Pranee has received the Visa. I can’t thank you enough with your help seeing this thing to the end. I really don’t know what we would have done without your help and expertise. From all of us, thank you so much.

Sean & Pranee

I am an American man with a Thai fiancee. She lives in Bangkok Thailand. My Thai fiancee is basically the mother of 3 children, but none are hers. One child is her sisters, another child is her brother’s, and the third child is the child of a former neighbor. My fiancee took this child in because she suffered abuse at the hand of an aunt who didn’t want to take care of her. Her real mother died and no one knows where the father is. I don’t want to abuse your kind policy of processing a child visa free of charge by asking you to process 3 child visa applications but, there are so many other fees that when paid for 4 people become big money. My fiancee is in the process of getting divorced. Her husband is a Thai police man so I am expecting it will be a sane process, I have met him and he seems to be a nice man. My fiancee is divorcing him because of his unrestrained sexual interests. Apparently he has a second wife and a girlfriend. I am told this is common in Thailand. I don’t have an arrest record and I am pretty sure my fiancee doesn’t have an arrest record either. Can you advise me of any complications that might occur with U.S. immigration given the fact that my fiancee is not the real mother of the children?

William

Dear William,

I recommend that your fiancee first complete her divorce from the Thai police man. Yes, it is common in Thailand for a Thai man to have more than one lady. Apparently it is difficult for them to restrain their sexual urges. We can handle the divorce if you feel it is necessary. When the divorce is finished we need to start the process of a legal Thai adoption for each child. This will take a minimum of six months and will be problematic as all parents will need to approve the adoptions or good caused will need to be proven in a Thailand family court to show why your fiancee should be given custody. I have some ideas about how the adoption can be achieve and will discus same with you in private. It is certainly positive that you have never been arrested, but it is more important that your fiancee has never been arrested. We will confirm this with her. Only after the divorce and legal adoptions have been completed can we start the U.S. immigration visa application. The American Embassy in Thailand will require proof that your fiancee has lived with and care for each child for a minimum two year period.

U.S. Immigration Legal Advisors
Bangkok, Thailand

I may be a rare American man, I didn’t come to Thailand to be with women in order to gratify a sexual desire. I met my Thai fiancee on the Internet. After spending considerable time with her I learned that like many Thai ladies she had worked in the sex industry providing sexual services at a “massage parlor” in Bangkok. She stopped providing sexual services more than 10 years ago and returned to the family farm in Buri Ram Thailand. Even though the selling of sexual services is illegal in Thailand my fiancee was never arrested or even subject to arrest because the “massage parlor” had an arrangement with the Thai police. Apparently the Thai police will not make an arrest unless there is some type of direct benefit to them. Although she was aware that what she was doing was illegal, she never feared being arrested. She married and had one child with a Thai man and they lived in Buri Ram. She suffered abuse at the hands of her Thai husband for 8 years before divorcing him last year. Thankfully he did not abuse their child. Will the fact that my fiancee worked in the sex industry prevent us from being able to obtain a U.S. immigration visa from the American Embassy in Thailand for her and her child?

Frank

Dear Frank,

While it may seem like you are a rare American man, the fact is that most of the clients of our law firm also met their fiancee’s and wives on the Internet and had not come to Thailand with the sole purpose of purchasing sexual services. Many people have stated that the Thai police abuse the legal system and selectively enforce the law. In this case it has also benefited your fiancee, as an arrest of this type certainly wouldn’t reflect positively upon her and would add additional difficulty with a U.S. immigration visa. The fact that she has provided sexual services in exchange for money makes her ineligible for the visa, however the American Embassy in Thailand will find that she is eligible to apply for a waiver from the ineligibility. If the waiver is approved by USCIS the American Embassy will issue visas to your fiancee and her child. I recommend getting the visa applications started as soon as possible as it is a long process.

U.S. Immigration Legal Advisors
Bangkok, Thailand

I am an American man, U.S. citizen, who has a fiancee in Thailand. Please tell me if my previous arrest prohibits me from sponsoring my Thai fiancee for a U.S. immigration visa. I was arrested 15 years ago for solicitation of sexual services in Miami, not involving any type of sexual abuse. I was drunk and really didn’t know what I was doing. I paid a fine and performed community service. My Thai fiancee has never had any problems in Thailand with the Thai police and she has one child who will also need a U.S. visa. Does U.S. immigration law prevent me from sponsoring my Thai fiancee and her child for immigration visas?

