My experience: Applying from the US for a Non-O (visiting relatives)

[howlee101]

Bottom line up front, this is what I experienced and the process I went through.  Special thanks to ubonjoe for, as always, providing great answers to this forum. 

 

- created an account on https://thaievisa.go.th/

- started the application process around 29 Nov and finished approx. 1 Dec. (I was told I needed to make a confirmed reservation for a one night stay at a SHA+ hotel).

- For my flight information, I only entered my flight number into Bangkok...admittedly, I didn't actual book the flight but only got the flight number for the date/time I expected to travel.  I didn't see any requirement to upload my itinerary...read below to an email I got from thaivisa.go.th

- I uploaded the required documents as best I could understand and follow (according to the question/statement on the e-application).

  -- One requirement was to upload your hotel reservation during your stay OR a letter from your relative "inviting" you to visit".  Since I will be required to stay in a SHA+ hotel, I uploaded my confirmed reservation (for one night...I booked via agoda.com).  Read below for an email I got from thaivisa.go.th

- I got an email on 5 Dec: (Pls submit the following via email: [email protected] (subject "add docs") 1. copy of flight confirmation) I booked a one way ticket (I intend to extend my Non-O based on marriage for one year so I don't plan on returning via a roundtrip ticket), got the confirmation from the airline, and forward to the email as directed

- I got another email on 8 Dec: Can you also provide a support letter in Thai from your spouse? It can be written in Microsoft word or any note, indicating that she is inviting you to Thailand and providing an estimated period of time. Make sure that she signs at the bottom of the document as well. Thank you.  Notice the email stated "in Thai".  So I had my wife write a simple note (in Thai) inviting me to visit for a specific time period (in my case Jan thru Apr).  I sent the note (attached to the email) back to them on early morning on 9 Dec.

- On 9 Dec (early evening), I received my approval.  

Approved

Dear (my name) We would like to inform you that your e-Visa application has been approved.....

- I actually don't recall but I vaguely remember at the end of the visa application I had an opportunity to "add" documents.  I would suggest adding the itinerary confirmation, a letter from you wife/relatives (written in Thai) a short note inviting you to visit....nothing fancy or formal, just a "please come visit your family from Feb through April". 

 

Again, this was my experience and wish you all the best of luck.

 

 

 

[DrJack54]

50 minutes ago, howlee101 said:

Again, this was my experience and wish you all the best of luck.

Excellent report. Will be useful to anyone doing same process. 

[Kalasin Jo]

 I completed mine here in France just yesterday. Interesting and encouraging that those handling the application are proactive and don't simply refuse if the uploaded documents are insufficient/ incorrect. 

I did get an invitation letter although the RT Embassy Paris website makes no mention of it and I only discovered this requirement on my first attempt on the e-visa site. I found that I could only uploaded one document per request when I would have preferred to send more in some instances. Trying to do so merely replaced the previously uploaded one. Did I miss something?

Now I wait as I decided to complete and pay : €70 so around 2660 THB. I believe in country the fee is still 1,900 THB so a very poor exchange rate offered by Kasikorn bank which handles the payments.

 

The site times you out after 20 minutes so you need to have everything to hand and scanned.

[cardinalblue]

Is this online e-visa replacing or another option rather than applying for a visa whether thru the mail or in person at your closest consulate?

[ubonjoe]

13 minutes ago, cardinalblue said:

Is this online e-visa replacing or another option rather than applying for a visa whether thru the mail or in person at your closest consulate?

You have to use the e visa to apply at the designated embassy or official consulate for where you are located.

A honorary consulate cannot accept visa application at this time.

[howlee101]

5 hours ago, Kalasin Jo said:

I did get an invitation letter although the RT Embassy Paris website makes no mention of it and I only discovered this requirement on my first attempt on the e-visa site. I found that I could only uploaded one document per request when I would have preferred to send more in some instances. Trying to do so merely replaced the previously uploaded one. Did I miss something?

Kalasin Jo, I don't think you "miss something" as I had the same experience being only able to upload one document.  The one requirement does say to upload a letter from your relative or the hotel confirmation but I'm guessing they want both.  My logic was the hotel stay is mandatory (at least for one night) so I opted to upload the confirmation.  Good luck on getting approved.

[Dr B]

I am sorry to have to say that my experience through the Visa Section of the RTE in London was quite different. Despite the fact that the icon on the right of the opening page marked "What type of visa should I apply for?" leads to 9 choices one of which is "Non-Immigrant O - visiting family and friends", and then one of the 7 options for Non-Immigrant O is "Visiting or staying with applicant's family resided in Thailand", and I am a permanent Resident inviting my sister to stay with us, I was explicitly told by the Visa Section of RTE that she was not eligible for a Non-Immigrant O visa as they were only for spouse and children of Thai Nationals. I (i) lost the first airline booking, and had to rearrange flights, insurance, SHA+ 1 night stand, Thailand Pass, ThailandPSAS as she was coming in via Phuket, and (ii) had to put GBP 500 in her bank account to get a Tourist Visa. In response to that request I did at first argue that she was entitled to a Non-Immigrant O visa, but later decided to give in and sent the money. Imagine my shock when I got an email in response to my first response, saying I had to put GBP1000 in her account!!!! A few hours later I got notification that it had gone through that layer and was waiting for approval, which came through in time and she arrived on 4 Decvember, having missed a flight on 23 November. RTE London are obviously shockers, and have their own misinterpretation of the requirements.

[Dr B]

1 hour ago, howlee101 said:

Kalasin Jo, I don't think you "miss something" as I had the same experience being only able to upload one document.  The one requirement does say to upload a letter from your relative or the hotel confirmation but I'm guessing they want both.  My logic was the hotel stay is mandatory (at least for one night) so I opted to upload the confirmation.  Good luck on getting approved.

I did note that all uploads on the Thailand eVisa site have to be in *.jpg format, which means one document at a time. I think the longer term accommodation is actually more important for the visa, and the SHA+ thing is part of the Thailand Pass, dealt with by MHA in Bangkok, not the RTE any more as with CoE.

[howlee101]

22 minutes ago, Dr B said:

did note that all uploads on the Thailand eVisa site have to be in *.jpg format

My recollection was the jpg format was required when specified.  I remember getting a pop up message telling me it must be a jpg format if the uploaded document wasn't a jpg.  On other items not specifically calling for jpg, I was able to upload pdf documents.