K3 Visa for Thai

K3 Visa usage

A Thai national who marries a U.S. citizen outside the U.S. must apply for the K-3 visa in the country where the marriage took place or from the country of residence of the applicant. This is also to note that with the K3 visa there will also be a K4 visa, child derivative application, which will allow the minor unmarried children of your Thai wife to accompany or travel with her to the US.

Thai wife may apply for K-4 visas and each with a separate application must be submitted. Speak to a lawyer about this in Thailand so that they prepare not only the K3 visa application but also the K4 visa for each minor and unmarried child.

The spouse mainly refers to someone who you have legally married. If you are living together, or have cohabited for a long time or you had a traditional wedding in Thailand, then this is not acceptable. It has to be a legally registered marriage.

K3 Visa process

The first step to start with the K3 visa process is by completing the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. This is done with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once this has been filed, you will get a notice that they have received it. This is called the Notice of Action (Form I-797) receipt notice. Then you must file the Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancée, for your Thai wife and step-children. Once approved the USCIS sends it to the National Visa Center for processing.

The only problem between this would be if you have incomplete documents. Which means that they will send you a Request for Evidence. This to which you have to reply with what documentation is missing or incorrect. Always see the latest rules and changes for the K3 Visa for Thai nationals.

The notice order may at times not arrive at the same time. If the National Visa Center receives the approved I-129F petition before it receives the I-130 petition, they will still process the latter document and send the I-129F petition to the U.S. Embassy in Thailand. This would be quickest way for spouse to join their spouse. This is a rare application these days as most have chosen to go through the CR1 or IR1 respectively.

Speak to a US immigration lawyer in Bangkok for more insight and assistance with the K3 Visa for Thai national visa process.

The post K3 Visa for Thai appeared first on American Visa for Thai.

CR1 or IR Visa from Thailand

CR1 Visa from Thailand

You will see that there is a difference between the two US spouse visas in which the CR1 applies to those whose marriage is less than 2 years, while the IR1 visa are for marriages 2 years and above.

If you have been married for less than two years since the date of registration, the Conditional Resident visa or CR1 visa from Thailand is applicable for you. This type of application will grant your foreign Thai spouse a conditional permanent residency when arriving in the US. Should she wish to work then she would be able to do this in a few months after arriving in the US and before the visa expiry, you need to have the conditional status removed. This has to be done at least 90 days before the two year period expires.

IR1 visa from Thailand

If you have been married for more than two years since the date of registration, the Immediate Relative visa would be ideal for you. The IR1 visa is an Immediate Relative status and this allows your spouse permanent stay upon arrival in the US. The visa application process for the spouse visas are more or less the same. The CR1 visa as well as the IR1 visa is very much the same application process as well as the K3 visa from Thailand.

The process starts in filing an I-130 petition which is filed with USCIS in the United States. These are then approved and sent to the National Visa Center for further processing. The documents for all three would be as follows:

• – A valid passport
• – Affidavit of Support
• – Application for Immigrant visa and Alien registration
• – Birth Certificate
• – Marriage Certificate
• – Divorce documents if applicable
• – Police certificates/ Court and prison records
• – Completed medical examination forms

You will note that once this has been completed, you will be given an appointment for interview at the US embassy in Bangkok. Speak to a Thai immigration lawyer for more information and assistance as errors can be difficult causing a visa denial and further waste time and will cause additional cost. In order to apply for these, be mindful that you need to be married legally. This and your marriage must be registered with the Thai government.

A religious marriage such as an Islamic marriage, will be considered as a traditional Thai marriage and not legally binding. Thus, this type of marriage will not be recognized for this application process.  Always take proper advice when dealing with US immigration from Thailand. Speak to an immigration lawyer about your CR1 or IR Visa from Thailand.

The post CR1 or IR Visa from Thailand appeared first on American Visa for Thai.

CR1 Visa from Thailand

Much like the other spouse visas you will need to ensure that you have registered the marriage. Traditional marriages are not valid for the spouse visa. This could be either the traditional Thai marriage or the traditional Islamic marriage in Thailand. Both needs to be registered for the US spouse visa to be acceptable. The date of the registration will count as the first day of your marriage for visa purposes.

Note that polygamy is not allowed for the US spouse visas. The CR1 visa as well as the IR1 and K3 visas will only allow one spouse to be on the visa application. The US does not recognize polygamous marriages. The CR1 visa starts with the filing of Form I-130 which is applying for an Alien Relative petition and this starts with the USCIS, Homeland Security. When this is completed, it will be forwarded to the National Visa Centre (NVC) and then a visa interview to be scheduled in Thailand.

CR1 Visa documents

You will need to be older than 18 and also meet the financial requirements which has been set by US immigration services. This is called the Affidavit of Support and you can see the financial requirement based on the US poverty lines. The forms needed would be the Form I-130 for the CR1 visa from Thailand as well as the Form I-864 or the other Form O-864EZ. Always take legal advice in Thailand about these forms and what is needed. Speak to a lawyer at a Bangkok law firm for more information. This is the CR1 visa from Thailand.

