As stated in the headline.............reliable driver and reliable vehicle and hopefully personal recommendation for trip down to BKK to the US embassy, then back same day.

Any rough estimates on drive time one way??

And cost of gas/car and driver please................

Thanks in advance.

That will be a long day.

Travel time ONE WAY is at least 8 hours. Call it 9 with pit stops.

So really 18 hours total travel time and 2 there. 20 hours.

Fly.

7-8 hours each way..big ask if you want a safe return journey IMO..

Dont even think about this- the same driver, driving 16 hours at least, with no sleep. Even the train would be safer .....

petrol cost around 2000 to 2500 baht / way (depend on car) so will be 4000 - 5000 baht at least for return trip, driver who work 8 or 9 hour/way and if back within same day mean overtime work for total 18 hours or more driving to US embassy and back......plus car rental for 24 hours think easily cost u more than 8000 baht.

Better fly and take taxi to the embassy, or rent a car with driver in bkk airport.......just search google for : car rental with driver in bangkok airport

petrol cost around 2000 to 2500 baht / way (depend on car) so will be 4000 - 5000 baht at least for return trip, driver who work 8 or 9 hour/way and if back within same day mean overtime work for total 18 hours or more driving to US embassy and back......plus car rental for 24 hours think easily cost u more than 8000 baht.

Better fly and take taxi to the embassy, or rent a car with driver in bkk airport.......just search google for : car rental with driver in bangkok airport

18-20 hours in one day is suicide.

Book into a guest house before returning.

I can appreciate that it is a long trip and will add that my wife could do a portion of the driving and suggested that they stop at one of the roadside 24hr hotels outside of BKK for a short rest and fresh-up before jumping into the BKK madness. This is just in the planning stages at this point and seeking the best/safest way.

Their appointment at the Embassy is at 7am and traffic will be a nightmare for sure.

Another idea would be for them to take the VIP bus down the day before and stay in a hotel near the US consulate. Any recomendations for a mid range hotel in that area??

688 Hotels near US Embassy.

http://www.booking.com/landmark/th/united-states-of-america-embassy1.html?aid=318615;label=Low_CPA_English_EN_ALL-GBIECAUS_12118496665-GocOX4NrIUsIu_bQrrjZ7gS46623165745:pl:ta:p1:p2:ac:ap1t1:neg;ws=&gclid=CN3_udDR-cACFQyTjgodWnMAwQ

petrol cost around 2000 to 2500 baht / way (depend on car) so will be 4000 - 5000 baht at least for return trip, driver who work 8 or 9 hour/way and if back within same day mean overtime work for total 18 hours or more driving to US embassy and back......plus car rental for 24 hours think easily cost u more than 8000 baht.

Better fly and take taxi to the embassy, or rent a car with driver in bkk airport.......just search google for : car rental with driver in bangkok airport

That's a possible idea, what's the best airfare and earliest flight?? Their appointment is 7am..................peak rush hr and how far to the US embassy from Don Muang??

petrol cost around 2000 to 2500 baht / way (depend on car) so will be 4000 - 5000 baht at least for return trip, driver who work 8 or 9 hour/way and if back within same day mean overtime work for total 18 hours or more driving to US embassy and back......plus car rental for 24 hours think easily cost u more than 8000 baht.

Better fly and take taxi to the embassy, or rent a car with driver in bkk airport.......just search google for : car rental with driver in bangkok airport

That's a possible idea, what's the best airfare and earliest flight?? Their appointment is 7am..................peak rush hr and how far to the US embassy from Don Muang??

Not sure but I think earliest flight is with BKK Airways @ 6-55am

For a 7am appt. they'll need to fly down night b4 and stay near Embassy. Nok Air or Lion or AirAsia have good deals. Many hotels eg Ibis Riverside @ 1260thb p/n are a short distance from US Embassy.

Yeah, that sounds like the best idea so far.

