Mailing Non-imm B Visa Application Form To Usa

[fm2002]

Went to a Visa service company in BKK recently to assist me in obtaining a non-Immigrant B multiple entry visa. Was told to mail all the completed paperwork provided to one of the Thai consulate in the USA. They said you need to leave the country as the Consulate will want to see the Thailand exit stamp. Furthermore they recommend it be mailed from and returned to a U.S. address. What I'm thinking of doing is going to Laos posting it to my friend in California and he will post for me to Houston. This I'm told will work and will take 2 weeks to get back to me.

Two questions:

1) has anyone done this and if so what was their result

2) anyone know if Laos (Vientiane) has DHL, FedX, UPS services

Some will say I'm risking alot to be in Laos without a passport and could be stuck there if something happens, but I really don't want to fly all the way back to the USA to accomplish this. Any constructive comment(s) are welcome.

Thanks

[sriracha john]

It's illegal.

[gunnyd]

It would be very poor choice. But if your feeling ballsy enough to go without your passport for 2 weeks (3-5 days each way via fedex 7-10 days back and forth to the consulate).

I have sent items to and from the Philippines via Fedex.

They do have a location in Laos:

Entreprise Des Postes Lao

Lane Xang Ave. 0100

Vientianne, Lao PDR

856 21 22 3278

http://www.fedex.com/la/dropoff/

And yes you would clearly be deceiving the consulate being out of the US when you apply for your visa.

Danger!!! Will Robinson Danger!!!

Cheers

GunnyD

[Dr. G]

This is exactly the proceedure

taken by off-shore workers.

g

[Crossy]

If the OP is going to Vientianne why not simply visit the consulate and get his visa there?

Whilst not illegal per-se, I'm with LivinLOS when he states that unless you have two passports you could be on a sticky wicket if caught without your PP in Laos.

[fm2002]

It would be very poor choice. But if your feeling ballsy enough to go without your passport for 2 weeks (3-5 days each way via fedex 7-10 days back and forth to the consulate).

I have sent items to and from the Philippines via Fedex.

They do have a location in Laos:

Entreprise Des Postes Lao

Lane Xang Ave. 0100

Vientianne, Lao PDR

856 21 22 3278

http://www.fedex.com/la/dropoff/

And yes you would clearly be deceiving the consulate being out of the US when you apply for your visa.

Danger!!! Will Robinson Danger!!!

Cheers

GunnyD

Thanks for the link. Contacted them. Will take 4 days to reach USA and cost $63 USD.

[fm2002]

If the OP is going to Vientianne why not simply visit the consulate and get his visa there?

Whilst not illegal per-se, I'm with LivinLOS when he states that unless you have two passports you could be on a sticky wicket if caught without your PP in Laos.

Great idea in theory, but the goal is to find a Visa friendly consulate and not sure but I don't think the Thai consulate in Laos is B Visa friendly. Please anyone out there correct me if I am wrong ???

[jstumbo]

Great idea in theory, but the goal is to find a Visa friendly consulate and not sure but I don't think the Thai consulate in Laos is B Visa friendly. Please anyone out there correct me if I am wrong ???

I believe that most consulates in the area are not too willing to give multiple entry one year b visas. Many places you can get single entry, but the multiple entry is the difficult one.

Although if a person is trying to get a b visa under the context of investigating doing business in Thailand, I don't know that they would need a multiple entry b visa. Seems like a single entry b visa should be sufficient. Multiple entries should be more for people that are actually doing business here and require frequent trips to Thailand to support their business.

[LivinLOS]

If the OP is going to Vientianne why not simply visit the consulate and get his visa there?

Do they issue triple entry tourist visas ??

Do they issue 1 year ME non B's for people considering investing or with merely a letter of invite ??

Do they issue non O's for visiting friends and family ??

Etc..

I would think the reasons are clear, not all consuls are equal, no reason not to look for the best service you can find.

Note not all consuls or embassies will accept mailed applications, some restrict it to nationals of that country, others restrict it to people who apply within the country the consul is located, again no reason not to look for the service that fits you best.

[lopburi3]

If that is true it is something new as I had two active US passports for 25 years.

[melmark]

I know you used to be able to have 2 as many people who had traveled to Isreal could not get visas to the middle east. But when I tried to arrange a second passport 3 years ago I was told "not permitted". I t may have been changed after 9/11 but not sure.

