Applying for Thai tourist visa in the US - beyond confusing

[ChiangMaiThai]

In the past I have applied for tourist visas by going to my local Thai consulate in the US. Now it seems that I have to go to https://thaievisa.go.th to apply. Is this correct?

If so, the application is extremely confusing and there is no explanation on the website. 

For example, I am asked to upload the below documents: 

"Proof of Criminal record" - What kind of document is expected? Where do I get this in the US???
"Medical Certificate" - What is this document supposed to show? I have to go to the doctor here and ask for what? They have to certify that I am free of what diseases/conditions?
"Financial Evidence" - They want a screenshot of my online banking? And it should show a minimum of how much money?
"Verify current Residency" - What kind of document do they want to see? A utility bill? A bank statement? 

There are many more things that need to be uploaded, which I think I can figure out. But the above items are not clear and there is no further info provided on the website. 

It's also odd that I am forced to show my confirmed ticket and travel insurance before I can apply for the visa. What if I am denied the visa???

It is truly bizarre how difficult it has become to simply apply for a tourist visa to Thailand!



 

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

requirements read like a 12 month longstay visitor(retirement) visa.

are you sure these are for Tourist Visa ? if so, consider Visa Exempt arrival for at least  45-60 day stay.

[Mac Mickmanus]

And everything uploaded needs to be the correct size .

When I was applying for a tourist visa on line , I gave up and arrived on visa exempt and then applied for a long term visa after arrival 

[Captain Monday]

Does https://thaievisa.go.th provide a list of required documents for each visa type?

 

No, you are prompted to upload them as you go along.

 

Which ones have to be notarized? Go back and start again. 

 

Another half-baked government application. 2 college students could build better over a weekend 

for pizza and beer money. The simple solution more complicated than the problem.

 

An utter shambles.

 

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

In France you now have to show min 2000 Euros to be able to apply for a normal single entry tourist visa to Thailand, apparently they don't want any normal families with two-three kids coming for a holiday. 

[ubonjoe]

Those requirements seem to be for a special tourist visa (STV).

You upload your US passport photo page for proof or residency. If a permanent resident your residency card (aka green card).

Edit: This manual should help you. https://thaievisa.go.th/static/English-Manual.pdf

Edited October 27, 2021 by ubonjoe

[ChiangMaiThai]

36 minutes ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

requirements read like a 12 month longstay visitor(retirement) visa.

are you sure these are for Tourist Visa ? if so, consider Visa Exempt arrival for at least  45-60 day stay.

When you go to their site and apply for tourist visa all of these forms are shown as required documents with no elaboration. Really, they expect every tourist to do a medical evaluation and get a criminal background check?? Maybe I am misunderstanding it, but there is no elaboration on their website. 

I need to get the 60 day visa and extend for 30 days. Sent an email to the embassy and will post here if they reply to me. 

[ChiangMaiThai]

1 minute ago, ChiangMaiThai said:

When you go to their site and apply for tourist visa all of these forms are shown as required documents with no elaboration. Really, they expect every tourist to do a medical evaluation and get a criminal background check?? Maybe I am misunderstanding it, but there is no elaboration on their website. 

I need to get the 60 day visa and extend for 30 days. Sent an email to the embassy and will post here if they reply to me. 

 

[ubonjoe]

You only need to upload the required documents for the visa you are applying for.

On page 26 of the instruction manuals it show the page where you select your visa type.

It appears to me you selected the STV Iwroe earlier. That requires everything you lisetd.

[ubonjoe]

33 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

No, you are prompted to upload them as you go along.

I think you wrong after selecting the correct visa type it will only show the requirements for it,

[MajorTom]

I remember i had to show proof of funds for a 60 day single tourist visa at the Thai embassy in Singapore a few years ago..

When i politely asked if i could have a double entry one i got so much abuse i nearly started to cry ????????????

Different requirements and moving goalposts in every location of a Thai embassy or immigration office as usual..

[Captain Monday]

26 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I think you wrong after selecting the correct visa type it will only show the requirements for it,

Well I cant get past uploading Photo and passport Data page page. Applying for O/A, from US. Trying different browsers. It says the system will delete incomplete applications after 2 weeks

 

I would like to know ideally before continuing 

• What file types and size they require
• A complete list of required docs and what docs need to be notarized

[farang51]

As ubonjoe says, it seems you chose the wrong visa. Start again, and select Tourism / Leisure activities under Purpose of Visit.

[EricTh]

Just come in visa exempt and if you want to extend get another tourist visa. It's much simpler in Thailand

[ubonjoe]

15 minutes ago, EricTh said:

Just come in visa exempt and if you want to extend get another tourist visa. It's much simpler in Thailand

How would he apply for tourist visa while in the country?

He would have to leave the country to apply for a tourist visa at a embassy or consulate.

