US Non-Immigrant Visa Pilot Program
The US Government, led by President Obama, has been working on ways to improve the visa process to encourage economic growth in the US without having an impact on national security. In 2011, the US issued 17% more visas than in 2010.
On January 19, 2012 the US Government announced that it will be working on improving and speeding up the visa process for certain categories of travelers. This is good news for anyone who is applying for a US tourist visa. The new initiative will only apply in select circumstances. And the pilot program will mainly be available for qualified, repeat, foreign visitors who were interviewed and thoroughly screened for a prior visa application.
While there hasn’t yet been an official announcement regarding what types of visas will be eligible for the pilot program, it appears that it will mainly benefit tourists or business travellers who need a B visa. Some commentators do not believe that the pilot program will apply to temporary work visas, such as H1B or L1 visas. The US Government hopes to make the US a more attractive tourist destination by reducing some of the burden of getting a visa.
Some previously screened visitors may be able to renew their visas without undergoing another interview, making the visa application process significantly faster. Eliminating interviews will save returning visitors time and money. It will also free officials at the US Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to interview more first-time visa applicants.
The pilot program will streamline visa processing for certain low-risk applicants, such as individuals renewing expired visas, or some categories of younger or older first-time visa applicants. Individuals identified as higher-risk will remain subject to interviews, regardless of age or previous visas. And all visa applicants will be subject to full screening and review.
It is unclear when the pilot program will be implemented in Thailand, so it is best to continue to allow plenty of time before your trip for visa processing. You can check the US Embassy and Department of State websites for the most current information about visa processing and wait times. On February 2, 2012 the typical wait time for a tourist visa from the Embassy in Bangkok was 11 business days. In Chiang Mai typical wait times were 15 business days. When you are ready to apply for a non-immigrant US visa you can check the wait times at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4638.html
Consular officers at the US Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate in Chiang Mai will continue to use their authority to interview any visa applicant as required by US national security concerns.
If you have questions about your visa application or eligibility, Siam Legal is available for consultation and visa application assistance. Please contact us using the chat feature on this website or by phone. We look forward to learning the exact details of the new visa pilot program soon and hope to see it implemented in Thailand.
Category: US Immigration
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Siam Legal is a full service law firm but it has an extensive range of immigration, corporate, and real estate experience accessible to clients both domestically and internationally. It has offices strategically located throughout the major cities in Thailand including Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Samui and Phuket along with international representative offices in Australia, London and Las Vegas.
