Requesting interview date or changing it

[Tom and Teaw 1]

I will be in Thailand ifrom June 19 late to July 7th. My fiancee just got her first packet and tonight we will be going over everything while we chat on line. I am hoping the interview will fall while I am there in Bangkok so I don't have to fly back for it but do you know of any way she can politely inform them that I will be there a certain time and ask if they can possibly schedule the interview for when I am there? I would imagine you can move the date back if you need more time, but I'd sure like to avoid flying back a couple weeks after I am there. I know the initial process to get the interview date is done on line and all pretty automatic, right?

Thanks for any help.

[payxibka 10,047]

The consulate does not care if the USC is there or not... The will not necessarily make special provision to satisfy your need at another applicants "expense".

Simply find out how BKK schedules interviews (each consulate is different), find out what the current "lead" time is.....

Send them an e-mail and ask.....

Edited May 13, 2008 by fwaguy

[MarkNAshley 0]

You aren't required to be at the interview so I wouldn't think that they would see that as a valid reason to move up the interview.

Sorry!

[rin and john 71]

I will be in Thailand ifrom June 19 late to July 7th. My fiancee just got her first packet and tonight we will be going over everything while we chat on line. I am hoping the interview will fall while I am there in Bangkok so I don't have to fly back for it but do you know of any way she can politely inform them that I will be there a certain time and ask if they can possibly schedule the interview for when I am there? I would imagine you can move the date back if you need more time, but I'd sure like to avoid flying back a couple weeks after I am there. I know the initial process to get the interview date is done on line and all pretty automatic, right?

Thanks for any help.

Tman,

It is doubtful you will be able to expedite your fiancee's visa interview. If it was possible, several hundred fiancee's would be asking for an earlier interview (check out the last few weeks of the Sawasdee 2 thread in the K1 forum). That said, you can always send a request to the embassy (visasbkk@state.gov). As the USC, it would probably carry more weight coming from you rather than your fiancee, particularly if you have a compelling reason to interview during a certain time period. Info on writing the embassy can be found on their website:

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas.html

You mention getting the appointment scheduled "online". If you are referring to the info from the Embassy website:

"Visas Services

How to Apply

To make an appointment for a non-immigrant visa, go to http://thailand.us-visaservices.com or contact the Visa Call Center: 001-800-13-202-2457 and follow directions to purchase a PIN. "

That is for tourist visas. You need to go to the immigrant visa link above and read the section for fiancees. It also shows what your fiancee received in packet 3. Essentially, your fiancee needs to send the embassy:

1. signed checklist

2. DS-230 Part I

3. two frontal (passport) photographs

4. a photocopy of a passport photo page

She should do this as soon as possible as the interview will not be scheduled until the embassy receives the above information. She could also include a letter requesting a given time period for the interview, but I doubt they honor it without sufficient justification. When Rin's children applied for their K4 "follow to join" visas (six months after Rin had received her visa), I requested interviews during a particular week while Rin and I would both be in Bangkok (only three weeks in the future) and they honored my request. I am guessing priority was given as they were minor children and Rin and I were returning to the USA the week after the requested interview date.

Again, I doubt the request will be honored, but it never hurts to ask!

Best of luck,

John

[Tom and Teaw 1]

Thanks for the info. Not an appointment online, but my fiancee and I are going to discuss her packet and what she needs, what I need when we talk online tonight after she gets up. I guess it would never hurt to ask by email after she gets her barcode and I have written the embassy to see if I can get an idea how far out they are setting the interviews after the papers are mailed in...or delivered. Since she is in BKK, maybe I can just have her drop them off.

I am just hoping to avoid changing my plane ticket. We didn't think it would move quite this fast but I am glad it is.

Thanks!!

[ilayja 2]

Thanks for the info. Not an appointment online, but my fiancee and I are going to discuss her packet and what she needs, what I need when we talk online tonight after she gets up. I guess it would never hurt to ask by email after she gets her barcode and I have written the embassy to see if I can get an idea how far out they are setting the interviews after the papers are mailed in...or delivered. Since she is in BKK, maybe I can just have her drop them off.

I am just hoping to avoid changing my plane ticket. We didn't think it would move quite this fast but I am glad it is.

Thanks!!

When I contacted them last week I was told they are currently scheduling interviews 3-4 months out after receiving the packet 3 checklist. Packet 3 papers must be mailed to them. My wife sent them via 2-day express mail from a post office in Bangkok.