I just went online to the thai consular section website and found that the $35 fee is waived if applied for by March 3. Does this mean my travel must be by this date or the application reach the consulate by this date?

Also, when I applied last year, the prepaid postage fee was less than $5. Now they appear to be asking $18. Has anyone applied recently and had to pay this much postage?

Apply before that date and the visa is free.

I just went online to the thai consular section website and found that the $35 fee is waived if applied for by March 3. Does this mean my travel must be by this date or the application reach the consulate by this date?

Good question. Easily answered by anyone who has recently received a single-entry freebie: Was the "use by" date March 3rd (or 4th) -- or three months from date of issue? I would say the latter, except the following post raises some doubt (which may be an individual consulate issue, which are frequent):

Strangely, the Liverpool Consulate is now maintaining that to qualify for a free Tourist Visa the traveler must actually use the visa before 5 March rather than simply apply before that date, even though that seems to contradict the policy as announced by MFA.

Never saw any replies to that post.

Also, when I applied last year, the prepaid postage fee was less than $5. Now they appear to be asking $18. Has anyone applied recently and had to pay this much postage?

I don't know where you're applying, but I do see the Thai Embassy DC uses "$18.30" as the cost of USPS "flat rate service." They're half-right: this IS the cost of flat rate express (overnight) service. But, you're not restricted to this, as you can use the flat rate priority service, which only costs $4.90.

I guess they're trying to be helpful. But the cost of your postage -- and which delivery service you use -- is up to you.

Thanks, Jim. I used the $4.90 postage in Septpember with no problem. The only new wrinkle last time was the bank statement requirement, which I never needed to supply before. Apparently they need to see a $500 balance in your account now.