How long does it take for a Thai citizen to get a US tourist visa, and is it advisable to hire an agent for the process?

Jun 2, 2024
6 months ago
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello 👋. I’m married to my Thai wife. Have marriage visa etc etc. we are trying to plan a trip to the US for my brothers marriage. I am wondering how long that process will take etc. if it’s better to hire an agent/will that expedite the process.

Thank you.
4,195
views
3
likes
129
all likes
83
replies
1
images
28
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The process for obtaining a US tourist visa for a Thai citizen can take anywhere from 1 to 14 months, with an average of 14 months mentioned in the discussion. While some individuals have successfully received visas within weeks, experiences vary based on the applicant's background, the documentation provided, and the current conditions at the US embassy in Thailand. There are mixed opinions on hiring an agent—while they can assist with paperwork and appointments, many believe it does not significantly expedite the visa process. Critical factors for approval include demonstrating strong ties to Thailand, such as property ownership, family connections, and financial stability, to alleviate concerns that the applicant might overstay in the US.
Michael *****
I saw in the news recently an agency was busted for falsifying documents like employment letters and corporate documents purportedly used to show an applicant’s ties to Thailand.

Something to think about to those thinking of using an agent to prepare a visa application.
Rusty ********
Would the process be easier if your Thai wife is a property owner in the US?
Terry ********
@Rusty *******
no it wouldn’t. They them to show cause that they would want to return here
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rusty *******
no. I think the point is they don't want her to stay haha.
Rusty ********
@Cris *****
my experience is that they just want the $$ (processing fees)
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rusty *******
I think on the US side. They just want to make it as stupid as possible. Haha.
NA'Ahulelua *********
When Trump was president it took my wife over 2 years to just get her interview because of his policy..I heard now the wait time is about a year…
Terry ********
@NA'Ahulelua ********
and actually it wasn’t anything about Trump. It started back after
****
NA'Ahulelua *********
@Terry *******
He did alter the process according to my Immigration Lawyer.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Terry *******
no no. Haha. Come on now children let's not start a "debate" on this haha.
Terry ********
@Cris *****
😂. Just making a small clarification there. No debate intended
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@NA'Ahulelua ********
lol well hold up now. We aren't turning this into a politics thing about presidents and policies.
J.d. *******
Contact Ben at Integrity Legal in Bangkok
Julius *********
You can get in immediately, if you just fly to Mexico and walk over😂

A U.S. B2 VISA (Tourist) can take a few days from Aplication (On-line) to the Interview (Just the wife at the Embassy) to the VISA in the Thai Passport.

The unknown variable is the VISA Interview Appointment. The interview itself takes 5 min if Married (legally).

My wife did her B2 VISA (PROCESS) in a week and had her passport back with B2 VISA stamp in another week.

However, our son’s took a month from start to finish, because we had to wait about 3 weeks for an Interview.
Ken *******
Being married won't help short term but immigrating to the US it will. I've done the entire process and unless it's long term it is impossible to get a tourist visa especially if married. The wait time is long and outcome is unpredictable. All the forms are online at USCIS.gov do it yourself no lawyer it doesn't help just costs way more.
Alan *********
"I am married to my Thai wife..."

Thank goodness for that, lucky you are not married to someone elses wife 👀
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alan ********
well. I have to say that because in other posts if you don't clarify you get smart ass comments as well. It's a lose lose battle
Steve *******
@Cris *****
case in point 😂
Ausra ***********
Half a year ago i applied for a US tourist visa to see my boyfriend (now husband) and to travel throughout US. I was told almost exactly same things as the comments here. And by all means they had the right to think i would get married and change status (well i did get married but didn't apply for status change)

If you are just travelling to your brother's wedding, i don't think there should be much of a problem. (I was applying from indonesia, where i was living for years, so maybe here the process is different)

It will all depend on the interview and how prepared you are. (no one really checked my supporting documents, but it definitely pays off to bring them in).

Does your wife have enough ties in here, that she can properly prove that she will come back? Do you have enough ties in thailand that can prove that you will both come back?