If anybody has definite information that I was told wrong I would appreciate the input as i would still like to have 2 passports for reason stated in previous post.

[jstumbo]

I know you used to be able to have 2 as many people who had traveled to Isreal could not get visas to the middle east. But when I tried to arrange a second passport 3 years ago I was told "not permitted". I t may have been changed after 9/11 but not sure.

If anybody has definite information that I was told wrong I would appreciate the input as i would still like to have 2 passports for reason stated in previous post.

I checked into it at the US consulate in Guangzhou less than 6 months ago, they said I could. I gave them the reason above ^^. I never actually applied to get it though.

[LivinLOS]

It's illegal.

For the millionth time.. No it isnt !!

Why do you think embassys will give you 2 passports ?? For exactly this reason.

I have done this for the last 3 years.. With the full compliance and disclosure to the UK embassy, the Thai Consul and Thai immigration. I have it in writing from both the first 2 that this is OK, Thai immigration wont ever commit to putting things in writing.

You must be outside of Thailand when you apply for the visa, yo do not have to be in the country that issues the visa.

One thing the OP must be aware, if you only have one passport make sure the country you are in outside of Thailand does not legally require you to have your passport with you.

UK allows 2 passports but the USA does not permit 2 active passports at the same time as I have tried to go that route so my employer could obtain visas in the USA while I travel to Thailand to spend time with my wife and family.

I know USA based oil workers who have 2..

I think they had problems getting a second one issued outside of the USA but am not sure.. I am not American..

That said it still does not make the suggestion 'illegal' in relation to Thailand, it would depend on the laws concerning ID / passport possession in the country he applied from and not Thai laws.

[neion2000]

In a perfect world, this would workout just fine.. Then again, I don't know if you have to be physically in the States, and with an entry and no exit stamp to Laos, will they question it, I don't know..

Here is what I do know.. I did not mail my paperwork/passport from another country, but when I did receive my non-Immigrant B multiple entry visa package from the Visa Service located in BKK.. I filled out the documentation, expressed mailed to the Thai Consulate in Houston, with an prepaid express mail return envelope.. I got it back in 4 days.. Mailed in on a Tuesday and got it back on 'Friday..

Now I did read another post by an individual that mailed in his passport for a 60 day Tourist Visa, to the Thai Consulate in Washington, D.C., 3 weeks later, he still had not received his passport/visa back.. He had done this in the past, and had his passport w/visa returned in about 10 days, but something happened on his last request.. Something you might have to consider..

Edited February 12, 2008 by neion2000

[fm2002]

In a perfect world, this would workout just fine.. Then again, I don't know if you have to be physically in the States, and with an entry and no exit stamp to Laos, will they question it, I don't know..

Here is what I do know.. I did not mail my paperwork/passport from another country, but when I did receive my non-Immigrant B multiple entry visa package from the Visa Service located in BKK.. I filled out the documentation, expressed mailed to the Thai Consulate in Houston, with an prepaid express mail return envelope.. I got it back in 4 days.. Mailed in on a Tuesday and got it back on 'Friday..

Now I did read another post by an individual that mailed in his passport for a 60 day Tourist Visa, to the Thai Consulate in Washington, D.C., 3 weeks later, he still had not received his passport/visa back.. He had done this in the past, and had his passport w/visa returned in about 10 days, but something happened on his last request.. Something you might have to consider..

Actually my service told me that there's a high probability of it working shipping it directly from Thailand to the consulate in the U.S., but almost certain if I mail it from outside Thailand.

[Lite Beer]

In a perfect world, this would workout just fine.. Then again, I don't know if you have to be physically in the States, and with an entry and no exit stamp to Laos, will they question it, I don't know..

Here is what I do know.. I did not mail my paperwork/passport from another country, but when I did receive my non-Immigrant B multiple entry visa package from the Visa Service located in BKK.. I filled out the documentation, expressed mailed to the Thai Consulate in Houston, with an prepaid express mail return envelope.. I got it back in 4 days.. Mailed in on a Tuesday and got it back on 'Friday..

Now I did read another post by an individual that mailed in his passport for a 60 day Tourist Visa, to the Thai Consulate in Washington, D.C., 3 weeks later, he still had not received his passport/visa back.. He had done this in the past, and had his passport w/visa returned in about 10 days, but something happened on his last request.. Something you might have to consider..

