PattayaMale Posted April 5, 2009 Posted April 5, 2009 On April 2 my Thai friend and I went for his interview at the US Embassy in hopes he would get a USA visa. We spent the last 2 months getting what was asked for in the US Visa sections. Photos, bank books and bank statements, ticket receipts for trips we have taken outside Thailand together, evidence of assets owned showing he would return to Thailand. We even bought a suit for him to wear (which my friend hated to wear). But he really looked handsome in my eyes. At a friend's suggestions I even crafted a letter to the Ambassador explaining our long term relationship At 6:45 am we lined up in front of the embassy so we would not be late for his interview appointment. We had our plan set after to talking to several others that have taken their Thai boyfriends for the interview. He wanted me to be with him to make sure he turned in the correct paper work. Then I would sit outside the room he would interview in. The other farangs had told me that after the 15 minute interview, the US Embassy personnel called them up to the window and asked them a couple of questions. This was to make sure they really knew each other well. Well, it seems that they changed the policy. I was told I could not accompany him into the Embassy. I explained I was an American citizen, but it did not matter. Our plan had crumpled to the ground. I could do no more than to ensure my friend that he would do well on his own and off he went through the new security doors. At 9:45 am I was still waiting for him to finish his interview. Others told me it was about a 20 minute process. But it had been well over 2 1/2 hours by then. Finally my friend came out of the embassy and I nervously asked, "Did you get the visa?" The look on his face told me we had failed. So I ensured him it was not a problem. We would just try again in the future. So we returned to Pattaya. Two days later I was sitting at my computer desk thinking of writing to the Embassy to ask why a US citizen could not accompany his Thai partner of 10 years into the Embassy. While thinking about what I would say, I looked down at my desk and saw my friend' passport sitting there. He forgot to put it back in the safe I thought. So I picked it up and for some reason opened it and sure enough there was a USA 10 year visa with multiple entries pasted inside. I called out to him and said "what is this?". "Oh they just delivered it" was his reply. Damn those Thai boys... I want to thank Traveler Jim and his Thai boyfriend for all their advice and help. Also Soi 10 Tom who suggested I talk to Traveler Jim. To others who think they may not have a chance to get their Thai friend a visa, I suggest that this may be a good time to try. The process seems very simple now. My Thai friend actually was interviewed for less than 3 minutes. The only "evidence" they asked for was his bank statements and my passports (which I gave him) to show I had been to Thailand several times and had an "O" (retirement) visa for several years. The processing time is amazingly fast. The passport comes back by EMS messenger service. Turn around time was just 2 days. If anyone is interested, I would be happy help explain what we did. Just send a PM. Quote
Guest Astrrro Posted April 5, 2009 Posted April 5, 2009 Way to go PM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a nice surprise!!!! Quote
Guest GaySacGuy Posted April 6, 2009 Posted April 6, 2009 That is great!! Hope I can follow in your footsteps in the next year or two. I wonder if this is being relaxed somewhat now that Obama is in office, and the legislature is leaning towards allowing gays some immigration rights???? Quote
mahjongguy Posted April 6, 2009 Posted April 6, 2009 ...I wonder if this is being relaxed somewhat now that Obama is in office, and the legislature is leaning towards allowing gays some immigration rights???? Unfortunately, there is no reason to think that the granting of visas is being relaxed. The requirement that applicants must "prove the impossible" is explicitly stated in US immigration law. The truth is that it has always been possible to get your Thai b/f or g/f a tourist visa as long as you presented a credible case that they wouldn't overstay. I was able to get one for my b/f two years ago. It takes some preparation and there's no guarantee but the odds aren't all that bad. The best tip I've uncovered: the applicant will be asked "where did you meet?". The answer needs to be something like "through mutual friends at a birthday party", "at a stamp collector's convention", etc. There must not be any hint that the applicant had any involvement with the commercial sex biz. This is because prostitution is illegal in most of the U.S. so that person would be considered a criminal. With one possible exception it does not seem that there is an anti-gay bias among the staff at the Bangkok Embassy. One very femme Thai guy I know said in the interview that he need the visa because "he's my husband and I go where he goes". Visa granted. As for the pending legislation, it is aimed at those couples who are not married. That includes a lot of gays of course but it is not specifically a gay bill. And it it's about getting that person a green card so that they can live and work in the States. It's not at all clear that this legislation will improve the odds of getting a tourist visa. Note: the OP says his b/f got a 10-year multiple-entry visa. That used to be the standard before 9/11 but it's a lot more rare now. My b/f only got what he asked for, which was a single-entry visa valid for 1 year, allowing a 6 month stay. Quote
