Hal65

5 hours ago, tfc said:

 

Does this mean that a hard copy paper confirmation is no longer valid or needed at all anymore?  In the past HCMC had always asked for a hard copy.  So they just want a pdf image of the Agoda receipt sent with an email now?  Or do they want both?

 

 

Everything was a paper printout to be handed over, no digital documents

A guard confirmed that the main immigration officer working there is quite strict. Another person sitting there mentioned it wasn't that bad six months ago Today at the Thai consulate HCMC:

- My landlord gave me an ID and rental receipt good for the full 60 day tourist visa I applied for. The immigration officer rejected it and said they only accept Agoda and booking.com (I didn't even know they could do this).

- I ran to a local printer and quickly booked a reservation on Agoda. When I brought it back to him, he said a website printout was not good enough and would not be accepted. He said he needed a print out sent with the email. He also said my TM30 needed to be handwritten. And he wanted $40 U.S., not 2,000 Thai baht.

- I went to a money exchanger, got the US dollars, and also handwrote all fields on a new TM30 (before I had only the signature and date manually signed/written).

- On my third attempt he said to write in my Agada hotel as the guarantor in two places. For the local guarantor he wanted the local hotel in Ho Chi Minh city. Both of these needed name and address. The local hotel also needed a phone number. Also I needed to write in the name of my US employer.

- They finally accepted and gave me a receipt saying to come back after two working days between 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.

My onward flight ticket was generated off of one of those generator sites. I wasn't smart enough to go with the option to have a real PNR number on it. I distinctly remember them looking at the "reservation code" on the printout (no PNR listed) and highlighting it. The two working days visa turnover makes me believe that they will be verifying the PNR number. They have a high chance to notice it comes up invalid and try to call me for a valid PNR, or issue a denial.

QUESTION

- Will they mark a rejection and reason in the Immigration system?

- I'm thinking of just doing a 30 day visa on arrival at Chiang Mai airport as a plan B. My problem is I'm a U.S. citizen and have been in Thailand for close to 9 years. You guys think Chiang Mai airport immigration will scrutinize that travel history hard and also possibly decline me?

I filled a vietnam eVisa application. I thought it was done, but checked today and it was unpaid and therefore unprocessed. As a result I think I should just go with the visa on arrival. I'm a U.S. citizen who will be traveling from Thailand into Ho Chi Minh. I will stay for 5 days. Is the visa on arrival pretty straightforward?

If you guys feel I should go with the vietnam Evisa despite me arriving in Vietnam on Saturday please let me know.

I run out of pages before years. I'm on my 4th passport in Thailand

1 hour ago, itsallmine68 said:

I recently renewed my passport and was worried that it , the passport would not be back before my next 90 reporting. Immigration said no problem jus xerox each page including empty ones and come see us that it is done properly . Then wait 

Will this also work with extensions?

15 hours ago, sandyf said:

Vietnam is not on the Thai E-visa platform, the only 2 in Asia are China and South Korea.

The countries using the E-visa platform are mainly US/European and applying to one of them from Vietnam would not be allowed for someone in Vietnam on a tourist visa.

 

Now I'm concerned in the other direction. I applied for the Vietnam eVisa for tourism. I'm in Thailand and an American citizen. Will this be an issue? I entered my USA address on the Vietnam eVisa form

At the US embassy it takes 8 to 11 weeks of processing time to issue a new passport. That's not including the time to mail it in. Expedited service takes five to seven weeks but is not available to international residents. My tourist visa is coming up from a Vietnam trip in a week. Which I believe is 30 days plus another 30 days extension.

This long processing time has been a continuous frustration. Thailand has requirements for us to have our visa or passport with us for regular 90 day report stamps. And also extensions like above. How do you guys handle this?

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

In your other thread I asked if you had an appointment at Thai consulate HCMC.

You replied yes. 

 

Is your intention to obtain a eVisa for tourist visa for Thailand and use that to enter Thailand from Vietnam??.

Yes that's correct. If it's less waiting at a consulate it might be worth it, I'd like to get with the times. The variable wait leans me towards not pursuing the eVisa though

32 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Did one few weeks ago.

Took exactly 3 business days.

Weekends don't count.

 

Apply on a (eg) Monday you should have it emailed to you Thurs.

 

BTW don't panic ....you can use one of the agent firms and they offer different levels of express service but it ain't cheap.

Here is link to one of many agents if you have issue

 

https://vietnam-online.org/index.php/prepare-your-travel-to-vietnam-2022-202/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAo-yfBhD_ARIsANr56g7MvHf4ofTLEHxAkrVtmPG9Negc0vFCvdPB-zfy75Q02ocPrkDOs2oaAjY7EALw_wcB

 

Thanks I did apply for the Vietnam E-Visa but I am asking about the Thai E-Visa. I have to wait until I'm out of country and in vietnam for that one (March 4). Monday is March 6 and 3 days would be march 9. But 10 working days is 13 and if they are all over the place with processing time I can not depend on leaving Vietnam back to thailand in a week

Does the Thai E-Visa sometimes take the full 3 to 10 business days for processing? My current flight from Ho Chi Minh is on March 8th; I'm booked at the consulate on March 6 for turning in the application and March 7 for pickup.

