Strange experience for me at Vientiane

[bapoboy]

so I arrive at the Thai Consulate in Vientiane, they check that I have all the paper, pictures, copies etc, so they tell me I can come back tomorrow to pick up my passport with a tourist visa.

 

process the two other times i have been to the consulate in vientiane (2013 and 2017) that was different, back then I have to sit and wait like everyone else until they call up my number, so what have changed ?

 

this is what I got with me.

 

[Jeremy50]

You don't make it clear what the problem is. Submit in the morning, pick up and pay the next day in the afternoon. It's always been this way.

[bapoboy]

They gave me a queue number, but I didn’t need to wait, told me come back tomorrow,. the two persons that sit on the table and checks that all the paperwork is done right told me that.

 

i expected to sit there 1 hour waiting for my number to be called up,but no don’t need to do that, come back tomorrow, they told me 3 times.

 

talked about with two other persons, that was in the queue, they told me the same, and I asked them why don’t I need to wait like everyone else? Their reply was, no you don’t need to, you are lucky, but I don’t know why.

[Essecola]

This post totally makes sense. On the other hand you could just go back after lunch tomorrow and pick up your passport and visa

[darrendsd]

I'm not sure of the problem? You apply one day and pick up tomorrow, the ticket they have given you is your queue number for tomorrow, if you go late there will be no one there and you can just walk up to the counter and get your PP

 

What's the problem?

[bapoboy]

25 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

I'm not sure of the problem? You apply one day and pick up tomorrow, the ticket they have given you is your queue number for tomorrow, if you go late there will be no one there and you can just walk up to the counter and get your PP

 

What's the problem?

There is no problem, it was way easier and faster this time,But the procedure was different now then It was, when I where  there In 2013&2017.

[bapoboy]

2 minutes ago, bapoboy said:

There is no problem, it was way easier and faster this time,But the procedure was different now then It was, when I where  there In 2013&2017.

And they gave me a queue number as you can see, but I didn’t have to wait, just told me come back tomorrow.

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, bapoboy said:

There is no problem, it was way easier and faster this time,But the procedure was different now then It was, when I where  there In 2013&2017.

When were you there last year. I can recall reports from last year about the change.

[lemonjelly]

That ticket is the number allocated to your passport so they can find it easily when you go to collect it the next day, first come first serve.

[darrendsd]

13 minutes ago, bapoboy said:

And they gave me a queue number as you can see, but I didn’t have to wait, just told me come back tomorrow.

What do you you mean you didn't have to wait? Wait for what? Yes they are telling you to come back tomorrow because that's how the system works, apply one day pick up the next

[bapoboy]

20 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

What do you you mean you didn't have to wait? Wait for what? Yes they are telling you to come back tomorrow because that's how the system works, apply one day pick up the next

Everyone gets a queue number, and when their number is up they will go here where it says visa application 

I didn’t need to do that. They told me come back tomorrow and pick up your passport after 13:30

[bapoboy]

9 minutes ago, bapoboy said:

Everyone gets a queue number, and when their number is up they will go here where it says visa application 

I didn’t need to do that. They told me come back tomorrow 

My two previous times I had to wait like everyone else, this time was different, The assistants who hands out the queue number and checking through the paperwork and make sure you have everything done, they told me come back tomorrow, not the people in the visa application picture above.

[jspill]

They streamlined the way they do things about a year ago. Laos got even better for visa runners. 

[duanebigsby]

1 hour ago, bapoboy said:

And they gave me a queue number as you can see, but I didn’t have to wait, just told me come back tomorrow.

It's not a queue number. It's a number given you that matches a number they put on your passport to coordinate the two.

First time I went to Vientiane was 2013 and it was drop off one day pick up the next afternoon. Then it's first come first served. Been that way for ages. Can't understand why you are so confused.

[bapoboy]

3 minutes ago, duanebigsby said:

It's not a queue number. It's a number given you that matches a number they put on your passport to coordinate the two.

First time I went to Vientiane was 2013 and it was drop off one day pick up the next afternoon. Then it's first come first served. Been that way for ages. Can't understand why you are so confused.

I’m confused because everyone else have to wait except me, that’s why I find this so strange, I didn’t have to wait to 148 as my queue number says.

 

 I could go straight back to my hotel the assistant said to me.

[duanebigsby]

1 minute ago, bapoboy said:

I’m confused because everyone else have to wait except me, that’s why I find this so strange, I didn’t have to wait to 148 as my queue number says.

 

 I could go straight back to my hotel the assistant said to me.

OK.

Again.

It's not a queue number and no one else was waiting. You drop it off one  day, return the next afternoon and pick your passport up with visa in it and pay. Been that way for years.

[Rc2702]

When you collect they will call out 148 you give ticket they give you documents. Things change from time to time and in this case, for the better. 

[Myran]

You people don't understand. A lot of people do have to wait for their queue number on the day they hand in their documents (yes, I was there a couple of months ago to get an ED visa).

 

You'll hand in all your documents, get a queue number and then have to wait for it at the window that the OP posted above. I can't remember what they actually do, but then you'll get the note with the queue number back, so you can bring it the day after when you come to pick up your passport.

 

Not everyone is told to do it, but I don't know why. Maybe it's got something to do with the type of visa you're applying for. Last time I was there was the first time I've experienced this.

[duanebigsby]

23 minutes ago, Rc2702 said:

When you collect they will call out 148 you give ticket they give you documents. Things change from time to time and in this case, for the better. 

