Getting a visa...both ways...

[Brunolem]

Freshly returned from a visa trip to Savannakhet, I was thinking that we, lowly farangs, have to work our way through the multiple intricacies of the Thai visa system, without much, if any, help from the locals.

Does your wife, or girlfriend, bring some input in your quest for a visa, besides providing some required documents in some cases?

Some may say that, after all, this is our problem, not theirs.

Fine, but is the situation reversed when comes the time for your wife, or girlfriend, to get a visa to visit your country of origin?

Do you just give her whatever documents are requested and a few signatures, while she works by herself through the intricacies of your country's visa system?

Or do you have even more work to do to get a foreign visa for her, than you have to do to get a Thai visa for yourself?

 

 

[jackdd]

The average western guy is probably just way more indepent than the average Thai girl and has experienced more things in his life, which means that it's more easy for him to understand this bureaucracy and haggle his way through.

For me personally, i have no interest to stay in Germany longer as necessary and just have to be there for work sometimes. If my GF decides that she wants to visit Germany, then i will do what you said. She can do the Visa stuff by herself, because i'm not interested in having her in Germany

[starky]

Oh diddums upset at the visa system and that your missus won't help you? Why don't you dig deep and see if you can find a pair and be a man as I am assuming that you have the advantage as far as wealth, education, independence and nous Is concerned in this situation. Number 2  I can assure you the process of getting ya bodgy visa through Savannakhet every year (which outside of the travel time and the overnight stay takes all of 8 minutes) is about 100 times easier then it would be for your missus to fulfill the visa requirements for your home country, yeah?

[Brunolem]

16 minutes ago, starky said:

Oh diddums upset at the visa system and that your missus won't help you? Why don't you dig deep and see if you can find a pair and be a man as I am 

Why don't you try to find a brain that will help you understand the meaning of questions, instead of mindlessly barking at those asking the questions?

[starky]

12 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

Why don't you try to find a brain that will help you understand the meaning of questions, instead of mindlessly barking at those asking the questions?

OK I will slow it down for you. Do you need your wife to really help you fill out a one page form with a couple of attached photo copies in an form written in English with zero intricacies. Or do you think it would be easier to fill out whatever forms are required for her to get a visa to your home country? I go to Savannakhet all the time was there coincidentally last Wednesday took me 8 minutes to fill out the form and walk across the road to the consulate. Quite a bit less intricate than it would be for my wife to get her spouse visa for Australia which costs about 8k aussie and takes 18 months with a million hoops to jump through. So in a nutshell I need nothing from my missus to help with the visa process which I find pathetically simple whereas my missus would certainly appreciate my help in navigating the spouse visa process of my country. Less barky for you?

[Brunolem]

7 minutes ago, starky said:

OK I will slow it down for you. Do you need your wife to really help you fill out a one page form with a couple of attached photo copies in an form written in English with zero intricacies. 

The thing is, my friend, that a question must be read and understood properly.

Re-reading my initial post, I think I make it clear that I speak in general, and NOT about my particular case (for that matter, I have been getting visas for Thailand, and neighboring countries, since 1978...so I can get around by myself, thank you).

Having said that, when I mention the "intricacies", i am not referring to filling the form at the Consulate, but to the incredible maze that is the Thai visa system, where there is almost one visa tailored for each individual! Plus the fact that the system is constantly amended.

Did you know, for example, that when crossing the border by road (visa run) during the 15 days rule, foreigners from countries member of the OECD, could still get 30 days?

Amazing indeed!

[starky]

43 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

The thing is, my friend, that a question must be read and understood properly.

Re-reading my initial post, I think I make it clear that I speak in general, and NOT about my particular case (for that matter, I have been getting visas for Thailand, and neighboring countries, since 1978...so I can get around by myself, thank you).

Having said that, when I mention the "intricacies", i am not referring to filling the form at the Consulate, but to the incredible maze that is the Thai visa system, where there is almost one visa tailored for each individual! Plus the fact that the system is constantly amended.

Did you know, for example, that when crossing the border by road (visa run) during the 15 days rule, foreigners from countries member of the OECD, could still get 30 days?

Amazing indeed!

I find nothing difficult about the Thai visa system especially those obtained at the Thai consulate in Savannakhet. I understand some people whinge incessantly about it but personally I don't have a problem. Results may vary. There is no way to generally answer your question, it can only be answered on each person's individual experience surely? You seem to be contradicting yourself you say you are speaking generally then state the visa system is almost tailored individually. I am out. Hope you get the answer you want as it seems that is the only thing your looking for.

[Brunolem]

2 hours ago, starky said:

I find nothing difficult about the Thai visa system especially those obtained at the Thai consulate in Savannakhet. I understand some people whinge incessantly about it but personally I don't have a problem. Results may vary. There is no way to generally answer your question, it can only be answered on each person's individual experience surely? You seem to be contradicting yourself you say you are speaking generally then state the visa system is almost tailored individually. I am out. Hope you get the answer you want as it seems that is the only thing your looking for.

To sum up my original post in a (hopefully) clear way, what I am asking to members is whether getting a visa for themselves gives them less or more work (trouble) than getting one for their wife or girlfriend when they want to bring her along back to their home country.

I am not looking for any answer for myself since I have had all the answers for a long time already (save for the student visa, I think I have got all the others throughout the years, including the work permit at some point).