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L.A. Consulate visa questions

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Hi, I have a couple questions that someone might have the answer to. I will be traveling back to Thailand on my return ticket soon. I had a 1 year visa based on marriage, but let it lapse. I will be returning on a tourist visa. They want an onward ticket or return ticket from the U.S. Since this is my return ticket I'm flying into Thailand on, do I have to buy a round trip ticket from here in the U.S. or buy a cheap ticket onward ticket out of Thailand?

 

Also, for showing bank statements for 3 months. Does the 20,000 Baht have to have been in the bank for 3 straight months? or can I just show that I have it now in the account? I had to withdraw most of my money to buy a new car, so it shows I didn't have 20,000 Baht steadily for 3 months.

 

Thanks again for the help.

2 hours ago, FarmerJoe said:

, do I have to buy a round trip ticket from here in the U.S. or buy a cheap ticket onward ticket out of Thailand?

You can purchase cheapest throw away flight ticket OR buy a rent a ticket approx $16 usd. 

Google "onwardticket.com"  

 

Onward Ticket - Quick, Valid & Affordable | Get in 2 Min https://share.google/NKzsjZqPWw4VKZIfY

 

It's recommended that you have equilivent of 20k baht in cash. 

 

Is it your intention to obtain a Non O marriage upon return. 

If yes then a better option would be to obtain the Non O eVisa in the states. 

2 hours ago, FarmerJoe said:

Hi, I have a couple questions that someone might have the answer to. I will be traveling back to Thailand on my return ticket soon. I had a 1 year visa based on marriage, but let it lapse. I will be returning on a tourist visa. They want an onward ticket or return ticket from the U.S. Since this is my return ticket I'm flying into Thailand on, do I have to buy a round trip ticket from here in the U.S. or buy a cheap ticket onward ticket out of Thailand?

 

Tourist requirement is proof of onward travel, any ticket out of Thailand.

 

2 hours ago, FarmerJoe said:

Also, for showing bank statements for 3 months. Does the 20,000 Baht have to have been in the bank for 3 straight months? or can I just show that I have it now in the account? I had to withdraw most of my money to buy a new car, so it shows I didn't have 20,000 Baht steadily for 3 months.

 

I don't know what you're asking about.  There's no requirement anywhere near this.  They can ask you for proof of funds, which is 20,000 baht or equivalent in another major currency IN CASH ONLY.  Has nothing to do with bank statements, let alone 3 months of bank statements. If they asked to see proof of funds and you try showing them a bank statement, they're going to laugh as they put you on the next flight back to where you came from.

The 20k Baht requirement is merely a cash amount you're supposed to have on you when you travel - if you're not applying for any type of visa then there's no bank account inspection, ever.


So just make sure you have the cash in your pocket on arrival - doesn't matter what currency it's in. I have never been asked about the cash I have on me but always have it there just in case.

13 minutes ago, ukrules said:

I have never been asked about the cash I have on me but always have it there just in case

Good advice however what I don't understand with the OP is flying visa exempt.

He states obtain a tourist visa however more than likely mean visa exempt entry

Previously had a Non O marriage. 

 

If obtains eVisa (non O) and enters with that then no need for onward flight. 

No real need for cash etc and can obtain the 12 extension when suits. 

 

People seem to be giving advice on immigration entry requirements in Thailand, however the headline for the OP is:
"L.A. Consulate visa questions".

 

So it seems he is asking about requirements from the L.A. consulate to issue a tourist visa.

@FarmerJoe

If you intend to apply for a Tourist visa, then the Thai Embassy requirements include proof of an outbound ticket and a bank statement for the last 3 months showing a balance of $700 (This can be from a US or Thai bank).
https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/page/trsingle-entry

 

Alternatively, you could enter VE (Visa exempt), which would only require proof of an outbound ticket by the airline.
In either case, Immigrations requirements are to provide evidence of 20,000 BHT on entry (cash) if requested.

 

Assuming you intend to apply for the 1-year extension of stay based on Thai spouse again, then you will first require a Non Imm O visa.
You could apply for this either at your local Immigration office, or from the Thai Consulate in LA.
If applying from the Thai Consulate to enter Thailand, then no outbound ticket is required, but proof of a bank balance showing $15000 is required.
https://thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-type-o-visiting-family
If applying at Immigration, then a Thai bank statement with a balance of 400K THB is required on the day of submission.

 

The 1 year extension application at Immigration requires the 400K THB to be seasoned for 2 months prior to the date of application.

1 hour ago, Sophon said:

So it seems he is asking about requirements from the L.A. consulate to issue a tourist visa.

Doubtful the OP would be after a SETV eVisa. 

After all that would give him 60 day stamp ie same as visa exempt entry. 

Also asks about onward flight. 

 

Lot of folk refer to visa exempt entry as "tourist visa" or even worse visa on arrival. 

Hard to know what OP is asking advice on. 

 

  • Author
On 8/3/2025 at 3:22 PM, BrandonJT said:

 

Tourist requirement is proof of onward travel, any ticket out of Thailand.

 

 

I don't know what you're asking about.  There's no requirement anywhere near this.  They can ask you for proof of funds, which is 20,000 baht or equivalent in another major currency IN CASH ONLY.  Has nothing to do with bank statements, let alone 3 months of bank statements. If they asked to see proof of funds and you try showing them a bank statement, they're going to laugh as they put you on the next flight back to where you came from.

 

  • Author

On the L.A. Consulate website they have this under the submit  Financial Document proof section. (Financial evidence: an amount of no less than 20,000 THB (e.g., bank statements for the last three months, sponsorship letter) It doesn't say anything about having 20,000 Baht on you as you pass through immigration. I'm taking it as having to show 20,000 in your bank account steadily for the last 3 months. I had emptied out that bank account to buy a car, but I forgot I have a Thai bank account with a few thousand dollars. So no problem there. I'm going for a multiple entry visa. I never saw this before either. 

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.

Guess it's how the officer is feeling that day. Would be nice to know why they would turn you down for a multiple entry.

Thank you all for your help. I appreciate it.

  • Author
14 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Ah an METV! 

Would have been good sentence to include in the OP. 

Yes. I missed that. Sorry. 😬

  • Author

I screwed up and submitted my e-visa without downloading my flight out of Thailand. Didn't pay yet though. So, you can't submit more than 1 document for flight details or bank statements. How can I submit 2 plane tickets and 3 bank statements. They don't allow editing. Can I start a new visa and they will trash the old one?

1 hour ago, FarmerJoe said:

I screwed up and submitted my e-visa without downloading my flight out of Thailand. Didn't pay yet though. So, you can't submit more than 1 document for flight details or bank statements. How can I submit 2 plane tickets and 3 bank statements. They don't allow editing. Can I start a new visa and they will trash the old one?

Just wait for them to send you a request for more documents.  Then you can combine all the PDFs into a single PDF and upload them that way.  Many online tools that can do this for you.

Maybe you'll get lucky and they'll issue the visa anyways.

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