Brad

Dear Brad,

The fact that you have been previously arrested and convicted of sexual solicitation does not make you ineligible to sponsor your Thai fiancee and her child for U.S. immigration visas, as long as there was no child sexual abuse, including no arrest or conviction for child abuse of any kind, sexual or non sexual, which your letter seems to indicate is the case. As an American man who has not been arrested for or convicted of a violent crime or a crime involving child abuse your visa petition will be approved. It is the policy of our firm to process, free of charge the immigration visa application of any child who accompanies a parent to the U.S. We can begin the visa application for your fiancee and her child at any time.

U.S. Immigration Legal Advisors
Bangkok, Thailand

I am kind of at the end of my rope but I thought I’d give this one more shot to see if there is any possibility of me being able to get a U.S. visa for my Thai fiancee. I have been told many times that my situation is impossible but I see that the president of your law firm is one of the most respected experts in the field of American immigration so I thought I’d give this one last shot in hopes that you might have some created way of helping me or know of some law that could help. Here’s my situation. 20 years ago I brought a lady and her two daughters to the U.S. from the Philippines. I was arrested and convicted of child sexual abuse of her daughters. I paid my debt by spending 10 years of my life in prison. Everyone tells me that a conviction for child sexual abuse prevents an American man from getting a U.S. immigration visa for a foreign lady. I have only had this one problem and never had any other type of problem with the police. Please tell me that there is some way for me to move on with my life and get my Thai fiancee a visa.

Peter

Dear Peter,

The information you have been previously provided is correct. An arrest and conviction of child sexual abuse is one of the few things that can prevent an American man from sponsoring a non U.S. citizen for U.S. immigration. In fact any type of child abuse, sexual or non sexual can prohibit a U.S. citizen petitioner from obtaining a visa for a foreign fiancee or spouse. Arrest and conviction for kidnapping and maiming while not specifically stated as offenses that will prevent a U.S. citizen petitioner from sponsoring a U.S. immigration visa for a foreign fiancee of spouse will also result in denial. Our Thailand based immigration law firm has vast experience with all types of ineligibilities, and we can assure you that the USCIS and the American Embassy in Thailand have no options when it comes to an arrest and conviction of child sexual abuse.

U.S. Immigration Legal Advisors

Without being specific about my particular situation (other than that I have been arrested before) I would like you to tell me in your expert opinion under what circumstances would an American man like myself be found ineligible to sponsor a girl from Thailand for a U.S. immigration visa. Oh, my Thai fiancee has one child, her daughter.

Thanks in advance,
Jim

Dear Jim,

First you must meet the minimum income requirement based on your family size. For example if your family consists of just you and your Thai fiancee the minimum income required is $19,387.00. If you add one child the amount increases to over $23,000.00

Our Thailand based U.S. immigration law firm has processed visa applications for the Thai fiancee’s and wives of American men who have been previous arrested for an convicted of serious crimes such as bank robbery, drug dealing on a large scale, carrying a concealed fire arm, etc. An arrest doesn’t automatically disqualify the American man. There is one type of arrest that must be followed by a conviction that does disqualify an American man from sponsoring a U.S. visa: that of an arrest and conviction of child sexual abuse. A conviction of sexual abuse that does not involve a child will not disqualify an American man from sponsoring a U.S. visa. An arrest and conviction of a crime containing extreme violence, not involving self defense, is also problematic. In addition your fiancee can not have an arrest record with the Thai police.

U.S. Immigration Legal Advisors

I am an American man, U.S. citizen who came to Thailand to look for a nice lady after suffering years of abuse from my American wife. I am not the typical American man who comes to Thailand to satisfy his sexual urges. I am not even close to being a sexual person, but what I do see as common in Thai women is congeniality, a pleasant, humble, non-confrontational personality type that will allow me to have a kindly reciprocating relationship where two people take care of each other and treat each other with kindness. It is with this type of person who I want to spend the rest of my life with. There were many things that attracted me to your firm, one primary reason was the possible opportunity to save money. You see my Thai fiancee has 3 children. Each child will need a U.S. immigration visa. I have one child myself in the U.S. who is the same age as one of my Thai fiancee’s children, her oldest child. Your website states that you do not charge a fee for children when accompanying a parent to the U.S. I don’t want to abuse your kindness and I realize that processing U.S. visas for three children is a lot of work, but I thought I would check with you about this. I also want to ask if my previous arrest for DUI will have any effect on the visa applications. The arrest took place more than 20 years ago. My Thai fiancee was married to a Thai police officer for 10 years so I am sure she has never been arrested for anything. Thank you in advance for your answers to my questions.

