Trip Overview
AWS re:Invent 2026 + personal travel — Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco
Flights (both e-tickets on file)
| # | Date | Flight | From | Depart (local) | To | Arrive (local) | Duration | Opal |
|---|
| 1 | Sat Nov 28 | EVA BR212 · B777-300ER · Premium Economy | Bangkok BKK | 12:45 | Taipei TPE T2 | 17:15 | 3h30 | Same flight |
| 2 | Sat Nov 28 | EVA BR018 · B777-300ER · Premium Economy | Taipei TPE T2 | 19:50 | San Francisco SFO Intl Terminal | 15:00 (same day) | 11h10 | Same flight |
| 3 | Sat Nov 28 | Alaska AS1347 · B737-900 · Economy | San Francisco SFO T1 | 19:40 | Las Vegas LAS T3 | 21:20 | 1h40 | Not booked yet |
| 4 | Sat Dec 5 | Alaska AS634 — to change | Las Vegas LAS | 15:39 new: ~12:00–13:00 (candidates: Southwest 11:55→13:10 or 13:05→14:20) | Los Angeles LAX (new plan) | ~1h15 later | ~1h20 | Not booked |
| 4b | Tue Dec 8 | To book (e.g. Alaska / United / Southwest / Delta) | Los Angeles LAX | TBD | San Francisco SFO | TBD | ~1h30 | Not booked |
| 5 | Fri Dec 11 | EVA BR027 · B777-300ER · Premium Economy | San Francisco SFO Intl Terminal | 23:30 | Taipei TPE T2 | 05:35 (Sun Dec 13) | 14h05 | Same flight (her ticket shows arrival 05:40) |
| 6 | Sun Dec 13 | EVA BR067 · B777-300ER · Premium Economy | Taipei TPE T2 | 08:05 | Bangkok BKK | 11:10 | 4h05 | Same flight |
Arrival in the US: SFO on Nov 28 (BR018, 15:00) — immigration and customs at SFO, then re-check bags for AS1347 (4h40 connection). Departure from the US: SFO on Dec 11 (BR027, 23:30). Baggage 2 pieces on every segment. Opal (separate ticket booked directly with EVA on Aug 26) is on the same 4 EVA flights, but seats are not together (Kajonsak 22G/22D/21G/— vs Opal 22K/22E/25A/23K) — request adjacent seats. Opal's domestic legs are not booked yet — book her on AS1347 (SFO 19:40 → LAS 21:20, Nov 28) before the interview; for Dec 5 book both on the same new LAS→LAX flight (not AS634). New plan for Dec 5 (Sep 27): check out of Harrah's ~10:00, go to LAS (~15–20 min from the Strip) and fly LAS→LAX late morning, instead of the booked AS634 LAS→SFO 15:39. To do: change or cancel AS634 for Kajonsak (check the fare rules on the Alaska booking — main-cabin fares can usually be changed for the fare difference, Saver fares cannot), book the same LAS→LAX flight for both, and book LAX→SFO on Dec 8 for both. Saturday Dec 5 nonstops seen on Google Flights (Sep 27, fares change daily): Southwest 11:55→13:10 (~$119) and 13:05→14:20 (~$93); United 10:42 / 13:20 and Delta 13:55 from ~$59 (Basic, no seat choice); Frontier 14:06 (~$51 + bag fees). Alaska does not fly LAS→LAX in December. Checked bags ~$45 per bag on US domestic flights (EVA allowance does not apply).
Route at a glance
| Segment | Dates | Focus |
|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | Nov 28 – Dec 5 | re:Invent conference Nov 30 – Dec 4 (business); Nov 29 day trip to Page, Arizona (Lower Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend) |
| Los Angeles, CA | Dec 5 – 8 | Santa Monica, Hollywood, Getty (personal) — LAS→LAX Dec 5 and LAX→SFO Dec 8 to book |
| San Francisco, CA | Dec 8 – 11 | Golden Gate, Alcatraz, cable cars (personal) · depart SFO Dec 11 23:30 |
Status (updated Sep 27, 2026):
1) Interview date to verify: the AppointmentManager page (Sep 22, 11:16) shows Wed Oct 21, 08:30, but the saved confirmation PDF shows Mon Oct 26, 07:45. Log in to ustraveldocs, view only, and download the current confirmation. Do NOT touch Reschedule/Cancel — the reschedule limit is exhausted.
