atomphuket

This is what consulate answered me when I contacted them by email: "It is possible to apply for a multiple-entry Non-O visa at the Consulate. Please see details of the required documents from the Consulate's website at https://savannakhet.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/non-immigrant-visa-o-visiting-family-member-of-a-thai-nationality-a-sp?page=5d84a44c15e39c26b400453e&menu=5d84a44c15e39c26b400453f For the multiple-entry, the evidence of adequate finance (6-month financial statement from Thai bank with the balance of 400,000 baht per person) is additionally required to present to the Consulate upon visa application submission." I definitely don't think they expect the money to be seasoned for 6 months but as I had the 400k for more than that, I didn't ask for more details. On previous recent reports here, OPs mentioned they put the money few days before applying for visa and it went well. However, as things changes quickly these days, I'd recommend contacting the consulate before applying to know exactly what they need.

I don't know; i suggest you contact the consulate directly, they answered my emails within 2-3 days. : thaiconsulate.svk AT mfa.go.th

Yeah I did exactly that for a while after covid, and since the war. However my company changed my planning recently so had to stay longer than 30+30 days and had to find solution. Hence the trip to Savannakhet :D:D.

Thank you 🙏 Every year is a different story for me. Sometimes i can do the extension, sometimes i have to start from scratch. Good to see it's still possible to get the 1 year there. For now :D

yeah definitely. But 90 days for a long trip from Phuket would have been very disappointing though haha. That's why I chose that place based on other reports here. Still possible to get 1 year 🙏

This is the point i'm not sure about, as I try to keep 400k always on the account. The best is to contact the Savannakhet consulate by email and ask for clear answer. They were quite prompt answering my questions.

400k not 800k. Having this on account is the safest way to have your visa/extension approved, based on my experience. If you have a better way, just share it with us please ;)

Having contacted them before going, this is what they asked me. So yes it is now 😥

Indeed we all have our reasons. Mine is that extension in Phuket took 6 weeks to be approved last time i did it. And working offshore on a rotation job, this is not an option for me. Agents can speed up the process a bit with ridiculous fees. I'd rather travel for a few days and get my 1 year visa right away.