George

Dear George,

First, we never charge a fee for a child visa. I don’t think we have ever exceeded 3 child visas for one family, but we have certainly seen a 3 quite often. We do not charge a fee for a child visa because we never want to see a family separated because they can’t afford our fee. If we were to impose any type of limit this would defeat the entire purpose. Therefore, your requirement of 3 child visas is not an abuse of our policy. The fact that you have only been arrested once for DUI has no effect on the visa application. Ninety percent of our clients meet ladies on the Internet through the use of a few different dating websites that feature ladies living in Thailand. The majority of our clients are like you, they have no sexual intent for seeking a Thai lady, they have just reached their limit for the verbal abuse they suffered in their previous relationships. Not too say that all American women are verbally abusive, some of our best friends are American women. We look forward to representing your family in obtaining their U.S. visas.

U.S. Immigration Legal Advisors

I am an American man with a Thai fiancee. My question is: Is it possible to obtain a visa for my Thai fiancee who I met in a bar in Pattaya Thailand, yes she worked providing sexual services for money, not just serving drinks. Is it against the law in Thailand to offer sexual services for money? I have been reading a lot of conflicting information about this on the Internet. She has one child, a son who is 7 years old who she would like to bring to the U.S as well. Is it possible to obtain a U.S. visa for each of them? Also, the bar she worked at was busted by the Thai police once while she was working there and all ladies (and one Thai man) were arrested and taken to the police station. I am not sure if this counts as a real arrest or criminal conviction. Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer my question.

Steven

Dear Steven,

Dear Steven, Your finacee’s arrest, if indeed she was arrested, if recorded by the Thai police, or if she appeared in court will require us to seek a prostitution waiver. We will check with the police and the court to see if there is a record. While some people may think otherwise, sexual solicitation is a crime in Thailand. The Thai police abuse the law and allow it for their own benefit. The fact that your fiancee has a child has no bearing on the U.S. visa application. If the waiver is approved both she and her child will receive visas. Having a child may in fact help the waiver application. The American Embassy in Thailand will require a waiver even if she was never arrested for sexual solicitation. The U.S. Embassy is of course aware that the Thai police abuse the system and ignore the law for their own benefit. Waiver applications are difficult and complex but they are certainly common place at the American Embassy in Thailand. We can handle the entire process for you but be prepared for a processing time of between one and one and a half years.

U.S. Immigration Legal Advisors

I would like to ask a question before I start the process of trying to obtain a U.S. visa for my Thai fiance. The subject of the question is delicate and atypical. I have been referred to U.S. Immigration Legal Advisors and told of your expert knowledge in U.S. visas from Thailand. The first thing you may find unusual is that I am not an American man. I am an American woman and a U.S. citizen. My boyfriend is a Thai man. My boyfriend has a criminal record in Thailand. He was previously arrested for something sexual but I am not sure of the specifics. He has tried to explain it to me but the language barrier makes complex discussions like this quite difficult. He told me that he was a driver of a van that was carrying young girls from Lao to Bangkok to work in the sex industry. The van was stopped on the highway and all adults were arrested. Besides the adults the van had 3 girls and one child. I think he may have been charged with human trafficking, but I am not sure. The girls were aged 13-15 and the child was 10 years old. Two Thai ladies were also arrested. After the arrest the Thai police released everyone after paying money and he later returned to court and had to pay an additional fine. He told me that he didn’t know the girls were going to Bangkok to provide sexual services. I am sure he is telling me the truth, he is not the kind of person who would be involved in child sexual abuse for profit. His profession is and always has been a driver. The problem is I don’t know what the court papers say he was convicted of, and if it will prevent him from being able to apply for U.S. immigration. I want to find out the law and see if he can qualify for a U.S. visa before I start the process.

