What is the current lead time for DTV visa applications at the Los Angeles embassy?

Dec 31, 2024
9 days ago
David *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
I applied for the DTV as a remote worker with the Los Angeles office on Dec 6. They asked for more information on Dec 12, which I submitted on Dec 13. I haven’t heard anything else from them since then. My application status on the web portal still says “Processing Pending Document Check”.

Anyone know what the current lead time is like for DTV applications, specifically the Los Angeles embassy? I’m about two weeks out before I leave for Thailand and I’m getting nervous.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user has been waiting for their DTV visa application status since submitting additional documents on Dec 13. They are concerned about the processing time as their departure for Thailand is approaching. Community comments indicate that the typical processing time is around 15 business days from when additional documents are submitted, but this can be affected by holidays in both Thailand and the USA.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Alma ***************
Hahaha! Same here..already waiting to board but no visa insight!
Anonymous ******************
On their website it says can take 15 business days, which everyone keeps telling you. But it also says if asked for additional documents you should see a change in status within 5 business days. Yours seems longer but could be do to Thai and USA holidays in December.
Tod *********
as John said they quote 15 business days to process it and when you get requested for additional documents that can reset the count 😮

So as we can see from the thai consulate website listing the holidays in 2024

They closed the 25th, then friday the 27th and won't re-open until the 2nd

By my count 15 business days from the 12th of Dec (not counting weekends or holidays is Jan 8th
Anonymous ******************
@Tod ********
they say 5 business days you should see a change in status after submitting requested documents
Tod *********
wanna try that again Anonymous participant 733 ?

This is right OFF the website of the LA consulate

t says allow an additional 5 business days after you submit the new documents they requested

BUT

I don't know if that's 5 MORE business days in addition to the 15 it takes to process the visa (20 business days in all) or just 5 after you send them the documents they requested 😕
Anonymous ******************
@Tod ********
it’s pretty clear what it says. It says allow for an additional 5 business days for your visa to be processed after you submit the documents.

That’s as clear as it gets bud.
Tod *********
Anonymous participant 733 right and their status is now processing pending document check <- which it most likely went to just after they sent the additional documents on the 12th 😉
Anonymous ******************
@Tod ********
wrong, it says 5 business days after you submit for it to be processed. Which means that your status would go from pending document check to processing. Once you submit new documents it automatically changes to pending document check. How is this difficult to understand for you?

Why would it mean 5 extra business days on top of 15 business days. That literally makes no sense and it does not even come close to implying what you are saying.

Please show me where on the screenshot you posted it says it resets 15 days. I’ll wait😂
John *******
Anonymous participant 733 can you share this link?
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
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John *******
Anonymous participant 733 I would interpret that to mean 5 more days on top of the 15 days.
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
it could not be any clearer.

On average it will take 15 business days for your visa status to change from pending document check to pending approval.

If you are required to submit additional documents, allow for an additional 5 business days from the date you submitted additionally requested documents for your status to go from pending document check to pending approval.

I don’t understand what is so complicated for you guys to understand.

In my case it took 12 business days to ask for additional documents. After I submitted the newly requested documents it then changed my status instantly to pending document check. It then took 4 business days to go from pending document check to pending approval. Then it took 2 business days to go from pending approval to approved.

Why would it take 20 business days after submitting the additional documents they requested to go from pending document check to pending approval, when it only takes on average 15 business days for someone to go from pending document check to pending approval without needing to provide additional documents?

Once they ask you for additional documents you are close to getting approved/denied. You don’t go to the back of the line and start from scratch. Even if you did it would just be 15 business days again not 20 but it doesn’t say that, or even remotely imply it.

I truly do not understand how someone can read that and interpret it the way you two did.
John *******
Anonymous participant 733 - Actually, many consulates restart the clock once you submit new documents. Maybe you are new, can’t tell, since you are anonymous. If your “opinion” is correct, then the original poster would be finished, but they are not. So, what is your rationale for that? The original poster should have, if your interpretation is correct, a decision on Dec 20th. Lmao
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
actually I was using 2025 holiday calendar. It’s even less.

It’s only been 13 business days since he submitted his documents December 6th lmao. It’s been 8 business days since he was requested additional documents. He still has until January 10th to get his status changed to pending approval to fall into the 20 Business day average.

Please explain to us how you think he should have gotten it by December 20th only 10 business days after submitting his original documents? I think it’s clear you should be expecting at least 15 business days bud. I would expect this time of year to have more employee vacations than other times of the year. I would expect this time of year they would be a bit short staffed during the holidays like most government offices are. I would not expect to be approved before the minimum average time during this time of year.
John *******
Anonymous participant 733 - No, they requested additional information on December 12th. He submitted the documents on December 13th. Your argument was that it is only 5 days after submitting new documents to get a response. This post now seems inline with my original opinion which you didn’t agree with before
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
it’s not my argument, it’s what their website says. And I never said “it only takes 5 days to get a response after submitting new documents” I said they say that’s the average. As a statistician they didn’t teach you what an average is John?

John, when you have an average, does that mean it has to be exactly that average every time? Remind all of the people that aren’t statisticians please.

