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US Visa For Citizens of Myanmar (Burma)

Myanmar is one of the best kept secrets in Southeast Asia as it is home to some of the most pristine beaches as well as the most amenable weather. Furthermore, international travelers are coming to Burma in increasing numbers to visit this beautiful nation.

The country officially known as Myanmar (although commonly referred to as Burma) is an interesting case study in geopolitics. Since the mid-1960s the nation of Myanmar has been relatively isolated from an international standpoint. That said, Myanmar (Burma) is a member of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and there are increasing reports of foreign travelers to Myanmar (Burma). However, the issue of United States Immigration can be confusing and complicated particularly since the Burmese government takes a hard line against those foreign nationals who travel to Myanmar strictly for the purpose of taking a Burmese wife. That said, Burmese nationals outside of Myanmar are not required to comport to the most rigid Burmese laws. However, many find that marrying their Burmese wife in Thailand (or any other jurisdiction) can be difficult as some Burmese Consular Posts are unwilling or unable to provide evidence of a Burmese female’s legal ability to marry. 

An often occurring scenario in Thailand is: an American meets a Burmese national in Thailand, the couple wishes to get married, but they are unable to do so as in some cases the Burmese national is in the Kingdom of Thailand illegally or cannot obtain proper documentation from their home in Myanmar.

For some, resolving this impasse is simply a matter of bringing their Burmese loved one back to the United States on a K1 visa and marrying in one of the US jurisdictions. Although the K1 fiance visa is a popular travel document for many, it is not necessarily an easy document to obtain for Burmese nationals. In many cases, those wishing to bring their Burmese fiancee or spouse to the USA opt to retain the services of an experienced Immigration Law Firm as the logistics of assisting a Burmese national can seem insurmountable. Furthermore, the United States Immigration authorities in the form of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and the Department of State have their own requirements pertaining to visa processing which must be adhered to before a US visa will actually be issued.

Finally, another component that plays into the above discussion is Thai Immigration authorities. The Royal Thai Immigration Police are compelled to deport a significant number of Burmese nationals each year. Those with a Burmese loved one in Thailand would be wise to keep this in mind if said loved one is to remain in Thailand while the visa petition and application are processing.     

For more information about Consular Processing in Burma please see: US Embassy Burma or US Embassy Myanmar.