200k for tourist visa and every night hotel booking requirement

[Airwolf]

I'm applying for a Thai E-Visa. The funds requirement has always been 20,000thb, which is fair enough, and I'm sure it had this as a requirement when applying. 

I chose multi entry, 60 day stay. 

I'm then asked for 200,000thb ($6,140) financial proof, hotel bookings for all 60 days.  

Does that seem a bit off? Maybe it's because I chose multi entry? 

Also, hotel/hostel bookings for all 60 days? Do they not know how tourism and travel works? I've never been asked for every single night, for any country. 

I've no problem with visa requirements but this seems North Korea level excessive. 


 

[Briggsy]

These have been the stipulations for the multi-entry tourist visa, METV, for years and years.

[DrJack54]

24 minutes ago, Airwolf said:

Also, hotel/hostel bookings for all 60 days? Do they not know how tourism and travel works? I've never been asked for every single night, for any country

Some discussion and advice in this thread re accommodation. 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1311147-proof-of-accommodation-for-multi-entry-tourist-e-visa/

 

[Airwolf]

2 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

These have been the stipulations for the multi-entry tourist visa, METV, for years and years.

I just checked chatGPT and you're right! 

That said, 

- I applied for METV a few years back, and wasn't asked for 200,000thb proof
- I wasn't asked for every night booking proof
- This wasn't stated on the E-Visa booking form... all it says is "The difference in fee will not be refunded, if the officer grants a single entry visa instead of the multiple entries visa you applied for."

They need to update the tooltip.
 

[Airwolf]

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Some discussion and advice in this thread re accommodation. 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1311147-proof-of-accommodation-for-multi-entry-tourist-e-visa/

 

I've sorted it out, thanks. A heads up on the E-Visa site would have been nice though. 

[impulse]

4 minutes ago, Airwolf said:

I've sorted it out, thanks. A heads up on the E-Visa site would have been nice though. 

 

Thanks for having the huevos to come back and close the loop.  But how did you sort it, for the benefit of others who may come up against it? 

 

And, out of sheer curiosity, why did you opt for a visa for 60 days?

 

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, Airwolf said:

I've sorted it out, thanks. A heads up on the E-Visa site would have been nice though. 

Out of interest. Previously the METV could only be obtained in your passport country or country where you have permanent resident status. 

Is that your situation? 

 

A report of what you needed to apply for the e-Visa would be hellful

[Airwolf]

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

Thanks for having the huevos to come back and close the loop.  But how did you sort it, for the benefit of others who may come up against it?

 

I have the funds, but had to use a business account along with business documents proof, also have condo proof. Just a lot more paperwork involved.... I'll probably go for the DTV eventually, but you need around $16k, cash, in the bank for months... I'll need to liquidate some assets for that, so it's just a timing thing. 

[Airwolf]

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Out of interest. Previously the METV could only be obtained in your passport country or country where you have permanent resident status. 

Is that your situation? 

 

A report of what you needed to apply for the e-Visa would be hellful

Yes, I thought this too, I was only able to apply for METV in the past in my home country. 

But, it's there now, as an option... I just thought I may as well apply for it, over the single entry, as the requirements for it in the past were pretty standard... no 200k thb, or every night booking... Again, this is not mentioned when you chose it. 

[DrJack54]

22 minutes ago, Airwolf said:

Yes, I thought this too, I was only able to apply for METV in the past in my home country. 

But, it's there now, as an option... I just thought I may as well apply for it, over the single entry, as the requirements for it in the past were pretty standard... no 200k thb, or every night booking... Again, this is not mentioned when you chose it. 

OK, all interesting. 

I've always been spouting that the METV must be applied for in home country or permanent resident status. 

Please update when you receive your visa. 

Hope they don't give you a SETV as that's equiv to visa exempt entry days wise. 

[BrandonJT]

The e-visa website does not filter what options are available to you based on your passport.  The rules about METV only being available from your home country or where you have permanent residence are still in force.  You're going to be wasting the application fee if you apply for a  METV outside of your home country.

[Airwolf]

45 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

The e-visa website does not filter what options are available to you based on your passport.  The rules about METV only being available from your home country or where you have permanent residence are still in force.  You're going to be wasting the application fee if you apply for a  METV outside of your home country.

Well, it wasn't an option before, now it is. Logically, if it's not an option, it shouldn't be an option, but T.I.T, so, you might be right. That said, I was chatting with someone a few weeks back that insisted it was now an option, when outside your home country... I think they were from the UK.

I guess I could have to eat the extra fee, not a huge deal, just a bit frustrating and confusing. 

[Airwolf]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

OK, all interesting. 

I've always been spouting that the METV must be applied for in home country or permanent resident status. 

Please update when you receive your visa. 

Hope they don't give you a SETV as that's equiv to visa exempt entry days wise. 

Yeah, I thought the same, was surprised to see it as an option, I guess I'll find out soon enough. 

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, Airwolf said:

Yeah, I thought the same, was surprised to see it as an option, I guess I'll find out soon enough. 

Your plan B could always be enter with the SETV and you have option of extensions + mini van agent border runs. 

Esp while visa exempt is 60 days

[BrandonJT]

8 hours ago, Airwolf said:

Well, it wasn't an option before, now it is. Logically, if it's not an option, it shouldn't be an option, but T.I.T, so, you might be right. That said, I was chatting with someone a few weeks back that insisted it was now an option, when outside your home country... I think they were from the UK.

I guess I could have to eat the extra fee, not a huge deal, just a bit frustrating and confusing. 

How would the evisa system know if you have permanent residence or not?  Permanent residents can apply, but others cannot.  Therefore it's an option because some people might qualify.

[Sydebolle]

23 hours ago, Airwolf said:

I'm applying for a Thai E-Visa. The funds requirement has always been 20,000thb, which is fair enough, and I'm sure it had this as a requirement when applying. 

I chose multi entry, 60 day stay. 

I'm then asked for 200,000thb ($6,140) financial proof, hotel bookings for all 60 days.  

Does that seem a bit off? Maybe it's because I chose multi entry? 

Also, hotel/hostel bookings for all 60 days? Do they not know how tourism and travel works? I've never been asked for every single night, for any country. 

I've no problem with visa requirements but this seems North Korea level excessive. 


 

Might have to do with "how Thais travel". Their overseas trips usually are "all in" including coach, programmes, meals and accommodation - some by convenience, some by their inability to get things sorted while on vacation, some by lack of language skills and some by lack of common sense. 

This mindset seems to be reflected onto everybody? I don't know but why not share this with the prime minister lady, she apparently is trying to pull out all stops to get tourists back to Thailand and yes, most longer-term tourists travel around according to their liking, mood etc. and that cannot be engraved in a 60-days accommodation proof - but they will find out sooner or later. The financial proof is another thing; it might be at the higher end of the scale but as an all-in expenses of travels, admissions, food, accommodation etc. a day in Thailand is no longer a "cheap affordable deal". 

[LukKrueng]

23 hours ago, Airwolf said:

Also, hotel/hostel bookings for all 60 days? Do they not know how tourism and travel works? I've never been asked for every single night, for any country. 

About 3 years ago I applied for a visa to a Schengen country for a stay of just over a month. They demanded hotel booking for the full period. Tried to explain I'll be traveling from place to place, might stay a bit longer in 1 place and shorter in another but at the end I had to book all nights before they accepted my application.

[DrJack54]

25 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

.....but at the end I had to book all nights before they accepted my application.

Assume that once the visa was granted you cancelled the majority of accommodation bookings.