I'm going to bring my girlfriend to the States on holiday & she has got her interview at the embassy in Bangkok coming up. What can she expect?

SJ

She should get to the embassy at least ½ hour early, 45 minutes would be better; there will be a line outside.

Once she is checked in, a councilor will go through any documents she has brought with her (these are the very carefully prepared documents that will prove her ties to Thailand, and convince the embassy she will return to Thailand). That councilor will take out any documents they think relevant. That councilor may also ask some questions about the information on the original application, and question any discrepancies. There is a lot of waiting. When she has the interview, they will go through the documents again, ask a lot of questions about her, her family, work, you, etc. Nothing specific as far as I can tell, each interview is different. With any luck, she’ll come out without her passport, which generally means she has been approved.

BE HONEST

Good luck.

Edited April 7, 201214 yr by Shot

Thanks Shot. Is the interview in Thai or English?

Thanks Shot. Is the interview in Thai or English?

I think they ask what you prefer when making the appointment, or it may have been on the original application. I know my GF's interviewer spoke English and Thai.

Shot,

You say that if the application is successful they will hold onto the passport.

How long do they keep them as we are flying to Europe 7 days later & so obviously she will need her passport?

Paul

I think the embassy said it could take up to 2 weeks, but we had it within 5 days, and that included a weekend. I believe you can request it be expedited for an additional cost. And, if she is in Bangkok, she may be able to pick it up and save the day or two in the mail.

Check out the Embassy's www site:

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/niv_howtoapply.html#step 8

STEP 8: IF ISSUED A VISA

A consular officer will inform the applicant at the conclusion of the interview whether he/she qualifies for a U.S. visa. If your visa is approved, you will be asked to purchase an envelope at the Thailand Post counter in the waiting area for the return of your passport. You may choose to have your passport returned to:

An address of your choice (home, office, relative's house)

The Rong Meuang central post office to pick up your passport in person.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Believe it takes 2-3 days for processing then EMS time to get it mailed back to you.

Mac

to mac

you can not believe what you read on the american website.... they advertise 14 days for a visitor visa B2... but after filling out the ds-160 and submitting it,,, paying for the PIN and then trying to set a date for interview,,,, all dates through till end of may are full,,, and june is not yet offered..... we have flights booked into vancouver canada on june 1 (yes the gf has a 2 1/2 yr visa for canada on her first try without an interview in 1 week) sent them an email and the response was ,, so sorry but have many people applying now,, try back again later and maybe someone will cancel...

to say that i am pissed off would be a real understatement.... that 14 day estimate on time, also says it is updated regularly... bs... you dont go from 14 days to 2+ months over night..... most likely they just dont care, but could also be to stupid to know how to build a website and maintain it properly....

Wunderluster

That "2-3 days" is AFTER a successful interview, not for the entire process.

FYI, recommend you keep checking that calendar for interview days as some usually become free now and then, more on the "now" side, too. Altho, must admit, this is the bad time for visa applications with summer coming up.

Have seen reports here on TV that the best time for checking the calender might well be after midnight and into the wee hours. You have to be online to catch an opening. One Thai friend this time last year ended up sleeping next to his PC!

Mac