Thanks

Given the tenor of your question and with a desire to help you as so many others here have, may I pose a question? Are you sure you have to go to the US embassy? There is a US consulate in Chiang Mai that can handle, as a rough estimate, 95% of everything the embassy can do for you. Save a trip?

Given the tenor of your question and with a desire to help you as so many others here have, may I pose a question? Are you sure you have to go to the US embassy? There is a US consulate in Chiang Mai that can handle, as a rough estimate, 95% of everything the embassy can do for you. Save a trip?

If you had been falling the OP over the past few months then you would know that he is part of that 5 %

The practical answer is fly. If afraid of flying, then it is a two-day trip. To do it in one day is, as previously suggested, totally impractical and suicidal.

If you get the schedule right, sleeper buses might serve a 24-hour purpose.

i have old vw can drive you but be aware am vege and eat a lot of beans

This is just not adding up.

Drive down and back in one day??????

Appointment at 7 am???????? Is it a a mistake or a very special appointment, 7 is quite early.

Who's on first?

If you really must drive, try RedRide www.redridethailand.com New cars, good service. But its going to be a long drive!

Given the tenor of your question and with a desire to help you as so many others here have, may I pose a question? Are you sure you have to go to the US embassy? There is a US consulate in Chiang Mai that can handle, as a rough estimate, 95% of everything the embassy can do for you. Save a trip?

If you had been falling the OP over the past few months then you would know that he is part of that 5 %

555!

Given the tenor of your question and with a desire to help you as so many others here have, may I pose a question? Are you sure you have to go to the US embassy? There is a US consulate in Chiang Mai that can handle, as a rough estimate, 95% of everything the embassy can do for you. Save a trip?

If you had been falling the OP over the past few months then you would know that he is part of that 5 %

555!

I'm just following the advise of my lawyer in BKK, but will consult with the local CM consulate as he just told me that it may be 2 trips to BKK. 1 for the police clearance and the 2nd for the actual [final] interview which I'm not to happy about as now the cost and effort is doubled..................

I think that the local consulate can handle tourist visas, but I'm applying for immigrant visas which I have been told have to be processed in BKK.

Given the tenor of your question and with a desire to help you as so many others here have, may I pose a question? Are you sure you have to go to the US embassy? There is a US consulate in Chiang Mai that can handle, as a rough estimate, 95% of everything the embassy can do for you. Save a trip?

If you had been falling the OP over the past few months then you would know that he is part of that 5 %

555!

I'm just following the advise of my lawyer in BKK, but will consult with the local CM consulate as he just told me that it may be 2 trips to BKK. 1 for the police clearance and the 2nd for the actual [final] interview which I'm not to happy about as now the cost and effort is doubled..................

I think that the local consulate can handle tourist visas, but I'm applying for immigrant visas which I have been told have to be processed in BKK.

Who told you that? Have you talked with someone at the Consulate?

From the US Consulate Chiang Mai website, a post dated August 14, 2014:

"We continue to prioritize immigrant visas, adoption cases, and emergency nonimmigrant visa cases. We are printing visas for these cases and all cases with very few delays."

http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/visas.html

I just copied the following from their website................

http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/apply-for-a-visa.html

IMMIGRANT VISAS

The U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai only issues nonimmigrant visas for temporary stays in the United States. If you wish to settle permanently in the United States, you will need an immigrant visa. For further information, please see the Immigrant Visa page of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.

I hope I'm wrong, but don't think so as I did a bit of research several months ago.......................but will call later this morning and try to speak with a human

I just copied the following from their website................

http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/apply-for-a-visa.html

IMMIGRANT VISAS

The U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai only issues nonimmigrant visas for temporary stays in the United States. If you wish to settle permanently in the United States, you will need an immigrant visa. For further information, please see the Immigrant Visa page of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.

I hope I'm wrong, but don't think so as I did a bit of research several months ago.......................but will call later this morning and try to speak with a human

US Govt = confusing. Best of luck.