Tourist Visa Application

[elektrified]

USA citizen arriving in Thailand next month departing from Europe without onward or return ticket. I've been living in Prague and went to the Thai Embassy here asking for a 6 month validity, 2 entry, 90 day tourist visa. In preparing the visa application there are two items that I am unsure how to answer, and unfortunately the Czech's are not very helpful here.

1. Length of stay in Thailand: (As long as possible obviously!) Do I say 60 days? 120 days? As i understand it, the visa I am applying for is valid for 60 days with the possibilty of one 30 day extension [per entry]; and

2. Local guarantor in Thailand and address: What is this? Do I just put "self"? I am providing them with copies of all of my bank statements, etc.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks for your help.

[lopburi3]

There is no set answer. I would put the 120 days just so that don't say one visa is enough. For the guarantor most people leave blank but I always try to fill in an answer and put "self".

[astral]

The form is a general one for all types of visa.

The guarantor is normally only needed for Non Imm O or B visas.

If in doubt, put self as Lopburi suggests.

Bank statements should not be required.

[elektrified]

Went to the Thai Embassy today and submitted the application for the two entry visa (2nd trip there). Had to provide them with countless financial statements (along with the rates of exchange of the different currencies my accounts are held in!). No problem, done. Received a call this evening from the Embassy asking me for a letter of invitation along with a photocopy of the ID card of the Thai citizen inviting me. Anybody run into this before? I know that some Eastern Europeans have to do this to travel to Western countries but I have not heard of a citizen of the USA having to provide this.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Went to the Thai Embassy today and submitted the application for the two entry visa (2nd trip there). Had to provide them with countless financial statements (along with the rates of exchange of the different currencies my accounts are held in!). No problem, done. Received a call this evening from the Embassy asking me for a letter of invitation along with a photocopy of the ID card of the Thai citizen inviting me. Anybody run into this before? I know that some Eastern Europeans have to do this to travel to Western countries but I have not heard of a citizen of the USA having to provide this.

It is not a requirement at all, but they can lawfully ask for more information from visa applicants.

[Jingthing]

Different embassies have their different quirks.

First time I have ever heard of such a request. Why would you assume special treatment as an American at a Thai embassy in the Czech Republic?

Anyway if you fail to get this visa, you can fly in without a visa as long as you have an air ticket out to a neighboring country that leaves within 30 days. You could do it that way, enter without a visa and stay 30 days, go to Penang, and apply for tourist visas in Penang. Getting one entry will be a piece of cake there. If you try this, you will have to ask more questions. Happy travels. You need the air ticket out to be able to board the plane without a visa.

Edited November 1, 2007 by Jingthing

[Prudent_rabbit]

Went to the Thai Embassy today and submitted the application for the two entry visa (2nd trip there). Had to provide them with countless financial statements (along with the rates of exchange of the different currencies my accounts are held in!). No problem, done. Received a call this evening from the Embassy asking me for a letter of invitation along with a photocopy of the ID card of the Thai citizen inviting me. Anybody run into this before? I know that some Eastern Europeans have to do this to travel to Western countries but I have not heard of a citizen of the USA having to provide this.

i had to do this when I applied for TV at Manila, also copy of my friends pasport showing signature an a copy of his workpermit to show his validity to be in Thailand

[elektrified]

Definitely not assuming nor am I expecting special treatment. Just found it curious that they asked for it. I think its because it is very unusual for a foreigner to be applying for a visa here. Any way I think I got it covered. My friend will have his wife "invite" me. Thanks again for everyone's help. Great forum/website.

Different embassies have their different quirks.

First time I have ever heard of such a request. Why would you assume special treatment as an American at a Thai embassy in the Czech Republic?

Anyway if you fail to get this visa, you can fly in without a visa as long as you have an air ticket out to a neighboring country that leaves within 30 days. You could do it that way, enter without a visa and stay 30 days, go to Penang, and apply for tourist visas in Penang. Getting one entry will be a piece of cake there. If you try this, you will have to ask more questions. Happy travels. You need the air ticket out to be able to board the plane without a visa.

[astral]

Quirks??

I wonder how the Prague Embassy expects a tourist coming for the first time to have

a letter of introduction from a local Thai...................

The workings of the bureaucratic mind are truly wonderful!!

[Jingthing]

Quirks??

Quirks Schmirks.

You know what I mean.

All Thai embassies/consulates do whatever they want, reasonable or not.

[thaiman]

Quirks??

