SandP_USA_CR1

When googling your question, here is what I found: The visa notation "Class B req attn of USPHS at POE 212(g)(2)(B)" indicates that the individual has a history of tuberculosis (TB) or a related condition that requires further evaluation by the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) at the port of entry (POE). Specifically, "Class B" refers to a TB classification indicating a non-infectious condition needing further assessment, and "212(g)(2)(B)" is a reference to the section of the Immigration and Nationality Act dealing with waivers for health-related inadmissibility. Here's a breakdown: Class B TB: This means the individual has a history of TB, latent TB infection, or findings suggestive of non-infectious TB that require further evaluation. USPHS: The U.S. Public Health Service, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for public health aspects of immigration, including TB screenings and follow-up. POE: Port of Entry, the location where the individual enters the United States (e.g., airport, land border crossing). 212(g)(2)(B): A reference to the section of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) that allows for waivers of inadmissibility for certain health-related conditions, specifically those related to communicable diseases. What it means for the traveler: Upon arrival at the POE, the individual will be referred to the USPHS for further evaluation to determine if any further action is needed, such as additional medical exams or treatment. The evaluation: The evaluation at the POE aims to ensure the individual does not have active, infectious TB and to provide treatment if needed. In essence, the notation is a flag for border officials to ensure that the individual receives proper medical assessment for TB or related conditions upon arrival in the U.S.

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.

As my lawyer told me: Don't open it! The "seal" is important for CBP to authorize your entry. If you do open it, then you will have to go back to the Embassy and have it resealed.

Reviewing all your comments, I would go with applying for a B1/B2 visa and wait on the K-1 or CR1 until you are ready to pull that trigger. Besides all the cons you list, the signal you send to the consular officer is an immigrate intent when you also apply for the B1/B2 while also having a K-1 application. We married in Thailand and have had no trouble with the I-130 or NVC recognizing/accepting the legality of the Thai documents. As a US citizen, you will need to have the Embassy provide you with a notarized copy of your passport and a document saying you are free to marry. Then you will need to have these documents translated (with a letter from the translator stating they are competent in Thai and English) and then take them to the Thai Consular Affairs (there is an office in MBK) to have them certified. After marriage, you will need to have all these documents translated and certified by the Consular Affairs Office (same as with your passport and free to marry document) -- same with her birth certificate and any prior marriages she might have had. USCIS will require these for the I-130 and the CR1. Don't forget you will both need to have in your possession certified originals of your birth certificates and any prior marriage documents (marriage and divorce) -- the Embassy will need to see these originals.

The major hole in your thinking with either the K-1 or CR1, in my opinion, is that you don't want to live in the US and fulfill the basic requirements behind the idea permanent residence in the U.S. You may want to review the actual residence requirements of a Green Card before going that course of action. Either the K1 or CR1 is much more costly and you risk losing the green card if you don't maintain residence in the US. As for the B2 application, this is one of those you never know until you try. You have heard correctly about the approval rates. When my now wife first applied for a B1/B2 (2013) she had a good job, owned house and land, and gave every reasonable evidence of strong ties to Thailand. Denied. The questions were mostly about me and did I have a job in Thailand -- which took me by surprise. A few years later, we both had a job at an American university in Thailand and they issued her an invitational letter. Approved. At renewal, they asked only her purpose for going and she told them it was to attend my doctoral graduation. When asked what university, the consular officer responded that he had graduated from there. Approved. Unfortunately, you would still become the focus of the questions. If you were employed in Thailand (preferably both of you), that could be enough to overcome the burden of non-immigrant intent. Either way, the B2 does appear the only reasonable option in the short-term to achieve your stated objectives. Based on what I've observed and read, it doesn't really matter whether you are married or not for the B1/B2. They will have questions about you and what you are doing in Thailand. Should you decided to marry, there are some useful benefits in the immediate and whenever you do decided to apply for an IR1 visa. First, after marriage you can apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) to begin claiming her in your US income taxes. Second, when you are ready to apply for a IR1 visa, you will have been married for more than 2 years and become immediately eligible for a 10 year green card (less hassle and expense than a CR1 which gets a 2 year and must apply for removal of conditions). Whether married or not, you can get your child's Consular Record of Birth for citizenship, US Passport, and Social Security number. We've waited until our daughter was 12 years old to apply for our Green Card and to move to the US for her school (7th grade). With you being in BKK, there are many great school options unlike in Hua Hin. If resources are not your problem, I can recommend NIST as an amazing international school.

After filing the I130 and before approval, my wife processed her name change to include new passport and national ID card. At the NVC stage, we filed the DS260 and uploaded all the documents supporting the legal name change and copy of new passport. After submitting all the NVC documents and before the review, my lawyer sent an enquiry to NVC and they changed her last name in CEAC. I was also informed that even if NVC didn't make the change, it would not be a problem at the interview but wife would have to make sure she carried both the new and old passports.

