Visa Renewal by Mail Program

Important Notice:

    • The use of the mail-in service does not guarantee visa issuance. 
    • In some cases, applicants may still be required to appear in person for a visa interview at the Embassy or Consulate.  
    • Visa Renewal by Mail Program will take approximately 30 business days. If your travel is urgent, please schedule an in-person interview. 
    • For pilots and crewmembers, if you need to use your passport within 30 business days, please do not submit your application by mail.
    • Expedited visa renewal by mail option is not available.

On this page:

Overview

If you already have a B1/B2 (Business/Tourism) or C1/D (Transit/Crew) visa and would like to renew it by mail, you may qualify to submit your application via mail provided that you meet all of the qualifications listed below. If you do not, click here to request an in-person interview. 

Qualifications

If you are renewing for a visa type that you have previously been approved for, a B1/B2 (Business/Tourism) or C1/D (Transit/Crew) visa, you may qualify for an exemption to the interview requirement. 

If you can answer “yes” to all of the following questions, you may qualify for our Visa Renewal by Mail Program.

  1. I am renewing a B1/B2 (Business/Tourism) or C1/D (Transit/Crew) visa that is currently valid or has expired within the last 48 months (four years). This policy is in effect until further notice. All other visa classes must make an appointment for an in-person interview. 
  2. I am physically present in Thailand. 
  3. I was not born in or do not hold a passport from Cuba, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, or Iraq. 
  4. My previous visa was not lost/stolen or revoked. 
  • If yes, you need to schedule an in-person interview.  
  1. My name, surname, date/month/year of birth, and nationality on my current passport match my previous visa.  
  • If your name and/or surname is different from your previous visa, a copy of official name and/or surname change certificate with English translation is required.  
  • If your date/month/year of birth and/or nationality does not match with your previous visa, an appointment in-person interview is required. 
  1. My previous visa was issued when I was age 14 or older, and my 10 fingerprints were scanned at the previous interview.
  • The U.S. Embassy and Consulate did not start collecting 10 fingerprints until September 1, 2007.
  1. I am renewing the same type of visa as my currently valid or prior visa.
  • For C1/D (Transit/Crew) visa renewal, applicant must submit a recent employment letter. 
  • For those under the age of 14, applicant must submit a copy of his/her birth certificate and a copy of one, or both of his/her parents’ or legal guardians’ valid B1/B2 (Business/Tourism) visa. 
  1. I am renewing a U.S. visa in the Consular district of my habitual residence. I understand that I may still be required to appear in person for a visa interview at the Embassy or Consulate.
  2. My most recent visa does not have an annotation such as “Clearance Received”, “Waiver Granted”, or  “Fingerprints Waived”.
  3. My most recent visa is in my current passport or it is in my old passport which I will submit with my application via postal mail. 
  4. I have never been denied entry to the United States.
  5. I have never been refused a U.S. visa, or if I was refused a U.S. visa before, I was subsequently issued that same visa type.
  6. I answered “no” to all of the security and background questions on the Form DS-160. 

If you do not qualify for an interview exemption, click here to schedule an appointment for an in-person interview.  

How to Apply

If you meet the requirements above, please follow these steps.

Step 1:

Complete the Form DS-160. 

Read the Guidelines for Completing the Form DS-160 carefully. All information must be accurate. After submitting your Form DS-160, you will not be able to edit or modify your information again. The call center cannot help you complete your Form DS-160.  

Note: You need access to a printer to complete this process. 

Step 2:

Create a profile and pay the visa application processing fee. 

The visa fee page lists the visa types and fees in U.S. dollars and Thai baht. For detailed payment options, please click here.  After you pay the fee, please keep your proof of payment. 

Step 3:

Log into your profile by using the same username and password to answer questions and print out Interview Waiver Confirmation Letter with UID and QR code. 

You will need the following items to continue: 

  • Your passport number,
  • The visa fee receipt number (Click here if you need help finding the fee receipt number), and 
  • The 10-digit barcode number from your DS-160 Confirmation page.

Step 4 (Final Step):

Compile and mail your documents via Thailand Post (please use the checklist below). 

Please follow the instructions from the checklist on the Interview Waiver Confirmation Letter with UID and QR code and mail the required documents to the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok or the U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai. Once your visa is adjudicated, Thailand Post will mail your passport and documents to your designated address. 

What documents do I need to submit my visa renewal application by mail?

  1. The Interview Waiver Confirmation Letter with UID and QR code,
  2. Your current passport must have at least two blank pages for the new visa, 
  3. Old passport with most recent valid U.S. visa or expired within the last 48 months (if not in currently valid passport),
  4. DS-160 Confirmation page with barcode, completed and submitted online, 
  5. Two photos (5x5 cm or 2x2 in, in color with white background, taken within the last six months, no digital enhancement or alteration, no glasses, color contact lens, or hat), submitting unqualified photos may delay the visa process, and 
  6. Visa fee receipt.
  7. If applicable, a copy of official name and/or surname change certificate with English translation.

Additional document for C1/D (Transit/Crew) visa renewal  

  • Recent employment letter

Additional documents for applicants who are 80 years old or older, or for applicants applying for a child who is younger than 14 years old

  • Click here for additional documents and information for children and the elderly

Track Visa Renewal Documents

Once you submitted your application through Thailand Post’s drop-off locations. Please keep the receipt for your records. You may track the location of Visa Renewal Documents with Thailand Post’s Track & Trace Service, which can be found here.