2) re:Invent registration: active (confirmed Sep 27). Keep the registration confirmation email and check the registration portal again the week before the interview, because the visa letter states the attendee is registered and paid the fee.
Done: DS-160 for both · MRV $370 paid · employment letters · re:Invent visa letter · interview prep sheet (05-Interview-Prep/). Still to collect: Opal DS-160 confirmation + e-ticket, marriage certificate, leave approvals, bank statement, LA/SF hotels, $250/person Visa Integrity Fee.
Trip is self-funded, on approved personal leave (DS-160 "Person paying" = Self for Kajonsak, Spouse for Opal).
Use the Visa Prep tab to work through the document checklist — tick items as you gather them and your progress saves automatically on this device. The Travel Guide tab has the LA & SF day-by-day plan and food picks.
US Visa (B1/B2) Preparation
Interview: Wed Oct 21, 2026 08:30 (verify vs Oct 26 07:45) · Self-funded, on personal leave · Event: Nov 30 – Dec 4, 2026
1. Document Checklist
Essential Documents (per person)
Supporting — Kajonsak (Primary)
Supporting — Opal (Accompanying Spouse)
Supporting — Financial (both)
Supporting — Ties to Thailand
Travel Arrangements
2. Employment Verification Letter
Status: obtained (FINAL, Sep 12, 2026) — filed under 01-KT/Employment-Confirmation-AWS-Thailand-KT-2026-09-12-FINAL.pdf. Bring the original printout to the interview.
What the letter states: full-time employment at AWS Thailand (position, start date), that the trip to attend AWS re:Invent 2026 is personal travel on approved leave, and that the applicant will return to resume duties. It does not state that the company sponsors or pays for the trip — this matches the DS-160 (Person paying = Self).
Opal's employer letter (True, Sep 5, 2026) is filed under 02-Opal/. Leave-approval evidence for both is still to be added.
Consistency rule: every document and every spoken answer must say the same thing — self-funded, personal leave, employer aware and approved the leave. Do not describe the trip as company-sponsored.
3. DS-160 Key Information Reference
Kajonsak (B1/B2)
| Field | Information |
|---|
| Purpose of Trip | B1/B2 — attend AWS re:Invent 2026 (professional development) + tourism, on personal leave |
| Employer | Amazon Web Services (Thailand) |
| Job Title | Senior Solutions Architect (since Oct 3, 2022) |
| Travel Dates | Nov 28 – Dec 11, 2026 |
| US Address / Point of Contact | Harrah's Las Vegas (hotel), Nov 28 – Dec 5 |
| Who is Paying | SELF (as submitted) |
| DS-160 status | Submitted Sep 12, 2026 — confirmation PDF in 01-KT/ |
| Conference Name | AWS re:Invent 2026 |
Opal (B1/B2 — Accompanying Spouse)
| Field | Information |
|---|
| Purpose of Trip | Tourism, accompanying spouse (travel companion = Kajonsak) |
| Employer | True Move H — Senior Leader, Retail Sales (since Jan 2022; previously Sales Manager at NTT Thailand) — employer certificate Sep 5, 2026 on file |
| Travel Dates | Nov 28 – Dec 11, 2026 |
| US Address / Point of Contact | Harrah's Las Vegas (hotel), Nov 28 – Dec 5 |
| Who is Paying | OTHER PERSON — spouse (Kajonsak) (as submitted) |
| Marital status | MARRIED (even though passport says MISS) — bring marriage certificate |
| DS-160 status | Submitted Sep 12, 2026 — confirmation PDF still to be saved to 02-Opal/ |
| Spouse Name | Kajonsak T. |
| Spouse Employer | Amazon Web Services |
| Relationship to Applicant 1 | Spouse traveling together |
4. Travel Itinerary
| Date | Day | Activity | Location |
|---|
| Nov 28 (Sat) | 1 | BR212 BKK 12:45 → TPE 17:15 · BR018 TPE 19:50 → SFO 15:00 · AS1347 SFO 19:40 → LAS 21:20 | Las Vegas, NV |
| Nov 29 (Sun) | 2 | Day trip by rental car to Page, Arizona: Lower Antelope Canyon (Ken's Tours, 13:00 AZ time) and Horseshoe Bend at sunset; drive back in the evening (~21:30) | Las Vegas, NV |
| Nov 30 (Mon) | 3 | re:Invent Day 1 | Las Vegas, NV |
| Dec 1 (Tue) | 4 | re:Invent Day 2 | Las Vegas, NV |
| Dec 2 (Wed) | 5 | re:Invent Day 3 | Las Vegas, NV |
| Dec 3 (Thu) | 6 | re:Invent Day 4 | Las Vegas, NV |
| Dec 4 (Fri) | 7 | re:Invent Day 5 | Las Vegas, NV |
| Dec 5 (Sat) | 8 | Check out of Harrah's ~10:00 · LAS → LAX late morning (to book; replaces AS634) — personal travel begins | Los Angeles, CA |