You expect them to be exactly on time during the holiday season? It’s only been 13 business days since December 6 lmao, and 8 since he submitted the new documents. Statistician I sure hope not😂.

Do you always expect a government agency to be exactly on time with their averages? 🤡
John *******
Anonymous participant 733 - so my argument was it would take 20 days, but you anonymously, said it would only take 5 days after requesting documents. As you said, it is now 8 days, and it is only 13 days since applying. So it sounds like you are now backpedaling. But it really doesn’t matter. I hope you get a DTV.
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
you said 20 business days after submitting the additional documents. Which would be Dec 13th 20 business days would be January 17th.

I said the average time the consulate says when having to submit additional documents is 20 business days from the start of the process which would be January 10th.

I think you need to re read bc I have said the exact same thing over and over. I have cited continuously exactly what the LA consulate says. And for some reason, a self proclaimed statistician expects a government agency to deliver exactly on their averages. You fascinate me, please explain this “logic” of yours please bud
John *******
Anonymous participant 733 you also stared off with this statement - you were saying something very different.
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
that’s exactly what it says on their website. You act as if I am claiming something that they are not
John *******
Anonymous participant 733 - Oh gosh. Can’t keep doing this. I told you a statement, you said I was wrong and then made the same statement I made. Not worth this runaround. I hope you get a DTV
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
already got the dtv bud.

You literally kept arguing against what you initially said. I don’t understand why, unless you just didn’t read what I wrote which is my guess lmao

By my response you should have seen I was saying the same thing and mistook what you were saying as you were agreeing with Todd. But you argued against your own point for the sake of arguing I guess?
John *******
Anonymous participant 733
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
yes thats what the website says. What are you misunderstanding in this screenshot?
John *******
Anonymous participant 733 I argued heist what I initially said? No I didn’t -
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
you did tho, did you not say many consulates reset to the beginning when resubmitting new documents? What did you mean by that exactly?
John *******
Anonymous participant 733 Wait, you just said “you said 20 buisness days after submitting the additional documents”. But I am sharing a screenshot. Your statement doesn’t align with what I said, right?
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
I read statement as you expect an additional 20 days after submitting the new documents.

It sounds like you are saying the same thing as me.

Read my response to yours in that screen shot. I literally break it down exactly like that and you continue to argue against it
John *******
Anonymous participant 733 what statement did I make saying an additional 20 days? Please show. Your response was attacking. Lmao? Etc
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
Todd said he thought it resets. You also said it resets when submitting new documents. Resetting means starting from the beginning. If you start from the beginning that’s 15 the. You say another 5 that makes 20 bud
John *******
Anonymous participant 733 / come on dude. The original posts, I never said it resets. When you brought it up, I did say that is fact with some embassies, but never LA, as I have no evidence of that with LA.
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
lmao come on dude really? So you didn’t argue against your original point there bud? Don’t be a clown

And I already said I thought you were agreeing with Todd, who already said that. The. You said the same thing about resetting. And I’m supposed to know you didn’t mean it?😂

I’m done this, stop arguing with yourself lmao.
John *******
Anonymous participant 733 - I didn’t read Todd’s post. You came guns blazing. I never mentioned initially about resetting time. You mentioned that it would be crazy for that to happen and I then mentioned it happens in many consulates. Which is true. Never said it was the case for LA.
John *******
Anonymous participant 733 how about you share your experience?
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
it took him 4 business days to get requested additional documents. Well ahead of average. Since he has submitted the additional documents it’s been 10 business days, which is behind the average. But Between December 6th - dec 31 there is 15 Thai consulate business days. That means he is actually well in the average overall. Where did you get December 20th? The average is 20 business days if you are required to provide additional documents according to the LA consulate official website as you can clearly see. 20 business days from December 6 would be January 8th. You suck at math bud.
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
my rationale for it going longer than the average?

Do I seriously need to explain averages to you?

😂😂

Listen bud, I know this might be difficult to understand for you for some reason. But just bc someone doesn’t get approved within the average time, does not mean it is not still the average time.

Wow, I can’t believe I needed to explain that to a grown man.
Anonymous ******************
@John ******
it does not restart the clock what you are saying is completely false lmao. Show me on the post where on the official website it says that bud. Maybe you have been here too long and forgot how to read. It says exactly what it says. The average is around 20 business days. Many have gotten it in less than 10 days, many have gotten it in over a month. But what the official website tells you is that on average you will be changed from pending document check to pending approval in 15 business days if no further documentation is needed. If further documentation is needed it clearly says add 5 business days to the date you submit the additional documents. Why wouldn’t it say add 20 days if that’s what they mean mr. Thai immigration genius? Absolutely mind boggling your stupidity 😂

You’re asking why it’s taken longer? Bc some people it takes longer. I’ve seen some people from the LA consulate get approved in less than 24 hours on here. If you average them together the official website says that average is 15 business days, or 20 if you need to submit more documents. How you could make something so simple so complicated is beyond retarded.
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant 733
Bob **********
You probably need to wait at least after the holiday
John **********
They quote 15 business days processing time but frequently that runs from when you provide additional information. So you might be looking at around the 8th January