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Tourist Visa from China

MysteryX
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MysteryX Explorer Member

MysteryX

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I'm a Canadian currently in mainland China and will be going to Thailand Next. I'm currently not too far from Xi'an and may decide to either travel not too far from Shanghai before leaving China, or go to Hong Kong. My question is: which place is best to request a Tourist Visa? I want to stay an extended period of time in Thailand (6+ months as Visa allows with renewal), so places asking for strict roundtrip plane tickets (or other documentation like bank statements) may be inconvenient.

 

Is it better to get it in Xi'an, Shanghai or am I better to travel to Hong Kong for it? Also, what type of Visa will I ask? METV or can I still get the old 3-entries tourist visa?

 

Thanks

jackdd Platinum Member

jackdd

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And you can only get a single entry tourist visa, unless you are permanent resident in china / hong kong, so after at most 3 months you have to get another visa (or use visa exempts)

BritManToo Star Member

BritManToo

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1 hour ago, MysteryX said:

so places asking for strict roundtrip plane tickets (or other documentation like bank statements) may be inconvenient.

It's only 1,000bht for a plane ticket to Vietnam, buy it and chuck it.

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BritTim Diamond Member

BritTim

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Hong Kong is a good place to apply for a Thai tourist visa. You cannot get a Thai visa from any of the Thai consulates in mainland China unless you are a Chinese resident.

MysteryX Explorer Member

MysteryX

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Very good to know about China. So I need to fly to either Hong Kong or Vientiane. I remember they gave me 3 entries many years ago in Vientiane (and dengue fever) but things can change.

 

Also if I remember correctly, last time I renewed my visa in Hong Kong and I believe they gave me 3 entries and had no issue about flights -- even if I didn't use those 3 new entries back then. My memory could be wrong, and things could have changed.

 

In Vientiane do I need to show a return flight ticket? Will they give me a 3 entry visa?

ubonjoe Legendary Member

ubonjoe

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3 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

In Vientiane do I need to show a return flight ticket? Will they give me a 3 entry visa?

A ticket out of the country is not required at Vientiane to get a single entry tourist visa.

You cannot get a 2 or 3 entry tourist visa anywhere since the multiple entry tourist visa (METV) became available a little over 3 years ago. The METV can only be applied for in you home country or country of legal residence.

MysteryX Explorer Member

MysteryX

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9 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You cannot get a 2 or 3 entry tourist visa anywhere since the multiple entry tourist visa (METV) became available a little over 3 years ago. The METV can only be applied for in you home country or country of legal residence. 

That would be a problem.

 

Is this information absolutely accurate? Is there any other way than traveling all the way back from China to Canada to Thailand? Traveling back to Vientiane every 3 months isn't a very appealing option.

overherebc Diamond Member

overherebc

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13 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

That would be a problem.

 

Is this information absolutely accurate? Is there any other way than traveling all the way back from China to Canada to Thailand? Traveling back to Vientiane every 3 months isn't a very appealing option.

You can believe the information. 2 entry and 3 entry visas were withdrawn quite a while ago.

ubonjoe Legendary Member

ubonjoe

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11 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

Is this information absolutely accurate?

Yes it is. See the requirements here on the Hong Kong consulate website. http://www.thai-consulate.org.hk/web/3015.php?s=4292

16 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

Is there any other way than traveling all the way back from China to Canada to Thailand?

Perhaps in Australia. Their have been reports of non Australians getting them in the past but none recently.

 

overherebc Diamond Member

overherebc

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You can resign yourself to 3 month SETV's without going to Canada, or perhaps Oz?? for an METV.

Also bear in mind if you have a series of tourist visas or 30 day visa exempt entries with only short breaks in between it's very likely you will eventually be questioned on your reasons for spending so much time in Thailand. This happens mostly at the airports, not so much at land crossings.

MysteryX Explorer Member

MysteryX

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3 months SETV would basically allow staying up to 6 months with 1 border run, then I could complement with 1 (or 2) Laos run. If they ask for reason, is "my girlfriend lives there" enough? In Peru that's often what foreigners say when asked.

 

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4. A copy of bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 200,000 Baht at least in the past 6 months.
5. An original guarantee letter from the employer/organization.
6. A copy of confirmed roundtrip air ticket or an itinerary (at least for the first entry).
7. A copy of confirmed hotel reservation (at least for the first entry).

Now they're being strict about all these things?

4. They basically want proof of income.

5. What if I don't have any employer, I have my own business

6. If doing a border run after 3 months, then the next flight out would be Vientiane, they really do request it, and is a flight 6 months out OK?

7. Really they're asking for that as well? Never provided any such things in the past.

Also how long it takes them to issue the Visa, both in Hong Kong and Vientiane? It's important to know if I must book flights and hotels ahead of time.

Thanks

MysteryX Explorer Member

MysteryX

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Just thinking. If I'm going to study Kung <deleted> at a martial arts school there, can they issue a study visa? Just like I'm in China under a study visa. In fact, in China they won't let you go to a martial arts school for more than 30 days on a tourist visa.

MysteryX Explorer Member

MysteryX

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So essentially the only option is getting a 3-month SETV in Hong Kong and then a single entry in Laos (once or twice).

 

Then another option is a 1-year Volunteering visa, as I'm finding various companies offering that service. Is it a good option to stay 9-12 months? How much time does it require to work at the charity?

