Embassy of the United States

I find that my passport was about to expire and my Visa only have two month left, so I urgently applied for a new passport. Originally, it could not be expedited for oversea applicant, but I communicating with the staff, they kept helping to follow up. I'm appreciate for their patience and help, and finally I got a new passport within the validity period of my visa!

I went there to apply for non-immigrant visa. Appointment was 7:45am, I got there 7:30am (they said not to arrive more than 10min before the appointment), and left at 9:15am. In other words - nearly 2 hour process. Personally I didn't have any issues at the embassy, and I guess lack of complaints and a good score would tell people that I got my visa. But I noticed a lot of people ignoring instructions given on the appointment details, signages or basic social curtesy of queuing. Here are things to take note of if you're planning to apply for visa here Before the appointment: 1. If you don't carry a Thai passport, you might not be able to book the earliest available interview date. Priority is given to people with Thai passport, so even if system says "earliest available appointment is 1 October", that date MAY be limited to Thai passport holders. You won't know the available dates until you pay the visa fee, input receipt number (the next day after completing the payment), and confirm your type of passport 2. The date you got is cutting too close to your deadline? Don't give up. You can reschedule your booking 3 times, so does everyone else. Keep logging in every day and click on Reschedule to check calendar availability. I booked on 6 Oct and got 18 Oct appointment. But on 10 Oct there was vacancy for 13 Oct that I could have rescheduled to if needed 3. Double-check the security restrictions listed on the appointment confirmation and prepare accordingly. So many people came with power banks, smart watches etc. despite the information given 4. Get a clear plastic binder - that's the most efficient way to prepare your paperwork. Separate the papers based on the type into individual plastic sleves and bookmark them. 5. Double-check the specs of the physical photo vs the requirements. Saw so many people having to spend money there to re-take photos and going back and forth - they were creating more hassle for themselves and delaying the process for others around them 6. If you work in Thailand, and your letter of employment is signed by a foreigner - get a copy of that person's work permit and visa and have them sign it as well. Some embassies may require it. 7. Expect to stand in line for 1-2+ hours, so wear comfortable shoes. High heels won't improve your chances of getting the visa LOL 8. If you don't have high tolerance for cold air-conditioned room - come with a jacket or at least in a long sleeved shirt On the day of the appointment 1. At the entrance, show them booking confirmation and passport. They will stick delivery tracking on the back of your passport - take a photo of it immediately 2. Why I emphasized taking photo of the tracking number? Cause they will require you to switch off your phone before you even enter the security check area 3. Put all the documents, wallet, keys and phone into the basket they provide. Empty your pockets - imagine going through airport security. You will get a bracelet tag for your phone 4. Once you're in, follow the red/green lines. Ask the staff at the desk which appointment time is being admitted now. If it's not your time group yet, just take a seat and wait for them to call it 5. Once if your time group's turn, present passport and copy of the photo. They will ask you when photos was taken. 6. Once you go into interview area, you will have to queue 3 times - 1st is for primary document check and fingerprint scan, 2nd is for check-in (they will scan your barcode and fingerprint), and 3rd is for the actual interview. 7. You can sort of figure out which line is which if you pay a bit of attention. The 1st step is usually done at the counter manned by local staff. Once that's done, they will tell you which counter is for check-in. If unsure - just ask the person in front of you. Please don't cut in line, that's just plain rude. And don't just join the interview queue before completing first 2 steps, you'll just waste your own time Yeah, to be honest this is less of a review and more of sharing some advises and insight on the process. Hopefully someone will find them useful

