Us Tourist Visa Wait Time Only 1 Day?

[Svenn]

Quick question- I just check the Embassy's webpage and it says there's just a 1 day wait for visitor visas- is that really right? I thought the process was the applicant registers, gets a number online, then has to wait like two weeks for the appointment right? Is the 1 day wait for BEFORE or AFTER the appointment?

[gotlost]

Quick question- I just check the Embassy's webpage and it says there's just a 1 day wait for visitor visas- is that really right? I thought the process was the applicant registers, gets a number online, then has to wait like two weeks for the appointment right? Is the 1 day wait for BEFORE or AFTER the appointment?

Thats what it says.

Bangkok

Typical Wait Time (Calendar Days*) for a Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Appointment Visitors Visas: 1 Day

Student/Exchange Visitors Visas: 1 Day

All Other Nonimmigrant Visas*** (Excludes: A, G, K, and V): 1 Day

Typical Wait Time (Workdays**) for a Nonimmigrant Visa To Be Processed****: 1 Day

*Calendar days refer to every day of the week, including days when embassies are closed (such as weekends and holidays).

**Work days refer only to days when the embassy is open and does not include weekends and holidays.

*** The All Other Nonimmigrant Visa wait time DOES NOT include K or V visa applications, which are processed similar to immigrant visas. A and G applications are excluded from these wait times, as they are processed separately.

****IMPORTANT NOTE: Processing wait time DOES NOT include the time required for administrative processing. These procedures require additional time. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of application. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on individual circumstances of each case. Therefore, before making inquiries about status of administrative processing, applicants or their representatives will need to wait at least 90 days from the date of interview or submission of supplemental documents, whichever is later. Processing wait time also does not include the time required to return the passport to applicants, by either courier services or the local mail system.

November 4, 2009

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Quick question- I just check the Embassy's webpage and it says there's just a 1 day wait for visitor visas- is that really right? I thought the process was the applicant registers, gets a number online, then has to wait like two weeks for the appointment right? Is the 1 day wait for BEFORE or AFTER the appointment?

Just depends on the NIV work load, looks like not many applying this time of year, getting cold rainy or snowy in the much of the U.S. Won't be "1 day" come April-June when many people here apply for NIVs, then the wait for an appointment may go way way up. This is why the Embassy advises to apply for a visa real early in the spring.

Mac

[DirectorIntegrityLegal]

Another factor that has a major impact upon the NIV workload is the school year. There is a seasonal spike in applications for F-1 student visas correlating to the beginning of the US school year. J-1's for students also spike based upon the beginning of the school year.

This time of year it is relatively slow, but with the holidays approaching it would probably be wise to get an appointment sooner rather than later as officers take leave which can also delay getting an appointment.

[Svenn]

Oh, so she just applies online and then she'll have to go to her appointment the next day? wow, that is quick... the processing time is still length though right? few weeks at least?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Oh, so she just applies online and then she'll have to go to her appointment the next day? wow, that is quick... the processing time is still length though right? few weeks at least?

Processing of the NIV, assuming that she gets it? The ConOff will inform here on the spot, yea or nay, then the passport with visa, if it was a "yea," will be EMSed back to the address she provided about day 3-5. Takes at least one day in-house for computerized security check and processing.

Mac

[RPETER65]

Quick question- I just check the Embassy's webpage and it says there's just a 1 day wait for visitor visas- is that really right? I thought the process was the applicant registers, gets a number online, then has to wait like two weeks for the appointment right? Is the 1 day wait for BEFORE or AFTER the appointment?

After

[gregchambers]

So the rumour that it is almost impossible for a Thai women under thirty to get a tourist visa to the USA is untrue?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

So the rumour that it is almost impossible for a Thai women under thirty to get a tourist visa to the USA is untrue?

Depends on the individual case. My now wife was G/F for her initial tourist visas. First two singles, then third was a 10-year. Just 30 for the first one. No job, no property, my car, etc. And me retired here, which was the key point to the ConOff.

Mac

[jfchandler]

My GF here has just applied, seeking to join me for my annual Christmas visit back home..

On the online appointment scheduling system, once you've prepared your documents and paperwork, you could pick pretty much any day for an appointment now and the next couple weeks...

But by the time Dec rolls around, right now...their system suddenly is showing almost all their appointment days booked full... don't know if that's because of many applicants scheduling then, and/or because some staff will be away for holidays.

