When applying for the US non-immigrant visa (UK passport) in Bangkok, does the US Embassy retain your passport while the application is processed? With published wait times around 3 weeks +processing, that's a long time to be without a passport in my line of work.

Thanks,

NL

Well, yes, they do keep your passport for the approximately two-three (correct, 2-3!) days it takes to process the visa, then they EMS it back to you.

The longer period of time you refer to might be the struggle that many to most people have to get an online appointment for an interview.

Mac

Well, yes, they do keep your passport for the approximately two-three (correct, 2-3!) days it takes to process the visa, then they EMS it back to you.

The longer period of time you refer to might be the struggle that many to most people have to get an online appointment for an interview.

Mac

Yes, their global delivery time website is a bit ambiguous when its states (currently) 21-days for Bangkok and then has the disclaimer that it does NOT include processing time. Then what is the 21 day delay? The wait time for the interview appointment?

Well, yes, they do keep your passport for the approximately two-three (correct, 2-3!) days it takes to process the visa, then they EMS it back to you.

The longer period of time you refer to might be the struggle that many to most people have to get an online appointment for an interview.

Mac

Yes, their global delivery time website is a bit ambiguous when its states (currently) 21-days for Bangkok and then has the disclaimer that it does NOT include processing time. Then what is the 21 day delay? The wait time for the interview appointment?

Yes, I expect so, the time to the next available appointment. However, there's a number of threads here on TV in the last couple of months stating that appointments seem to be full up for two months? And that about the only way to break the queue is to keep trying the online system, and all night, including the wee hours of the morning. A Thai friend told me he ended up sleeping with his PC rather than his wife! He did, tho, finally get an appointment.

Mac

My wife had her visa interview on Monday in BKK, she received her passport back on Wednesday. I have no idea if that is standard or not, but that's how it worked for her.