Actually my service told me that there's a high probability of it working shipping it directly from Thailand to the consulate in the U.S., but almost certain if I mail it from outside Thailand.

That is Illegal and the Visa would not be valid.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

It's illegal.

Absolutely right.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

In a perfect world, this would workout just fine.. Then again, I don't know if you have to be physically in the States, and with an entry and no exit stamp to Laos, will they question it, I don't know..

Here is what I do know.. I did not mail my paperwork/passport from another country, but when I did receive my non-Immigrant B multiple entry visa package from the Visa Service located in BKK.. I filled out the documentation, expressed mailed to the Thai Consulate in Houston, with an prepaid express mail return envelope.. I got it back in 4 days.. Mailed in on a Tuesday and got it back on 'Friday..

Now I did read another post by an individual that mailed in his passport for a 60 day Tourist Visa, to the Thai Consulate in Washington, D.C., 3 weeks later, he still had not received his passport/visa back.. He had done this in the past, and had his passport w/visa returned in about 10 days, but something happened on his last request.. Something you might have to consider..

Actually my service told me that there's a high probability of it working shipping it directly from Thailand to the consulate in the U.S., but almost certain if I mail it from outside Thailand.

That is Illegal and the Visa would not be valid.

They could get that confirmed in a quick call to the Thai MFA.

[LivinLOS]

In a perfect world, this would workout just fine.. Then again, I don't know if you have to be physically in the States, and with an entry and no exit stamp to Laos, will they question it, I don't know..

Here is what I do know.. I did not mail my paperwork/passport from another country, but when I did receive my non-Immigrant B multiple entry visa package from the Visa Service located in BKK.. I filled out the documentation, expressed mailed to the Thai Consulate in Houston, with an prepaid express mail return envelope.. I got it back in 4 days.. Mailed in on a Tuesday and got it back on 'Friday..

Now I did read another post by an individual that mailed in his passport for a 60 day Tourist Visa, to the Thai Consulate in Washington, D.C., 3 weeks later, he still had not received his passport/visa back.. He had done this in the past, and had his passport w/visa returned in about 10 days, but something happened on his last request.. Something you might have to consider..

Actually my service told me that there's a high probability of it working shipping it directly from Thailand to the consulate in the U.S., but almost certain if I mail it from outside Thailand.

Theres a very high probability they would issue the visa.. Theres also a very high probability that next time the person tries to use that visa the immigration guy will spot that he had applied for a visa while his chops says he was in Thailand and he is then in deep shit..

[LivinLOS]

It's illegal.

Absolutely right.

No it isnt.. (million and one !!)

Explain why you cannot apply internationally for a visa as long as you are outside of Thailand at time of application.

Perfectly legal and 100% accepted.

[LivinLOS]

And why have my posts been removed ??

Why is this legal (as confirmed by both my own embassy, the Thai consul issueing the application in writing) option continually censored ??

[johnnynmonic]

I knew a guy who tried this. He mailed his PP to a friend in the US, who in turn mailed the PP to a consulate to get a type o visa. The consulate mailed it back and said the visa was denied because the applicant wasn't in the US at the time of application. Evidently some offices check the stamps... He ended up paying 20k to leave LOS because the friend took his sweet time mailing the PP back here.

[LivinLOS]

Yes thats true.. Some consuls do not accept applications if the person is not in the country of the consul at the time..

Other consuls do however accept international applications.. Not all consuls are standardised treatments.

[Crossy]

The general concensus seems to be:-

• If you are INSIDE Thailand and mail your PP via whatever means to obtain a visa, said visa will be invalid! There is a case posted here some time back where the OP did just that and got his visa, which was promptly cancelled by the outgoing immigration officer when he tried to do a border run to activate the visa.
  
• If you are OUTSIDE Thailand then there's no problem mailing your PP to get a visa but some (most?) consulates will not mail back to a foreign address, so you need an intermediary in your home country.
  

Obviously issues with being without your PP in a foreign country and the hazards of international mail notwithstanding.

We have one member with two passports who reports success sending his spare passport overseas from inside Thailand and then doing a visa run (by air) during which he swapped passports. IMHO this is illegal, but the chances of getting caught are low, at least until the computer system realises.

Edited February 18, 2008 by Crossy