| Dec 6 (Sun) | 9 | Explore Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA |
| Dec 7 (Mon) | 10 | Explore Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA |
| Dec 8 (Tue) | 11 | LAX → SFO (to book) | San Francisco, CA |
| Dec 9 (Wed) | 12 | Explore San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| Dec 10 (Thu) | 13 | Explore San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| Dec 11 (Fri) | 14 | BR027 SFO 23:30 → TPE 05:35 (Dec 13) · BR067 TPE 08:05 → BKK 11:10 (Dec 13) | Departure |
5. Timeline & Action Items
6. US Embassy Bangkok — Interview Tips
Location: 95 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
- Arrive 30 minutes early for the confirmed slot (Oct 21 08:30 or Oct 26 07:45 — verify) — security line forms early
- No bags or electronics (laptop, tablet, camera, power bank) — the Embassy has no storage. Mobile phones: check the current limit on the ustraveldocs Security Regulations page before the day
- Dress professionally — business casual is fine
- Be concise — answer only what is asked
Key points to emphasize:
- You are attending a specific conference (re:Invent) with fixed dates
- Trip is self-funded; employer approved personal leave; attending for professional development
- You have strong ties to Thailand (both of you employed full-time in Bangkok, home and family here)
- You return to Thailand on Dec 11 (arrive Dec 13) to resume work — travelling and returning together with your spouse
Tips for Wife's Interview
- If interviewing together, the officer may ask her questions separately
- She should know your travel purpose (re:Invent) and itinerary
- Emphasize ties to Thailand: her job at True (team lead), home and family in Bangkok
- Be ready to explain: "My husband is attending a technology conference on his leave. I am joining him and we travel back together on Dec 11."
- Bring the Marriage Certificate (original + copy)
- Bring her own employment certificate and, if available, her bank statement
7. Estimated Costs
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|
| Visa Application Fee (MRV) ×2 | ~$370 USD (~13,000 THB) |
| Visa Photos ×2 | ~400 THB |
| Flights — Kajonsak (EVA BKK–SFO–BKK + Alaska SFO–LAS–SFO) | Booked via agency — self-paid |
| Flights — Opal | Booked separately by Kajonsak — self-paid |
| Hotels | Harrah's Las Vegas Nov 28–Dec 5 (7 nights) — room prepaid online; resort fee ≈ $396 due at hotel; LA + SF hotels not yet booked — self-paid |
| Nov 29 day trip (both): Lower Antelope tour ~$81 ×2, rental car + fuel ~$130–200, Horseshoe Bend parking $10 | ~$300–400 USD — personal expense |
| Personal travel expenses (Dec 5–11, both) | (TBD — personal expense) |
| Visa Integrity Fee ×2 (collected at visa issuance, per secondary sources — confirm at the Embassy) | $500 USD ($250 each) |
| Total Visa Fees | ~$870 USD (~28,000 THB) |
8. Practice Q&A (short answers)
| Who | Question | Answer |
|---|
| K | Purpose of your trip? | I'm attending AWS re:Invent in Las Vegas, then traveling in California with my wife. |
| K | Who is paying? | I am paying for everything myself. |
| K | Your employer is Amazon — why pay yourself? | It's for my own professional development. I'm on personal leave and my manager approved it. |
| K | Who booked your flight? | A travel agency a friend recommended. I paid the agency directly. I booked my wife's ticket myself. |
| K | Will you work in the US? | No. I will only attend the conference sessions. |
| K | Been to the US before? | No, this is my first time. I have never had a US visa. |
| W | Purpose of your trip? | I'm traveling with my husband. He is attending a conference and we will travel together. |
| W | What do you do? | I'm a Senior Leader in Retail Sales at True. I lead the retail enterprise sales team. |
| W | Who is paying? | My husband is paying. |
| Both | Why will you come back? | We both have full-time jobs in Bangkok, and our home and family are here. We return on Dec 11. |
Rule: answer in 1–2 sentences, only what is asked, and keep every answer consistent with the DS-160 (self-funded, personal leave). Never describe the trip as company-sponsored. Full sheet with Thai translations: 05-Interview-Prep/Interview-Prep-KT-Opal.pdf.
