Seeking advice for Thai/US couple May 2025

[DELTAFOXTROT 93]

17 minutes ago, OldUser said:

My lawyer advised me not to travel on AP unless it was emergency back in 2019. I was in valid status on work visa back then. From what I remember, it was always recommended to stay in the US until GC is issued. 

Most of people I knew who adjusted, followed this advice. A few friends travelled on AP, but had a bit of unpleasant experience as they were put in secondary every single time.

K1 here, we were coming and going into USA, no issues. But we were going to places like Mexico or Philippines.

[OldUser 9,220]

Just now, DELTAFOXTROT said:

K1 here, we were coming and going into USA, no issues. But we were going to places like Mexico or Philippines.

Good for you! Which year was it?

[DELTAFOXTROT 93]

13 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

And re-entry is at the discretion of CBP. From what I was told in talking to two immigration attorneys.... "The bar for them denying entry to an AP holder is even lower than denying entry on a visa. The CBP officer has to have a pretty good justification of inadmissibility or suspicion of visa fraud to deny a visa holder entry. There is very little needed to deny entry to an AP holder."  This is why we did not even apply for AP when we submitted Jaycel's AOS package.

If I did a K1 today and got approved for a AP I would travel and not worry about it.  I tend to remember one time it was taking long for something I took my wife to USCIS and got a I551 Stamp so she could get back into country.

[Edward and Jaycel 1,618]

3 minutes ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

If I did a K1 today and got approved for a AP I would travel and not worry about it.

 

Congratulations

[DELTAFOXTROT 93]

5 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

Congratulations

 

I do my own due diligence.

[DELTAFOXTROT 93]

16 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Good for you! Which year was it?

2008 to 2017 time frame 

[Crazy Cat 43,818]

21 minutes ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

I tend to remember one time it was taking long for something I took my wife to USCIS and got a I551 Stamp so she could get back into country.

That was after Green card approval...

Edited Tuesday at 05:01 PM by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 43,818]

20 minutes ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

2008 to 2017 time frame 

She traveled on A/P from 2008 to 2017? Sounds like you meant after Green Card approval also. 

Edited Tuesday at 05:16 PM by Crazy Cat

[DELTAFOXTROT 93]

5 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

That was after Green card approval...

Maybe, something was tied up or delayed

[DELTAFOXTROT 93]

57 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

And re-entry is at the discretion of CBP. From what I was told in talking to two immigration attorneys.... "The bar for them denying entry to an AP holder is even lower than denying entry on a visa. The CBP officer has to have a pretty good justification of inadmissibility or suspicion of visa fraud to deny a visa holder entry. There is very little needed to deny entry to an AP holder."  This is why we did not even apply for AP when we submitted Jaycel's AOS package.

Has anyone on this Forum reported have issues not getting back into USA on AP? If they entered on a K1?

[SandP_USA_CR1 14]

9 hours ago, PeachyTocker said:

 

Shotgun terminology meaning a rushed marriage. Our plans as a couple are to get married in 2026 and enter the US in 2026 (or 2025 on B2 if we get lucky). Our plans were not to get married online right away and enter the US in 2027 or later.

 

I am very open to options hence creating this thread, but I haven't seen anyone substantiate to me how the latter option is better for us. It forces a major life decision to happen immediately, and in a rather non dignified manner, and delays her introduction to the US significantly longer. I still don't get it. I don't want her first interaction with the US be on video chat with a Utah person asking us if we consummated our wedding.

 

Her B2 visa appointment will be done by end of June (already scheduled), then, if needed, we will get the ball rolling on K1, while enjoying our time in Thailand. After K1 is issued, we will move to the US and enjoy 12-18months there until her green card is issued. Afterward we will probably spend some months per year in Thailand until she becomes a citizen. Seems fairly straight forward.

 

Again, if someone can demonstrate where I am slipping up, I am all ears.

Your reasoning makes perfect sense for your situation. No one should rush into marriage just for immigration purposes!  No one can predict the future waiting times for K-1 or CR1/IR1 visas, nor the adjustment of status waits. You have to make decisions that works best for your relationship. I do wish you every success with the B1/B2 visa application! While supporting documents are necessary to have, don't be surprised if they don't ask her for them (e.g. bank balances or sponsor letter) and focus the questioning on you. While they do not make advanced decisions, they do determine potential immigration intent pretty quickly. Please update us on the outcome.

