Non-Immigrant O Visa (Based on Marriage) in Vientiane, Laos October 2019

[Pure Guava]

With the ever changing and different requirements from the various embassies and consulates around the world I would like to share my recent experience on obtaining a Non-Immigrant O Based on Marriage (Single Entry) at the consulate in Vientiane. They no longer offer ME visas at this location without permanent residency. The last time I had applied for a visa here was 12 years ago and the city has changed quite a bit. There now exists an embassy & a separate consulate which may cause some confusion. You need to apply for your visa at this location: (Link to Map) I was able to successfully receive a 3 month visa by submitting the following documents:

1. A valid passport with at least six months validity
2. Copy of my passport main page (signed & dated)

3. Copy of Laos Visa in my passport (signed & dated)

4. Copy of Laos Entry Stamp from my passport (signed & dated)
5. Original marriage certificate to show to officer

6. Copy of marriage certificate (signed & dated)

7. A handwritten signed note from my wife to consular officer requesting that a visa is granted
8. A copy of my wife's "Tabian Bahn" House registration (signed & dated) This was specifically requested by the officer.       Fortunately I still had a copy with me and was able to provide it to her. 
9. Completed Visa Application Form (signed & dated)

10. Two recent passport photographs
11. A Bank Statement showing adequate funds

12. Copy of my appointment & queue # which I had to be scheduled online here (Link to Online Appointment System). I       was able to show them the details from my phone. 

12. 2,000 Thai Baht Processing Fee
13. Proof of onward travel airline reservation

My visa was ready the next afternoon. Proof of travel into Thailand was not requested at the time I applied considering that so many people travel back overland via the Friendship bridge to Nong Kai.

I had attempted to apply for a Multiple Entry Non-Immigrant Visa at the Savannakhet consulate earlier this year. I had all of the required documents but the official denied me the Multiple Entry on the grounds that my documents had been scanned & printed rather than photocopied so as a result was only issued a single entry instead. This is what worked for me but your mileage may vary. 

 

I hope this information helps. 

 

 

Edited November 6, 2019 by Pure Guava
Add a photograph

[johnny1966]

 For the OP........Savannakhet knocked you back on a multi because your documents were "scanned and printed rather than photocopied"? Wow. I find this unusual. Which documents were they?

Edited November 6, 2019 by johnny1966

[Pure Guava]

I was also very surprised & disappointed too. The issue pointed out to me was that the scanned & printed documents were slightly larger than a photocopy. Those documents were even signed & dated by my wife but the lady said they could be fake so I'd only be issued a single entry instead of the multiple entry visa. ????

To answer your question it was my wife's passport and ID cards. 

Edited November 6, 2019 by Pure Guava

[GeorgeCross]

3 hours ago, johnny1966 said:

 For the OP........Savannakhet knocked you back on a multi because your documents were "scanned and printed rather than photocopied"? Wow. I find this unusual. Which documents were they?

 

do they not know how photocopiers actually work?

 

(hint: they scan and then print!)

 

 

[Pure Guava]

15 minutes ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

do they not know how photocopiers actually work?

 

(hint: they scan and then print!)

 

 

There were several other people who were arguing with the lady but I chose not to do so as it was anti productive in that specific scenario... One was a swede who transferred 800,000 thb into a Thai bank account for his retirement visa but was denied because he didn't have his original bank book with him (Just a photocopy). Another was an Italian man at the end of the line who didn't have a bank account at all. Italian expletives are kind of the best... Then there was the guy behind me who decided it was a good idea to start a large rant against the pm of Thailand within the consulate grounds then segway into denying the holocaust ever existed. Needless to say hilarity ensued. 

[lopburi3]

39 minutes ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

do they not know how photocopiers actually work?

 

(hint: they scan and then print!)

 

 

Believe the issue was copy of page was not the actual size of the page copies (scan and then not printed actual size). 

[Pure Guava]

50 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Believe the issue was copy of page was not the actual size of the page copies (scan and then not printed actual size). 

Yes, indeed! The problem was the default on the printer at the cafe I was at wasn't set to 1:1 but rather slightly larger so that the ID card & Passport scans were half page large instead of a quarter page but as I stated earlier arguing the point wasn't a viable option. All of the details were there and a cursory check would've proven that the document scan were real.  Other Thai consulates since then were happy to accept the larger size scanned & printed details but for some odd reason this one lady in Savannakhet decided it was a reason to only provide a SE instead of ME visa.