LA & San Francisco Travel Guide
Post re:Invent 2026 personal trip · Dec 5 – 11, 2026
Nov 29 (Sun) · Day trip to Page, Arizona
Rental car, no overnight stay. re:Invent starts Mon Nov 30. Arizona and Utah are 1 hour ahead of Las Vegas in late November. Book Ken's Tours for 13:00 Arizona time.
| Las Vegas time | Arizona time | Plan |
|---|
| 07:00 | 08:00 | Leave Harrah's (coffee on the way) |
| ~09:00 | ~10:00 | Rest stop at St. George / Hurricane, Utah |
| ~11:30 | ~12:30 | Arrive Ken's Tours, Page (check in) |
| 12:00–13:00 | 13:00–14:00 | Lower Antelope Canyon — General Tour (~1 hour, ladders; no tripods or pro camera gear) |
| 13:15 | 14:15 | Late lunch in Page |
| 15:15 | 16:15 | Horseshoe Bend (parking $10, ~1.2 km walk each way) |
| ~16:10 | ~17:10 | Sunset at Horseshoe Bend |
| 16:40 | 17:40 | Fill up fuel in Page and drive back |
| ~18:30 | ~19:30 | Kanab, Utah: snack and switch drivers |
| ~21:30 | — | Back in Las Vegas |
Evening drive (~3.5–4 h in the dark): unlit roads, open-range cattle and deer, few open gas stations, patchy mobile signal — download offline maps, keep jackets in the car (0–5°C), switch drivers and stop if sleepy.
Los Angeles (Dec 5 – 8)
Dec 5 plan: leave Harrah's ~10:00 and fly LAS→LAX late morning (to book — replaces the booked AS634 to SFO). Day 1 below assumes arriving at LAX around early afternoon.
