pepper402

Does anyone know if I can get a Thai drivers license with my LTR visa? I don't (yet) live in Thailand but could use a friends address if needed. If it's possible, how would I go about doing this and how long would it take? Thanks

Thai Los Angeles Consulate took 3 business days to process and approve my e-visa! I had difficulty making the $1,600 payment and needed to have Chase fraud department on the line when I submitted my payment. I submitted my application over the weekend and received the approval letter this morning (2 1/2 business days!). I might have expected such a quick turnaround from the Swiss Consulate. I thought I was going to get a fancy sticker to put in my Passport. Maybe I will get one in the mail. I presume I now take my e-visa approval letter, get on a plane to Thailand, and show Immigration who will put an ugly stamp in my Passport. Am I missing anything?

@TaiMaiTai, I just applied for the e-visa at the LA Consulate and had the exact same questions! And also wondered why any of this should matter. I supplied all required documents and "estimated" some of the other information such as where I will be staying and my flight information. The hardest part (which should have been the easiest part) was paying the $1,600. All of my credit cards and debit cards were declined. I had to complete the transaction with Chase fraud department on the line manually overriding the purchase. I'll report back as soon as I hear anything that might be helpful for you. - Pepper

Still beaming from my recent LTR approval, I created an account with these guys: https://www.thaievisa.go.th/ I had to upload Passport, drivers license and other information and proceeded to payment ($1,600). I failed... I tried several credit cards - all of them declined. I talked to the fraud department at Fidelity Visa who told me that they could not override/approve this purchase because the recipient was a high risk / high fraud user. Any suggestions on how I can pay for my e-visa? Hopefully the website is legit and I didn't just give a fraudster all of my information.

Approved! For the second time... My first application submitted early September was approved, but I got a new Passport and was unable to upload my new Passport, and BOI claimed there were technical problems and couldn't revise my approval letter with my new Passport number. I was told to submit a new application with my new Passport information. My second application was submitted Nov 8 and finally (after several phone calls to BOI) approved yesterday Jan 5. Good luck to everyone still trying to get their LTR.

Just wanted to provide another status update: Sept 01 - Submitted application with all required documents including insurance information Sept 27 - Received approval for LTR (there were several requests for additional documents. I mostly just re-uploaded the same documents) Oct 20 - Received new Passport and tried (unsuccessfully) to delete old passport and upload new one. Oct 21 - Had a friend in Thailand call BOI to ask them to change the passport number on my approval letter. BOI agent said that due to technical difficulties, they couldn't do that and suggested I submit a new application Oct 22 - Submitted new application with exact same documents that were previously approved and new Passport information. Nov 27 - Still waiting... Status shows pending. Sent four emails explaining situation and my friend called them to expedite. BOI agent said that he will get right on this and it should be approved ASAP. Dec 14 - Still waiting... Status shows Consideration by Government agencies (whatever that means).

Just wanted to provide a status update: Sept 01 - Submitted application with all required documents including insurance information Sept 27 - Received approval for LTR (there were several requests for additional documents. I just re-uploaded the same documents) Oct 20 - Received new Passport and tried (unsuccessfully) to delete old passport and upload new one. Oct 21 - Had a friend in Thailand call BOI to ask them to change the passport number on my approval letter. BOI agent said that due to technical difficulties, they couldn't do that and suggested I submit a new application Oct 22 - Submitted new application with exact same documents that were previously approved and new Passport information. Nov 27 - Still waiting... Status shows pending. Sent four emails explaining situation and my friend called them to expedite.

Sorry, I didn't say this very clearly... My former employer is giving me a retiree pension that on a gross basis just meets the $80 requirement. I submitted a letter from them attesting to my pension income which meets the BOI requirements. And I submitted a copy of a payment stub from the bank that makes my pension payments as further proof of my retiree pension. I'm goin to resubmit the same documents and thank them for bringing this to my attention - not sure what else I can do. I don't currently live in Thailand so I believe I am the ideal candidate for this new program but if they make it too difficult/unreasonable - I'm not going to pursue this.

Frustrating... I submitted a new LTR application with exactly the same documents and information as my previous application which was approved except for a new passport. I just received this: Dear LTR Applicant, Your application is on process. In this regard, we would like to request additional information/documents as follows: 1. Please show official certificate of pension fund from your government. What is an "official certificate of pension fund"? I previously submitted a letter from my pension administrator which was accepted. I don't have a government pension. I have a feeling if I stamped my letter with "Official Certificate" that it would be accepted.

For those of you unable to revise your application with a new passport: A friend of mine talked to a BOI representative today and he suggested (until the developers can fix this) that you submit a new application. If your application was previously approved, attach the exact same documents. Also, on my application, I check "single" and it converts it to "widower" (hope that's not an omen)

Pib, I had the same problem. I was approved late last month but just got a new Passport and asked BOI to revise my approval letter before going to the Los Angeles Consulate for the e-visa. I was not able to delete/update the main passport page. I've written to them twice and -- no response and no revision to my approval letter.

