Embassy of the United States Bangkok, Thailand

1. If I already have a valid visa and I change my name (through marriage, or for other reasons), can I use my old visa?
2. Do I have to use the appointment and the courier passport return systems?
3. I have a valid United States visa in an expired (old) passport. Can it still be used?
4. Do I need a visa to go to the United States?
5. How do I pay the visa fee?
6. Why was my visa application denied? Can the decision be overturned? How and when can I re-apply for a visa?
7. What documents do I need for my visa to be approved?
8. I have a student visa that was approved. When can I enter the United States?
9. I need to leave immediately. Can my appointment be expedited?
10. What should I do if I lose my Appointment Confirmation Letter before my interview?
11. What happens if I lose my passport and obtain another one after I scheduled my appointment but before my appointment date?
12. What happens if I cannot attend the interview on the appointment date? Can I give the appointment to someone else to attend instead?
13. Am I going to be fingerprinted?
14. I am an American citizen and would like to accompany my Thai friend/fiance/wife, colleague/etc. into the visa waiting area and assist him/her during the visa interview. Can I do this?
15. I am a citizen of another country who would like to apply for a visa while in Thailand. Can I do so?
16. My visa was lost or stolen. How do I get a new one?
17. I am having difficulty completing the DS-160 application form. What do I do?

Question: If I already have a valid visa and I change my name (through marriage, or for other reasons), can I use my old visa?

Answer: Yes. As long as your passport is still valid for at least six months beyond the date you plan on traveling, you may use your existing visa. However, you should carry proof of your legal name change (i.e., the Thai name change certificate with a certified English translation) with you when you travel to the U.S. If you wish to reduce the likelihood of encountering a delay at the port of entry, you are welcome to apply for a new visa by following our normal application procedures.

Question: Do I have to use the appointment and the courier passport return systems?

Answer: Yes, these systems are mandatory, and designed to speed up visa processing. Applicants cannot pick up their visas at the Embassy, but if desired can make arrangements to do so at Rong Muang post office.

Question: I have a valid United States visa in an expired (old) passport. Can it still be used?

Answer: Yes, if you will be entering the United States for a reason consistent with the type of valid visa you have. You should carry both the old passport that contains the valid visa and your current (new) passport. You must use both for entry to the United States.

Question: Do I need a visa to go to the United States?

Answer: Thai citizens require a visa to enter the United States. Some nationalities do not require a visa. For details, please see the Visa Waiver Program.

Question: How do I pay the visa fee?

Answer: Most applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee. Click here for more on fee amounts. The fee can be paid at any Thailand Post office in the Bangkok Metropolitan area and at any of over 250 "Pay at Post" counters found in Thailand Post offices nationwide.

Question: Why was my visa application denied? Can the decision be overturned? How and when can I reapply for a visa?

Answer: To qualify for a non-immigrant visa, applicants must demonstrate their strong ties to a residence abroad that they have no intention of abandoning by providing evidence of social, familial, and economic ties. Under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, the burden of proof is on the applicant. One must reapply and have a second interview for the case to be reconsidered. A refused applicant may reapply at any time should circumstances change or should they become able to present additional evidence of compelling ties to the home country. More information about visa denials is available at the Department of State website.

In order to reapply, applicants must again follow the same procedure by filling out a new visa application form and paying another visa application (MRV) fee. A refused applicant can reapply as many times as he or she likes. However, reapplying without significantly stronger evidence or proof of a significant change in the applicant's circumstances is not likely to change the result. As a matter of policy, we try to have the case reviewed by an officer who has not seen it before.

While the majority of refused applications fall under Section 214(b) of the INA, in some cases, an applicant may be found ineligible for a visa to the U.S. under a different section of law. For more information about ineligibilities, and waivers that may be available, click here.

Question: What documents do I need for my visa to be approved?