The Utah virtual marriage may work for those separated and unable to get married face to face, but even if you decided at some point in the future marriages in Thailand are pretty easy and a straightforward process.

[Boiler 47,038]

He will not be there for a B interview.

[Starnexus 8]

On 5/24/2025 at 12:57 PM, PeachyTocker said:

Hi Everyone

 

I would really appreciate some direct advice or feedback on our situation. I have tried searching throughout this forum and google to get a basic idea of things, but at the same time I don't understand it quite well enough to be sure how to proceed for such a major life path decision. I'm not sure if the culture of this forum is going to be hostile towards me for potentially asking a common question, but I hope you can understand why I want some direct feedback.

 

Our goal: Live in Thailand but spend time in the US 2-4months per year (seems impossible for now). Once/if we have children age 5+, the time split would become vice versa.

 

- Thai girlfriend 26, American boyfriend 35 (me)

- We live together in bangkok for over a year

- I am here on the Thailand elite visa which is a special longterm tourist visa

- I am retired from formal work, and I compete professionally in a sport around Thailand and asia. I have assets in the millions USD.

- girlfriend previously worked basic white collar job in Bangkok but now quit so she can travel with me and support our relationship and household

- she has no assets or truly valid ties to Thailand 

- she has no travel history aside from joining me to Vietnam twice for short trips

- she is an amazing human and I love her dearly, but this is irrelevant to US officers

 

We have no plans to live full-time in the United States in the next 5 years, but I visit my family and friends 2-3x per year for 2-3 weeks at a time. I would love it if she can join me for those trips and experience that part of my life.

 

From my understanding, her chance of getting a B2 tourist visa to join me on my upcoming trip in September of this year for a wedding and a sports competition is basically 0% and waste of time and money. Is that accurate? It seems to be a violation to apply for B2 and K1 at the same time? I don't care about gambling away $185 but I do care about wasting months delaying the inevitable K1 for a 99% rejection B2.

 

Moving onto the K1 visa option if B2 visa is impossible. I am certain I want to marry this girl, but as I said we do not want to live in the United States full-time until we have children that are school aged. Going the K1 visa route --> green card --> Citizen would be a lifestyle burden. However, from my research it could be literally the only possible way for her to ever set foot on US soil legally.

 

1. apply for K1 visa

2. wait months (years?)

3. Fly to US, get married

4. Apply for green card and exit travel permit

5. Spend minimum 6 months per year in the US

6. After 3 (?) years of this, she can apply to be a US citizen

7. Citizenship granted

8. We finally have the freedom to live the lifestyle we want

 

Is the above outline of steps fairly accurate? 

 

Is above likely the only way for her to see the US legally? I see that applying for a B2 visa after getting married in Thailand is even more impossible than as an unemployed non wealthy girlfriend?  

 

Is there a recommendation for help and expedition (agency, lawyer, etc) of getting the K1 visa in hand in bangkok? 

 

I welcome any criticism or feedback on options or information that I am overlooking!! It has all made me really disappointed with the way the US border, visas, and immigration is managed. You as an american could very well never be allowed to bring your own wife to visit the United States.

 

 

 

I'd say you may have a chance (depending upon your specifics) for a B1/B2. Since you have no intention of residing in the US with her applying for a K-1/CR-1 visa may not be the best route since it's technically visa fraud. Additionally the K-1 requires income except in cases of extraordinary assets which it seems you have.  Also, you can only do two K-1s in your lifetime and the K-1 will take about a year to be processed at this point.  I know someone who does difficult cases. 

[Crazy Cat 43,818]

10 hours ago, SandP_USA_CR1 said:

The Utah virtual marriage may work for those separated and unable to get married face to face,

They also work for those who are together, but want to avoid the complications of some foreign marriage requirements. Even if a couple are physically separated during the Utah online marriage, they must consummate the marriage before USCIS will recognise it. 

[Dashinka 25,559]

19 hours ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

You can't travel in and out of USA on Advance Parole?

When did that change?

 

Did you mean Re-entry Permit?  Even though it also uses the I131 form, it is different than AP.

 

Never mind, after reading the posts on the next page it was clear you meant AP.  In our case we never dealt with AP as AOS was only taking about 5 months.

Edited Wednesday at 11:44 AM by Dashinka