Non-O in Los Angeles, Singaporean

[st11x]

Hi,

 

Last time I applied for a multiple entry non-O visa in Singapore, it was free for me because I am a Singaporean. This time I am thinking of applying in Los Angeles before I land in Thailand. I emailed the embassy and was told they only do single entry now, and that it is free for me.

 

However, I just checked again (this time speaking to a Thai representative) and was told that the "promotion" is over, everyone pays now. So who is correct? I have to drive several hours to LA, so would rather chance it again in Singapore (as I am going there anyway) if I have to pay now. I just thought that it'll buy me some more time before I have to go to Singapore.

 

Seeking feedback from someone who similar background that had gotten the visa in LA recently.

 

thanks

  Matt

[BritTim]

Your post is a big surprise to me. I remember the promotion for single entry tourist visas, but cannot ever recall free Non O visas being offered to any nationality. The usually quite reliable website of the Royal Thai Embassy Singapore has the schedule of fees for visas at http://www.thaiembassy.sg/consular-visa-matters/visa-applications-fees. It does not suggest any free visas for Singapore nationals.

[Langsuan Man]

You don't have to go to LA to obtain an O visa, they also do visas via The United States Postal Service and if time is a concern there is always Express Mail Overnight, which they encourage you to use by providing a paid self addressed return envelope for your visa 

[ubonjoe]

It was not a promotion. It is by way of a bilateral agreement.

Quote

List of countries which have concluded bilateral agreements

on visa fee exemption with Thailand

 

3. Singapore

Source: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15382-List-of-countries-which-have-concluded-bilateral-a.html

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

It was not a promotion. It is by way of a bilateral agreement.

Source: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15382-List-of-countries-which-have-concluded-bilateral-a.html

Thanks. Do you have any idea why the Royal Thai Embassy website fails to mention that Singapore citizens are exempt from the visa fees?

[ubonjoe]

9 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Do you have any idea why the Royal Thai Embassy website fails to mention that Singapore citizens are exempt from the visa fees?

I don't know why. All the visa info is for all nationalities so I suspect the just neglected to mention it.

[st11x]

Sorry I didn't receive any email notifications from ThaiVisa so wasn't aware there were responses to my question.

 

On 3/7/2018 at 7:42 AM, Langsuan Man said:

You don't have to go to LA to obtain an O visa, they also do visas via The United States Postal Service and if time is a concern there is always Express Mail Overnight, which they encourage you to use by providing a paid self addressed return envelope for your visa 

I'm already in Thailand (without the non-O). Good to know that you can get it via USPS. They didn't tell me it was possible on the phone nor through the multiple email exchanges, we'll ask them next time for what to submit.

 

In the end, I didn't want to drive to LA since I couldn't get any accurate information from the source. My wife didn't "dare" to question the  employee on the phone (a Thai lady) though the person on the email (a gentleman with a western name) sent me the same link for the bilateral agreement. 

 

Matt

 

 

 

[Langsuan Man]

On 3/25/2018 at 11:20 AM, st11x said:

In the end, I didn't want to drive to LA since I couldn't get any accurate information from the source.

I would suggest in the future that you look at the web site for the Thai Consulate you are going to be dealing with, they are usually the best source, plus since it is in writing,  not subject to much interpretation.   Like the note on the first page of The Thai Consulate in Los Angeles web site:

 

[st11x]

On 3/26/2018 at 2:04 PM, Langsuan Man said:

I would suggest in the future that you look at the web site for the Thai Consulate you are going to be dealing with, they are usually the best source, plus since it is in writing,  not subject to much interpretation.   

When my wife renewed her passport, we looked up the information on the Thai consulate's website (LA) to see what we needed for the mobile visa service. We also called to confirmed.

 

We were told to buy a cashier's check as the only form of payment. Also, we need to buy a prepaid USPS Priority Mail Express stamp. However at the mobile consulate at the temple in Vegas, they refused to accept both, insisting on cash only!

 

So even in writing, it doesn't mean much unfortunately. 

 

Matt

[Langsuan Man]

1 hour ago, st11x said:

So even in writing, it doesn't mean much unfortunately. 

Well if were me I would have printed out the requirements and forced the issue in person, especially since the requirement for CASH would have alerted me to something being a little off :