United States embassy and consulate in Thailand slams door on visa appointments

[Jonathan Fairfield]

US embassy slams door on visa appointments

 

 

The United States embassy and consulate in Thailand are cancelling routine non-immigrant visa appointments starting on Thursday (March 19).

 

Embassy officials said in a statement that routine visa services will resume “as soon as possible”.

 

“If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at https://www.ustraveldocs.com/.../th-niv... to request an appointment.”

 

It also said people are barred from the US if they have been in the following countries anytime in the previous 14 days:

Britain, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Iran and China (but not Hong Kong or Macau).

 

Excepted are lawful permanent residents of the US and “certain family members” of US citizens and lawful permanent residents.'

 

“If you reside in, have travelled recently to, or intend to transit or travel through any of the above-listed countries prior to your planned trip to the United States, we recommend you postpone your visa interview appointment until 14 days subsequent to your departure from the subject country or countries.

 

“There is no fee to change an appointment and visa application fees are valid for one year in the country where the fee was paid.”

 

For questions about rescheduling a consular appointment, go to https://www.ustraveldocs.com/th/th-main-contactus.asp

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384422

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-19

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[Boon Mee]

The ACS is basically very unhelpful even in normal times so what should we expect from our tax supported do-nothing embassy people. 

The American embassy would rather not be involved with American Citizens living in here in Thailand.

 

Change my mind. 

[DPKANKAN]

8 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

The ACS is basically very unhelpful even in normal times so what should we expect from our tax supported do-nothing embassy people. 

The American embassy would rather not be involved with American Citizens living in here in Thailand.

 

Change my mind. 

Exactly the same as our British Embassy. They only care about their 'job titles' ????????????????

[spiekerjozef]

Very helpful, no embassy letters, no more visa appointments, no nothing.

 

Edited March 19, 2020 by spiekerjozef

[alex8912]

Well there are certainly less  horror stories about the USA Embassy here compared to the British Embassy ( is it even still here ?) There have been helpful reports in the past of the USA embassy. I’m just glad the USA for now sees Hong Kong and Macau separate from China. There are so few cases and deaths in the former. Many countries lump them together and that is plain stupid. 

Edited March 19, 2020 by alex8912

[ToS2014]

I actually agree with the Dept of State/US embassy closure to "...routine..." appointments.  The title alone starts the fire and now the bloggers will blow on it.

 

I would suggest anyone to rationally consider the safety of the Embassy staff as well.

 

It is my belief that the US embassy around the globe are not placed there for expats, rather the primary focus is furthering US international affairs.

 

I would also suggest anyone to rationally consider focusing efforts on oneself/family and not solely rely on the government.  Sure the government is attempting to assist any and all; however, in actually does anyone really believe the government can take care of every single one of our myriad different situations?  If anyone somehow reaches the conclusion that the federal government can take care of every single one of us, then I would further suggest anyone consider those that have lost their lives.  No government is perfect and I also have my personal 'bones to pick'; however, instead of bashing the government at this time focus on helping yourself and loved ones.

 

On a side note; I lived through Hurricane Katrina; the government simply cannot 'babysit' every single one of us.  I saw numerous people take the government assistance at that time (Katrina) and thought the government could not 'catch' the cheaters/false federal and local insurance claims.  I personally witnessed a civilian Air Force employee that tried to collect the 'freebees' from the feds and local govt.  She lost her 17 year career and was convicted on several offenses.  I would wager that spending time in a federal lock up, and carrying around multiple federal convictions for the rest of the individual's life wasn't worth it.  And yet, if anyone takes a larger view of this single incident, there were many more false claims as well that were caught, one individual taxed the response efforts fraudulently and further delayed government assistance to those in ACTUAL need.

 

Apologize in advance for sharing my daily venting.

 

Stay safe 

[ToS2014]

1 hour ago, spiekerjozef said:

Very helpful, no embassy letters, no more visa appointments, no nothing.

 

I would suggest you review the actual article and note that the embassy is closed to "...routine..." appointments.  Further, the Thai government simply 'got tired' of all the potential false income letters (I attempted to word that as 'nicely' as I could) and changed their rules that affected the US embassy (and other countries) to end the process.  I am sure, at the very least, at least one individual falsified the letter to suffice the prior Thai IMO rules.  I attempted to word that as 'nicely as I could as well.

[Benmart]

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

The ACS is basically very unhelpful even in normal times so what should we expect from our tax supported do-nothing embassy people. 

The American embassy would rather not be involved with American Citizens living in here in Thailand.

 

Change my mind. 

My favorable experience with the ACS differs from your comments and no one is physically forced to use their services. Changing a person's mind and behaviors comes from within and decidedly not from me.
 

[cardinalblue]

Routine visa appointments closed? These applicants are going where in the next 2-3 months?

 

routine business is not normal now so really don’t have a problem with it...really reflecting what’s happening in America until the country can get handle on the virus....

have to provide emergency or urgent matters like lost passports deaths births medical evacs etc

 

i guess one can debate what is urgent or not....

 

my guess all US consulates are acting universally under mandatory rules or Cookie cutter guidelines passed down from DC and not individual country’s ambassadors..

 

 

[Dustdevil]

I've never had any problems with US consular services in Saudi Arabia and Kuala Lumpur; the Abu Dhabi embassy was particularly and proactively helpful.

Edited March 19, 2020 by Dustdevil

[Rimmer]

Off topic troll post removed