Day 1 · Dec 5 (Sat) — Arrival & Santa Monica / Venice Beach
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|
| Morning | Arrive LAX from Las Vegas (~1hr flight) | Check into hotel |
| Afternoon | Santa Monica Pier & Beach | Iconic pier, Pacific Park rides, ocean views |
| Afternoon | Venice Beach Boardwalk | Street performers, Muscle Beach, murals, canals |
| Evening | Dinner at 3rd Street Promenade | Great dining & shopping strip |
Day 2 · Dec 6 (Sun) — Hollywood & Griffith
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|
| Morning | Hollywood Walk of Fame | TCL Chinese Theatre, Dolby Theatre (Oscars venue) |
| Morning | Hollywood Sign viewpoint | Best spots: Griffith Observatory or Lake Hollywood Park |
| Afternoon | Griffith Observatory | Free entry, stunning city views, planetarium shows |
| Afternoon | Drive through Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive | Window shopping, celebrity homes |
| Evening | The Grove | Outdoor shopping center with holiday lights in December |
Day 3 · Dec 7 (Mon) — Downtown LA & Culture
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|
| Morning | The Getty Center | World-class art museum, free admission, amazing architecture |
| Afternoon | Downtown LA (DTLA) | Grand Central Market (food hall), The Broad museum |
| Afternoon | Little Tokyo | Japanese culture, food, shops |
| Evening | LA Lakers Game (if available) | Crypto.com Arena, check schedule |
| Alternative | K-Town (Koreatown) | Amazing Korean BBQ, night scene |
LA Food Must-Try
| Food | Where | Notes |
|---|
| In-N-Out Burger | Multiple locations | West Coast classic, order "Animal Style" |
| Tacos | Grand Central Market / street vendors | Best Mexican food outside Mexico |
| Korean BBQ | Koreatown | Park's BBQ or Kang Ho-dong Baekjeong |
| Ramen | Little Tokyo | Daikokuya or Tsujita |
| Thai Food | Thai Town (Hollywood) | Taste comparison with Bangkok |
San Francisco (Dec 8 – 11)
Day 4 · Dec 8 (Tue) — Arrival & Fisherman's Wharf
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|
| Morning | LAX → SFO (~1.5hr flight) | Check into hotel |
| Afternoon | Fisherman's Wharf | Sea lions at Pier 39, souvenir shops, seafood |
| Afternoon | Ghirardelli Square | Famous chocolate factory, free samples |
| Evening | Dinner at Pier 39 or North Beach | Clam chowder in a bread bowl is a must |
Day 5 · Dec 9 (Wed) — Golden Gate & Iconic SF
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|
| Morning | Golden Gate Bridge | Walk or bike across (dress warm, ~8-14°C) |
| Morning | Battery Spencer viewpoint | Best photo spot of the bridge |
| Afternoon | Alcatraz Island | Book tickets NOW — sells out weeks ahead |
| Evening | Chinatown | Oldest Chinatown in North America, great dim sum |
Day 6 · Dec 10 (Thu) — Explore & Last Day
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|
| Morning | Cable Car Ride | Powell-Hyde line for best views, go early |
| Morning | Lombard Street | "Most crooked street in the world" |
| Afternoon | Union Square | Holiday shopping, ice skating rink in December |
| Afternoon | Ferry Building Marketplace | Artisan food, local produce, great lunch |
| Evening | Last dinner: Mission District | Burritos, trendy restaurants, street art |
SF Food Must-Try
| Food | Where | Notes |
|---|
| Clam Chowder Bread Bowl | Boudin Bakery (Fisherman's Wharf) | SF signature dish |
| Sourdough Bread | Boudin Bakery | Watch them make it live |
| Dim Sum | Chinatown (Good Mong Kok Bakery) | Arrive early, cash only |
| Mission Burrito | La Taqueria or El Farolito | Giant SF-style burritos |
| Dungeness Crab | Fisherman's Wharf | December is peak crab season |
| Ghirardelli Chocolate | Ghirardelli Square | Free samples at the shop |
Practical Tips
Weather in December
| City | Temperature | What to Pack |
|---|
| Los Angeles | 10-20°C (50-68°F) | Light jacket, layers, comfortable walking shoes |
| San Francisco | 7-14°C (45-57°F) | Warm jacket, layers, wind-proof layer for Golden Gate |
Getting Around
| City | Best Transport | Notes |
|---|
| Los Angeles | Rent a car or Uber/Lyft | LA is very spread out, public transit is limited |
| San Francisco | Walk + Muni/BART + Uber | Very walkable downtown, use Muni for cable cars |
Book in Advance
Budget Estimate (Personal Portion)
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|
| Flights (LAS→LAX, LAX→SFO) | ~$100-200 USD total |
| Hotels (6 nights: 3 LA + 3 SF) | ~$150-250/night |
| Food & Dining | ~$50-80/day |
| Transport (car rental LA + Uber SF) | ~$50-80/day LA, ~$20-40/day SF |
| Activities & Attractions | ~$50-100 total |
| Total Estimated | ~$2,000-3,500 USD |
December in California is holiday season with festive lights, Christmas markets, and mild weather. Pack layers — SF gets chilly and windy at the Golden Gate. Enjoy the trip.