US visa application service in Thailand
Visa Connext handles US nonimmigrant visa applications filed in Thailand: B-1/B-2 business and tourist visas, F-1 student visas and J-1 exchange visitor visas. We complete the DS-160, book the interview, assemble the documents and prepare you for the interview. The decision rests with the U.S. consular officer.
US visa categories we handle
| Category | Used for | Category-specific documents |
|---|---|---|
| B-1/B-2 | Short business trips, meetings, tourism, visiting family or friends, and medical treatment | No specific form; evidence of the purpose of travel and ties to your home country |
| F-1 | Study at a US school approved to enrol international students | Form I-20 from the school and proof of SEVIS fee payment |
| J-1 | Approved exchange visitor programmes such as internships, research or student exchange | Form DS-2019 from the programme sponsor and proof of SEVIS fee payment |
The US visa process and what Visa Connext does at each step
Choose the category and documents
The visa category follows the main purpose of travel. Applying in a category that does not match that purpose can lead to refusal.
What Visa Connext does: We interview you about purpose, dates and who pays for the trip, then send a document list for your case.
Complete the DS-160
The DS-160 is completed online at ceac.state.gov. After submission the system issues a confirmation page with a barcode for the interview. Consular officers rely on your answers during the interview.
What Visa Connext does: We complete the form from your actual documents, check dates, places and travel history against your passport and supporting papers, and ask you to review it before submission.
Pay the fee and book the interview
The application fee is paid at the rate shown in the scheduling system on the day of payment. Interviews may be rescheduled up to three times at no extra charge.
What Visa Connext does: We set up the scheduling account, pay the fee, book the interview and watch for earlier slots if you need one.
Assemble supporting documents
Supporting documents confirm the facts you state in the DS-160 and at the interview.
What Visa Connext does: We check each document against your application, put them in order and translate Thai documents where needed.
Attend the interview
Interviews take place at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok or the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai. Applicants in Thailand are interviewed in person in almost every case.
What Visa Connext does: We review your DS-160 with you, rehearse questions for your type of trip and tell you what to bring and what to expect.
Receive the decision and passport
If approved, the visa is placed in your passport and the passport is returned to you. If refused, the officer tells you the provision of law on which the refusal is based.
What Visa Connext does: We track the application, tell you the outcome and, if refused, assess the stated reason before any new application.
Documents for a US visa application
Bring to the interview
- Valid passport, plus any old passport containing a US visa
- DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
- Interview appointment confirmation
- Form I-20 or DS-2019 for F-1 or J-1 applicants
Supporting evidence
- Employment evidence, such as an employment letter or company registration for business owners
- Financial evidence, such as recent bank statements
- Ties to Thailand, such as family, property, work or studies you will return to
- Evidence of the purpose of travel, such as a meeting invitation, itinerary or school admission letter
Supporting documents are set case by case according to your occupation, purpose of travel and visa history.
What to know before you apply
Applicants in Thailand are interviewed in person in almost every case. The U.S. Embassy in Thailand states that interview waivers are only granted in extreme situations.
Nonimmigrant visa applicants should book their interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence.
Source: U.S. Embassy Thailand: Visas
Visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, even if the application is refused.
Source: U.S. Embassy Thailand: Visas
Applicants may reschedule their interview up to three times without an additional charge.
For Thai nationals, B-1/B-2 visas may be issued for up to 120 months (10 years) with multiple entries under the State Department reciprocity schedule. The validity actually issued is decided by the consular officer.
Source: U.S. Department of State: Thailand Reciprocity Schedule
Applicants in certain categories, including F, J and H-1B, must set all social media accounts to public for vetting.
Source: U.S. Embassy Thailand: Visas
Checked against official sources on 29 October 2026.
Common questions about US visas
How much money do I need in my bank account?
US immigration law sets no minimum balance for B-1/B-2 visas. Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(b)) presumes every applicant to be an intending immigrant until the applicant satisfies the consular officer that he or she qualifies for nonimmigrant status.
Financial evidence shows that you can cover the cost of the trip and is read together with your employment and ties to Thailand. A balance on its own does not decide the case.
Source: 8 U.S.C. 1184(b)
How long can I stay in the US on a visa?
Visa validity and length of stay are different things. The visa lets you travel to a US port of entry; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) decides how long you may stay on each visit and records it on Form I-94.
Under 8 CFR 214.2(b), B-1 and B-2 visitors may be admitted for not more than one year, and B-2 visitors are admitted for a minimum of six months unless there is case-specific cause. You can check your own I-94 at i94.cbp.dhs.gov.
Source: 8 CFR 214.2(b)
How many years is a US visa valid?
For Thai nationals, B-1/B-2 visas may be issued for up to 120 months (10 years) with multiple entries under the State Department reciprocity schedule. The validity actually issued is decided by the consular officer.
Source: Thailand Reciprocity Schedule
Can I renew my US visa without an interview?
The State Department's Interview Waiver Update of 18 September 2025, effective 1 October 2025 and superseding the update of 25 July 2025, allows a waiver for B-1/B-2 renewals only within 12 months of the prior visa's expiry, where the prior visa was issued for full validity and the applicant was at least 18. The applicant must also apply in the country of nationality or usual residence, never have been refused (unless overcome or waived) and have no apparent or potential ineligibility. Officers may still require an interview in any case.
In Thailand, the U.S. Embassy states that interview waivers are only granted in extreme situations, so applicants renewing here should expect an interview.
Source: Interview Waiver Update, 18 Sept 2025 · U.S. Embassy Thailand
My US visa was refused. Can I apply again?
Yes. You must submit a new DS-160 and pay a new application fee. A new application should show facts that have changed since the last one, or information that was not presented at the previous interview. Reapplying with the same information will normally produce the same result.
Where are US visa interviews held in Thailand?
At the U.S. Embassy on Wireless Road in Bangkok and the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai. The location is chosen when booking the appointment.
Source: U.S. Embassy Thailand: Visas
Official sources used on this page
- U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Thailand — Visas
- U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Thailand — Important Visa Information
- U.S. Department of State — Thailand Reciprocity Schedule
- U.S. Department of State — DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
- 8 U.S.C. 1184(b) (INA section 214(b)) — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- 8 CFR 214.2(b) — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — I-94 Official Website
- U.S. Department of State — Interview Waiver Update, 18 September 2025 (effective 1 October 2025)
Checked 29 October 2026.
Get your US visa application assessed
Tell us the type of trip, your dates and any previous US visa. We will confirm the category and the documents you need.