For the interview, you will need to show that all government fees been paid, with the medical report which should still be in its sealed envelope. Normally, your lawyer will have this. So you need to have the proof of the Form I-130 fee. This as well as the Form DS-260 fee, Medical examination as well as vaccinations fees in Thailand.

You will need to consider all your options as the timelines for the K3 visa and CR1 visa are very different. Speak to a lawyer about this in Thailand. Should you be in a hurry, then the K3 visa would be an option which is quicker than the other. If you time is not so much of an issue, then consider either CR1 or the IR1. Speak to an immigration lawyer in Thailand about these difference and options.

Search this website for more information.

The post CR1 Visa from Thailand appeared first on American Visa for Thai.

IR1 Visa from Thailand

The IR1 visa process starts with the completing and filing of the Form I-130 which is an application for an Alien Relative. The USCIS takes in this form, which is forwarded to the National Visa Center and then ends with the US embassy and visa interview in Thailand. Again you have to count from the date that you registered your marriage in Thailand. Also note that the IR1 visa does not allow for polygamist marriages. You must have only one wife with the CR1 visa as polygamy is not recognized by US immigration.

The IR1 visa is similar in process to the CR1 and K3 visas, however, it does take a bit faster or longer, so speak to an immigration lawyer and consider what you would prefer.

Much like other US Family visa options, you will need to be older than 18 years of age. The Affidavit of Support would need to be completed. You can search this website for the forms which will be needed to start the process from the Form I-130 as well as the Form I-864 or the Form O-864EZ. Note that any mistakes will create a delay as they will stop the process if you have received a Request for Evidence. It will only restart once you have provided what they have requested. Take proper legal advice when it comes to US immigration services. You can also see more on the US visa here.

IR1 Visa Process

With the visa interview in Bangkok you will also need all the forms again as well as supporting documents for the procedure. Normally your lawyer in Bangkok will have all of these during the interview process.

The fees would normally be the USCIS Filing fee for the Form I-130, Form DS-260 fee, and Medical examination in Thailand as well as the vaccinations fees if there had been any while in Thailand. Note that like everything else, there will also be fees for translations and photocopying charges. They will be looking for the US Immigration fees mainly and not the sundries.

Finally when back in the United States. The process will change with regards to the CR1 visa and the IR1 visa. The Conditional Residency which you need to remove the condition before the two years expire on the visa. While the Immediate Relative does not have this condition.

The timelines are different on all these visa options. Most prefer to have as little to do with immigration once back in the US so they prefer the IR1 visa over the CR1 visa or the K3 visa. Yes, it does take a bit longer however there is less to do when back in the United States.

The post IR1 Visa from Thailand appeared first on American Visa for Thai.

K3 Visa documents

Form DS-160 – This is one of the most important forms which needs to be completed. You can see what information has to be provided to complete this form. The confirmation page of the DS-160 submitted online. Must be presented on the next stages of the visa process. This as well as when you go for the US visa interview. You will also need to provide a receipt of payment when you submitted the form. Speak to an immigration lawyer about this.

Valid Passport – It is very easy to obtain a new passport for your Thai wife when you start the process. It is always recommended that the passport has a long expiration date. This will save time when going back to the US later and you will still need to ensure that the passport is valid before the adjustment of status.

Birth certificate – It is easy enough for her to obtain an original birth certificate for your Thai wife as the Amphur office will provide this for you in less than a few minutes. If she has changed her surname in the past then a name change certificate would also be needed. You can also obtain this at the same office and at the same time.

Further Documents

Marriage certificate – This is also easy to obtain at the Amphur’s office where you have obtained the birth certificate. Again this is easy enough to obtain a certified copy and it only takes a few minutes.

Divorce or death certificate(s) – Much like the other documents. The Amphur’s office also has the divorce and death certificates which you will need. Speak to them about getting an original certificate of these or if it was a litigated divorce you will need to get a copy from court where it occurred as you will need the order of court if there has been children. This will become important when you apply for a K4 visa for the child as it will show sole or joint custody.

Police certificate – The police clearance certificate will also be needed for your Thai wife. If there is a K4 visa application for child over the age of 16, then a police clearance certificate would also be needed.

Medical examination – See on this website what is needed as well as the vaccinations needed.

Evidence of financial support – You will need to prove that you are able to take care of your Thai wife when back in the US.

Evidence of relationship with your U.S. citizen spouse – This is the biggest file as you will need to show letters, photos, emails and other proof of a real and valid relationship.

This is a very basic overview of the K3 visa process and K3 visa documents which you will need to complete the immigration process. Take proper legal advice on these issues.

The post K3 Visa Documents appeared first on American Visa for Thai.