jan22

Just to clarify, the OP obviously read directly from the visa and combined two information fields — Visa Type and Visa Class (printed on the visa as “Visa Type/Class”).  The Visa Type is either an “R” or “D” (Regular or Diplomatic).  
 
The Visa Class, in this case, (which is what most people focus on when asked what type of visa it is) was B1/B2.  A religious worker visa would be an “R” for the Visa Type and an “R1” for the Visa Class.

Just to clarify, the OP obviously read directly from the visa and combined two information fields — Visa Type and Visa Class (printed on the visa as “Visa Type/Class”).  The Visa Type is either an “R” or “D” (Regular or Diplomatic).  
 
The Visa Class, in this case, (which is what most people focus on when asked what type of visa it is) was B1/B2.  A religious worker visa would be an “R” for the Visa Type and an “R1” for the Visa Class.

Just to clarify, the OP obviously read directly from the visa and combined two information fields — Visa Type and Visa Class (printed on the visa as “Visa Type/Class”).  The Visa Type is either an “R” or “D” (Regular or Diplomatic).  
 
The Visa Class, in this case, (which is what most people focus on when asked what type of visa it is) was B1/B2.  A religious worker visa would be an “R” for the Visa Type and an “R1” for the Visa Class.

Just to clarify, the OP obviously read directly from the visa and combined two information fields — Visa Type and Visa Class (printed on the visa as “Visa Type/Class”).  The Visa Type is either an “R” or “D” (Regular or Diplomatic).  
 
The Visa Class, in this case, (which is what most people focus on when asked what type of visa it is) was B1/B2.  A religious worker visa would be an “R” for the Visa Type and an “R1” for the Visa Class.

Step-parents can file for an IR-2 for their step-child if the age requirements are met (child under 18 at date if parent’s marriage to petitioner and currently under 21).
 
The 2-year requirement that you are referring to is for adopted children, not step-children.
 
Note:  The child will enter as an IR-2 but only as a permanent resident.  As you, the US citizen, are not the biological parent, the child will not automatically receive US citizenship after entry, if you have read about that in connection with the IR-2 visa.  They will have to naturalize on the same schedule as their permanent resident mother.

Step-parents can file for an IR-2 for their step-child if the age requirements are met (child under 18 at date if parent’s marriage to petitioner and currently under 21).
 
The 2-year requirement that you are referring to is for adopted children, not step-children.
 
Note:  The child will enter as an IR-2 but only as a permanent resident.  As you, the US citizen, are not the biological parent, the child will not automatically receive US citizenship after entry, if you have read about that in connection with the IR-2 visa.  They will have to naturalize on the same schedule as their permanent resident mother.

You didn’t read far enough into the section.  Scroll further down and take a look at the first sentence in 9 FAM 402.2-5(E)(c). 
 
It, basically, says that an applicant coming to merely observe business, professional, or vocational activities can do so on a B1 visa.  Other than meeting the general requirements to qualify for a B visa, the only other stipulation for a B1 observer visa is that the applicant must pay their own way (i.e., they cannot receive any funds from the place they are observing).

You didn’t read far enough into the section.  Scroll further down and take a look at the first sentence in 9 FAM 402.2-5(E)(c). 
 
It, basically, says that an applicant coming to merely observe business, professional, or vocational activities can do so on a B1 visa.  Other than meeting the general requirements to qualify for a B visa, the only other stipulation for a B1 observer visa is that the applicant must pay their own way (i.e., they cannot receive any funds from the place they are observing).

A B1 visa is the appropriate visa for a short-term medical observership.  It does not permit direct,/physical patient contact — it provides only a shadowing experience.

A B1 visa is the appropriate visa for a short-term medical observership.  It does not permit direct,/physical patient contact — it provides only a shadowing experience.

A B1 visa is the appropriate visa for a short-term medical observership.  It does not permit direct,/physical patient contact — it provides only a shadowing experience.

A B1 visa is the appropriate visa for a short-term medical observership.  It does not permit direct,/physical patient contact — it provides only a shadowing experience.

The requirement is NOT “continuous presence” — it is physical presence, that is any time you were physically in the US.  Any time you were in the US — legally, unlawfully, as a visitor, as a resident, as a citizen, etc. — it all counts.  To repeat/clarify — all of the time you spent in the US counts for the 5 year requirement, as well as all the time since you naturalized.  
 
The Embassy is trying to protect your children and ensure that they do not lose their birthright citizenship if they qualify for it.

The requirement is NOT “continuous presence” — it is physical presence, that is any time you were physically in the US.  Any time you were in the US — legally, unlawfully, as a visitor, as a resident, as a citizen, etc. — it all counts.  To repeat/clarify — all of the time you spent in the US counts for the 5 year requirement, as well as all the time since you naturalized.  
 
