Hi,

I recently went to Laos for a new tourist visa, when I collected it from the consulate in Vientiane they informed me that I have to prove I have 300,000bt plus next time I apply for a tourist visa. They confirmed this by stamping my visa in red ink;

'The applicant is required to substantiate evidence of financial sources to the authorities next time'

Having read a few of the other messages on this forum I have noticed that it is only really Laos that is this fussy.

I have now just paid 1900bt for the visa extension of 30days with no probem but I am now wondering what my options are for my next tourist visa. Will I be able to get a new tourist visa (60day) at a less fussy consulate/embassy, i.e. Penang, or will I have to settle for a 1 month visa. Will I even get that!!

Interesting new additional stamp that Laos is using (I've never heard of a similar stamp being used there or anywhere else).

Also interesting that they ascribe the specific amount (300K baht) to satisfy as "evidence."

Seems like the "crackdown" on tourist visas there continues to tighten even further.

Best option, IMHO, is Penang.

Edited June 13, 200620 yr by sriracha john

Was that 300,000 baht or 300,000 Kip? If the latter, just show up with $30...

Simon

I recently went to Laos for a new tourist visa, when I collected it from the consulate in Vientiane they informed me that I have to prove I have 300,000bt plus next time I apply for a tourist visa. They confirmed this by stamping my visa in red ink;

'The applicant is required to substantiate evidence of financial sources to the authorities next time'

I thought it was Immigration at the entry point that can, but rarely does, ask to see means of support, but looking it up on the web site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) I see that it is officially a requirement for obtaining a visa, if a consulate chooses to enforce it:

TOURIST VISA

1. REQUIREMENT

This type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom for tourism purposes .

2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

- Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months

- Visa application form completely filled out

- Recent( 4 x 6 cm.) photograph of the applicant

- Evidence of travel from Thailand (air ticket paid in full)

- Evidence of adequate finance (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)

- Consular officers reserve the rights to request additional documents as deemed necessary

However, it is not 300,000 Baht and at least that specific amount did not get stamped in your passport. If you want to take your chance again with Vientiane you may want to print out that page on the MFA website and bring it along.

---------------

Maestro

Very important:

Consular officers reserve the rights to request additional documents as deemed necessary

Thanks,

but do you think I will still be ok for the 1 month visa, ie just hopping over the border and back in a day?