Just returned from Savannakhet. My visa was approved - 1 year Multiple Entry Non O based on Marriage. I decided to apply on a Wednesday after reading on this forum that Mondays and Thursdays were fully packed with group applications. My wife was not present during my application process. Prior to this, I applied online for a Lao eVisa (~50 USD) on a Monday and received the approval letter three days later. Day 1 - Feb 27th, 2024: I traveled from Phuket to Mukdahan via Don Mueang and Ubon Ratchathani with Nok Air's fly’n’ride service. I was the only passenger in the van from Ubon Airport to Mukdahan. It was a smooth 2h30 trip, and I arrived around 20:30. I requested the driver to drop me off at my hotel (Hop Inn), which cost 500-600 bahts and was a 5-minute walk from the Mukdahan bus station. Day 2 - Feb 28th, 2024: I woke up early and walked to the Mukdahan bus station to catch the 7am Mukdahan-Savannakhet bus (50 bahts). I was the only foreigner on the bus. The bus stopped at Thai immigration for stamping us out, then resumed after the checkpoint. After crossing the bridge, the bus dropped us off at the Lao Immigration checkpoint. I proceeded to the eVisa booth where I was the only person, making the process quick. I presented my eVisa approval letter and passport. The immigration officer asked for my hotel booking in Laos, to which I provided the name only, and he approved it. He then asked for 100 bahts, which I paid as I had read on this forum that it was a common practice. I was surprised to find another “immigration fee” booth before the automatic exit doors, where everyone else was queuing. Attempting to bypass it, an immigration officer gently redirected me to the booth. Observing locals paying 20 bahts, I followed suit. You receive a ticket with a QR code to scan for exiting the automatic doors. Being one of the first to exit and not wanting to wait for the bus, I decided to take a taxi to the Thai consulate by myself. I arrived around 8 am to find 30 people already queuing. I estimated that around 50-60 people total applied for visas that day. The gate opened at 9 am, but only one counter was open, leading to slow progress in the queue. Judging from the faces of applicants leaving, it seemed the consulate official was not on his best day. Later, I learned that out of 40 applicants from Myanmar, only 1 received the visa, contributing to the slow queue as everyone tried to argue with the officer. Anyway, my application went smoothly. I provided the following documents: -Filled out visa application from savannakhet consulate website. -2 passport photos 3.5*4.5cm -Passport -Copy of my passport bio page, signed by me -Copy of wife’s passport bio page, signed by her (passport was expired). -Copy of wife’s ID card, signed by her. -Copy of wife´s Tabien Baan, signed by her. -Original Marriage certificates (KR2 and KR3) and copies, signed by me and her. The week before I went to my local ampoe to get an updated version of KR2, just in case. - Copy of wife’s surname change after marriage, signed by her (although it wasn't requested, I brought it just in case. The consulate officer retained it, so I assume it was worth bringing). -Signed copy of Laos visa (entry stamp and visa sticker). You can do the copy in the small shop opposite the thai consulate: 10 bahts -5000 bahts for multiple entry -Proof of financial: Original thai bank book showing 400k and copies of account details page and all pages with transactions, signed by me. Before traveling to Laos, I contacted the Savannakhet consulate via email to ensure I had the correct information regarding the proof of financial. They told me to bring 6 month bank statement showing 400k. So the day before flying i went to the bank to update my bank book and get an account certificate + 6 months bank statement. I have maintained 400k in a Thai bank account for over 6 months, so I am unsure about the required duration for the money to be seasoned, if any. When I handed the documents to the official, he examined the bank book, retained the copies and the account certificate, but showed little interest in my six-month statement. He only glanced at the first page before returning it to me. Then he told me to return the next day at 14:00 to collect my passport. When I left the consulate, it was 10:50, and there were still 20-30 people queuing behind me. I went to the hotel: Pilgrim's Kitchen and Inn, located on the riverbank. The room was spacious and decent, with a nice location, good and affordable food and drinks with international options. It was within walking distance from the night market and bars area, priced between 800-900 bahts. Day 3 - Feb 29th, 2024: I arrived at the consulate at 13:30 and was the first at the gate. The gate opened at 14:00, with only a dozen applicants from the previous day showing up. I received my passport back immediately with the 1-year visa sticker. Since I wasn't in a rush, I decided to spend an extra night at Pilgrim's instead of travelling back home right away. Day 4 - March 1st, 2024: I went to the Savannakhet bus station in the morning and boarded the Savannakhet-Mukdahan bus (55 bahts). Once again, I was the only foreigner on the bus. The bus dropped us off at the Lao immigration checkpoint, where the immigration officer requested 100 bahts again. I paid, following the locals in front of me. Then, I approached the booth to pay 20 bahts for the QR code to open the automatic doors. However this time, the lady inside the booth informed me that payment wasn't necessary, and I could simply pass around the doors. OK then. We returned to the bus, crossed the river, and arrived at the Thai immigration checkpoint. Before queuing, I had to fill out the TM6 arrival card, which apparently is still required for land border crossings. Deciding not to wait for the bus on the other side, I made my way to the Mukdahan bus station by myself and took a van back to Ubon to catch my flight. The journey cost 135 bahts. It was indeed quite a journey from Phuket, but everything went smoothly. This was my first time applying there. I mainly used Thai baht for payments, so I made sure to bring plenty of 100 and 20 bahts banknotes with me. Thai baht was accepted everywhere I went, even in small shops. Any change received was in Lao Kips. In the area around the night market and near the cathedral, you can find several bars, some of which offer live music. There are also some nice cafes to explore. Good food at Cafe Chez Boune. Additionally, you can find street food and food trucks at the night market and along the riverbank in the evening. Very nice cafe / cocktails at Le corbeau Bar in an stunning old french colonial mansion. Great sunset on mekong river everynight + Beer Lao of course.

Well noted with thanks!

Ok thank you!

Many thanks, that's good to know! Do you know if my Thai wife needs to be present when applying for visa in Savannakhet?

Good day everyone, I am a French citizen married to a Thai spouse, based in Phuket. I recently entered the country on a 30-day visa exemption stamp, and I need to obtain a 1-year Non O visa (based on marriage) before the end of March. I have 400k THB in a Thai bank account. Is it still possible to obtain a 1-year visa from a Thai consulate in a nearby country? I used to do that in Ho Chi Minh previously and it was really convenient, but it seems this is not possible anymore. I have checked the Thai consulate website in Savannakhet, but it appears they provide only 90-day Non O visas. I could convert my exemption to a Non O here in Phuket and then apply for a 1-year extension, but based on my past experience, it will take longer than I can wait. Thanks for your help; any advice is appreciated. Cheers!