Thai Consulate Savannakhet Policy Change

[OJAS]

I wonder how many people are going to show up at the Consulate on Tuesday, completely oblivious to these new requirements and finding themselves gleefully turned away by Consulate staff with beaming smiles on their faces as a result?

 

[transam]

1 hour ago, OJAS said:

I wonder how many people are going to show up at the Consulate on Tuesday, completely oblivious to these new requirements and finding themselves gleefully turned away by Consulate staff with beaming smiles on their faces as a result?

 

I hear there is a back door, but only hear..........🤫...............🤭

[ndreamer]

8 hours ago, OJAS said:

I wonder how many people are going to show up at the Consulate on Tuesday, completely oblivious to these new requirements and finding themselves gleefully turned away by Consulate staff with beaming smiles on their faces as a result?

 

These Chinese guys find a way every time. 

 

I normally show up early, I'm just hoping this print out is good the website spat out incorrect passport dates with the year twice.

[RC8]

Has anyone actually managed to get an online booking time slot yet?

 

I dont need to renew until July but have been checking the website every day to see how difficult it is to get a booking. I have never seen a slot available. I even checked at 01:30am but it was already fully booked for 2 weeks time. I will have to try midnight i suppose as that seems to be when the availability for 2 weeks time begins.

 

Anywhere else still doing the ME Non O based on marriage?

[Caldera]

2 minutes ago, RC8 said:

I dont need to renew until July but have been checking the website every day to see how difficult it is to get a booking.

 

Allegedly certain agents grab all the slots. Let's see if they'll crack down on that, same as Vientiane did where this isn't a problem anymore. 

[Tod Daniels]

We're seeing more and more visa run companies put up notices on their websites that they won't run to Savannakhet anymore

It seems FEW people are actually getting the available bookings which come up at between 12 and 2 am every day. Plus they only let you book 14 days in advance so tonight when the open up the 27th will be the only day that opens.

There does appear to be a few companies that are able to get bookings for Savannakhet though

Sadly because Savannakhet went to 400K baht in a thai bank account for 2 months before you apply for the year/multi-Non-O based on marriage AND went to 3 day processing (2 business days after the day you apply) there's almost no advantage to go there, you might as well go to Vientiane, and it's way easier to get appts there

 

[RC8]

3 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

Sadly because Savannakhet went to 400K baht in a thai bank account for 2 months before you apply for the year/multi-Non-O based on marriage AND went to 3 day processing (2 business days after the day you apply) there's almost no advantage to go there, you might as well go to Vientiane, and it's way easier to get appts there

 

Many thanks.

 

Are the finantials the same as Savannakhet in Vientiane, 400k in Thai bank 2 months prior?

[RC8]

Yeh, the online booking is a joke. I tried at 00:01 and got a YELLOW box instead of red or green and it let me start to book an appointment. Wether it would be successful i dont know but i doubt it. Went back at 00:02 and all appointments full. 

As Vientiane does not do the ME visa it looks like i will be going to Penang or HCMC.

[mstevens]

2 hours ago, RC8 said:

Yeh, the online booking is a joke. I tried at 00:01 and got a YELLOW box instead of red or green and it let me start to book an appointment. Wether it would be successful i dont know but i doubt it. Went back at 00:02 and all appointments full. 

As Vientiane does not do the ME visa it looks like i will be going to Penang or HCMC.

 

It sounds like someone has set up a bot to grab all the available slots. If that is the case, it's a nightmare for everyday people.

[kenyersel]

@RC8

 

 

Hey is the Non O ME visa available from Penang or HCMC? Thought it was only Savvanakeht that was left? 
 

Someone had mentioned an agent was booking all the slots, I tried to call one visa agent in Savannakeht with no luck will try again next week 

[RC8]

6 hours ago, kenyersel said:

@RC8

 

 

Hey is the Non O ME visa available from Penang or HCMC? Thought it was only Savvanakeht that was left? 
 

Someone had mentioned an agent was booking all the slots, I tried to call one visa agent in Savannakeht with no luck will try again next week 

Im not sure about Penang and HCMC tbh. I just search the forum and i thought they were still available but maybe not. Hopefully someone will put us right.

 

Definitely something dodgy going on with appointments at Savannakhet. I emailed the consulate today about it but doubt i will get any response. 

 

If you could let me know if you get any luck with an agent it would be greatly appreciated 

[kenyersel]

Will do pal

[freedomnow]

The most mind-numbing town in the world....= Savannakhet.

 

Lots of very angry dogs at garden gates of every street it seems.

 

Head to Bolaven Plateau via Pakse..careful though in rainy season after roads cave in !!

 

Coffee cultivation zone.

[Wongkitlo]

On 6/13/2024 at 4:27 PM, Tod Daniels said:

We're seeing more and more visa run companies put up notices on their websites that they won't run to Savannakhet anymore

It seems FEW people are actually getting the available bookings which come up at between 12 and 2 am every day. Plus they only let you book 14 days in advance so tonight when the open up the 27th will be the only day that opens.

There does appear to be a few companies that are able to get bookings for Savannakhet though

Sadly because Savannakhet went to 400K baht in a thai bank account for 2 months before you apply for the year/multi-Non-O based on marriage AND went to 3 day processing (2 business days after the day you apply) there's almost no advantage to go there, you might as well go to Vientiane, and it's way easier to get appts there

 

Hi Tod. Have they definitely gone to 2 months in a Thai bank account. When I received mine in late April I had only deposited the money 1 week earlier. There were no problems. 

