There are two general categories of visas available to Thai citizens : Immigrant and Non-immigrant. Depending on the purpose of the visit, there are approximately 20 different non-immigrant visas for temporary visits to the United States. The most common of the non-immigrant visas are B1 and B2 which are issued for business, pleasure and/or medical treatments. Students must apply for an F, M, or J visa.
Thai citizens are not eligible for the "Visa Waiver Pilot Program" and must obtain a visa prior to departing Thailand.
Applications for non-immigrant visas should be submitted one to two months before intended date of travel. Applications can normally be processed within one business day, but there are occasional delays, particularly due to the large number of applications received by the Embassy. Immigrant visas may require longer periods of time to evaluate and process.
An applicant may apply for a US visa, in person or through a representative, at any visa issuing post. However, there are fewer complications for applications submitted in the applicant's country of origin or permanent residence. The Consular Section at the US Embassy in Bangkok accepts applications Monday through Friday, between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m., except on US and Thai holidays. The Consular Section is at 95 Wireless Road, across the street from the main Embassy. The Consulate General in Chiang Mai accepts visa applications on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
All visa applications require a non-refundable fee of USD65, or the Thai Baht equivalent, payable at any post office in the Bangkok area. Certain visas require an additional fee depending on the visa type and the nationality of the applicant. It is important to retain the receipt of payment from the post office to submit with your application.
Part 2
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