August 2023. 8:30 am interview scheduled for IR1 visa. Staff outside and in were helpful. Visa applicant was admitted to waiting area (not air conditioned) at 6:42 a.m. Embassy visitors must check mobile devices inside. If you don't appreciate a long wait without TikTok, bring a good book. Food and drink is not sold inside. You can take food with you. The waiting area is not well organized. non-English speakers may feel confused. Ask Embassy staff or other people in the area. For, 8:30 (scheduled) interview at 6:42, queue position was 5 (you may decide to arrive before 6:30). Note that the Embassy is open for visa interviews long before 8 am. Applicant waited more than 2 hours for 10 minute interview (IR1 visa) with a consular official. A good experience, save for long, hungry wait. August 2023 8:30am Interview appointment for IR1 visa. Staff outside and inside were very helpful. Visa applicants are allowed to enter the waiting area. (No air conditioning) Time: 6:42 a.m. Visitors to the embassy must check their mobile devices inside. If you don't like long waits without TikTok, bring a good book. There will be no food or drink sales inside. You can carry food inside. The waiting area is not well organized. Non-English speakers may find this confusing. Ask embassy staff or others in the area. For interviews at 8:30 (as scheduled) at 6:42, queue positions are 5 (you may decide to arrive before 6:30). Please note that the Embassy opens for visa interviews before 8:00. n. for a long time Applicants must wait more than 2 hours for a 10 minute interview (IR1 visa) with a consular officer. It was a good experience except for the long wait and hunger.

I went there to apply for non-immigrant visa. Appointment was 7:45am, I got there 7:30am (they said not to arrive more than 10min before the appointment), and left at 9:15am. In other words - nearly 2 hour process. Personally I didn't have any issues at the embassy, and I guess lack of complaints and a good score would tell people that I got my visa. But I noticed a lot of people ignoring instructions given on the appointment details, signages or basic social curtesy of queuing. Here are things to take note of if you're planning to apply for visa here Before the appointment: 1. If you don't carry a Thai passport, you might not be able to book the earliest available interview date. Priority is given to people with Thai passport, so even if system says "earliest available appointment is 1 October", that date MAY be limited to Thai passport holders. You won't know the available dates until you pay the visa fee, input receipt number (the next day after completing the payment), and confirm your type of passport 2. The date you got is cutting too close to your deadline? Don't give up. You can reschedule your booking 3 times, so does everyone else. Keep logging in every day and click on Reschedule to check calendar availability. I booked on 6 Oct and got 18 Oct appointment. But on 10 Oct there was vacancy for 13 Oct that I could have rescheduled to if needed 3. Double-check the security restrictions listed on the appointment confirmation and prepare accordingly. So many people came with power banks, smart watches etc. despite the information given 4. Get a clear plastic binder - that's the most efficient way to prepare your paperwork. Separate the papers based on the type into individual plastic sleves and bookmark them. 5. Double-check the specs of the physical photo vs the requirements. Saw so many people having to spend money there to re-take photos and going back and forth - they were creating more hassle for themselves and delaying the process for others around them 6. If you work in Thailand, and your letter of employment is signed by a foreigner - get a copy of that person's work permit and visa and have them sign it as well. Some embassies may require it. 7. Expect to stand in line for 1-2+ hours, so wear comfortable shoes. High heels won't improve your chances of getting the visa LOL 8. If you don't have high tolerance for cold air-conditioned room - come with a jacket or at least in a long sleeved shirt On the day of the appointment 1. At the entrance, show them booking confirmation and passport. They will stick delivery tracking on the back of your passport - take a photo of it immediately 2. Why I emphasized taking photo of the tracking number? Cause they will require you to switch off your phone before you even enter the security check area 3. Put all the documents, wallet, keys and phone into the basket they provide. Empty your pockets - imagine going through airport security. You will get a bracelet tag for your phone 4. Once you're in, follow the red/green lines. Ask the staff at the desk which appointment time is being admitted now. If it's not your time group yet, just take a seat and wait for them to call it 5. Once if your time group's turn, present passport and copy of the photo. They will ask you when photos was taken. 6. Once you go into interview area, you will have to queue 3 times - 1st is for primary document check and fingerprint scan, 2nd is for check-in (they will scan your barcode and fingerprint), and 3rd is for the actual interview. 7. You can sort of figure out which line is which if you pay a bit of attention. The 1st step is usually done at the counter manned by local staff. Once that's done, they will tell you which counter is for check-in. If unsure - just ask the person in front of you. Please don't cut in line, that's just plain rude. And don't just join the interview queue before completing first 2 steps, you'll just waste your own time Yeah, to be honest this is less of a review and more of sharing some advises and insight on the process. Hopefully someone will find them useful

I find that my passport was about to expire and my Visa only have two month left, so I urgently applied for a new passport. Originally, it could not be expedited for oversea applicant, but I communicating with the staff, they kept helping to follow up. I'm appreciate for their patience and help, and finally I got a new passport within the validity period of my visa!