All Thai embassies/consulates do whatever they want, reasonable or not.

so, do all the thai embassies/consulates have the power to issue all types of visas, but some just choose which ones they wish to give out?

[Jimbo]

I have been to the Thai embassy in Prague on several occasions and it is a tiny embassy with less then helpful staff. I have been to different Thai embassies around Asia and as long as I had the "normal" paperwork in order, I could get my visas. With the Thai embassy in Prague it is somewhat different as they ask for documents that normally are not requested. I went for my non-b visa to the Thai embassy in Prague earlier this year and one of the Thai Embassy staff there told me that it would take around 3 - 4 weeks. Everywhere else it seems to take 24 hours or so. When I asked him why he simply said that they had to send everything by mail to Bangkok and that it would take this long before all documents came back again. I have never heard of something like this happening at another Thai embassy.

[Maestro]

It looks like head office, ie the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is keeping a very close watch on its embassy and consulate in Prague. Perhaps they have a reason for doing so.

--

Maestro

[elektrified]

Hi Jimbo, glad to hear that they did not single me out. Indeed it is a very small embassy with a less than helpful staff. At least the Thai girl is polite and friendly (although she refused to give me her name so I could address correspondence to her). So far I have provided them with a thick stack of documents (utility bills, rental contracts, bank statements, etc.) but it is not over yet. I'm glad I got started on the process three weeks before my departure otherwise I would be arriving with a one-way ticket and no visa. Starting off a trip under a potentially stressful situation is not my idea of fun.

I have been to the Thai embassy in Prague on several occasions and it is a tiny embassy with less then helpful staff. I have been to different Thai embassies around Asia and as long as I had the "normal" paperwork in order, I could get my visas. With the Thai embassy in Prague it is somewhat different as they ask for documents that normally are not requested. I went for my non-b visa to the Thai embassy in Prague earlier this year and one of the Thai Embassy staff there told me that it would take around 3 - 4 weeks. Everywhere else it seems to take 24 hours or so. When I asked him why he simply said that they had to send everything by mail to Bangkok and that it would take this long before all documents came back again. I have never heard of something like this happening at another Thai embassy.

[Jimbo]

Maestro: The Thai embassy in Prague is a really strange place to visit. In Penang, Singapore and KL for example you wait in one of the plastic chairs before it is your turn at the counter, in Prague you get taken into a beautiful waiting room (which in the in the middle of the embassy so you have the ambassador and staff walking past you all the time) which is filled with antiques and got served coffee and thee.

I think one of the reasons why the embassy in Prague is working in a different way is that they hardly ever have people requesting non imm b visas and multiple entry tourist visas. I have gotten to know more then a few of the Thai embassy staff there over the years and it seems that it was the first overseas posting for many of them which could explain why they were working in a strange way, maybe it was due to a lack of experience?

I didn't want to wait so long for the Thai embassy there to get my visa sorted out so I simply flew to Phuket, got some things sorted out and then flew over to KL and got my visa in 1 day.

Elektrified, what were you doing in Prague? Maybe our paths crossed down there.

Edited November 4, 2007 by Jimbo

[elektrified]

Maestro: The Thai embassy in Prague is a really strange place to visit. In Penang, Singapore and KL for example you wait in one of the plastic chairs before it is your turn at the counter, in Prague you get taken into a beautiful waiting room (which in the in the middle of the embassy so you have the ambassador and staff walking past you all the time) which is filled with antiques and got served coffee and thee.

I think one of the reasons why the embassy in Prague is working in a different way is that they hardly ever have people requesting non imm b visas and multiple entry tourist visas. I have gotten to know more then a few of the Thai embassy staff there over the years and it seems that it was the first overseas posting for many of them which could explain why they were working in a strange way, maybe it was due to a lack of experience?

I didn't want to wait so long for the Thai embassy there to get my visa sorted out so I simply flew to Phuket, got some things sorted out and then flew over to KL and got my visa in 1 day.

Elektrified, what were you doing in Prague? Maybe our paths crossed down there.

Jimbo, things have changed or else you were given VIP treatment! Now you must wait outside until they buzz the door open for you where you go into a room at the side of the embassy large enough to hold 6 people max. That is where the counter is. No luxury, no coffee or tea, and only one plastic chair.

So far no visa, still waiting... You are right, it is rare for non-Czechs to apply for visas here and multi-entry I suspect even rarer.

Im here purchasing old East European electronics for my business. Nice place to visit but... Well I'll leave it at that. What were you doing?