Non o Visa Vientiane Laos.

[Wongkitlo]

I went to Vientiane to get a new non -o married to a Thai, visa last week. I flew into Udon Thani and then caught a van to the Friendship Bridge. The IO started asking questions and looking through my passport- how long in Thailand, how long in Laos- but then saw my last non-o(expired) and seemed happy that I was married to a Thai. I think he initially thought I was doing a visa run. 

I did the evisa which took a few tries till I worked out how to do it correctly. There did not seem an obvious part where it said to upload my passport photo but maybe that was my fault.

On Friday morning I caught a tuk tuk to the embassy from the riverside for 100,000 kip (around 175 b) but was probably ripped off because the journey back was only 50,000. The touts immediately jumped me when I arrived. I think they were trying to tell me I needed an appointment. The guy at the desk was selling somebody a same day visa return service for 5000 baht. I didn't wait around and went inside and queued for about 5 minutes and then paid with no questions asked. 

I talked to the visa agent on the way out and he gave me his card. He said I should pay him and he would get me the visa immediately but I said I was in no hurry. He was really friendly but tried to tell me it might take 10 to 15 days to arrive. Since it was Friday I  expected to wait at least till Tuesday but said if I did not get it on Tuesday I might come and see him. 

The visa arrived in my email at about 2.30 pm on Saturday. I forgot to print it out but the IO at the Friendship Bridge did not care and just took my passport with no paper copy needed.

[thai006]

1 days for have the visa in Vientiane ? I might considered that option 

 

Did they ask for see the financial requirements because on the embassy website for a non o. They not ask for that 

[DrJack54]

39 minutes ago, Wongkitlo said:

The visa arrived in my email at about 2.30 pm on Saturday

So let's be clear on this. 

You applied for Non O marriage e-Visa. 

Paid fee to Vientiane Thai embassy on Friday and received the e-Visa on Saturday.

The next day? 

 

You then did not print it out and entered Thailand visa exempt? 

How many days were you stamped in for. 60? 

How/when do you plan to activate your Non O ? 

[Wongkitlo]

33 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

So let's be clear on this. 

You applied for Non O marriage e-Visa. 

Paid fee to Vientiane Thai embassy on Friday and received the e-Visa on Saturday.

The next day? 

 

You then did not print it out and entered Thailand visa exempt? 

How many days were you stamped in for. 60? 

How/when do you plan to activate your Non O ? 

I was saying you do not need to print a hard copy of the Thai evisa( unlike Cambodia, and Laos). The IO just has it on his computer. I entered Thailand using the non o (90 day entry).

Yes. Received the visa the next day(26 hours later). Surprisingly on a Saturday. 

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, Wongkitlo said:

Yes. Received the visa the next day(26 hours later). Surprisingly on a Saturday. 

Amazed. Thanks for report. 

[Liquorice]

16 minutes ago, Wongkitlo said:

I was saying you do not need to print a hard copy of the Thai evisa( unlike Cambodia, and Laos).

Vientiane is in Lao!

 

16 minutes ago, Wongkitlo said:

The IO just has it on his computer.

I'm calling BS on that. There is no way the entry clearance officer would have had already that info on his computer.
Although you didn't print a copy, I'm assuming it was on your phone.

[Wongkitlo]

1 hour ago, Liquorice said:

Vientiane is in Lao!

 

I'm calling BS on that. There is no way the entry clearance officer would have had already that info on his computer.
Although you didn't print a copy, I'm assuming it was on your phone.

I know Vientiane is in Laos but I meant I have used evisa for entry to Cambodia and Laos and both require paper copies.

I went to the desk and showed him the visa on the phone but he was not interested in the phone and would not take it. He just said "Passport". I had done a DTAC and had put the visa number on that as required so it does make some sense that once the IO inputs the passport number he would have access to the visa number etc. I did leave Laos 3 days after the visa was granted. 

[Wongkitlo]

2 hours ago, thai006 said:

1 days for have the visa in Vientiane ? I might considered that option 

 

Did they ask for see the financial requirements because on the embassy website for a non o. They not ask for that 

Yes. 1 day. Tod Daniels on Facebook Thai visa said he had heard of people getting their visa on the way back from making payment. 

I had 400,000 b in a Thai bank but had only recently deposited it. I had a bank letter and a statement but you could only upload  one document so I chose the statement. 

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, Wongkitlo said:

Tod Daniels on Facebook Thai visa said he had heard of people getting their visa on the way back from making payment. 

Hopefully Laos will at some point enable online payment for the e-Visa eliminating the need to even attend the immigration office. 

[Caldera]

6 hours ago, Liquorice said:

I'm calling BS on that. There is no way the entry clearance officer would have had already that info on his computer

 

It's old news that immigration do have eVisas in their system. I've mentioned that here myself years ago.

 

That doesn't remove their requirement to print it and present the printout when you enter though, so there's no guarantee that another foreigner entering at another border or on another day would be just as lucky as the OP.

[Wongkitlo]

1 hour ago, Caldera said:

 

It's old news that immigration do have eVisas in their system. I've mentioned that here myself years ago.

 

That doesn't remove their requirement to print it and present the printout when you enter though, so there's no guarantee that another foreigner entering at another border or on another day would be just as lucky as the OP.

I know both Cambodia(2 copies) and Laos(1 copy) request printed copies of their evisa but I could find no request for it on the Thai evisa site or on the visa approval letter.

It is meant to be an electronic visa so the idea of needing a print out is strange. I know many people are held up at Cambodian borders to do printing as they assume an evisa is what it is called-an evisa and not an evisa in paper form. The Cambodians actually keep one copy and the second is stapled to your passport for exit which seems quite unnecessary.

