13-Year Immigration Battle Reunites Thailand Family

Noot Lenoel, of Vinton, VA petitioned to bring her brother and sister-in-law to the U.S. from Thailand 13 years ago. She owns the Red Jasmine restaurant in Vinton. Her Brother, Piya, makes amazing Thai dumplings, and Noot refused to serve them until her brother made it into the U.S.

The family did not see the immigration process being as difficult as it was. Piya and his wife needed to go to six interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok . Each time they needed new documents and paperwork in order to prove their relationship with Noot.

According to the Roanoke Times article about Lenoel’s Immigration Process, the familiy needed DNA testing for Immigration as a final step to prove their relatedness. The DNA testing was necessary because there is a significant amount of immigration fraud in Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand.

Finally, after 13 years, Piya and his wife are in the U.S. They immigration process from Thailand was a long struggle, but the family says it’s worth it. Without DNA testing, there is a chance embassy officials would have denied the family a visa.

On behalf of Boston Paternity, congratulations on obtaining your visas. I am sure the patrons of the Red Jasmine are anxiously waiting for the Thai dumplings.