The Embassy is trying to protect your children and ensure that they do not lose their birthright citizenship if they qualify for it.

The requirement is NOT “continuous presence” — it is physical presence, that is any time you were physically in the US.  Any time you were in the US — legally, unlawfully, as a visitor, as a resident, as a citizen, etc. — it all counts.  To repeat/clarify — all of the time you spent in the US counts for the 5 year requirement, as well as all the time since you naturalized.  
 
The Embassy is trying to protect your children and ensure that they do not lose their birthright citizenship if they qualify for it.

The requirement is NOT “continuous presence” — it is physical presence, that is any time you were physically in the US.  Any time you were in the US — legally, unlawfully, as a visitor, as a resident, as a citizen, etc. — it all counts.  To repeat/clarify — all of the time you spent in the US counts for the 5 year requirement, as well as all the time since you naturalized.  
 
The Embassy is trying to protect your children and ensure that they do not lose their birthright citizenship if they qualify for it.

Like most things in US immigration, it’s not nearly as simple as just filing a visa application.  You can find general information about international adoption for immigration at the first link below.  Thailand-specific information is in the second link.
 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/Intercountry-Adoption.html
 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/Intercountry-Adoption/Intercountry-Adoption-Country-Information/Thailand.html
  
It is likely that, since this will not be a Hague Convention compliant adoption in a Hague signatory country, the child will have to live in the legal and physical  custody of the adopting parent for two years prior to being eligible for US permanent residency.
 

The I-134 is not a legally enforceable document, so is technically not a required document.  Some consulates require it to help determine the likelihood of meeting the financial requirement at adjustment of status in some — or all — cases.  The consulate not looking at it will cause you no problem (unless you are borderline for meeting the requirement and a “heads-up” would have helped you have more time to find a joint sponsor or something).  You will need documentation such as what you gathered when filing the I-864 with the Adjustment of Status.

The I-134 is not a legally enforceable document, so is technically not a required document.  Some consulates require it to help determine the likelihood of meeting the financial requirement at adjustment of status in some — or all — cases.  The consulate not looking at it will cause you no problem (unless you are borderline for meeting the requirement and a “heads-up” would have helped you have more time to find a joint sponsor or something).  You will need documentation such as what you gathered when filing the I-864 with the Adjustment of Status.

The I-134 is not a legally enforceable document, so is technically not a required document.  Some consulates require it to help determine the likelihood of meeting the financial requirement at adjustment of status in some — or all — cases.  The consulate not looking at it will cause you no problem (unless you are borderline for meeting the requirement and a “heads-up” would have helped you have more time to find a joint sponsor or something).  You will need documentation such as what you gathered when filing the I-864 with the Adjustment of Status.

They can be served concurrently once the second J-1 program has been completed and the person has left the US.  Any time spent in the home country between the two program could not, of course, be applied to meeting the requirement for the second program.  So, the second one essentially “resets the clock” back to zero but the time accumulated after the second J-1 applies to both.
 
Important note — the home country residence must be tha same for the two programs.  If there’s a different home country for the second one, the two-rear residency requirement must be met for each country in that country, which can’t possibly be done at the same time.

She was.  OP posted the denial notice.  It was, of course, a 214(b) refusal.

They can be served concurrently once the second J-1 program has been completed and the person has left the US.  Any time spent in the home country between the two program could not, of course, be applied to meeting the requirement for the second program.  So, the second one essentially “resets the clock” back to zero but the time accumulated after the second J-1 applies to both.
 
Important note — the home country residence must be tha same for the two programs.  If there’s a different home country for the second one, the two-rear residency requirement must be met for each country in that country, which can’t possibly be done at the same time.

They can be served concurrently once the second J-1 program has been completed and the person has left the US.  Any time spent in the home country between the two program could not, of course, be applied to meeting the requirement for the second program.  So, the second one essentially “resets the clock” back to zero but the time accumulated after the second J-1 applies to both.
 
Important note — the home country residence must be tha same for the two programs.  If there’s a different home country for the second one, the two-rear residency requirement must be met for each country in that country, which can’t possibly be done at the same time.

Are you/your spouses from a country that permits multiple marriages?  If so, you may have more problems than others have expressed here.  
 
You said you are not divorced from the first wife and have not physically separated either, if I understood correctly.  You plan to divorce her and immediately petition your second wife.  Since you are still living with the first wife up to now, if the home country allows multiple marriages, this will likely cause questions about whether your intent is to divorce wife #1 (but still maintain a relationship with her) in order to immigrate wife #2.  If you cannot convince the officer this is not the case, the visa will likely be denied under 212(a)(10)(A), as it is illegal to immigrate a spouse(s) to practice polygamy.

If not from a country that allows multiple marriages, there may be some questions asked about possible dual relationships, or marriage strictly for immigration purposes, but it might be easier to convince the officer as to your intentions.