Pib, I was also asked to provide documents that were already uploaded onto the BOI visa system. Instead of pointing out that the documents were already there, I thanked the analyst for bringing to my attention the missing documents and uploaded EXACTLY the same documents again. They were subsequently approved. Remember, this is Thailand and you are the one who wants a visa. Good luck!

Misty, which US Consulate did you go through? How much are they charging? Can you please confirm that with the e-visa you don't have to visit the Consulate? Thanks. I have written to the LA Consulate and they are non-responsive.

I got my new Passport! USA and it only took 3 weeks expedited. I sent this email: Dear Sir/Madam, RE: LTRWP22XXXXXX I have a new Passport #XXXXXXXX. I tried to upload my new Passport but cannot change the information on my Application for Qualification Endorsement with my new Passport information. Please change my application to reflect my new Passport (see attached), issue me a new approval letter with the revised Passport information, and notify the Thai Embassy/Consulate in Los Angeles so that I can collect an E-Visa. Thank you!!

Sounds like you have close to $8 Million in your account (based on the S&P dividend yield). Nice! I applied for the Wealthy Pensioner and submitted income statements from some employers. The analyst at BOI seemed to indicate that he was looking for pension income and not work income. Presumably you will be able to use dividend income if you are applying for the Wealthy Global Citizen. Good luck!

I understand the requirement for insurance or personal funds for each adult (kids should have insurance or parent should have sufficient funds to cover kids). I believe the goal is to be sure that the foreigner will pay for medical costs as necessary - instead of the Thai government getting stiffed for the bill.

Thanks, Misty. When you do the LTR e-visa, which Embassy will you use? Do you think a visit to the Embassy will be required, or helpful? I'm much closer to Los Angeles but they are completely unresponsive so If a visit is not part of the plan, I might try to go through the Washington DC Embassy. Any thoughts? If you figure it out, I'd be grateful for a step-by-step as I intend to follow in your footsteps.

This is very disappointing, unprofessional, and mostly illegible, and the ink will smudge and fade after a few years. I guess I was hoping for something like these (but even nicer with holograms and color shifting ink). I can't imaging it would have cost very much to have nice visas

Congratulations, Ryan. I know this will sound really petty and lame but that piece of paper they stapled to your passport looks really lame - and is poorly written. I am hoping that at least the Visa is cool and high tech with a hologram and color shifting ink - or something like that ????

Ryan, I don't believe I ever had a drop down menu to set an appointment, and I can't find anything related to appointments on my current status. The only thing related is my ability to select the place to issue my Smart Visa (BKK or foreign Embassy). Trying to look at the bright side -- If this process was straight forward and easy, we wouldn't have the same sense of accomplishment if we successfully navigate the intricacies of this process and successfully obtain a visa ????

Boomer, it looks like you have two additional drafts in your folder. I also had a couple of extra drafts when I first started this process but successfully deleted them to avoid confusion.

Thanks! I downloaded my approval letter which is identical to yours. Ryan, mine also says approved (sorry about your cockpit error - hopefully, you will get this sorted out). The other option I have when I click the three dots is "preapprove". I'm curious what that is but afraid to click on it.

Boomer, thank you for your post. I don't see anything on my status screen that has an attachment that I can download. Can you please be more specific as to where exactly you found this attachment? Merci!

Qualifications Approved LTR Visa application number LTRWP XXXXX has been approved. Please upload the remaining documents and update additional information in order to proceed with the visa issuance UPLOAD ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS On the Check Status page it says “Qualification approved” I’m not doing anything until I get my new Passport (hopefully in about 4 weeks). When I click on the “Upload Documents” page, it takes me to a screen where I can select where I want to have my Visa issued, and at the bottom it allows me to upload additional documents without specifying which documents it wants me to upload (I believe I have already submitted all required documents) I have not received any other letter or communication. Do I need to first tell them where I want to get my Visa, or did they forget to send me my approval letter? On the Visa issuance page it states that “The Smart Visa processing fee is approx. 10,000 Baht per year for visa permission. For example, the permitted duration of 6 months and 1 year and 4 months will cost 10,000 Baht and 20,000 Baht respectively and must be paid to the consular officer.:” -- Will some enterprising Embassies try to charge 100,000 Baht for a 10 year visa? https://smart-visa.boi.go.th/smart/pages/visa-issuance.html

Thanks for the links. I was able to get my insurance to issue a letter stating that my policy (retirement - good for life) expires 12/31/4000. I wonder if I can pay 50,000 Thai Baht cash at the embassy instead of USD.