Thai Embassy Manila

[JonnieB]

I will be in the Philppines in the next month and will use the opportunity to obtain another tourist visa. Has anyone been through there recently and have any tips to share. Also, what is their turn-around time to process this visa. I have a US passport.

Thanks in advance.

[hansunger]

I will be in the Philppines in the next month and will use the opportunity to obtain another tourist visa. Has anyone been through there recently and have any tips to share. Also, what is their turn-around time to process this visa. I have a US passport.

Thanks in advance.

i was there last thursday (february 01) and tried to get a 60 day tourist visa. they denied because i allready got 2 entries and have allready 60 days since december 01. i will fly back to thailand on april 25. they officer said, that i could try to apply in april and "maybe" then i could a tourist visa (but he could not say for sure)...

there was an american guy, which was very dissapointed because they also denied him the tourist visa (he got allready 90 days on VOA. and the officer there told him he can not enter thailand now and must go to america. but he told me, that he rented a condo for a year and has all his things there in pattaya (2 blocks off walking street he said). so I advised him to fly to malaysia and try his luck there...

so, finally i advise, not to consider MANILA as an opportunity for a Visa-Run and to get a tourist visa there since the officer told me, they follow stricktly the rules....

[Maestro]

The Thai embassy in Manila obviously understands the 90-day rule wrongly and anyway, this rule is not theirs to interpret and apply. If it is any consolation, Manila was reported to deny even single-entry tourist visas already before the 90-day rule was issued by the Thai National Police, for the immigration office (not embassies/consulates) to apply.

...competent Immigration officials shall be authorised...to permit granted aliens with exemption visas to enter the Kingdom of Thailand for temporary stay as follows:

...

for multiple entry into Thailand, by permission of which must not exceed thirty days per entry with a total period not exceeding ninety days within six months from the date of the first entry into the Kingdom.

This is the government’s translation and it is not particularly good. (Before somebody comes and points out that the translation refers to the 30-day entry stamps as “exemption visas” let me tell him that the correct translation would have been “visa exemption”. This visa-exempt entry stamp is not a visa, regardless how often some people call it a VOA, short for “visa on arrival”)

--

Maestro

[Sunbelt Asia]

Manila has always been a VERY hard place to get any type of visa.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[Digitalbanana]

Yes, to add to what Sunbelt says there appears to be a few embassies in this region not worth going to as they make the rules up by themselves, namely Manila, Phnom Phen and Yangon? Any others?

[wrgf]

The Thai embassy in Manila obviously understands the 90-day rule wrongly and anyway, this rule is not theirs to interpret and apply. If it is any consolation, Manila was reported to deny even single-entry tourist visas already before the 90-day rule was issued by the Thai National Police, for the immigration office (not embassies/consulates) to apply.

...competent Immigration officials shall be authorised...to permit granted aliens with exemption visas to enter the Kingdom of Thailand for temporary stay as follows:

...

for multiple entry into Thailand, by permission of which must not exceed thirty days per entry with a total period not exceeding ninety days within six months from the date of the first entry into the Kingdom.

This is the government’s translation and it is not particularly good. (Before somebody comes and points out that the translation refers to the 30-day entry stamps as “exemption visas” let me tell him that the correct translation would have been “visa exemption”. This visa-exempt entry stamp is not a visa, regardless how often some people call it a VOA, short for “visa on arrival”)

--

Maestro

The quote is of the Police order but that does not affect the embassies who are controlled by MFA as I understand it (Please correct me if I am wrong). We don't seem to have the same visibility of what orders are given to embassies. Maybe their instruction is as is being applied in several places.

Some time back there was a post that such information was on the Hong Kong Embassy website but I cannot find it again.

[lopburi3]

Embassies and Consulates indeed operate under The Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As conditions at various locations are different they operate with different rules and that option is clearly allowed by MFA " Consular officers reserve the rights to request additional documents as deemed necessary ".

