sbaker8688

I  assume there are photo copy services, and photo services available there?  (I think i have a couple of passport photos, but have no idea what the measurements are.)

Thanks for the help.

Website isn't so good... is this it?  http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/base.php?page=service#

If not, is there a better one?

Can't really make heads or tails.  Where is it, what are the required docs, what are the days and hours of operation?

Thanks.

I'm in Bangkok.

1) Is this the kind of visa that can be extended by going down to some office, filling out paperwork, paying some money, etc?  If so, kindly directly me to a link with directions to the place, what to bring as far as photos, money, etc?  

2) I've been in the hospital for over a week and am pretty much bedridden.  I'm really in no shape to go off and  have this taken care of.  My visa expires on the 23rd.  However, I'm flying out of the country and going back home on the 28-29th anyway.  Is it an option just to "do nothing" and show up at the airport, pay some fine, and be on my way?  How strict are they on these things these days?

Thanks.

Currently staying in Bangkok, Thailand.  A friend has invited me over to Phnom Penh.  I know I could fly, but honestly, I hate these asian airlines which drop out of the skies around here like flies.  The pilot training, airplane maintenance, etc. are just not up to western standards.  So my question is, is there a train option to Cambodia (and on to Phnom Penh)?  Or bus?  Or... [FILL-IN-THE-BLANK]?

Thanks.

Just found out that check-in to that hotel is 2pm.  But I arrive there at what, 5am or 6am?  What am I supposed to do for 8-9 hours?  How do you guys handle this?

I'll be there on Monday - hope it is open.

Anyway, is there a convenient place near the Thai embassy in Laos to print passport photos from a thumb drive, and also copy the passport page?  If so, I'll do it there.  If not, I'll have to spend several hours schlepping around Bangkok trying to find a place.

Also, I guess the hotel only accepts Laos money?  I should get some in Thailand before I go?

Great info.  Thanks all.

1 hour ago, sanemax said:

Can you do a websearch to get that info ?

Download a map with the hotel location and show the driver

 

I had already done a websearch before you posted this, and found the hotel, but having said that, I still didn't know the information before I made the post, and I figured he (or whoever) would know the information.  I wasn't asking for anyone to do a web search for me, I was simply asking for people to provide information if they happened to already have that information in their brains and were already posting in this topic.

I can't download a map with hotel location and show driver anything.  I'm just not set up for that.  So I'd like to know how to verbally communicate with these people, if people have helpful information in that regard.

1 hour ago, sanemax said:

You need to go to the Embassy consular section, which is a few K's away from the main  Embassy

This hotel is across the road from the consular section "Douang Pra Seuth Hotel, Vientiane, Laos"

  If you arrive and make the application before 1130  am you can collect the PP the next day at 1 30 PM .

   You need two PP photos, the smaller ones , and you need to write your full Thai address down on the application , visa fee 1000 Baht

    The Laos visa is 1500 Baht, or US$35 , which is about 1150 Baht

Do you recommend this hotel?  Does it have internet?  Does it have a website so I can call and make reservations?

Most important:  CAN YOU 'PHONETICIZE' the name of that hotel, so I can speak it correctly to a taxi?

Sorry for the bother, but I have to get these things 'right' or you'd be amazed at how unsmoothly and disastrous it can unfold. 

Once in Nong Khai, how do you ask a taxi or tuk-tuk or whatever to take you to the border crossing?  I doubt they understand the words 'border crossing'?  And once you walk over, is the Thai consulate right there, in walking distance, or do you have to travel to it?  If you need to travel to it, would you just say "Thai consulate" to the taxi driver in Laos?

Ostensibly, the Vientiane option sounds perfect.  But I'll need a lot more details, such as maps, walkthroughs (where to go, what to do, how to do it), hotel recommendations, etc.

Is there a thread on this site which gives details on the 'Vientiane option?'

Thanks guys.

Currently living in Bangkok.  My visa is about to run out in a couple of days, and it snuck up on me so I have little time to get this figured out.  I've never done a visa anywhere but my home country (used to get multiples, can't anymore), so this is my first time attempting it over here.

From Bangkok, what would be the quickest, easiest, most convenient option for getting a SETV?  I absolutely hate flying (don't trust airlines over here), but give me flight options, and if possible, overland options using something like a nice train if that option exists (hate buses).

I appreciate it.

Thanks.

Hello,

I've been coming to Thailand for 15 years but things keep getting more and more difficult.  I am finding it difficult to get an appropriate visa.

