It was the first time I tried Hong Kong for a SETV but I had the following visa history (New Zealand Passport, age 48)

March 15-Jun 15-Non B (Auckland)

June 15-Sept 15-SETV (Vientiane)

Oct 15-July 16-Triple Entry TV (London)

Sept 17-Dec 17-SETV (Auckland)

May 18-July 18 SETV (London)
 

I didnt think my history was too bad, but following advice from this forum, I decided to fly on Cathay Pacific in and out of Swampy and so avoiding DM. Cost was an extra 2k then a budget airline. Stayed with a mate in SOHO so avoiding expensive accomdation costs. Arrived Tuesday morning, but left it untill Wednesday to head to The Royal Thai Embassy, which is easy to find next to Admiralty Station. I arrived at 10.30am, and there was already 20 people waiting, so was a good 40 mins untill I was seen. The only documents they required were:

Passport

Completed application form

One photocopy of Hong Kong Entry Slip (for non-residents)

300 HK$. I did have some 'back up' documents, but they wern't asked for. A rather abrasive woman took my application and after flicking through my passport for 10 seconds wanted to know why I was in Thailand so often. I tried to explain that all the stamps and stickers are spread across 4 years and that I work as a property developer and projects can last 4-6 months and then I come to Thailand to spend the profits. However all she was fixated on was the fact I'd just come from Thailand a day earlier and she insisted this would be the last TV they would issue. She also mentioned if her supervsior rejected my application they wouldn't refund my $30. Fortunatley the next day I picked up my passport with granted visa (no 'red stamp') and was in and out within 10 mins. Both thier drop off and pick up time is 9.30am-12-30pm. I arrived back in Swampy at 10pm to a huge que. Again, following advice on here, I tried to avoid female IO's. As I was peering over to the head of the que's, I did notice a couple of young-ish farang guys asked to step to one side and later escorted away by senior IO officers. (both were by female IO officers). I was eventually stamped in at 1.15am (so only a three hour wait) and I get to live here for another 90 days.So the moral of this story, HK is a relatively easy place for a TV, and a great place to visit. But if you have any more then 3 or 4 stickers in your passport, get ready to be questioned, and back to back will raise certainly eyebrows.

 

 

This is similar to my experience at Hong Kong Thai Consulate. Negativity from (probably the very same) woman at the fact that there were a lot of Thai stamps in the passport but in the end the SETV was issued.

3 hours ago, London Boy said:

March 15-Jun 15-Non B (Auckland)

June 15-Sept 15-SETV (Vientiane)

Oct 15-July 16-Triple Entry TV (London)

Sept 17-Dec 17-SETV (Auckland)

May 18-July 18 SETV (London)
 

How do you dare to come to Thailand every year? - Well, seems they don't want repeat tourists... 

14 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

How do you dare to come to Thailand every year? - Well, seems they don't want repeat tourists... 

And there was me thinking he was granted a visa and entered Thailand.

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

And there was me thinking he was granted a visa and entered Thailand.

Yes, granted by (quote) "an abrasive woman" in charge. Similar to a restaurant, where you're welcomed with the words: "What do you want..." ?

I went to Hong Kong for the SETV and got the same lady and she was very impolite and I got the feeling she though that she was super special. I had 2 TV and I got denied the SETV. I flew back to Thailand and got in on normal 30 day stamp and after that had numerous SETV with no problem. That lady in Hong Kong might cause Thailand some money on the long run. I saw numerous complaints about her.

1 hour ago, RyanWalker said:

I went to Hong Kong for the SETV and got the same lady and she was very impolite and I got the feeling she though that she was super special. I had 2 TV and I got denied the SETV. I flew back to Thailand and got in on normal 30 day stamp and after that had numerous SETV with no problem. That lady in Hong Kong might cause Thailand some money on the long run. I saw numerous complaints about her.

When did you have that negative experience in Hong Kong? Around 2015 until 2017, it seemed to me the very best place to apply.

On 8/4/2018 at 1:07 PM, BritTim said:

When did you have that negative experience in Hong Kong? Around 2015 until 2017, it seemed to me the very best place to apply.

Yeah mate during 2015 - 2017

this negative experience sounds alot like the one i had many years ago, i'd guess 2012 or so.  a lady in HK really gave me a hard time.  i'd received several SETV's from the thai consulate in los angeles, some were free (no charge) and i never had to show a flight, hotel, or money.  so i was a bit shocked by all the 'requirements'.  she asked about money and i showed her my passport with the SETV's from USA (it takes money to fly there) plus a bunch of entry stamps from european cities (takes money to fly there).  when she said i wouldn't get my money back if the application wasn't approved i just walked out.  i wonder if this lady left the consulate for a few years and came back again.

 

i was a naive to the whole process back then, i'd been pulled aside for an interview based on too many visa exempt entries (around 2010) but had no clue about possibilities of being denied entry and deported.  i only found out about thaivisa when i was searching the internet about getting a retirement visa in 2016.  now i know alot more and am glad i made it through that period of entries on SETV's and visa exempts.

 

 

I visited the HK consulate a few years ago. I'm not sure if it was the same unpleasant woman or her predecessor. But she immediately questioned my need to be in Thailand, rather loudly. Rather than letting me respond to her little speech, she then handed me a blank piece of paper and instructed me to sit down and write a letter to the consul, explaining my reasons for wanting to be in Thailand (yet again). At the time, I was working as a contractor and just wanted to have a place to decompress between projects. This seemed to satisfy the authorities. The next day, my passport was grumpily shoved at me across the counter, with a new TV.