Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Bank Accounts in the context of the US Immigration process, specifically Spousal Visas, so we are talking about CR-1, IR-1 and K-3 visas here in Thailand.

So the thing to first of all take away from this video is we are talking about Thai Bank Accounts. We specifically mostly do cases out of Thailand so I kind of take a Thailand slant on these topics. That said, this analysis may be useful for folks in other jurisdictions talking about offshore bank accounts generally. The topic at hand is this. Oftentimes when folks need to go ahead and sponsor their immigrant spouse to the United States financially, they oftentimes will be asked to provide proof; documentation that they have financial resources. Sometimes people have offshore bank accounts. For folks especially retirees here in Thailand, this is a frequent thing and many of my especially retiree clients, but also folks that just live here, expats, younger guys living and working out here, they will ask me, "hey can I use my Thai bank account as proof, as financial proof as part of the Visa process. My answer to that is effectively "no" because basically US Immigration wants to see that money in an American account. The question posed is "why?" Well one, they can trust it better - the veracity of it - I think that is one concern is look an offshore institution, the US doesn't have jurisdiction over and they can't fully ascertain the truth of whatever assertion regarding finances is made. That aside, I don't think that is so much the issue. I think it more has to do with attachment down the road of people that act as sponsors for Immigrant Visa status to the United States and basically the US Government wants to be sure that you don't bring an immigrant spouse into the US and then basically that spouse goes on effectively welfare, means tested benefits, and with regard to finances they want to make sure that if in fact that was to happen and they needed to go ahead and seek recompense from the sponsor, that the sponsor actually has not only money and financial resources but that those resources are within the grasp of the Government, so again within the jurisdiction of the United States. 

So with regard to Thai Bank Accounts in the US Immigration Process, specifically the Spousal Immigration Process, immigrants IR-1, CR-1 as well as the K-3 Non-Immigrant Visa, I think in those circumstances what you are looking at, what you are dealing with in terms of visas and sponsorship, they are going to want to see documentation pertaining to American banking or financial institutions, not offshore Banks and financial institutions.