There was a printer near immigration but it was quite busy with Laos people printing paperwork and a Thai girl there said don't bother and just go to the desk. 

[Caldera]

10 hours ago, Wongkitlo said:

I know both Cambodia(2 copies) and Laos(1 copy) request printed copies of their evisa but I could find no request for it on the Thai evisa site or on the visa approval letter.

 

The popup message when you first enter https://thaievisa.go.th/ reads as follows (added emphasis by me):

 

Attention : E-Visa applicants are no longer required to submit passports and supporting documents in person at the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General. It is important to note that you are only able to apply if you are currently not in Thailand. After the e-Visa application has been approved, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to applicants, which can be printed out for presenting to airlines and Thai immigration officials when traveling to Thailand.

 

They do at the very least advise you to print it out. As your example shows though, you might get away with not having a printout. Especially when entering overland where there is no airline involved that might want to see proof.

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, Caldera said:

They do at the very least advise you to print it out.

With good reason.

The airline at departure and also immigration on arrival check out the e-Visa details against the passport carefully.

I found the account from OP at border crossing strange however seems that's the way it's done at border .

Would not work via air. 

[sandyf]

12 hours ago, Wongkitlo said:

It is meant to be an electronic visa so the idea of needing a print out is strange.

It is not really strange, it is there to stop delays with people messing with phones.

When I have done it the IO has just cross checked the visa number and handed the printout back,  all very quick.

Last time, IO threw me a bit, on looking at it she said "when is your birthday", had to think for a  minute and then said "today", she laughed and said "Happy Birthday".

[Wongkitlo]

10 hours ago, Caldera said:

 

The popup message when you first enter https://thaievisa.go.th/ reads as follows (added emphasis by me):

 

Attention : E-Visa applicants are no longer required to submit passports and supporting documents in person at the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General. It is important to note that you are only able to apply if you are currently not in Thailand. After the e-Visa application has been approved, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to applicants, which can be printed out for presenting to airlines and Thai immigration officials when traveling to Thailand.

 

They do at the very least advise you to print it out. As your example shows though, you might get away with not having a printout. Especially when entering overland where there is no airline involved that might want to see proof.

Ok. I would have printed but did not get it organised before I left Laos. I did queue at the printing station but as I said, somebody told me not to bother.b

[Wongkitlo]

8 hours ago, sandyf said:

It is not really strange, it is there to stop delays with people messing with phones.

When I have done it the IO has just cross checked the visa number and handed the printout back,  all very quick.

Last time, IO threw me a bit, on looking at it she said "when is your birthday", had to think for a  minute and then said "today", she laughed and said "Happy Birthday".

So it is an electronic/paper visa. Australia has had e visas for at least 10 years. Everything is on computer and with automated gates. I think even tourists do not need to deal with people. It kind of makes it more complicated with print outs. In the past you left your passport and form at the embassy then collected it and went straight to the border. Now you need to drive around town looking for a print shop. Typical of Cambodia and Laos but you would hope not for Thailand. Where I live it is a 5 km motorbike ride to a print shop. 

[Wongkitlo]

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

With good reason.

The airline at departure and also immigration on arrival check out the e-Visa details against the passport carefully.

I found the account from OP at border crossing strange however seems that's the way it's done at border .

Would not work via air. 

My Laos evisa definitely asked for a printout as you can see and I know Cambodia needs 2 printouts though they were just tourist visas. The Thai evisa just says that airlines may ask for a printout. 

 

 

[Wongkitlo]

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

With good reason.

The airline at departure and also immigration on arrival check out the e-Visa details against the passport carefully.

I found the account from OP at border crossing strange however seems that's the way it's done at border .

Would not work via air. 

I have included the visa app screenshots for your interest

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, Wongkitlo said:

My Laos evisa definitely asked for a printout as you can see and I know Cambodia needs 2 printouts though they were just tourist visas. The Thai evisa just says that airlines may ask for a printout. 

 

 

You are making simple into confusing.

Obtain a e-Visa for any country not just Thailand and step 1. Make hard copy printout. 

You will show to airline for sure and they check it completely.

Also be on the ready to present hard copy to io on arrival if required. 

[Wongkitlo]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

You are making simple into confusing.

Obtain a e-Visa for any country not just Thailand and step 1. Make hard copy printout. 

You will show to airline for sure and they check it completely.

Also be on the ready to present hard copy to io on arrival if required. 

Have you actually done this? With  everywhere using phones internet shops are a thing of the past. Printing facilities are hard to find. They are a thing of the past and relatively obsolete.

I asked my hotel if there was  an internet cafe close to do the visa application. They said no. The tuk tuk driver charged me 350 baht to go to an internet cafe with no printer. It was just for games. I went to an expensive hotel and asked if they had a business centre and they said no. I asked at my other hotel if he could print it and he said no.

It is not an easy thing to find print shops anymore. They have become obsolete because everything is online and internet cafes/print shops have largely closed down because everybody uses their phones. I could have walked around in the tropical heat to try and find a print shop but took my chances at the border and had no problem. 

I actually congratulate Thailand for introducing a modern system which does not require paper. I have actually been at an Australian airport and they asked for a return ticket proof so I showed them on my phone. I doubt any reasonable airline would refuse to accept electronic visa on a phone

I still say it makes no sense to have an evisa if it is actually still a paper visa needing printing. 

[DrJack54]

30 minutes ago, Wongkitlo said:

I still say it makes no sense to have an evisa if it is actually still a paper visa needing printing. 

Being Oz ...I require eVisa to enter Vietnam.

My last two trips to Saigon 

..one from Melb and one from DMK I had to provide hard copy print out for airline and immigration.

Don't understand your point. Enough.