I went a year ago. Is this new since then?

[darrendsd]

30 minutes ago, bapoboy said:

I’m confused because everyone else have to wait except me, that’s why I find this so strange, I didn’t have to wait to 148 as my queue number says.

 

 I could go straight back to my hotel the assistant said to me.

Of course you can or did you expect to wait in the Embassy grounds until tomorrow?

 

I will explain it again,

 

You apply the first day, you have already done this, this means you can leave the Embassy grounds

 

You will go back tomorrow to collect

 

The queue number you were given IS NOT the number for the window today, you have already given your application to the 2 or 3 staff on the desk in front of the window, you DON'T have to o to the window today, you will go to the window TOMORROW to pick up your PP and that's why you have been given a number, this number is for TOMORROW not today

 

You have ALREADY made your application by giving it to the 2 or 3 staff on the desk

 

Understand now?

[duanebigsby]

I apologize for my misinformation. It is a queue number. I always assumed it was a matching system for passport, but I'm wrong. 

I've just never heard them calling out numbers.

[Myran]

35 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

Of course you can or did you expect to wait in the Embassy grounds until tomorrow?

 

I will explain it again,

 

You apply the first day, you have already done this, this means you can leave the Embassy grounds

 

You will go back tomorrow to collect

 

The queue number you were given IS NOT the number for the window today, you have already given your application to the 2 or 3 staff on the desk in front of the window, you DON'T have to o to the window today, you will go to the window TOMORROW to pick up your PP and that's why you have been given a number, this number is for TOMORROW not today

 

You have ALREADY made your application by giving it to the 2 or 3 staff on the desk

 

Understand now?

Please read my post above. It IS a number for the window on the day you hand in your application if the staff at the front desk tell you so. Some people don't get told to go wait at the window, which is why the OP is confused. I don't know why they do this, but they did it when I was there a few months ago (which was the first time I experienced it).

[kurtmartens]

37 minutes ago, duanebigsby said:

I apologize for my misinformation. It is a queue number. I always assumed it was a matching system for passport, but I'm wrong. 

I've just never heard them calling out numbers.

Savaankhet is the same way.  Its not a queue number, its just how the staff easily match you to the paperwork when you pickup.  Last time I was ticket #1, but when I went back the next day I still had to wait in line as I was 3rd or 4th.  Its not a queue/line number.

[BritTim]

The procedure in Vientiane has changed several times over the years as the number of applications they need to handle has increased. They have done this for efficiency, and to make the process as painless as possible for those applying.

 

The latest system differentiates between those applying for tourist visas (where no special document validation is needed before accepting the application) and all other categories of visas. For tourist visa applications, they just quickly browse your passport to ensure there is no "red stamp" and then give you the queue number for collection the next day (at which point you must pay). It is difficult to come up with a system that would improve of what they are doing, given the huge number of applications they need to handle.

[duanebigsby]

4 minutes ago, kurtmartens said:

Savaankhet is the same way.  Its not a queue number, its just how the staff easily match you to the paperwork when you pickup.  Last time I was ticket #1, but when I went back the next day I still had to wait in line as I was 3rd or 4th.  Its not a queue/line number.

What I thought too.

 

[BritTim]

5 minutes ago, kurtmartens said:

Savaankhet is the same way.  Its not a queue number, its just how the staff easily match you to the paperwork when you pickup.  Last time I was ticket #1, but when I went back the next day I still had to wait in line as I was 3rd or 4th.  Its not a queue/line number.

In Vientiane, it is a queue number for collection. Savannakhet is different.

[duanebigsby]

2 minutes ago, BritTim said:

In Vientiane, it is a queue number for collection. Savannakhet is different.

OK. I've never gone by my number just first come first served. I have to go next month for Non-B

so will pay more attention. Until then no more comment.

[PREM-R]

8 minutes ago, BritTim said:

The procedure in Vientiane has changed several times over the years as the number of applications they need to handle has increased. They have done this for efficiency, and to make the process as painless as possible for those applying.

 

The latest system differentiates between those applying for tourist visas (where no special document validation is needed before accepting the application) and all other categories of visas. For tourist visa applications, they just quickly browse your passport to ensure there is no "red stamp" and then give you the queue number for collection the next day (at which point you must pay). It is difficult to come up with a system that would improve of what they are doing, given the huge number of applications they need to handle.

You are quite right, people who just require a TR tourist visa have their paperwork checked (and passport checked for red stamp) at the 'front desk' by the interns.   If the application is for other than a TR visa the applicant is directed to the window to complete the application.  When collecting the passport the next day the numbers are called out in order, from  one upwards.  Payment is made when collecting the passport.

[bapoboy]

25 minutes ago, Myran said:

Please read my post above. It IS a number for the window on the day you hand in your application if the staff at the front desk tell you so. Some people don't get told to go wait at the window, which is why the OP is confused. I don't know why they do this, but they did it when I was there a few months ago (which was the first time I experienced it).

Spot on, that’s what happened to me.

[Jeremy50]

This guy clearly has nothing to do in his riverside hotel room. Get, and drink some beer Lao, then at about 7pm, go into the street and tell a tuk tuk driver you want to 'meet' young lady. Enjoy the 'adventure', then later 8 or 9pm find a nice riverside restaurant serving delicious French or Italian cuisine, there are so many to choose from.