Answer: Consular officers evaluate applications on a case-by-case basis. There is no one document that can guarantee issuance (or refusal) of a visa as each case is different, and what may demonstrate strong ties in one case may not do so in another. As the non-immigrant visa application process is not documentary in nature, applications should expect to present verbal evidence of their ties. Student, exchange visitor, and employment-based visa applications require specific supporting documents. We recommend that all applicants bring in their prior passports, and that parents of small children bring their children's birth certificates.

Question: I have a student visa that was approved. When can I enter the United States?

Answer: You can enter the U.S. no earlier than one month before the start date listed on your I-20 form.

Question: I need to leave immediately. Can my appointment be expedited?

Answer: All applicants for tourist and business visas are encouraged to apply early. We expedite legitimate business, educational, and humanitarian travel based on pressing need. To request an expedited appointment, please send an email in English to visasbkk@state.gov with the subject line "Request to Expedite a Non-immigrant Visa Appointment." Please provide your full name, appointment confirmation number, appointment date, and the reason your travel is urgent. Applicants are welcome to provide information about any additional scheduling constraints, but should not request a specific interview date or time.

Question: What should I do if I lose my Appointment Confirmation Letter before my interview?

Answer: You should attend your interview as scheduled with all the required application documents.

Question: What happens if I lose my passport and obtain another one after I scheduled my appointment but before my appointment date?

Answer: You can attend the scheduled appointment and present the new passport. If you are not able to obtain a new passport before your appointment date you must contact the Visa Information Service again and cancel or reschedule your appointment. You will not be able to apply for a visa without a valid passport.

Question: What happens if I cannot attend the interview on the appointment date? Can I give the appointment to someone else to attend instead?

Answer: If it is impossible to attend the interview on the date you scheduled you can contact the Visa Information Service again and cancel and/or reschedule your appointment. Another person cannot attend your appointment. The appointment is non-transferable. Only the person(s) scheduled will be allowed to enter the Embassy.

Question: Am I going to be fingerprinted?

Answer: Fingerprints will be collected during the interview process. The 10 fingerprints are done using an inkless, electronic process. This requirement will not increase significantly the length of your interview.

Question: I am an American citizen and would like to accompany my Thai friend/fiance/wife, colleague/etc. into the visa waiting area and assist him/her during the visa interview. Can I do this?

Answer: Unfortunately, no. Only individuals applying for a visa are allowed to enter the building and to participate in the visa interview. Exceptions ARE NOT made for American citizens who are family members, colleagues, or friends of the applicant. The only exceptions are for children under the age of 16 and applicants with disabilities, who may be accompanied under certain circumstances.

Question: I am a citizen of another country, and would like to apply for a visa while in Thailand. Can I do so?

Answer: While it is the policy of U.S. Embassy Bangkok to accept visa applications from anyone physically present in our consular district, we strongly recommend that you make your application in your country of nationality or residence. Should you choose to apply in Bangkok, and you are not a Thai citizen or a long-term resident of Thailand, it may be quite difficult for the adjudicating consular officer to make a determination regarding your case. Additionally, while many visas are able to be issued within 3-4 days of the interview, if there are any delays it could have a significant impact on the timing of your return travel. Please note that the Kingdom of Bhutan falls within New Delhi's consular district, and applicants from Bhutan are encouraged to apply there.

Question: My prior visa was lost or stolen. How do I get a new one?

Answer: Applicants whose visas are lost or stolen must follow the regular application procedures on our website, and must demonstrate their current qualifications for a visa. Applicants whose valid visas were lost or stolen must also bring in a police report when they come to interview for a new visa. If a new visa is issued, it will generally be for a full period of validity.

Question: I am having difficulty completing the DS-160 application form. What do I do?

Answer: A number of resources are available to assist applicants in completing the DS-160 application. U.S. Embassy Bangkok's detailed guide on completing the DS-160 application, the U.S. Department of State's Frequently Asked Questions for the DS-160, and a video guide are all available. While we are generally unable to assist individual applicants in completing their applications, we note that it is important that you fill out the form as completely and accurately as possible. We recommend saving frequently to avoid data loss. Applicants are required to bring the DS-160 confirmation page to their interviews.