For my tourist visa application, it took me about a month from the day of application to getting my passport back. but that drastically varies on the embassy appointment schedule.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ausra **********
ya. No work or property. But family and we are starting a business later next year so I guess those documents. Our dogs are here. 555
Terry ********
And one of the worst things….. if you feel there’s a possibility of her getting denied, DONT GO IN ! Once she gets that first denial stamp, it will make it near impossible to get one in the future
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Terry *******
ok. So if my spidey sense is tingling don't do it
Terry ********
@Cris *****
wait until she gets better established before attempting imho
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Terry *******
well I can't just tell my brother to postpone his wedding because US immigration is a shit show. Haha
Terry ********
@Cris *****
sorry my man, but you can probably count on it being a solo trip
Jay ****
You can do it IF you have the mounds of paperwork, TONS of supporting docs. The burden of proof is on you to prove that she has strong ties, good bank account balance, employment, family, property here in Thailand and will return. As pathetic as the US government is they make it difficult to do legitimately and easy to illegally cross the border. Ideally it will take around 6 months but can take a year if you're unprepared. The more documentation you can give, the better. Not just the minimum they require. It would've been much easier to get a fiance visa and marry her within 90 days back in the states but then she would have to remain technically for about a year fir green card, work permit, passport. Unfortunately agents can't do much. An immigration attorney can help with all the forms if you're concerned. Good luck.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jay ***
thank you for the information 🙏
Steve *******
@Cris *****
just went through the exact same thing for my sisters wedding (I am in the US now). Answer is they had turned her down before she even went to the interview. She owns a house, runs a company has 2 kids all in Thailand and was still denied.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
haha. Steve i don't know why I didn't message you first. Ya I'm not to pumped for this. We aren't even sure when the wedding is yet. Which is another problem
Steve *******
@Cris *****
just arrived last night 😁. Malee hopped on a Thai FB group afterwards and everyone right now is being automatically denied. She didn’t see anyone who said I just got my travel visa.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
great. Haha. Hey there's always fly to Mexico and walk over ;) haha
Steve *******
@Malee ******
had somehow who helped her prepare everything for 3,000 baht if you want her contact
Jim ********
US Visa Experts with office in Bangkok:
*********************
Thai or English. Offices in both BKK and USA.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Maybe I should clarify. We only want to go for 2 to 3 weeks. We both don't even really want to go, but it's for my brothers wedding so ya. Would be nice if they had like we had where you get 30 days visa exempt
Sarick **********
No Thai agents can assist you with US visas. The most they could do is application preparation or appointment time slots. US consular is notorious for granting/ refusing visas. Their piece of mind is every Thai applicants will certainly not return home if granted a US visa so your wife has to prove otherwise.
Sam *********
@Sarick *********
and they are right to worry, I know at least 10 Thais in the US that went on tourist visas, got jobs and have overstayed for years..
Steve **********
On appointments: if yours is a long way out check back daily as cancellstions are frequent and you might be able to pick up the cancelled time slot if you check at the right time?
Bob **********
It takes a good while my friend used an immagration lawyer out of San Diego took 1
***
years
Steve **********
Just a bit of experience. Watch a few of the YouTube videos by former usa visa officers. Some have some very good advise such as: Most people go in with a load of documents and wait for the officer to ask questions? That seldom works! The default opinion is that you will overstay. He will ask a simple question or two and probably hand you a denial form. What you have to do is after the first question start talking and explain what you are going to do, why you must return to Thailand and what your ties to Thailand are? Family, business, real estate owned, job etc. He will have a few dozen applicants after you to see today and you have about 3 minutes to convince him that you deserve a visa! Take your paperwork just in case he wants to see something but it's unlikely he has time to look at anything? And no he probably has not had time to do much if any prior research as to your papers before today? Best of luck!
Frank **********
It only takes a week or two. My girlfriend at the time had her interview for a visitors visa in two weeks after I submitted the application. However it was denied. This was October of ,2022.
Terry ********
@Frank *********
denied being the key word there
Frank **********
@Terry *******
Roger that.
Terry ********
Lots of paperwork and supporting documents. We got one when we lived in Chiang Mai. It only took about 1 week. Of course that was 10+ years ago. It always is much easier when your wife owns property, has strong family ties and you having good finances.

But if she doesn’t have any of those, time will really drag out.

Also, I’ve also seen in Bangkok that making an appointment takes anywhere from 4-6 months now ( in regards to Thai visas to America)
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Terry *******
oiiii so long haha. Well no property ownership yet. We are buying property and starting a business this year but no paper trail yet. Its crazy because we just want to go for like 2 weeks
Terry ********
@Cris *****
, yeah for some time now it’s really sucked. You can still try to schedule an appointment for an American, but as I recall you can’t make an appointment for the both of you at the same time. It’s difficult to do it online.

I would highly recommend getting her property and business ownership in place first. Without those, I would say you’re looking at a less than 10% chance.

If you’re really loaded and have enough money to be a guarantor, they may qualify her. But still the land ownership is the best bet. It shows a reason to return
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Terry *******
even if we have like 9 months to a year to.wait? Is a guarantor basically like pay money to guarantee she comes back?

The funny part is we both don't really want to go. I moved here for a reason and she has no really want to go either other than this wedding haha
Kool *******
@Cris *****
it doesn't matter about a guarantor, other than supporting her while she is there, if approved. What is very important is that she has a real reason to return, like a good job, big bank account, significant property, kids, family, and has a pattern of leaving and returning. They also consider the age difference between you both. Has she got a long history of paying her Thai income tax from working. Just because you say it is only for two weeks doesn't make it true in the eyes of US immigration, and that is from their long experience. If this is her first passport, and she is under 60 and not working, expect a rejection. Also being married makes no difference.
David ************
It’s been a few years, but the process took us about 5 months from start to tourist visa and we did it ourselves.
Av **********
Hope u have had your wife get several other visas to other countries the past few years, they use those to determine if she has a good track record of returning home,

Anyway, I would tell ur brother most likely ur plus one isn’t going to make it.
Robert-Nopparath *******
@Cris *****
well if that’s a case, start making a week holiday Hong Kong, a couple of day to Malaysia, any countries near by.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Av *********
shit really? She actually just got her passport like 2 months ago. So no history at all haha.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I just hear all different time frames. Is there a reason for this? Because I lived in a border state back in the US. And immigration was a complete joke.
Jack ****************
@Cris *****
you are getting conflicting information because half the people can't read and half like to talk without knowing.