I'm here on a retirement extension, and my 30ish GF has a steady, long-term hospital staff career... So I'm hopeful... We'll find out tomorrow.

Edited November 9, 2009 by jfchandler

[Thanyaburi Mac]

My GF here has just applied, seeking to join me for my annual Christmas visit back home..

On the online appointment scheduling system, once you've prepared your documents and paperwork, you could pick pretty much any day for an appointment now and the next couple weeks...

But by the time Dec rolls around, right now...their system suddenly is showing almost all their appointment days booked full... don't know if that's because of many applicants scheduling then, and/or because some staff will be away for holidays.

I'm here on a retirement extension, and my 30ish GF has a steady, long-term hospital staff career... So I'm hopeful... We'll find out tomorrow.

Do hope she has copies of your passport to include your (several?) retirement extensions of your Non-O visa. Copies of your lease or whatever for your digs, too. In your name perhaps? Her's? Phone bills, etc, in your name? A magazine or two in your name? Social Security info mailed to you here?

Such adds to the package that you will be returning, and the presumption is, or often is, that she will also return.

Mac

[jfchandler]

Good suggestions... thanks very much TMB .... I have all those kinds of things, but hadn't included all of them in her packet yet... I will now.

It was interesting to see your comment about the CO considering your retirement status as an important factor. I'm on my first retirement extension after two years of business visas... So I've got some track record in that regard.

The last thing I want or intend to do is moved back to the States...

[jfchandler]

Prior to your suggestions, I had already prepared a 10-page letter of support and documents for her, from me, since I'll be the one paying for the trip, and the purpose of the trip is to spend Christmas with my parents and for she to meet my parents for the first time, since they cannot travel abroad.

The 10 pages included:

--a 2 page introduction letter, explaining my background and residency/visa status here, the situation that prevents my parents from traveling, a summary of my GF's very long and steady work history, a summary of our travels abroad to other countries together, and a statement of my financial commitment for the travel.

--1 page with color photocopies of my passport front page, prior business visa and current retirement extension and multi-re-entry permit.

--4 pages of complimentary letters from my prior and well-known employers in the U.S. as character reference.

--2 pages of my bank statement showing plenty of funds for covering the trip's expense.

--1 page of color photocopies of us in our various travel-abroad countries together.

Separate from that, we included:

--a support letter from her employer granting their support and her vacation time, specifically on our intended travel days for the purpose of traveling to the U.S.

--a copy of the airline reservation for the intended trip in both of our names.

--copies of the prior airline E-tickets for both of us traveling abroad together

--her original Thai bank book and an original printed statement from the bank showing her activity for the past six months. Not rich, but a growing balance, at least.

--copy of her tabien bahn... house book page...at her family's home upcountry.

--copies of emails between us when we first met here in BKK about one calendar year ago.

and maybe some other stuff...I can't remember it all now. We were up late last night.

[jfchandler]

OK TBM... in response to your suggestion I've now added:

--My two-year-old apartment lease for my current residence in my name.

--the past six months of monthly rental receipts for that residence in my name.

--the past six months, in my name and address, of:

True UBC cable TV bills

True DSL Internet bills

True Move mobile phone bills

and lastly, and I think something that ought to be a very strong indicator for a CO looking at one's past and future intentions....

--annual policy documents for my Thai health insurance policy in my name and address, including a recent renewal for the coming year ahead.

[gregchambers]

If they are like the UK then a very concise one page summary with all the basic points you have made might give you an edge, rather than expecting the embassy person to work himself into the ground by reading the whole lot and then being expected to remember stuff from the beginning - I am not joking, there have been cases where they have claimed a lack of something or other when they have had the material in the package already. Other than that I would be surprised if you did not get it.

[jfchandler]

The 10 pages included:

--a 2 page introduction letter, explaining my background and residency/visa status here, the situation that prevents my parents from traveling, a summary of my GF's very long and steady work history, a summary of our travels abroad to other countries together, and a statement of my financial commitment for the travel.

Also, I made sure when we filled out the basic application and printed it off the computer, that it specified that the purpose was to visit my parents for Christmas and that my status here is on retirement extension... So it says both of those things right on the basic application sheet that the first thing presumably they will look at.

