My Tourist Visa Options?

[dave086]

Hey everyone,

 

I am currently in Vietnam and I am planning to travel to Thailand through Laos by the end of November. I would like to get a 60 day Tourist Visa before I actually enter Thailand and I am wondering what my best option would be considering the travel history in my passport.

During the pandemic I had 3 "Covid Extensions" and I also entered several times on Visa Exempt stamps which I extended, though I have never spent more than 180 days in a calendar year in Thailand.

If it helps, here's the "Thailand history" in my passport:

2021
60 day Tourist Visa, entered 18 July 2021
30 day Tourist Visa Extension
30 day Covid Extension
30 day Covid Extension
..stayed in Thailand for a total of 167 days in 2021
 

2022
30 day Covid Extension, left 8 March 2022
30 day Visa Exemption, entered 23 May 2022
30 Day Visa Exemption Extension, left 21 July 2022
30 Day Visa Exemption, entered 27 Aug 2022, left 1 Sept 2022
..stayed in Thailand for a total of 133 days in 2022
 

2023
30 Day Visa Exemption, entered 28 June 2023
30 Day Visa Exemption Extension, left 25 Aug 2023
..stayed in Thailand for a total of 59 days in 2023

I was planning to go to Savannakhet, but I have read reports that they are getting very strict there about issuing Tourist Visas. Am I better off going to Vientiane (which would be much further from where I am currently)?

I know this might be a bit of a grey area, but I also sometimes thought about applying for an E-Visa and using an onward-ticket service for the ticket from my home country to Thailand, then just use the E-Visa to enter via a land border. Has anyone here ever done this?

[Caldera]

I think you should be fine in Savannakhet, as they seem to focus on how much time you've spent in Thailand just before applying there. You will have stayed out for quite some time once you'll apply there, and didn't spend a lot of time in Thailand this year so far.

 

Vientiane would be a safer bet though, as long as you have an appointment and meet their requirements.

 

Personally, I'd try Savannakhet but make an appointment for Vientiane beforehand for a few days later. If Savannakhet gives you the visa, you'll save yourself the detour to Vientiane, just cancel your appointment there. If Savannakhet doesn't give you the visa, you're all set to apply in Vientiane  

[Pattaya57]

So in summary, OP will have had 1 visa exempt entry in 15 months when he applies for a Tourist Visa

 

Pretty sure he'll be fine

[pomchop]

is Vientiane  relatively easy to get a 60 day thai tourist visa issued?  I assume u need to make an appointment and not just show up....anyone know how long it takes to get it issued? txs

[Pattaya57]

18 minutes ago, pomchop said:

is Vientiane  relatively easy to get a 60 day thai tourist visa issued?  I assume u need to make an appointment and not just show up....anyone know how long it takes to get it issued? txs

You must make an appointment as walk-ins are specifically stated as prohibited. It takes 2 days to be issued, so apply Wed, pick up Friday

 

Note that if you make an appointment and don't turn up they suspend your account for 30 days from making another appointment. If you cancel, they suspend you for 10 days

 

Everything is on the Vientiane Thai Embassy page

 

https://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/en/page/tourist-visa-2?menu=63bcd875e8b39d00fd0e7513

 

Edited November 3, 2023 by Pattaya57

[pomchop]

15 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

You must make an appointment as walk-ins are specifically stated as prohibited. It takes 2 days to be issued, so apply Wed, pick up Friday

 

Note that if you make an appointment and don't turn up they suspend your account for 30 days from making another appointment. If you cancel, they suspend you for 10 days

 

Everything is on the Vientiane Thai Embassy page

 

https://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/en/page/tourist-visa-2?menu=63bcd875e8b39d00fd0e7513

 

thank you

[dave086]

Thank you for the replies. I will most likely stick to my original plan then, apply in Savannakhet and keep Vientiane as another option in case I do get denied. 

I have one more question I forgot to mention. If my Visa gets approved, I am planning to enter Thailand by bus from Savannakhet to Mukdahan. Do I have to buy the ticket at the bus station beforehand and submit a copy of it together with my Visa application or does it suffice if I state "Entering Thailand by: Bus" on the application form?

I have read in a post in this Forum that in Vientiane the latter seems to be sufficient (even though it states "Travel itinerary to and from Thailand" on the Embassy website), but I haven't found any reports if that's also sufficient in Savannakhet.

[sallecc]

Is getting Thai visa easier in Laos than in Vietnam? (OP is in Vietnam currently) Just curious, thanks.

[dave086]

2 hours ago, sallecc said:

Is getting Thai visa easier in Laos than in Vietnam? (OP is in Vietnam currently) Just curious, thanks.

Maybe someone else can comment on "easier" in terms of getting it approved, but for me the main reason that I am favoring Savannakhet is that I am in Da Nang currently and Savannakhet is along the route I want to take (Da Nang - Hue - Savannakhet - Bangkok). Here in Vietnam there is a Thai Embassy in Hanoi and a Thai Consulate in Ho Chi Minh and it would be quite a detour for me to go to either of them.

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, sallecc said:

Is getting Thai visa easier in Laos than in Vietnam? (OP is in Vietnam currently) Just curious, thanks.

 

For those who have a questionable immigration history, Vientiane is the safest bet for tourist visa applications. Their requirements are stated clearly on the embassy website. If you satisfy them, and have fewer than three previous tourist visas issued specifically in Vientiane, visible in your current passport, your visa application will be granted.

[JayClay]

17 hours ago, dave086 said:

Thank you for the replies. I will most likely stick to my original plan then, apply in Savannakhet and keep Vientiane as another option in case I do get denied

 

There have been reports of long waiting lists for getting an appointment in Vientiane so make sure you make an appointment at Vientiane before you attempt to get a visa at Savannakhet. Unless you're in no real hurry, of course.

 

 

[dave086]

5 hours ago, JayClay said:

 

There have been reports of long waiting lists for getting an appointment in Vientiane so make sure you make an appointment at Vientiane before you attempt to get a visa at Savannakhet. Unless you're in no real hurry, of course.

 

 

Will do, thank you.

[Pattaya57]

5 hours ago, JayClay said:

There have been reports of long waiting lists for getting an appointment in Vientiane so make sure you make an appointment at Vientiane before you attempt to get a visa at Savannakhet. Unless you're in no real hurry, of course.

Current wait time is today you can make an appointment for Wednesday, so not too long (Mon and Tue always seem busiest as Thu Fri can't pick up passport until after the weekend)

[dave086]

Just as an update, I ended up flying from Da Nang to Bangkok (DMK) because there were floods in Vietnam and because of that the bus to Laos wasn't operational.

I didn't have any issues at immigration, the officer just stamped my passport and didn't even ask any questions. 

Edited December 8, 2023 by dave086