BritTim Diamond Member

BritTim

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1 hour ago, MysteryX said:

So essentially the only option is getting a 3-month SETV in Hong Kong and then a single entry in Laos (once or twice).

 

Then another option is a 1-year Volunteering visa, as I'm finding various companies offering that service. Is it a good option to stay 9-12 months? How much time does it require to work at the charity?

You can likely safely get an SETV in Hong Kong, followed by three SETVs in Vientiane, entering overland, without any problem whatsoever. Before starting with the Vientiane visas, you might decide to get one SETV in Kuala Lumpur or Yangon first. For safety, avoid entering by air once you have been in Thailand continuously for more than about six months on tourist entries. Entering at most land crossings is not a problem, regardless of your stay history on tourist entries.

 

You will find that legally staying in Thailand to do volunteer work is difficult. You need a sponsoring organisation to even get the initial Non O visa (90-day stay). You must then get a work permit and can then apply for a one-year extension of stay. In most cases, you will need to pay for all the paperwork, and may be expected to make further donations to the charity you will be helping.

MysteryX Explorer Member

MysteryX

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OK that's very helpful. When you say SETV, they all issue only 3-month SETV? After quick research I was reading back in 2015 Vientiane had very bad policies in regards to SETV for foreigners, has that improved? What are the fees to get those SETV?

ubonjoe Legendary Member

ubonjoe

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6 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

OK that's very helpful. When you say SETV, they all issue only 3-month SETV? After quick research I was reading back in 2015 Vientiane had very bad policies in regards to SETV for foreigners, has that improved? What are the fees to get those SETV?

A single entry tourist visa is valid for entry for 3 months from the date of issue and allows one 60 day entry that can be extended for 30 days at a immigration office.

I don't recall Vientiane ever being difficult to get a tourist visa. The fee is 1000 baht for it.

You could enter to without a visa and get a 30 day visa exempt entry that can be extended for 30 days at immigration and then get a SETV.

MysteryX Explorer Member

MysteryX

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Oh I'm mixing up SETV (single) and METV (multiple). So Hong Kong is the only one who will issue 3-month METV (5000 baht?) and I can get several SETV (1000 baht) in Vientiane, correct?

 

As for Visa on arrival, hadn't they changed it so that the extension only gave 10 more days instead of 30?

ubonjoe Legendary Member

ubonjoe

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5 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

So Hong Kong is the only one who will issue 3-month METV (5000 baht?)

No they will not unless you are a resident of Hong Kong. A METV is valid for 6 months and allows unlimited 60 day entries.

8 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

As for Visa on arrival, hadn't they changed it so that the extension only gave 10 more days instead of 30?

You do not qualify for a 15 day visa on arrival.

A 30 day visa exempt entry can be extended for 30 days. The 10 day extension went away many years ago and there was no extension possible until August of 2014 when the 30 day extension rule went into effect.

MysteryX Explorer Member

MysteryX

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16 hours ago, overherebc said:

You can resign yourself to 3 month SETV's

Ah this is the part that got me confused. You're talking about 60-day single entry since getting a multiple entry won't be possible in my case. That means there really is no other option than getting single entries several times in a row...

 

Only other option to explore is the Volunteer Visa if I can find something interesting.

BritTim Diamond Member

BritTim

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20 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

Ah this is the part that got me confused. You're talking about 60-day single entry since getting a multiple entry won't be possible in my case. That means there really is no other option than getting single entries several times in a row...

 

Only other option to explore is the Volunteer Visa if I can find something interesting.

Truly, the only convenient option is the Thailand Elite visa. However, this comes with a price tag that rules it out for most people unless they know they want to spend most of the next five years in Thailand.

overherebc Diamond Member

overherebc

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38 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

There are several companies offering Volunteering Visa services, including ChiangMai VisaRun and Chiang Mai Buddy (for 35000 baht)

 

https://www.chiangmaivisarun.com/stay-in-Thailand-one-year-or-more

https://chiangmaibuddy.com/1-year-non-o-volunteer-visa/

 

Any advice, word of caution or feedback regarding those services?

 

35000 is a heafty fee but the fees of all those visa runs do add up.

Search  Thai Visa   for a recent thread on Vol' visas in Chiangmai.

It was detailing problems with WP's, required even for vol' visas.

Wish I could post something something brighter for you.

dcnx Silver Member

dcnx

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On 12/16/2018 at 12:47 PM, ubonjoe said:

You will have to apply for it in Hong Kong unless you are a resident of china. At the embassy and consulates in China that is requirement to apply.

The consulate in Hong Kong will want to see a ticket out of Thailand to apply for a tourist visa. Info can be found here. http://www.thai-consulate.org.hk/web/3015.php?s=4296

Is this a new policy? I was traveling with an American who received one in Shanghai a few years ago. 

dcnx Silver Member

dcnx

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4 hours ago, MysteryX said:

Ah this is the part that got me confused. You're talking about 60-day single entry since getting a multiple entry won't be possible in my case. That means there really is no other option than getting single entries several times in a row...

 

Only other option to explore is the Volunteer Visa if I can find something interesting.

You can find an agent to set you up with an ED Visa. Going to school is optional with right agent. Keep asking different ones until you find one that will do what you need them to do.

 

There is an ED you can get in Chiang Mai that’s for combat training. It’s very popular with the digital nomads.

dcnx Silver Member

dcnx

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1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

Not a new policy. It has been the same for a few years now.

Ok. It’s been a few years. Good to know, thanks.

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