thailand, US permanent residence is somewhat easy to obtain for those married to a US Citizen.