Tourist Visa: Proof Of Funds And Extension Questions

[peteyperson]

Hi,

Regarding the need for B20,000 proof of funds under a 2-month tourist visa:

1. Do I need to show it when applying for a tourist visa in the London Thai embassy?
   
2. Can I change sterling to baht after arriving, but before meeting immigration, or do I have to change it in the UK before leaving?
   
3. Embassy regulations only mention baht, not US dollars or Sterling. Can I show a Sterling balance in a bank account as proof of funds, or some other form of proof?
   

Regarding a tourist visa:

1. Applies for three months, but if only travelling a month after issue, does this affect the option to extend for an additional 30-day period, or is that completely separate to a visa being valid for 3 months, but with two month in-country.
   
2. Can I buy a single from London and not need a return ticket as proof of outbound/onward journey?
   

Thank you,

Pete

[Lite Beer]

No onward flights or proof of money will be needed.

If I were you I would apply at the Consulate in Hull. Very helpful and freindly. Apply by post and get your passport back in a few days.

[ubonjoe]

I suggest you contact one of the consulates at the bottom of this webpage instead of London you will get better and faster service from them plus they accept mail in applications. http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/newversion.../visa_inst.html

You should not be asked to show funds when you arrive here or if you get the visa from a consulate. If you were asked on arrival a credit card or ATM card would be enough. So don't worry about changing money until after immigration.

A return ticket will not be required at a consulate.

As long as you enter the country before the 90 days runs out you will not have a problem. After you enter the country it means nothing.

[peteyperson]

Hi Ubonjoe,

Thank you for the helpful reply.

Can I clarify? The "visa of entry valid for three months" (visa application terminology). Do I need to use the two months of the visa itself within the three months validity, or does this simply mean I must begin the two month visa at any time over the three month since issuance? I hope that's clear. I rewrote the question to be clearer. Therefore, as such, one could get a tourist visa on Monday, for instance, but not visit Thailand until 10 weeks time, and still get two months duration from that point (almost five months from now). And then extend the visa a further 30 days for B1,900. All correct?

Do we know what the admin fee, in place of visa fee of £28.00, is in Hull? Do we know if this is per entry or can you get a multi-entry visa which ordinarily would cost £28 x no of entries, for a single admin fee? How does it work?

Not be asked to show funds? That's surprising as the London embassy notes stated clearly, as did a travel advisory from a US airline, that one needed B20,000 for a tourist visa and between B10,000-20,000 for the two kinds of visa-on-arrival (overland/flight). ATM card with accompanying bank statement showing funds in Sterling, or just the card itself? Would they be able to convert the Sterling balance to know it matched the B20k? I have a Visa Electron debit card that I test in BKK airport last time and I know that works. Just don't want to arrive at immigration and get stuck without sufficient proof of funds. Very surprised by both responses on this question.

I read on the London embassy site that they do not take postal applications, so wrongly assumed all the consulates would be the same. Thank you for suggesting an alternative course of action. Most helpful!

Petey

I suggest you contact one of the consulates at the bottom of this webpage instead of London you will get better and faster service from them plus they accept mail in applications.

You should not be asked to show funds when you arrive here or if you get the visa from a consulate. If you were asked on arrival a credit card or ATM card would be enough. So don't worry about changing money until after immigration.

A return ticket will not be required at a consulate.

As long as you enter the country before the 90 days runs out you will not have a problem. After you enter the country it means nothing.

[peteyperson]

Thank you, Lite Beer, for the reply.

Perhaps you can weigh-in on my reply to UbonJoe which covered your points too.

No proof of money is the opposite of what I've read on official site and advisories. Very surprising.

Will take up your suggestion of using Hull. Their reputation proceeds them.

Thanks again,

Pete

No onward flights or proof of money will be needed.

If I were you I would apply at the Consulate in Hull. Very helpful and freindly. Apply by post and get your passport back in a few days.

[ubonjoe]

You could enter Thailand 89 days after the visa is issued and get 60 days permission to stay and then do a 30 extension if you wanted to.

See this document from Hull website for info on admin fee. http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/downloads/Zv%...0Concession.doc

What is written concerning the 20K funds to be shown is one thing reality is another. You will not be asked to show it.

If you download and read the following application pack you will see no mention of showing funds. http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/downloads/Ab%...tion%20Pack.doc

[Lite Beer]

As Joe said, stick to the Honorary Consulates and you will have no problems. Fill the form in and send it off with any fee that may be needed.

[thaiphoon]

Application form (download from internet), fee, photo and passport are all you need to send to the consulate. I go with using Hull too. Send your papers to the consulate by Special Delivery. Also send with your application a pre-paid Special Delivery envelope so the consulate can use that to return your passport to you. Your should have your passport back within a couple of days.

[peteyperson]

Thank you all for your replies. Incredibly helpful. Will follow all the suggestions.

Cheers,

Pete

You could enter Thailand 89 days after the visa is issued and get 60 days permission to stay and then do a 30 extension if you wanted to.

See this document from Hull website for info on admin fee. http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/downloads/Zv%...0Concession.doc

What is written concerning the 20K funds to be shown is one thing reality is another. You will not be asked to show it.

If you download and read the following application pack you will see no mention of showing funds. http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/downloads/Ab%...tion%20Pack.doc

[peteyperson]

Having read whole of application form, bit of contradictory stuff in it.

Asks for "Date of departure from UK and Date of arrival in Thailand" but also mentions:"IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BE IN POSSESSION OF YOUR FLIGHT TICKET(S) BEFORE APPLYING FOR A VISA"

and

"Because visas are dated on the day they are issued we advise applicants to submit their applications as close

as possible to date of travel taking into account postal transit time"

If you are applying ahead of buying a ticket, i.e., I know I plan to leave in the next 1-2 months, but currently not sure of the date, what is best to put on the form?

Also, if you're not sure which address "proposed address in Thailand (if known)" you'll be staying at, does it matter leaving this blank? Or does it raise a red flag?

Lastly, for those who wish to use tourist visas to live in Thailand for a year or more, when asked "travel details after Thailand", what is best to add there? 0.21cm } -

Thank you again,

Pete

[ubonjoe]

Just put any date on the form that you choose.

The reason they tell you not to apply to far in advance is because if you were to have a visa that allows for more than one entry every day that you waste before entering the country cuts down on the total amount of time in the country.

In your case you are getting a single entry visa that will only give 90 days for you to use it. If you didn't know that the date started on issue and you applied 100 days before you left your visa would be invalid before you left.

You could leave the address blank but I would have a look on the Internet and choose a hotel name to put there instead of it leaving blank.

For your last question I would put that you are going home. But it does not matter.

[peteyperson]

Great answers.

Is there any problem if you find the place is overbooked, or if you change your mind once in Bangkok?

Cheers,

Pete

You could leave the address blank but I would have a look on the Internet and choose a hotel name to put there instead of it leaving blank.

[ubonjoe]

All that matters is an address to fill in the blank. Nobody will ever check to see if you are really staying there.

[lopburi3]

I always just entered "hotel" and was never required to define it further - hotel will report your stay in any case.