It takes 1-3 months to apply because the interviews are backed up. Depending on whatever you might get one 3 weeks out or everything might be booked 2+ months. I'm theory it's easier now that there are two locations (Bangkok and Chiang Mai). I do not believe an agent will improve your chances and significant amount. They might keep you from making a mistake on the paperwork, it's not that hard. The reality is that nobody really knows what happens in the black box where they decide- personally I think there is a lottery element they only give out so many a day and if they already have them out before your interview slot - tough.

It is absolutely bonkers that something this expensive (150 bucks to apply, airfare, hotel, etc) doesn't have a clear set of requirements.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jack ***************
that's crazy. That's American government for you I guess. Thank you for the reply though. 🙏

So once you apply and interviews, is there more waiting? Or are you done at that point?
Jack ****************
@Cris *****
they will tell her no (or yes) at the interview. The interview is 4 questions. Make sure you fill out the application together so that her answers are exactly the same as the application. The only possible legitimate reason I can come up with for our rejection was "we are going on holiday and so she can meet my mother" and when asked she said "going on holiday with my husband". I suspect it might be helpful to give them exact plans too- our plan was to stay about a month and maybe they want to hear "32 days" but I am speculating.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jack ***************
ok that shouldn't be a problem. Not pumped to have to go to Bangkok. Maybe we will try chiang mai
Jack ****************
@Cris *****
that is where we went, will probably go Bangkok next time. Bangkok is a big city and feels like a big city and it's foreign and weird and crazy and Chiang Mai feels like Dallas.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jack ***************
eh. We live in hua hin and go there to much. I dislike Bangkok a lot haha
Jack ****************
@Cris *****
certainly worth doing once anyway
Robert-Nopparath *******
US embassy will tell you what documents they need in order for her to apply for a visitor visa, if she is holding a Thai passport.
Armando **********
Good luck, its damn near impossible for a Thai to get a visa to enter the usa
Tony *********
@Armando *********
it's the same to get one to enter Australia 🇦🇺
Colin *******
@Tony ********
I'm not sure that is the case. Do you have recent personal experience of the process? I had a friend come over in November last year and the visa came in a few weeks, and no questions asked.
Tony *********
@Colin ******
yes but about 2 yrs ago so I gave up .I just come to Thailand instead
Colin *******
@Tony ********
oh well, you worked it out. As previous comments it's really about the risk of overstaying. If they have multiple entry stamps in passport, and a job and family and reasonable financials then I think it's pretty easy. The more of these missing it gets harder and harder. I also have a friend who has his GF currently in Aus , no job, no overseas prior, little family connections in Thailand and she got the visa first go, via an agent.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin ******
ya. My wife's friend basically has nothing. Not even legally married in Thailand and she got a visa no problem
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony ********
ya I hear Australia is rough to get. But it makes sense because they are cracking down on basically everyone coming in. The US is basically a walk in, collect your free money phone and transportation on our border.
Stuart **********
@Armando *********
That’s what I thought as well but my Thai wife’s sister has managed to get in twice and worked both times and is currently still working there,so I have no idea what sort of visa she has.
Giorgio ******
@Stuart *********
maybe you could ask her
John ******
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Armando *********
funny how people can just walk across the southern border. But to just legit visit its hard.
Armando **********
@Cris *****
yeah, I agree. You can sneak across the Mexican border easier that getting a visa. Maybe you should just have your wife do that instead of getting a visa. Lol
Sam *********
William ******
14 months is the average
William ******
@Cris *****
I am trying to get my wife a visa and with all the paperwork and red tape from Immigration, it averages 14 months.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@William *****
even just for a visitor visa?!
William ******
@Bradley ********
not likely unless she can prove she is going to come back, good job, property, house, family she needs to take care of.
William ******
@William *****
exactly I think the denial rate above 70%. Without solid proof of ties to Thailand will be denied. Being married doesn’t help. Will actually probably make it worse because married to American and maybe stay in USA. The visa is difficult with job, house, bank account, family or kids. I tried in Mexico. But the standard wait time in next is 400 to 500 days for an appointment. We got medical emergency appointment but still was denied. You should be able to check when next available appointment is online. That appointment they tell you yes or no. In Cambodia appointments are only 21 days. Not sure about Thailand I would assume longer. Keep in mind that it’s like $180 or $200 for tourist visa if answer is no you lost the money.
Pascal ********
Contact the US embassy in Thailand.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pascal *******
right… thanks for the great advice 👍🏻
Henrik *****
You could get more accurate informations if you ask the question in a US visa group.
Cris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ****
not sure where to look for that. Just figured. Some American here would have a general idea of how much.
Henrik *****
Just write US visa in the search field at the top of every facebook page.
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else