I live in Florida.  I would like a mulitiple entry tourist visa, but the consulate here down in Coral Gables stopped granting them.  So I sent my package to the DC consulate or embassy or whatever it is - I am 'zoned' for that one.  The strangest thing happened.  They left a message on my answering machine stating that I had provided none of the supporting documentation (hotel, airline tickets, employment letter, 6 months of bank statements, etc.) EVEN THOUGH I HAD PROVIDED THE DOCUMENTATION.  So I called back, nobody answered so I left a message.  Over the next 3-4 days I continued to call back, but nobody returned my call.  Then I found an email address and sent them an email.  No return email.  Finally after over a week I was able to contact someone on the phone.  It was a Thai lady.  She was one of the rudest people I had ever spoken to in my life - Thai or non-Thai.  She continued to claim that I had sent none of the documentation, and hadn't even sent a return envelope, and she was yelling and cursing into the phone.  I kept telling her I was looking at a photo copy of the package, and I could see that had sent everything.  I asked for her name, she would not give it.  I asked to speak to her supervisor, and she would not allow it.  Finally she hung up.

My package came back a few days later, IN THE RETURN ENVELOPE SHE CLAIMED I DIDN'T PROVIDE.  She stapled a sheet listing the requirements to my package, and she circled and highlighted each thing I was supposed to provide.  Guess what... the sheet was stapled to the documents I HAD PROVIDED.  I had a family member review everything, and my family member was surprised.  She had initially assumed I must have done something wrong, but verified that "I'll be damned - you're right.  You provided everything."

First off, my only guess is, they've been told to deny visas for any reason, and if they can't find a reason, just invent one.  Can anyone else verify this, has anyone else heard of this kind of thing happening before, has anyone else ever had issues with the DC consulate/embassy?

Secondly, I could just go to the Florida consulate, which I've used since forever, but again, I can only get a 3-month visa.  I checked and New York only serves the northeast, Chicago only serves the midwest, and LA only serves out west.  IS THERE ANY OTHER CONSULATE YOU COULD RECOMMEND THAT I COULD USE?

Third option, is there some 'other' way I could make this work, meaning, come in on a 3 month, then leave to get another single-entry somewhere?  Is that possible, and is that being done?  My plan was to come in on a multiple entry, stay 6 months, leave just before the 6 months and come back again to make it 9 months, SO I ALREADY BOUGHT A 9 MONTH TICKET (stupid visa requirements want to see the ticket before they even do anything for you).

Thanks for any help.

Do I get the visa exempt entry upon attempting to enter Thailand?  Or is it something I get in another country like Cambodia or Burma or whatever?

What if I get that 9 months, then leave.  Can I come back on a 30 day VOA (I'm American)?  In other words, get roughly 10 months?

I want to make sure I have this right (or... wrong).  Can I stay roughly 9 months on one of these multi-entry tourist visas if I leave just before the 6 months expires (in other words I get an extra 3 months, assuming 30 day extension)?  I need to go ahead and buy a round-trip ticket, so I want to know how these things work and how long I can stay.

Thanks.

13 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

What would you be getting the non-o visa based upon. You can only get one based upon marriage to a Thai, having a Thai child or for being 50 or over.

A single entry non-o only allows one 90 day entry. You can apply for a one year extension of stay if you can qualify for one during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from one.

Will be getting the non-imm O based on marriage to Thai.

1) Can you explain the extension of stay (SE non-O)?  How do you qualify?  Is it difficult?

2) I guess there is no 'trick' to leaving just before the SE non-O expires, coming back, and getting another 60-ish days?

Thanks, this info is greatly appreciated.

12 hours ago, JackThompson said:

You can still obtain SETVs locally in the region, Laos being the easiest option.  So, if time is too short to get a SETV in the USA, you could arrive in on a 30-Day Visa Exempt, extend that for 30-days, then go pick up an SETV for 60-days in Vientiane, then extend that for 30-days in-country, then do the Laos Visa-Run at least 2 more times, after which other consulates are a possibility.

Since I've never had to do this before, I hope you don't mind me asking you to elaborate on a few things.

1) I hadn't heard you could extend a 30-day visa except.  So this is possible?  Just go to some immigration office, fill out some paperwork, pay some money... ?

2) I understand getting 60 days for SETV, then extend for a total of 90 days.  However I don't understand the "laos visa-run at least 2 more times" part of this.  Could you explain?

3) The crap they want to see now in the USA for a TV is ridiculous, and I can't qualify (proof of job, but pay stubs NOT accepted?).  Will getting it from Laos be easier, i.e. less requirements to show?