[transam]

On 6/15/2024 at 1:28 AM, freedomnow said:

The most mind-numbing town in the world....= Savannakhet.

 

Lots of very angry dogs at garden gates of every street it seems.

 

Head to Bolaven Plateau via Pakse..careful though in rainy season after roads cave in !!

 

Coffee cultivation zone.

99% don't go there to look at the scenery, road conditions, harvests or the local hangouts, we go there for one thing only then retreat.....🤔

[decline]

On 6/2/2024 at 8:11 AM, OJAS said:

I wonder how many people are going to show up at the Consulate on Tuesday, completely oblivious to these new requirements and finding themselves gleefully turned away by Consulate staff with beaming smiles on their faces as a result?

 

This has just happened to me

 

Had no idea of the change 

[Tod Daniels]

Looks like the log jam of appt booking might ease up
I checked the system this morning and there WERE openings for Friday July 5th a the consulate 🙂  

[RC8]

For some reason their are now lots of appointments available for Savannakhet.

 

6 days out of a possible 9 days have availability 😀

 

[transam]

1 minute ago, RC8 said:

For some reason their are now lots of appointments available for Savannakhet.

 

6 days out of a possible 9 days have availability 😀

 

The 60 day visa exempt, followed by extension...........

Plus, who wants to spend 3 days there...............😰

[zmisha]

3 hours ago, transam said:

The 60 day visa exempt, followed by extension...........

Plus, who wants to spend 3 days there...............😰

I want! Savannakhet is a French food paradise place.
Have you been in any of these places? - 
 

Сhez boune

Lin`s Cafe

Chez Vansom

It is totally different experience compared to American fast food restaurants of Thailand (KFC Burger King etc).

[Tod Daniels]

12 hours ago, RC8 said:

For some reason their are now lots of appointments available for Savannakhet.

 

6 days out of a possible 9 days have availability 😀

 

I saw that over the last week 😮 appts were not getting booked up as fast at all

[transam]

13 hours ago, zmisha said:

I want! Savannakhet is a French food paradise place.
Have you been in any of these places? - 
 

Сhez boune

Lin`s Cafe

Chez Vansom

It is totally different experience compared to American fast food restaurants of Thailand (KFC Burger King etc).

Yes, I have been to the town many times, but not for food or hang around for 3 days.....😬

[Wongkitlo]

On 8/3/2024 at 2:51 PM, transam said:

Yes, I have been to the town many times, but not for food or hang around for 3 days.....😬

I had a very gourmet case of food poisoning from the night market. 

[Tod Daniels]

Sure looks like people aren't flocking to Savannakhet like they used to
Look at all the days showing open for booking

[glock19]

Correct me if I'm wrong. Unless you will apply for a Multi-Entry Non-Immigrant O, the embassy in Vientiane doesn't list any financial requirement for a Single-Entry Non-Immigrant O (Family member of a Thai national). As an option to Savannakhet?

[Tod Daniels]

1 hour ago, glock19 said:

Correct me if I'm wrong. Unless you will apply for a Multi-Entry Non-Immigrant O, the embassy in Vientiane doesn't list any financial requirement for a Single-Entry Non-Immigrant O (Family member of a Thai national). As an option to Savannakhet?

Neither thai consulate in Lao (Vientiane or Savannakhet) will issue year long multi-entry Non-O based on thai child, with or without the proof of funds, it is NOT a visa they offer and have never offered it. Most people were just pulling single entry Non-O for 90 days, taking the in country 60 day extension based on visit thai family from immigrations for 1900baht and then going to get a new 90 day single entry Non-O. I know people who did that for years and years. 

Even though it is not listed on the consulates websites, both Vientiane and Savannakhet WILL issue year-long, multi-entry Non-O visas based on marriage to a thai with proof of 400K baht in a thai bank account in your name for 2 months before you apply. 

 

[StayinThailand2much]

On 5/29/2024 at 11:21 AM, PJ71 said:

Another PITA.

 

This will just lead to more people leaving and more people overstaying....

 

And, possibly, if there are website problems, longer layovers in Laos, which will benefit their economy. Thank you, Thailand! 😆

[Tomtomtom69]

On 8/2/2024 at 10:16 PM, zmisha said:

I want! Savannakhet is a French food paradise place.
Have you been in any of these places? - 
 

Сhez boune

Lin`s Cafe

Chez Vansom

It is totally different experience compared to American fast food restaurants of Thailand (KFC Burger King etc).

 

Firstly, there are some great French restaurants in Thailand. Your comparison to American fast food restaurants is bizarre. 

 

Chez Boune = been there many times. Food is quite good. Chez Boune also has a second location called Chez Boune 2, out past the roundabout leading to the bridge, heading north out of town.

 

Chanthabouly = closed during Covid, sadly. While never busy, it was the best French restaurant in town.

 

Lin's Cafe is a generic western/Korean Cafe. Not a French restaurant. 

 

Chez Vansom = seen it, never been inside. I think it's more of a wine bar than a restaurant, though I could be wrong.

 

You are correct that Savannakhet actually has French food, unlike larger Pakse, where the last French restaurant closed several years ago (even before Covid).