Hi Tomgndallas1 -- on the police certificate -- be advised the stated 15 work days is time it will take before they mail the certificate. With the volume of applications, it could be a day or two longer. We got hit with 2 weeks of holidays that meant 3 and 4 day work weeks, making the wait even longer. Here is the list of requirements for the medical exam (from the Embassy website): Passport: Ensure it has over 6 months of validity. Photographs: Four (1.5 x 2 inches) photographs taken within the last 6 months. DS-260 or DS-160 Confirmation Page. Visa Interview Appointment Letter: Issued by the National Visa Center (NVC), the US Embassy Bangkok’s Consular Section, or GSS. Information for Completing Medical Exam Forms: Include your visa category, visa case number, and present and U.S. addresses. Vaccination Records. Medical History Information: If you are taking any medications, know their names and composition. If you have or had any illnesses, major surgeries, trauma, or physical or mental impairments, bring documentation from the treating doctor or medical institution. Criminal Record or Court Records (if any). Failure to provide this information during your medical examination will delay your visa process. Rest assured that the information provided to the doctor is confidential. It does appear she needs to bring the police certificate to the exam. Below is a list of what she will need for the interview -- I created a expandable folder, with headers, and a table of contents so my wife can find the required documents as requested. The website lists the required documents -- many of them requiring an original (or certified copy) and a copy. Don't forget she will need a translation of her birth certificate, along with a letter from the translator stating they are fluent in English and Thai. My lawyer also had me to get these documents certified by the Consular Affairs Office at MBK. Submit your documents in this order at the interview (https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/Bangkok-K-Visa-Instructions-English-June-2022.pdf): 1. Photographs 2. Passport 3. Previous passports 4. DS-160 Confirmation 5. GSS Registration Confirmation 6. Receipt of K Visa application fee payment 7. Thai Police Certificate 8. Other Police Certificates 9. Court and Prison Records 10. Medical Exam 11. Birth Certificate 12. Name Change Certificate(s) 13. Marriage Certificates 14. Divorce Certificates or Death Certificate of prior spouse(s) 15. Marital Status Certificate 16. Military Records 17. Immigration Records 18. Evidence of Financial Support 19. Evidence of Relationship Let everyone know how everything goes as Yui moves through the process.

This is great news! Hopefully this is true for our CR1/IR1 interview.

Not having any prior marriages makes the civil documents much easier for Yui. She will need your original marriage and divorce degrees (usually a certified copy). Do make sure she has a signed copy of your Affidavit of Support. While the IRS transcripts for the prior 3 years would indicate your income sources, my lawyer advised including the W2s/1099s. I also collected all sources of income for my wife to carry. We had my wife's birth certificate and translation certified at the Consular Affairs Office at MBK -- our lawyer told us the Consular Affairs certification was a requirement (even if provided by the Amphur). Since you have the time before your scheduled interview, I would go through the extra trouble (but rely on your lawyer's advice). We applied for my wife's birth certificate on 21 April and were told they would send out the report on 15 May. Regarding your questions about your passport -- I don't see anywhere that you are required to have your's certified. Just a copy for her to have with her (I also copied all my visa entries which adds to the evidence of the relationship) -- FYI: the embassy can see your worldwide travel history. You should not be surprised at all the information the consular officer knows about you. I know you have seen the list: https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/Bangkok-K-Visa-Instructions-English-June-2022.pdf I was in the military for 28 years and bought a house in Pensacola back in 1997. Question: What was the wait time for scheduling your appointment?

Hi Tomgndallas1 -- We are working through the IR1 process in Thailand -- while a bit different some of the tasks are the same. A couple of thoughts: (1) Yui will need to make an appointments at the Police HQ near Siam BTS and bring the required documents. They have plenty of appointments each day. The problem is the time it takes to get back the Police Certificate. They list 15 working days before sending out the certificate -- we are at 10 days now and they accept up to 1,000 applications per day. (2) When you go for the medical exam, they will do a blood test and confirms/identifies the vaccinations still required. The Red Cross is a good place to get your vaccinations and tend to be a bit cheaper than the local hospitals and clinics. (3) You may want to have all of Yui's civil documents (based on what you have written previously, it appears it is only her birth certificate that might need this process) translated and certified by the Consular Affairs (advice from our lawyers) and that each translation has a letter from the person doing the translations affirms they are fluent in Thai and English -- this process requires an appointment and takes about 3 days (recommend using an agency). Yui will also need to have in her possession at the interview original or certified original documents of both of your civil documents -- birth certificates, prior marriage certificates and divorces. Don't forget to have her bring your IRS transcripts the prior 3 years, along with any 1099s/W2s. The Bangkok Embassy has a checklist for what she will need to bring. (4) I would not worry about her work history (other than providing the info required in the DS160). The key will be your ability to support her -- found in the Affidavit of Support and your IRS transcripts. I would be interested in your experience with scheduling an appointment (wait time) and at the interview. Thanks. Phil