Also, one more question.  I think I will just fly to Coral Gables (big pain in the ass) and get the single entry non-imm O.  I've only ever had multiple entries in the past, where I could leave and go as I pleased, and had 1 year in the country.  How many times can I leave and come back on a single entry non-imm, and how many months could I 'milk' this thing (e.g. I've heard of leaving just before a visa expires, and getting a whole new period after coming back in... would this work with a single entry non-imm o?)?

Thanks.

I am a US citizen, been going to Thailand every year for about 15 years, normally on a multiple entry tourist visa or multiple entry non-immigrant O.

Anyway, sent in the paperwork last week to the consulate I have to go through - Coral Gables, FL.  Did everything as usual, as I've been doing this for 15 years.  They denied the visa, saying two things:  1) they cannot receive applications nor send out visas through the mail - you have to do it in person, and 2) they cannot grant multiple entry visas of any type, must be single entry.  Weird thing is, I've been doing this the same exact way for 15 years.

I'm not going there in person - Coral Gables is too far away, and I my plane leaves for Thailand fairly soon anyway.  What I'm wondering is what my best options are after arriving in Thailand.  For instance, can I go to some place like Cambodia and get squared away with a proper visa of some type?  And if nothing else, can I just keep doing border runs every 30 days (I wouldn't want to do that, I'm just trying to make sure that's an option of last resort)?  How long can I stay by simply doing border runs?  I know in the past it was unlimited, and one could live there forever like that.  Then it changed.  Well I've heard it changed again, but would like to confirm.

Any help or advice appreciated - thanks.

Filling out a fiance' visa form. It needs to know which American embassy/consulate she will apply at. Read the title of this post and respond - thanks.

I see - thanks very much for the clarification.

I have been reading visajourney. It appears we may have some red flags. For instance, age gap, I haven't met her family, she hasn't met my family, etc. Not sure this is gonna work. I wonder if the better route would be to fly there, marry in Thailand, and then apply for the other visa type? Not sure if the same red flags would apply?

Or, even if it isn't perfect, what if I sponsored a tourist visa? Would the odds be better than a fiance visa with the red flags?

Also. can anyone say whether there is a best (easiest) consulate/embassy to apply to, and whether there is one to avoid?

Do you intend to marry? That is the intent and paperwork is designed to that end. If that is the plan do not believe it will be that hard but there will be time and paperwork involved. Will let someone with recent experience speak to details.

Yes we intend to marry. Not because we want to marry in and of itself, we just want to be together. So if this is the way to be together, we will marry. If there is another way (for instance, her getting a 10 year tourist visa or whatever) we would be happy to do that, but my impression is that would be difficult (correct me if I am wrong).

Will check out visajourney.com as well - thanks.

American citizen here. Would like to get my Thai girlfriend over to the USA to stay with me, since I am now there working (we originally met in Thailand a few years ago when I was living there). Incidentally, this isn't her idea, it is mine. We'd both be fine with me living in Thailand, but that isn't the best thing for me right now.

Anyway, my impression is that it would be difficult for her to get a tourist visa. Yeah, I know lots of Thai girls who have gotten them over the years. I also know lots of Thai girls who have gotten denied. I'm no expert, but to whatever extent there is some rationale to it, they seem to look at things that would 'anchor' you to Thailand, such as a job, a baby, etc. She has a job, but not a baby. Bottom line, I don't want to go down a path that doesn't look promising, as it just wastes energy, money, and more importantly time.

How easy are fiance visas to get? I mean, assuming nothing negative in background like criminal records, visa overstays, previous applications for fiance (or other) visas, etc? Are they more easy to get than a tourist visa? if not, why do they exist?

Any recommendations? Any advice?

Thanks.

EDIT:

- Would like to pay $7500 or less.

- The amount of time I will be there is up in the air at the moment. Could be up to 6 months. For the right place I might bite the bullet and sign a 6 month contract, but would prefer a month-to-month if I could get one, or a 3-month and then renegotiate after that.

Moving to Bangkok this week from Chiangmai. I've tried to get an apartment remotely, by calling or emailing places I've stayed before, but everything is either all booked up, or I can't get people to respond back to me (probably because everything is all booked-up).

A few things:

- I don't care the area so much, although the more centrally-located the better I guess, but I do require to be within walking distance of BTS or MRT.

- I don't particularly care for huge high-rises full of noisy thais, where the staff speaks no english, etc. The last few times I've stayed in Bangkok I've stayed in what I call "shophouse apartments" - old 4-story shophouses which were converted to apartments, usually 2-3 rooms per floor. That's the kind of thing I'd like to have, if possible.

- Decent internet. Good enough to stream a video from youtube would be fine.

- Aircon mandatory, refridge would be nice.

I'd appreciate ideas, links to websites, etc.

Thanks.