I have a few questions about a tourist visa for my wife. She has a interview at the US embassy in a couple of days for a tourist visa. Does she have to pay the visa fee before she goes to the interview? Also what documentation does she need to bring to the interview that would help? Can the embassy issue her a visa, but be denied entry at US immigrations? We have not started the spousal visa process yet. Any advice anyone can give will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Yes, you need to pay for the visa application before you apply. And it is not refundable even the visa application is rejected.

Documents that i provided during my interview includes recent pay slip, letter from employer, my itenirary in the USA. Your wife should provide documents that shows she will return to Thailand after her visit.

Getting a visa doesn't guarantee her entrance to the USA. Officer at the POE can deny her entry and send her back on the next flight. Maybe she should take her ring(s) off (thats what I did) and said she is visiting friends. Telling them that she is visiting her husband will raise a red flag as they might think that she will stay to adjust her status.



Good luck and let us know the outcome.

US Embassy in Thailand

Documentation proving that she is returning to Thailand will be the big key to getting a tourist visa in Bangkok. Examples are a copy of a long-term lease, evidence of property or business ownership, a letter from her employer stating when she is expected back to work, evidence of need to care for family or return to school. Evidence of a long-term banking relationship might also help.

In my DIL case, a return ticket was not enough evidence and she was denied. They were in a similar situation as yours.
As a recent college graduate, she had no lease and no job to return to. They had not submitted an I-130 yet, as they hadn't decided at that point in which country they were going to live. We had hoped to have a nice reception for our newlyweds over the holidays. Any note from you should include her return date and that you will see to it that she returns. It's important to be truthful and not hide the marriage, as that could come back to haunt you when applying for other visas in the future. Any proof she takes to her interview should be taken to the POE, too. I wish we had found visa journey prior to the kids taking any action at all, then costly mistakes could have been avoided. Make sure she does not trust any fly-by-night visa artists over there, either! One of them gave her bad advice.

Now the kids are in the I-130/K-3 process. Our son just returned from visiting her for another month. Fortunately we
got to spend 3 1/2 weeks traveling with them in Thailand last year and met her family. We love her dearly and are anxious for them not to have to endure this separation. It's imperative that she understands that the burden of proof is on her to prove ties to Thailand.

I wish you both the best and many happy years together.