[k1w1]

The reason it's difficult to get anything from the Manila embassy is because they are lazy.

Currently they don't have a lot of people going there to apply for anything and they intend to keep it that way. Even if you have valid documents and work for a reputable company they will find an excuse to deny you so they don't have to do any real work.

I'm certain they understand that places like Penang, KL and even Hong Kong are full to the brim every day and they do their best to make sure that doesn't happen in Manila.

So far they are succeeding but if I was working at one of the busier embassies in Asia I would definitely resent them for their slack attitude.

Also it appears that at least one of the Pinoys working on their application counter is an uptight officious Pedant with control issues. I wouldn't be suprised if their office is full of those type of people. Sitting out the back getting paid to do nothing all day and making life stressful for people who are actually busy.

[tropo]

The reason it's difficult to get anything from the Manila embassy is because they are lazy.

Currently they don't have a lot of people going there to apply for anything and they intend to keep it that way. Even if you have valid documents and work for a reputable company they will find an excuse to deny you so they don't have to do any real work.

I'm certain they understand that places like Penang, KL and even Hong Kong are full to the brim every day and they do their best to make sure that doesn't happen in Manila.

So far they are succeeding but if I was working at one of the busier embassies in Asia I would definitely resent them for their slack attitude.

Also it appears that at least one of the Pinoys working on their application counter is an uptight officious Pedant with control issues. I wouldn't be suprised if their office is full of those type of people. Sitting out the back getting paid to do nothing all day and making life stressful for people who are actually busy.

Even before they refuse you, they'll insist on seeing financials (I'm talking about very recent ones i.e. bank statements), they'll want to know all about your job and income, they'll need to see return/onward flight bookings and accommodation bookings.

If you're trying to get a visa for a young Filipino, even if all their requirements are fulfilled including proof of accommodation (hotel bookings), they'll still refuse a visa with comments such as "we think she's going to work there".

I've often wondered why there is an Embassy in Makati. If you're staying in Manila, then you'll also have to spend quite a bit of money (and time) travelling there and back.

It's a lot of effort...you'll probably have to go there at least 3 times i.e. First time to pick up the application forms. Second time to bring requirements you didn't know about on your first visit. Third time to pick up your passport and find out you've been refused a visa.

I went their once and never went back.

[gregchambers]

Laziness sounds about right, they were awkward more than ten years ago so nothing much has changed. I even tried a gentle hint at a bribe one day (asked is there anyway I could overcome the problem but didn't help). One reason why I have not been to Makati/Manila for ages.

[troy04]

End March 2008:

I received a tourist visa from Manila TH Embassy 10 days ago!

First they wanted to refuse my application because of the '90 days within 180 day period' policy, even the 3 mths I stayed in TH previously were on a non-immi visa, not on a tourist or arrival visa for which this rule applies...

In my understanding that policy doesn't apply for non immi visas since (if they are multiple entry) they allow to stay several times up to 3 mths within one year. Wouldn’t make sense!

After letting me wait for 3 hours until all of the 33 people who came after me were finished, they reconsidered and decided to give me the tourist single entry visa. Therefore was no risk to loose the 1400 pesos fee through their no-refund policy.

They asked for and copied my credit card (had to fight not get number, code and expiry date of it copied) even I had over 50'000 baht worth cash foreign currency and TC. I also had written a letter with the reasons why I needed a tourist visa, for example a family visit to TH (which I was not able to proof).

On their pin board is a list of their visa requirements. I was not asked for and didn't need to show a hotel reservation (anyway I rent a condo in TH).

As required I had copies of Philippines visa and entry stamp. Printed schedule of electronic ticket for return and onward ticket. The onward ticket was a reservation only (the departure date from bkk was after desired tourist visa and extension of it would have expired). Both of it could be written by yourself, there was nothing official as a letter head or a bar code!

Didn't need a bank statement, didn't have my condo contract or my TH bank books with me but mentioned them in my letter. Didn't get a stamp in my passport that I could not apply there a second time.