I could make a longer trip of this. The variable processing time makes booking the return flight a bit challenging if I wanted to keep things short.

39 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Your flying to where in Vietnam.

Saigon? 

Assume that you have made an appointment. They are required. 

 

Bit surprised you opted for tourist visa. 

You could border bounce for 45 days prior to march 31 and do a tourist visa in the future. 

Local visa border run service told me not to do a border run at the moment. Flying is best.

Yes I have an appointment on March 6

2 hours ago, Maestro said:

Are you talking about this first page when creating a new e-Visa application?

 

 

No I am talking about the printable document I linked.

I am in Thailand now. I am headed to Vietnam on March 4. I will apply on March 6, pick up on March 7 and return March 9 on a tourist visa. At the moment I am on a university ED visa.

Should I use the e-visa application instead? How do I show it to the Thai consulate in Ho Chi Minh city?

I'm using: https://image.mfa.go.th/mfa/0/xzossgF56p/Visa_Application_form_OK.pdf

1. There are only about 30 nationalities. No American. Do you guys just type it into the left side box then?

2. Number of entries requested: I'm an American applying in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Should I ask for 1?

3. Duration of proposed stay. I intend to extend, so is this 60 days?

What to list for:

• 4. Proposed address in Thailand
• 5. Name and address of local guarantor
• 6. Name and address of guarantor in Thailand

I don't have any guarantors. I guess I could list a random hotel as my proposed address

I have an Edu visa from Chiang Mai university. The stamp I got last year was good until March 1, 2023.

My school did 3 90 day reports for me. The final paper has a stamp that says "notify again on Feb 22, 2023" suggested days were shaved on every report since 2 of them were done a few days early. I did not print the notices and at this point the school's pics have been erased (is this a problem? I think maybe I should have printed copies to staple to my passport).

Do I have to leave by Feb 22 or March 1?

Thanks guys. I much prefer Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi, is HCMC a good Thai consulate?

To be clear visa exempt means "I fly from HCMC to Chaing Mai and get a visa on arrival."

Tourist visa means "I apply for a tourist visa while at the Thai consulate in HCMC (not in advance). Then go back the next day to get my passport and then fly to Chiang Mai."

Do I have it right?

- I was told by a Pattaya language school I need to "break" my Chiang Mai ED visa first, before getting their language school visa.

- Next a border run (by land) service told me the land borders are harsh to ED and volunteer visas right now. I need to fly out to a nearby country like Cambodia or Laos. Then fly back in. Chiang Mai is better to fly back to than Bangkok.

1. I would like to fly to Phnom Penh for a day or two. Or is Vientiane advised? The plan is to return to Thailand via flight into Chiang Mai. Then Chiang Mai to DMK.

Oftentimes I am in a situation where I am several floors away (in the mall) and/or eating. Plus the first 20 minutes is ads anyways.

Can you buy 20-30 minutes after the official start time?

Has anyone tried buying from their website especially while on a phone? How easy or tough?

On 7/20/2022 at 9:24 AM, dj230 said:

I remember seeing a video of a guy who did replica Lambo's, it fell apart mid ride in the middle of the street. 

 

Not saying they're good or bad because I have no experience but that's the one thing that came to mind when I thought about Bangkok replica cars. 

Is that video still up? Thought I saw all of them on Youtube (for Thailand)

Anyone have experience with them producing a fully custom build off a donor chassis? Riddled with problems or pretty decent quality?

So the in person requirement for the 1st 90 day report isn't true anymore then?

My office is Chiang Mai

35 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Your first 90 day report must be done in person since immigration would not have a record of you doing a report when a online report is done.

The first report can be done by mail since they will have copies of your passport and etc.

Hey Joe, the above is unclear to me. Do I have to do the report in person or can I mail it in?

No explanation was given. I have a EDU visa and this is my first report on it. I was told I would be able to report online, but reading here people are saying I must do the first in person. Which is correct?

Appreciate it. No I did not get any email from them. My 90 day mark is June 4 but my school told me to do it early for some reason I forget.

@worgeordie Is it working for you? doing the above is still erring for me clicking the orange "Apply for 90 day notification" button on the sidebar here: https://chiangmaiimm.com/en/

I've tried firefox, brave, and chrome.

I was not able to fill any info. After clicking that orange button I immediately went to the broken page. Curious if others see the same. I tried at 8am and now at 11pm (late night).

I have a CMU ED visa and this is what I see when trying to do my 90 day report. Are others facing the same issue? I can not go in person, what options are available for reporting that work right now?

Clicking this button:

Goes here: