Hi All,

 

I applied for an METV in late September but the Thai embassy in Canada is behind schedule in processing applications.  I have yet to receive the visa but my flight leaves on Monday.  If it not issued before arrival in BKK, should I simply try to enter Thailand on a 30-day visa exemption and then activate the visa by leaving the country and then re-entering within 30 days after that?  Will the visa still be valid in that event?

 

Advice welcome.

 

Thanks!

Yes, you can use it later (once issued) as planned in that case. 

Thanks.  Actually, I just received it 10 minutes ago. What a relief! 

 

But maybe the lesson here is to submit the application well before the suggested time by the embassy.  Originally, the website recommended 20 business days before departure so I decided to play it safe by applying 30 business days before.  But when I checked on my application after 20 business days, I noticed the website recommendation had been changed to 25 business days before departure.  As it happened the visa was eventually issued 30 business days after application.  

 

 

 

7 hours ago, ultramarine said:

As it happened the visa was eventually issued 30 business days after application

Thanks for the info.  I submitted my application for a SETV October 29th, also from Canada, and Ottawa is processing it.  Site said 25 business days. Fingers crossed they ain't too backlogged..  My flight leaves Canada January 9th.

Great that it worked out, but those processing times are ridiculous.

Thats crazy, took me 2 hours to get mine from Sweden. 

Looks like Trudeau or Freeland have to give personal approval for every Canadian fleeing that woke failed state...