If they are like the UK then a very concise one page summary with all the basic points you have made might give you an edge, rather than expecting the embassy person to work himself into the ground by reading the whole lot and then being expected to remember stuff from the beginning - I am not joking, there have been cases where they have claimed a lack of something or other when they have had the material in the package already. Other than that I would be surprised if you did not get it.

[jfchandler]

Well, we came back from the Embassy this morning and my GF was denied for a tourist visa, after what she said was about a 2-3 minute interview in English with a female consular office, one of two doing the interviews, she said.

I debriefed my GF afterward. As best as she could tell, the consular officer didn't spend much if any time looking at the pile of documents we had prepared or my letter of support and information. My GF said she was asked maybe 6-7 perfunctory questions:

-- why do you want to go

-- how long are you staying for

-- who is paying for your trip

-- how and where did she meet me

-- how long ago did she meet me

-- then, she was asked if she had my actual passport with her.

Of course, I wasn't allowed into the Consulate waiting area with her, so I carried my passport with me to go get a coffee down the street. I didn't even think to give my actual passport to my GF going inside. However, in the packet of documents she brought inside was a color photocopy of my current visa stamp, retirement extension and re-entry permit.

When she was asked about my passport, my GF said she didn't have it. But then she pulled out a separate single sheet she did have showing my past 2007 business visa. To that, my GF said, the consular officer replied that it was expired, which of course it was.

Apparently, my GF did not point the officer to the copy of my current retirement extension in the main packet she had. Whether the consular officer had seen the current stamp and understood it was valid and current, I don't know. Though on our main application form, where it asked who is paying for the travel, we specifically wrote, her American BF "living in BKK on retirement extension."

After that exchange, my GF said, she was handed the familiar "not sufficient ties" form.

Now we face the decision of whether to re-apply or try some other route for the future, like fiance visa.

What make's it difficult is not knowing whether there was some misunderstanding today, with the consular officer perhaps wrongly thinking I didn't have a current, valid retirement extension. If there was a misunderstanding that affected the outcome, we certainly could try to clarify that upon reapplying, and I'd certainly give my GF my actual passport next time.

But really, I don't know if there was a misunderstanding. For all I know, the consular officer may have seen the copy of my current stamps, and just decided to deny the application anyway.

And if nothing else changes in her/our personal situation in terms of "ties to Thailand," then I'm not sure whether it would be helpful or productive to reapply... Maybe just go another route...

But the difficulty of it is... I really can't know what happened in there today...

[jfchandler]

TBM, just curious, how long ago in years was your wife's (then GF) application for her first U.S. tourist visa??? Trying to get a feel for whether it was before or after the visa fallout from 9/11...

So the rumour that it is almost impossible for a Thai women under thirty to get a tourist visa to the USA is untrue?

Depends on the individual case. My now wife was G/F for her initial tourist visas. First two singles, then third was a 10-year. Just 30 for the first one. No job, no property, my car, etc. And me retired here, which was the key point to the ConOff.

Mac

[Thanyaburi Mac]

TBM, just curious, how long ago in years was your wife's (then GF) application for her first U.S. tourist visa??? Trying to get a feel for whether it was before or after the visa fallout from 9/11...

So the rumour that it is almost impossible for a Thai women under thirty to get a tourist visa to the USA is untrue?

Depends on the individual case. My now wife was G/F for her initial tourist visas. First two singles, then third was a 10-year. Just 30 for the first one. No job, no property, my car, etc. And me retired here, which was the key point to the ConOff.

Mac

The first time around was 1992, second in '94, both one shot visas, third in '95 which was the 10-year, still in G/F status.

Next was a new 10-year application in 2006 after we were married, and seemingly more "difficult" than when she was a G/F. The presumption when married is that she might well be going to the U.S. on a tourist visa then apply for adjustment of status to PRA, green card. While not illegal, it's frowned upon.

As with the earlier visas, I was able to accompany her to the interview window and I was the one who was 95% interviewed for five minutes. And, I was able to pretty well establish that I was going to return to Thailand.

Your situation is hard to guess at. If you've got the additional $100+ handy, I'd almost give it another shot. SHORT cover letter for her to hand over to the ConOff explaining that they just might have missed your retirement extension since she didn't have your passport with her and your G/F neglected to pass over the copies she had in hand of your passport. This time enclose your passport with a flag on the extension page.