Brook

Dear Brook,

It certainly sounds like your boyfriend was not aware of who he was driving, or that they were going to Bangkok to provide sexual services for money. I haven’t seen a Thailand van driver yet who quizzes his passengers as to who they are and what they do. It would also be inappropriate for an adult man to engage in a lengthy inquisitive conversation with 13 and 14 year old girls, or a 10 year old child. He may have just assumed that the two ladies were the mother’s of the children. I am curious as to why the Thai police stopped their van to begin with and how they were able to ascertain that the girls and the child were going to Bangkok to provide sexual services for money. Clearly, there is a great deal more to this story than you have knowledge of. At this point you can confirm he was arrested. The arrest resulted in a court appearance and apparently a conviction. We will need to review the court documents to determine the crime he was convicted of. You have stated that he paid a fine at the court, your letter did not indicate that he was sent to prison. If he only paid a fine one can assume that the crime for which he was convicted was not serious, otherwise he would have received a prison sentence. Human trafficking and child sexual abuse are serious crimes. Any crime against a child, any type of child abuse would certainly result in a punishment that exceeded more than just a fine. Thailand courts and Thailand police can sometimes have an interesting way of dealing with issues even when they are of a serious or sexual nature, so it is difficult to speculate and we should reserve speculation until we can see the court documents and work with fact. If there is any indication in the court records that he was involved in human trafficking or child sexual abuse even as a trafficker the USCIS and American Embassy in Thailand will find him ineligible to receive a U.S. immigration visa.

U.S. Immigration Legal Advisors

My Thai fiancee comes from a small village in Northern Thailand. She has a child from a previous marriage and takes care of two of her sister’s young children because her sister doesn’t want them staying with their alcoholic father who inflicts physical abuse on both of the children and the boy child especially. I am an American man who would like to sponsor my Thai fiancee and her child for U.S. immigration and I would also like to see if it is possible to obtain a U.S. visa for each of her sister’s children. My Thai fiancee may not agree to come to the U.S. if I can not get a visa for her sister’s children. Each child has been exposed to sever physical abuse and she fears that this will escalate after she is gone. The sister’s husband has also engaged in sexual abuse of his wife and has forcibly raped her on more than one occasion when he was drunk. Up to this point their has not been any sexual abuse of his daughter but she is now just approaching 13 years of age and this is a concern of my fiancee and her sister. My fiancee has threatened that she will have him arrested but apparently he has no fear of an arrest as his drinking buddies are Thai police officers. It is my understanding that your firm has the reputation of being experts in the field of U.S. immigration. I am seeking out his experience and knowledge in this situation. If you could tell me that each child could get a visa to go to the U.S. we would hire your law firm immediately.

Bill

Dear Bill,

It is surly traumatic for a child to suffer the violence of an alcoholic father who inflicts physical abuse upon them. Many would say that he has no right to be a father. As horrific as it sounds the concern your fiancee and her sister have that a 13 year old girl could be exposed to sexual abuse is indeed genuine in Thailand culture. 13 and 14 year old girls have boyfriends and babies. Hospitals and doctors don’t report these pregnancies to police or parents and treat the expectant mother’s and father’s like adults. Legally the babies father can be arrested, but the Thai police rarely make an arrest in these situations unless the mother of the girl complains. U.S. visa applications for your fiancee and her child will process normally. However, there is no basis for U.S. visa applications for a child of a sibling. The only way to accomplish this is if your fiancee were to legally adopt her sister’s children. The American Embassy will require proof that your fiancee has lived with and taken care of each child for a period of time not less than two years. Completing a Thailand adoption will require the approval of both the mother and father of the children. It seems the mother will be agreeable. The father may not be agreeable. However, I have seen many cases like this and the father becomes very agreeable when offered money. It’s sad to say but I have seen father’s appear at the Embassy to give consent for their children to immigrate to America motivated by a relatively small amount of money. We could also petition the Thailand Family Court for sole custody for the mother and this may be granted given that family members will testify as to the father’s abusive nature and alcoholic tendencies. It is also possible the mother could complain to the Thai police the next time she or one of the children is abused by the father. If arrested and if the arrest proceeds to jail time this will ad further evidence as to why the Thailand family Court should award the mother with sole custody.

U.S. Immigration Legal Advisors