Denied 2 Entry Tourist Visa In Chicago

[Tim207]

I sent everything in 3 weeks ago. Last week I called to check because it is only supposed to take 5 business days. The first clerk asked if I was going to be working. I said no and he put me on hold. Another clerk comes on and starts asking about my work and how I can stay in Thailand so long every year without working. after I thought I explained my situation fairly well he again asked me if I work. Then he asked if I teach English. When I said no he said he is just trying to make sure I get the correct visa and it isn't a problem if I work. I assured him I do not work or teach English and he said he would mail the passport back that day. Today I got the passport back and it has a single entry tourist visa. The envelope also contained $30 cash to refund the difference in the 2 entry I asked for and the single entry that I got. No explaination was given.

Luckily I can get by with the single entry and 3 30 day stamps. Looks like Chicago isn't a very friendly consulate anymore.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I sent everything in 3 weeks ago. Last week I called to check because it is only supposed to take 5 business days. The first clerk asked if I was going to be working. I said no and he put me on hold. Another clerk comes on and starts asking about my work and how I can stay in Thailand so long every year without working. after I thought I explained my situation fairly well he again asked me if I work. Then he asked if I teach English. When I said no he said he is just trying to make sure I get the correct visa and it isn't a problem if I work. I assured him I do not work or teach English and he said he would mail the passport back that day. Today I got the passport back and it has a single entry tourist visa. The envelope also contained $30 cash to refund the difference in the 2 entry I asked for and the single entry that I got. No explaination was given.

Luckily I can get by with the single entry and 3 30 day stamps. Looks like Chicago isn't a very friendly consulate anymore.

Was it ever friendly ?

[Tim207]

Was it ever friendly ?

Well not exactly FRIENDLY but they did give out multi-entry tourist visas and I have never been grilled about my work status before. I even included a copy of my flight information showing I would be leaving Thailand after 4 1/2 months and all they gave me was a single entry. At least they refunded the money for the second entry.

[astral]

You will need to plan a visa run to Penang for another TV,

or go for 3 x 30 visa exemption stamps.........

Happy days.

[genobkk]

I had troulbe in Chaicago 2 years ago, same thing happend......had to beg them to get 1 entry.....came back to Thailand then to Penang for a 3 entry visa....this is before Penang stoped issuesing 3 entry TVs. Chicago is not a gooood place nor is LA from what I understned......

[Guderian]

I sent everything in 3 weeks ago. Last week I called to check because it is only supposed to take 5 business days. The first clerk asked if I was going to be working. I said no and he put me on hold. Another clerk comes on and starts asking about my work and how I can stay in Thailand so long every year without working. after I thought I explained my situation fairly well he again asked me if I work. Then he asked if I teach English. When I said no he said he is just trying to make sure I get the correct visa and it isn't a problem if I work. I assured him I do not work or teach English and he said he would mail the passport back that day. Today I got the passport back and it has a single entry tourist visa. The envelope also contained $30 cash to refund the difference in the 2 entry I asked for and the single entry that I got. No explaination was given.

Luckily I can get by with the single entry and 3 30 day stamps. Looks like Chicago isn't a very friendly consulate anymore.

The questions about you teaching English are interesting. I don't know if that has been normal over the years, but today there was an item in the BKK Post – I can't find it on-line to reference it – that the authorities in Thailand are busy checking up on the history and credentials of all foreign English teachers in the country. It seems that with the deep Asian respect for a teacher, this is the easiest route for paedophiles to do their thing. There must be many cases of this, but in the last year or so there was the American John Mark Carr who claimed that he had raped and killed the JonBennet kid – he was a teacher here. More recently there has been the high profile case of the Canadian Christopher Paul Neil sought by Interpol and apprehended in Korat – he was an English teacher. And today there is a new case in the papers about another Canadian (hey, what are they putting in the Maple Syrup nowadays?), Orville Mader, also wanted for abusing young boys – and guess how he made a living? Yes, he taught English!

I can begin to understand why perhaps the Thais are getting pissed off. Working illegally here is bad enough, but as for the other… ...just glad that I am retired!

[retiredusn]

I sent everything in 3 weeks ago. Last week I called to check because it is only supposed to take 5 business days. The first clerk asked if I was going to be working. I said no and he put me on hold. Another clerk comes on and starts asking about my work and how I can stay in Thailand so long every year without working. after I thought I explained my situation fairly well he again asked me if I work. Then he asked if I teach English. When I said no he said he is just trying to make sure I get the correct visa and it isn't a problem if I work. I assured him I do not work or teach English and he said he would mail the passport back that day. Today I got the passport back and it has a single entry tourist visa. The envelope also contained $30 cash to refund the difference in the 2 entry I asked for and the single entry that I got. No explaination was given.