Might work, at least shows persistence. Too bad there's not a cheap way of review of a denial rather than a full reapplication.

Mac

[jfchandler]

Mac, thanks for your suggestion... I may well consider that approach... I can certainly afford the fee... I just want to be careful to not do anything to put any kind of negative stamp on my GF's record with the consulate.

Unfortunately, as I think you know, 1992-96 is like ancient history now in terms of the way U.S. Embassies handle visa requests abroad, especially in the wake of 9/11...

I'm sure, if I was permitted to even be in the room today, I could have at least made certain the consular office was looking at the correct and valid retirement extension information for me, in my actual passport or in photocopies.

But unlike the time when you went thru the process, I think just in the past year or so, the office here in Bangkok has ceased allowing family members or significant/pertinent others to accompany applicants for their visa interviews... Today, I couldn't even go inside to sit in the waiting room. Had to wait outside, down the street.

When we came back home today, my GF was really sad and depressed... I think she felt that their denial was some kind of bad reflection on her personally, which of course it wasn't. And, going thru the visa process, she had been looking forward to our prospective trip, even though we talked beforehand that the approval rate for Thais to get tourist visas to the U.S. apparently is pretty low. I feel bad for her...I wish I could do more...

Edited November 10, 2009 by jfchandler

[My Friend Same]

Jeff, if u try for visa again, no way US embassy puts negative stamp on your gf's record w/embassy. they wont no matter how many tries. I'm reading ur thread with great interest as I will be in same situation soon

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Jeff, if u try for visa again, no way US embassy puts negative stamp on your gf's record w/embassy. they wont no matter how many tries. I'm reading ur thread with great interest as I will be in same situation soon

Believe the only "negative" items is a note on the computer that an NIV was previously denied, and a cite for the reason. There might also be a small stamp on the last page of the passport, just a note that says "Application Received" with a date. My wife got one of these in 1992 on the first application. The ConOff asked for a copy of my lease on the house down on Suk 71. I brought it in the next day and the visa was issued.

There's also a Q, I think, on the application asking if you've ever been denied a visa.

Mac

[gregchambers]

Using non-residence (in UK or USA) of the sponsor as the main reason why you will both return usually does work quite well for VV - just a thought, as she has her own job and is not reliant on the sponsor, could it possibly be the embassy thinking she has no real reason to return whereas if she was totally dependent on the sponsor and did not have a job then they would be more inclined to think she would return... odd thinking, I know, but it would be interesting to see if others in the same position had the same result (I got a VV for UK with a Thai girl who had no job or land when I was resident in Thailand a few years ago, BTW)

[jfchandler]

Thanks again Mac...for the comment and the post.. And the others too...

Yes...on the paperwork app, there was a question about has the person applied before, and if so, I believe asking for the date.

I'll check the GF's passport tomorrow to see if they noted anything there. She didn't mention anything to me....

I had heard somewhere in the past that if people applied too many times in some period of time, that they'd put some kind of permanent denial on that person's record... But I'm not sure if that's true, or just a rumor. And I don't remember what kind of supposed timeframes were involved.

In any event, she's never applied for any U.S. visa before. So a second app for a tourist visa wouldn't run afoul of anything, I'm sure. As I mentioned, she was pretty down and depressed about it today. I talked with her today about the ability to re-apply, while being clear the chances would probably not be any better, and maybe worse, the second time. We also talked about the longer term approach of pursuing a fiance visa...

I think I'm going to wait a bit, give her a chance to recover from the experience, and then see how she wants to proceed. I'm OK to try the tourist again, or throw in the towel for this Christmas trip, and just shoot a fiance visa for my next time back to the U.S. next June.

[MattFS218]

Be careful about having your gf bring in too much supporting evidence, as too much can often be over whelming, especially if she isn't skilled at quickly identifying the correct supporting evidence from the pile upon request.

Instead, make sure the consular office sees the MOST convincing evidence. For my tg, on her first visa it was my passport and hers with stamps proving she lived with me in India. On the second, it was a BRIEF cover letter. It's not likely the consular office will shift thru a stack of papers, so it's really important they see the right ones quickly.

[tpiety2]

My gf just got appt. for interview for B-2 NI visa on Nov.4. It is her and my first time.

Does anyone have any suggestions that will help us to be sucessful in getting her a visa.