Warning: Problems At Hcmc Consulate

[Truespirit]

Recently had a problem at the Thai Consulate in Saigon while applying for a Tourist visa. They accepted my applicaton and passport and $35 fee, and told me that all was in order and that I could pick up my passport the following afternoon. Returning the following afternoon, they informed me that they had denied my request for a tourist visa and would be keeping my $35 for the applicaton fee. Reason for denial was that they felt that my passport had too many entries into Thailand (as anyone living here obviously does), so they assumed that I must be working in Thailand. A Thai consular official explained that if I got someone in Thailand to send an e-mail stating that I was not working, then she would issue the visa. So I had a Thai friend send the e-mail, and I returned the following day - at which time they claimed that they had received no such e-mail. I offered to go across the street to an internet shop and print out a copy of the e-mail, but they just handed me back my passport and indicated that the discussion was now over.

Out on the sidewalk I noticed two other angry farang pacing and cursing. They explained that the same thing had happened to them and they had also lost $35. each. So I essentially lost my $35, plus three nights in a hotel, plus the time and effort involved. Is someone running a scam in that office? It seems so, or they would simply deny us before we pay them our money. It has left a very bad taste in my mouth, and I was very lucky this time that I had not yet timed out on my 30 day visa runs.

[ovenman]

Non-refundable visa application fees are not unheard of (the USA does just that), but if the only justification for refusing you a visa in this instance is that you 'stay Thailand too mutt', the consular officials ought to be able to tell you that upfront before you part with the thirty-five bucks. This has a definite whiff of eau-de-scam.

[lopburi3]

Actually the first line probably expected the visa to be approved but the Consul made the decision later not to approve it. It could have been a bad day (especially as poster notes others had the same experience but we have not heard of this happening before). This has happened at other Consulates in the past so don't believe it has anything to do with making extra money - they still have to do the work (and probably more having to explain it to customer).

[007]

I had a somewhat similar situation once in Penang. At first I was told 'no problem', but on the day I wanted to pick up my passport with visa I was told 'cannot'. I got a refund of my fee, though. Judging from reports, the new(?) practice of not returning the fee in case of no visa in Saigon is unprecedented.

[THAILIBAN]

I had a somewhat similar situation once in Penang. At first I was told 'no problem', but on the day I wanted to pick up my passport with visa I was told 'cannot'. I got a refund of my fee, though. Judging from reports, the new(?) practice of not returning the fee in case of no visa in Saigon is unprecedented.

the country of Vietnam is known very well for such practices, so maybe the Thai Staff at that consular office adopted that way of making a litle extra money.....

but if u do have a RECEIPT, you could try to inquire or complain at the responsible authorities in Thailand. maybe that will not help YOU to get back your money, but it may help OTHERS in the future to NOT lose their money to obvious crooks

[Truespirit]

Just heard from a guy who has a Viet G/F living with him in Thailand. The same thing happened to her last month when she went to pick up her tourist visa, and they insisted that they wanted an e-mail from him stating that he would be covering her expenses while in Thailand. He sent that, as well as a fax copy of it for the G/F to bring in, but they still refused her and kept the $35. He thought that it must be because the Thais and Viets don't like each other, but it seems that the consulate is also going after farangs.

If you are going to HCMC to get a visa and can't change your plans, I might suggest that you make it politely clear to the person who accepts your passport and money that you saw a bit in a farang newspaper about many people who have been denied at HCMC when they return the next day, and lose their application fee - so you just want to be sure that all is in order with your application before you turn over any money or spend another night in town. There is a very slight chance that it might alert the scammer that people are now paying attention.

There was a sign at the counter in HCMC that said that the consulate would not refund application fees if they found a problem with an application or passport upon "further review". That is their license to scam. . .

[Truespirit]

I had a somewhat similar situation once in Penang. At first I was told 'no problem', but on the day I wanted to pick up my passport with visa I was told 'cannot'. I got a refund of my fee, though. Judging from reports, the new(?) practice of not returning the fee in case of no visa in Saigon is unprecedented.

the country of Vietnam is known very well for such practices, so maybe the Thai Staff at that consular office adopted that way of making a litle extra money.....

but if u do have a RECEIPT, you could try to inquire or complain at the responsible authorities in Thailand. maybe that will not help YOU to get back your money, but it may help OTHERS in the future to NOT lose their money to obvious crooks

Good point about the receipt. I had turned over my receipt to claim the passport. Next time I will get an extra receipt for the money paid.

[WilliamIV]

If you feel a Complaint is warranted - based on the fact that the reason for refusal was obvious to detect prior to accepting your Fee - then Complain to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

[sniffdog]

It's not a scam .... it's called an application fee. You applied, is it? The refusal has nothing to do with it.