US B1/B2 Visa for Thai Citizens 2026: DS-160, Embassy Interview, and 214(b) Refusals Explained

What the B1/B2 visa is — and how the US differs

B1 is the short business visa and B2 is the tourism and family-visit visa; in practice the embassy usually issues a combined B1/B2, valid for multiple years with multiple entries. The length of each stay (generally up to 6 months) is decided by the border officer on arrival, not by the visa itself.

The biggest difference from other countries is the interview. Under section 214(b) of US immigration law, every applicant is presumed to be an intending immigrant until they prove otherwise — so you must demonstrate strong enough ties to Thailand to return. The decision rests far more on your answers in the interview room than on a thick folder of documents.

• B1: short business, meetings, negotiations / B2: tourism, family visits, medical treatment
• Usually issued as combined B1/B2, multi-year, multiple entry
• Length of stay per entry is set at the border, not by the visa
• No paid work in the US on this visa

How to prepare for a credible interview

Consular officers spend only a few minutes per applicant. The core questions circle around: why are you going, where, for how long, who pays, and what do you do in Thailand. Good answers are short, direct and fully consistent with your DS-160. Recited long answers or answers that contradict the form are red flags.

Documents worth carrying even if not always asked for: an employment letter stating position, salary and approved leave, bank statements covering several months, a rough itinerary, and evidence of ties to Thailand such as property, family or a business. Do not attach a lump sum transferred into the account days before applying — it looks like borrowed show money.

• Answer briefly, directly, and consistently with the DS-160
• Know your own trip: cities, dates, accommodation, budget
• Employment and financial evidence from real income, not a recent lump sum
• Dress neatly, arrive on time, and stay calm

The 214(b) refusal — and what to do next

Most US visitor-visa refusals cite section 214(b), which in plain terms means 'the officer was not convinced you will return to Thailand'. It commonly affects applicants with unstable work or income, no travel history, or answers that contradict the form. There is no appeal for this refusal, but you may re-apply at any time.

A re-application has a real chance when your circumstances have genuinely changed — a more stable job, higher income, or new ties — not when you resubmit the same information immediately. You must always declare the previous refusal in the new DS-160; hiding it counts as misrepresentation.