Getting there isn't that difficult!

Taxi from Malate/Ermita near Robinsons was 85 pesos and took about half an hour at 9am.

2nd time I took LRT (sky train) to Gil Puyat station 15 pesos and from there aircon bus (Ayala sign) to Ayala area (Makati) get off at Erera stop 10 pesos and walk 5 minutes. Took 30 minutes at 3pm!

Since everybody speaks English and is quite educated and helpful all is very easy to find (imagine here in TH even you speak a little bit Thai...)!

Just copy everything you can imagine could be required and bring it with you!

Of course the handle you as if you would be a beggar, hic you are in some kind, and you have to quite almost beg to get a visa to get permission to spend your money in their kingdom. For me it was worth it!

The reason it's difficult to get anything from the Manila embassy is because they are lazy.

......

Even before they refuse you, they'll insist on seeing financials (I'm talking about very recent ones i.e. bank statements), they'll want to know all about your job and income, they'll need to see return/onward flight bookings and accommodation bookings.

I've often wondered why there is an Embassy in Makati. If you're staying in Manila, then you'll also have to spend quite a bit of money (and time) travelling there and back.

It's a lot of effort...you'll probably have to go there at least 3 times i.e. First time to pick up the application forms. Second time to bring requirements you didn't know about on your first visit. Third time to pick up your passport and find out you've been refused a visa.

[troy04]

..and finally consider: I heard that the philippines visa you can extend up to 2 years without leaving their country! its a beautiful country with friendly English speaking people!

[tropo]

End March 2008:

I received a tourist visa from Manila TH Embassy 10 days ago!

First they wanted to refuse my application because of the '90 days within 180 day period' policy, even the 3 mths I stayed in TH previously were on a non-immi visa, not on a tourist or arrival visa for which this rule applies...

In my understanding that policy doesn't apply for non immi visas since (if they are multiple entry) they allow to stay several times up to 3 mths within one year. Wouldn’t make sense!

After letting me wait for 3 hours until all of the 33 people who came after me were finished, they reconsidered and decided to give me the tourist single entry visa. Therefore was no risk to loose the 1400 pesos fee through their no-refund policy.

They asked for and copied my credit card (had to fight not get number, code and expiry date of it copied) even I had over 50'000 baht worth cash foreign currency and TC. I also had written a letter with the reasons why I needed a tourist visa, for example a family visit to TH (which I was not able to proof).

On their pin board is a list of their visa requirements. I was not asked for and didn't need to show a hotel reservation (anyway I rent a condo in TH).

As required I had copies of Philippines visa and entry stamp. Printed schedule of electronic ticket for return and onward ticket. The onward ticket was a reservation only (the departure date from bkk was after desired tourist visa and extension of it would have expired). Both of it could be written by yourself, there was nothing official as a letter head or a bar code!

Didn't need a bank statement, didn't have my condo contract or my TH bank books with me but mentioned them in my letter. Didn't get a stamp in my passport that I could not apply there a second time.

Getting there isn't that difficult!

Taxi from Malate/Ermita near Robinsons was 85 pesos and took about half an hour at 9am.

2nd time I took LRT (sky train) to Gil Puyat station 15 pesos and from there aircon bus (Ayala sign) to Ayala area (Makati) get off at Erera stop 10 pesos and walk 5 minutes. Took 30 minutes at 3pm!

Since everybody speaks English and is quite educated and helpful all is very easy to find (imagine here in TH even you speak a little bit Thai...)!

Just copy everything you can imagine could be required and bring it with you!

Of course the handle you as if you would be a beggar, hic you are in some kind, and you have to quite almost beg to get a visa to get permission to spend your money in their kingdom. For me it was worth it!

Nothing in your report would make me reconsider going there. By the sounds of it you were lucky.

I had the additional problem of trying for a tourist visa for my Filipino GF.