Obtain Us Visa In Chiang Mai?

[SkyBoy]

I have a couple questions for helping my Thai girlfriend get a tourist visa to the US.

1. Can a Bangkok resident apply for a US visa in Chiang Mai? I ask this because on my next visit, we are going straight to Chiang Mai and staying there for most of my trip. Also, I see on the embassy website that the wait times for the interviews are much shorter in Chiang Mai than Bangkok.

2. Assuming all the documents are in order, how long does the Chiang Mai office take to make a decision on the visa? How long is the wait for the interview?

3. I am a prosecuting attorney in the US. I have read that a licensed US attorney can accompany a person to their interview, is this correct? Also, I refer local INS to illegals that need to be deported (drug dealers, violent assaults, etc) as part of my job. Do the Thailand offices let US attorneys accompany applicants to their appointments? I also figure this will help in that I am "sponsoring" the visit of my friend.

Any help is most appreciated!

[grrr]

My girlfriend just got a multiple entry tourist visa to visit the US last week, so I can answer some of your questions and give you some info.

1. Can a Bangkok resident apply for a US visa in Chiang Mai? I ask this because on my next visit, we are going straight to Chiang Mai and staying there for most of my trip. Also, I see on the embassy website that the wait times for the interviews are much shorter in Chiang Mai than Bangkok.

I don't see why not, though the interviewer at the consulate will certainly want to know why.

2. Assuming all the documents are in order, how long does the Chiang Mai office take to make a decision on the visa? How long is the wait for the interview?

It took us about 3 hours from start to finish! Basically she takes a number, waits, turns in the documents, waits, then has the interview. My girlfriend reports interviews were anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes. At the end of the interview the officer will give a green ticket if he decides to issue a visa, or gives the reason he is not issuing a visa. If everything went well and a green ticket is in hand, you return the next day to pick up the passport with a visa, which takes about 15 minutes.

They only allow applicants inside, so I had to sit in a hallway for 3 hours while all of this happened. The interviewer did not want to talk to me, but apparently sometimes they do, so it probably would be best if you went and waited. I don't know if you being an attorney in the US would change this, but I doubt it as it's up to the Thai gaurds outside who gets to go in.

You DO NOT pay at the post office, as you do in Bangkok. Just bring 4000B or $US 100 to the consulate. Finding a shop that could do the photo exactly right was a little challenge, get it sorted out before you go.

3. I am a prosecuting attorney in the US. I have read that a licensed US attorney can accompany a person to their interview, is this correct? Also, I refer local INS to illegals that need to be deported (drug dealers, violent assaults, etc) as part of my job. Do the Thailand offices let US attorneys accompany applicants to their appointments? I also figure this will help in that I am "sponsoring" the visit of my friend.

Your girlfriend needs to convince them she has compelling ties to Thailand, and your sponsorship means pretty much nothing to them. We had a bunch of letters from friends and family, and I wrote a letter as well which the interviewer read. Good luck!