Luckily I can get by with the single entry and 3 30 day stamps. Looks like Chicago isn't a very friendly consulate anymore.

Tim, you have children here why not get a visa for support of child. or marriage visa??

See ya when I see ya

[pkspeaker]

I just got a 2 entry tourist visa from LA consulate..but I showed up in person and came back to pik it up the next day, and the web-site clearly states that you can get a maximum of 2 entries .. but i guess thats not guaranteed..it's possible that they are declining people the 2nd entry who do not show up in person? The reason I suspect that is that I think there are agents out who provide a service where they mail your passport back to the US from Thailand to a contact there who then forwards the passport and docs to the consulate (as if you are in the USA) and then send it back to you in Thailand with a new 2 entry TV; immigration authorities will not be able to really prevent agents from doing this and at the same time they cannot deny people m,ailing in theie passports for visas (ie: what if you live in montana where there is no consulate) so maybe thats why they only give 1 entry if it's mailed in?

[bangkokgas]

:Ironically, when it comes to tourist visas it does seem that the likes of people like myself who unashamedly live on t.v.'s obtained from neighbouring countries get less hassle than those who try to obtain them from their home countries. Strange, nonsensical,and all that, no rhyme nor reason to it.

[JimmyTheMook]

I sent everything in 3 weeks ago. Last week I called to check because it is only supposed to take 5 business days.

That in itself is enough of a red flag.

[hotgeekus]

I've had the 'pleasure' of getting a TV at both Chicago and LA. LA just gave me two entry about 6 weeks ago, yes I did it in person, what a dump, Hollywood. Cost $200 just to find a non-flea bag hotel to hang out in to pick up the visa up.....

Anyway, Penang is lots easier....

[Tim207]

I can begin to understand why perhaps the Thais are getting pissed off. Working illegally here is bad enough, but as for the other… ...just glad that I am retired!

I don't blame them for not wanting illegal workers or limiting consecutive 30 days stamps. I included my flight confirmation to show that I had a definite return date and I was not trying to get around the intent of the rules. Their denial of a multi-entry just forces me to use the multiple 30 day stamp method which is what I thought they didn't want. I was under the impression that they wanted you to use a true visa for longer stays.

[Tim207]

Tim, you have children here why not get a visa for support of child. or marriage visa??

See ya when I see ya

I figured it was less paperwork for the tourist visa. I may have to rethink that in the future.

I sent you an e-mail a couple weeks ago but didn't hear back. Let me know if you guys need anything from the States. I will be back the end of the month.

Tim

[Tim207]

Update for 2008 visa from Chicago.

The truth works. Who Knew? In the past I used "Visit Friends" as reason for visa just to keep it simple. This time I tried "Visit Daughter" and included a picture of us at the house in Thailand. Sent packet out Friday and Monday I got a call from the consulate to let me know I could apply for a longer term visa. I explained I didn't have all the paperwork for the other visa and I just needed a two entry tourist. His reply, OK I will put two entry for you and send it to you in a few days.

I don't know if they are loosening up, they were more accomodating because I have a better reason to stay so long, or they fell under the spell of my little white princess that Thais can't seem to say no to. All future apps will include a picture just in case.

[ubonjoe]

The 4 main consulates of Thailand in the US can all be unfriendly. The honorary consulates are best and give fast mail in service.

Pull down menu at top of this page has a list of them.

Link: http://www.thaiembdc.org/AboutEmb/EmbDirect.aspx

[Martian]

Luckily I can get by with the single entry and 3 30 day stamps. Looks like Chicago isn't a very friendly consulate anymore.

Off topic post removed.

Astral

[bangkokgas]

Why not just enter on visa exempt and pop up to Vientiane for your double entry visa! No problem there. As for the comments about English teachers, I am going to reserve judgement on the whole. Whilst there have been bad eggs, most are hard-working and honest. The reason some take the "illegal" route is because they can! I.E. They are qualified, speak other languages, such as japanese or korean (as well as Thai), and work privately, making a very good living, with no risk of being ripped off after having gone through hel_l with a Thai institution. Not talking about myself, obviously....................