[ubonjoe]

20 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

• What file types and size they require
• A complete list of required docs and what docs need to be notarized

The instruction manual has info about files size and etc. https://thaievisa.go.th/static/English-Manual.pdf

Looking this page of the embassy website it appears the notarization has been dropped. https://thaiembdc.org/2020/11/17/oalongstay/

[John Drake]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

On page 26 of the instruction manuals

Page 26???   This is why opening up Thailand to tourism again is doomed. What tourist in their right mind wants to read through 26+ pages to apply for a simple tourist visa? When I first came to Thailand I entered on a visa exempt. Returned back to the US, went to an honrary consul general and got an O. Now, it sounds like they want security clearance to Fort Knox.

[ChiangMaiThai]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

I think you wrong after selecting the correct visa type it will only show the requirements for it,

I think I got confused between SETV and STV and once you select you have to delete the application to change. I will update the thread after I apply again, this time for the SETV instead of the STV.

[tomazbodner]

13 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Page 26???   This is why opening up Thailand to tourism again is doomed. What tourist in their right mind wants to read through 26+ pages to apply for a simple tourist visa? When I first came to Thailand I entered on a visa exempt. Returned back to the US, went to an honrary consul general and got an O. Now, it sounds like they want security clearance to Fort Knox.

US tourism must be doomed. Ever seen a Thai applying for a US visa?

[poohy]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

How would he apply for tourist visa while in the country?

He would have to leave the country to apply for a tourist visa at a embassy or consulate.

An agent can do it easily 25/30k visa exempt to retirement no "o" whatever they call it

 

[ubonjoe]

18 minutes ago, poohy said:

An agent can do it easily 25/30k visa exempt to retirement no "o" whatever they call it

That is a non-o visa. It is not a tourist visa. He would have to be 50 or over to apply for it.

[John Drake]

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

US tourism must be doomed. Ever seen a Thai applying for a US visa?

As far as I know, the US doesn't rely on tourists from Thailand to support 20 percent of its economy.

Edited October 27, 2021 by John Drake

[EricTh]

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

How would he apply for tourist visa while in the country?

He would have to leave the country to apply for a tourist visa at a embassy or consulate.

 

Is the Covid extension still ongoing? 

 

[ubonjoe]

26 minutes ago, EricTh said:

Is the Covid extension still ongoing? 

 

The 60 day covid is available until November 26th. After that it is unknown.

I would not suggest it to anybody that is not in the country at this time.

[cardinalblue]

Tourist visas must be applied for outside of thailand….one can only extend a current tourist visa inside thailand….

 

very limited options one has when one comes in on a 30 day non exemption ( it is not a visa)….that’s the problem as one cannot extend or convert….

[mrmicbkktxl]

15 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

US tourism must be doomed. Ever seen a Thai applying for a US visa?

Comparing apples with...., USA is a 1st world country with a free elected government.Thailand is a jungle country with an army dictator.Besides that most Americans don't overstay,disappear or  planning to work in Thailand.If I would work in an embassy I wouldn't approve most visa applications for Thais

[yogi yogi]

ha u are funny by the way screenshot of bank statement is not accepted must be a download screenshots can be altered . if they dont like the amount of money in your acct . u are screwed..  what were u arrested for?  welcome to the nightmare.  wait till u apply for coe and u will really complain

[yogi yogi]

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

 

The 60 day covid is available until November 26th. After that it is unknown.

I would not suggest it to anybody that is not in the country at this time.

i was just thinking i was stupid?  i come nov 1. i could get 60 days more on covid extension and then i didnt need to do tourist visa at all?  a tourist visa with 30 day extension is 90 days.  a free entry 30 day visa with covid extension is same .............90 days.  and with the second scenerio i could even extend the 60 day covid extension another 30 days ..........= 120 days?

[skatewash]

36 minutes ago, cardinalblue said:

Tourist visas must be applied for outside of thailand….one can only extend a current tourist visa inside thailand….

 

very limited options one has when one comes in on a 30 day non exemption ( it is not a visa)….that’s the problem as one cannot extend or convert….

You are mistaken about the visa-exempt entry.  It gets you stamped in for 30 days.  You can apply for an additional 30-day extension of stay at immigration for 1,900 baht.  I don't recall one instance of this ever being rejected.  

I don't like the term "convert" but you can certainly apply for a Non-O visa at the immigration office after you enter Thailand on a visa-exempt entry.  Of course you need to meet the requirements for the visa, but people do this all the time for purpose of retirement (being age 50 or over) or marriage to a Thai.  There are even advantages (no mandatory health insurance) if you do it this way rather than enter on a non-OA (so called retirement visa).

Note the section about upgrading from a visa exemption entry:

http://piv-phuket.com/long-stay-extensions/non-o-visa/

In fact, one could enter Thailand on a visa-exempt entry (that is, without a visa) and never leave if one obtained inside Thailand a Non-O visa (as explained above) and then extended that annually forever.

You are at no disadvantage whatsoever if you enter Thailand on a visa-exempt entry.  You are free to do all the things someone who entered on a Tourist Visa is allowed to do.

[Wydahoan]

I am seeing new rules on the Washington DC and Los Angeles websites about visa extension, also the Thai immigration is saying only tourist visas can be extended. I check these sites often and never have seen this before.