SETV application at Savannakhet....

[SunsetT]

I went for 1st time  to Savannahkhet 6 Dec. for a SETV. No problems previously reported so, after queuing for 2 hours, I was surprised to be questioned thus:  'What do u do in Thailand?'.....Nothing...relax!....I enjoy holiday for Winter  every year. 'What is your job?'....... I dont work, I am retired. 'Do u have pension from your govt?'......No pension, I am 64yrs old. I have money from rents in England. I will have pension from my govt. next year.  'Do u have flight ticket to England?'......Yes. 'Show me please?'. Luckily I had it with me.  She inspected the Eticket closely then said.  'I want copy'. I went to the closed gate and a helpful tuktuk driver offered to go across the road to get a copy for me for 5thb. I handed the copy in to her at the counter, no further  questions asked. Visa issued and collected next day.

 

Though this is my 11th winter in Thailand,  this was the very 1st time I have ever applied for a Thai visa outside of the UK. All previous visas have been triple-entry tourist visas and this year's SETV all issued in the UK. Now if I had been expecting being questioned I would have pointed this out to her and that I always return to the UK for 6 summer mths when she looked at my 3yr old passport with 4 previous Thai visas and 7 Laos visas and all the accompanying in/out stamps. Also when completing the application forms for both SETVs I was unsure when asked on the form how long I would stay and how I would exit Thailand whether to enter my flight to England in 6 months time which would be well beyond the expiry of both SETVs. I actually wrote 'bus'  after 60 days as I always have done on the Thailand 'arrival' form and which is true.  By acknowledging my flight date 2 mths beyond the SETV expiry she is tacitly accepting I will be granted further visas and/or extensions to stay until then.....I hope!

 

Lesson learned.....Be prepared for interrogation with all possible documents required.

 

P.S: 1x application form, 1x photocopy of application form, 1x photocopy of 2 required pages of passport provided opposite the Consulate only 50thb when expecting to pay over 200thb. I did provide my own 2 photos.

[thecyclist]

I would be great to get more first-hand reports from embassies and consulates in the region. Unfortunately, most of the time people report only when they are rejected or encounter unexpected difficulties. So it is hard to say whether these negative posts are representative of a general trend or whether they just picked a bad day, like embassy staff in a bad mood or so.

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[alocacoc]

May be she only saw the many visas and didn't realize that you are only come over the winter. I guess, a bank statement would have helped as well, as a substitute for the flight ticket. Actually, a flight ticket is no proof  that someone leaving the country. It's easy to get a ticket and then cancel it for a small fee or even for free.

 

The funny thing, when I applied a METV in my home country exactly that offered me a travel agency which is well connected to the embassy. The round trip flight was booked and I had 2 weeks time to cancel it. The fee was about 15 Euro.

 

However, I believe this topic fits better in the Visa section where it should get more attention.

Edited December 17, 2016 by alocacoc

[F4UCorsair]

Paying for the sins of our countrymen, those who've abused the system, and treated the system, and officials, with impunity and disdain.

 

That's how it works, unfortunately.

[alocacoc]

8 1/2 years on tourist visa. I go to my home country every 1-2 years for a few weeks to see my family. I don't work in Thailand. Just enjoy my time and spent my money here, which I'm able to proof at any time, that my money comes from abroad, which I actually do when I apply for another visa in a neighbor country. What's wrong with that?

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[Thaidream]

I don't think there's anything wrong with coming to Thailand and staying indefinitely as long as one has funds to support themselves and not working illegally. The constant questioning  by some embassies/consulates and the IO upon entry is getting rather stale  and turning people off from coming. There are plenty of other places with warm weather; great beaches and friendly people and people are voting with their feet.

[SunsetT]

16 hours ago, alocacoc said:

8 1/2 years on tourist visa. I go to my home country every 1-2 years for a few weeks to see my family. I don't work in Thailand. Just enjoy my time and spent my money here, which I'm able to proof at any time, that my money comes from abroad, which I actually do when I apply for another visa in a neighbor country. What's wrong with that?

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Do u show money transfers into a Thai bank account? Im wary of showing my Thai bank account for fear of a ' If u have a Thai bank .account u cannot be a tourist'  response from Thai authorities.

[alocacoc]

5 minutes ago, SunsetT said:

Do u show money transfers into a Thai bank account? Im wary of showing my Thai bank account for fear of a ' If u have a Thai bank .account u cannot be a tourist'  response from Thai authorities.

 

Yes, i show them a 3 months bank statement from a Thai bank. I think, a bank statement from a bank abroad wouldn't be accepted, unless the statement is translated and certified.

 

Many showed a Thai bank statement. Never hear or red about some issues with that. I'm pretty sure that's perfectly ok.

 

 

Edited December 18, 2016 by alocacoc

[SunsetT]

4 minutes ago, alocacoc said:

 

Yes, i show them a 3 months bank statement from a Thai bank. I think, a bank statement from a bank abroad wouldn't be accepted, unless the statement is translated and certified.

 

 

Thats good news....Thanks

[SunsetT]

I forgot to mention in my account that before asking for my ticket she asks where do u go? Hua Hin? I said sometimes but I have been to Chiang Mai and Pai, which was true.....No further questions on that front.

[bruceamstutz]

On ‎12‎/‎17‎/‎2016 at 6:33 AM, F4UCorsair said:

Paying for the sins of our countrymen, those who've abused the system, and treated the system, and officials, with impunity and disdain.

 

That's how it works, unfortunately.

 

So true and well put......