I need to apply for a new Single Entry Thai Tourist Visa at the end of February.

 

As you are all probably aware, the Thai government is not charging for Single entry visas until the end of February.

 

My plan is to head to Ho Chi Minh City on 27th Feb and apply for a new visa on the 28th Feb - the last day for a free visa.  

Is this a stupid idea?  I'm guessing it'll be busy.  

 

Do they take money on the day you apply, or collect?  Because if it's the latter then I'll end up paying, thus making my cunning plan, a not so cunning plan.

 

Thanks in advance for all your advice!

 

 

You pay when you drop your passport of. Or you do in the other embassies. Don't know if it will be busy.

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And I forget looks like they might be extending the free visa thing anyway

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Ho Chi Minh will normally want payment wihen they accrpt the application.

Assuming they are also doing the free SETV thing, and therefore they won't ask for payment.

Be aware, however, if they do want payment they may ONLY accept payment in U.S. dollars.

I got a SETV there in September 2016 and there was a posted sign then saying that the visa fee was only payable in U.S. dollars.

They may have changed that policy by now, but they were serious about it back then.

Theu also wanted an out of Thaiand ticlet to be shown, and evidence of funds in Thailand before they will accept the application.

If you meet their posted requirements they will issue you a visa, if you can't they will turn you down.

They are strict with the requirements, but fair if you can meet them.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 22, 20179 yr by IMA_FARANG
correct spelling typo

As mentioned you pay when you apply. US dollars only, but you can change money in the Vietnam Airlines offices across the road from the embassy. They'll need a printout of an ongoing plane ticket out of Thailand to grant the visa, and may ask to see evidence of funds (20000 baht equivalent). 

 

Timing is not an issue now as the free visas have been extended until end of May. Coupled with the free Vietnam visa until June currently on offer for several nationalities, it's a very good time to apply for a visa there. 

As mentioned you pay when you apply. US dollars only, but you can change money in the Vietnam Airlines offices across the road from the embassy. They'll need a printout of an ongoing plane ticket out of Thailand to grant the visa, and may ask to see evidence of funds (20000 baht equivalent). 

 

Timing is not an issue now as the free visas have been extended until end of May. Coupled with the free Vietnam visa until June currently on offer for several nationalities, it's a very good time to apply for a visa there. 

Is it's a free visa on arrival? and do I need a flight out? as I was planning to go overland to Cambodia.

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6 hours ago, juice777 said:

Is it's a free visa on arrival? and do I need a flight out? as I was planning to go overland to Cambodia.

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Yes, if you come from one of the five countries eligible (Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain) the 15 day free visa on arrival has been extended until 30th June this year. It's the second year they've done it and a great saving as Vietnam visas aren't so cheap.

 

You definitely will need a flight out of Thailand with a printout as confirmation. As long as you have the required documents, they were pleasant to deal with there. I got one last summer, arrived at the airport mid morning and jumped on a motorbike taxi outside the airport, managed to get to the embassy and file the application before even getting a hotel! Pick up is next day, but wise to allow two days, and get one of the evening flights out. 

Yes, if you come from one of the five countries eligible (Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain) the 15 day free visa on arrival has been extended until 30th June this year. It's the second year they've done it and a great saving as Vietnam visas aren't so cheap.
 
You definitely will need a flight out of Thailand with a printout as confirmation. As long as you have the required documents, they were pleasant to deal with there. I got one last summer, arrived at the airport mid morning and jumped on a motorbike taxi outside the airport, managed to get to the embassy and file the application before even getting a hotel! Pick up is next day, but wise to allow two days, and get one of the evening flights out. 

No sorry do I need a flight out of Vitinam to get there visa on Arrival. As I was planning to make my way back to Thailand overland land Through Cambodia.

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Overland travel should be ok according to the HCMC consulate website, though you'll need to show it. Should be able to buy a bus ticket easily in one of the travel agents there. However if entering through a land border I think you may need a Cambodia visa in advance, as opposed to the airport where you can get them on arrival. In any event, easy enough to arrange if you're in Saigon for a few days, which is definitely recommended. 

 

Here's the wording from the consulate website:

 

• Evidence of travel (air/bus ticket to and from Thailand)

1 hour ago, lamyai3 said:

Yes, if you come from one of the five countries eligible (Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain) the 15 day free visa on arrival has been extended until 30th June this year. It's the second year they've done it and a great saving as Vietnam visas aren't so cheap.

 

You definitely will need a flight out of Thailand with a printout as confirmation. As long as you have the required documents, they were pleasant to deal with there. I got one last summer, arrived at the airport mid morning and jumped on a motorbike taxi outside the airport, managed to get to the embassy and file the application before even getting a hotel! Pick up is next day, but wise to allow two days, and get one of the evening flights out. 

What happens when you arrive in Vietnam mate, do you just show your passport, get in stamped and walk through or do you need any photo's or forms which need filling in.

I'm talking about the visa free option now., staying less than 15 days.

Edited January 23, 20179 yr by sotonowl
more information

7 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

What happens when you arrive in Vietnam mate, do you just show your passport, get in stamped and walk through or do you need any photo's or forms which need filling in.

 

No forms needed, just went straight to the desk last time. Not entirely straightforward, the immigration officer paged through my passport and then looked at me and said "Where visa?

I replied "UK passport, 15 days free", and after that he stamped me in. 

 
No forms needed, just went straight to the desk last time. Not entirely straightforward, the immigration officer paged through my passport and then looked at me and said "Where visa?
I replied "UK passport, 15 days free", and after that he stamped me in. 

HAHA got to love them they don't know there own rules.

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6 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

 

No forms needed, just went straight to the desk last time. Not entirely straightforward, the immigration officer paged through my passport and then looked at me and said "Where visa?

I replied "UK passport, 15 days free", and after that he stamped me in. 

That's great, thanks for that. I'm off to Hanoi on 21 Feb and my hotel was telling me I needed a visa application form and 2 photo's, he was adamant but I never believed him anyway.

1 minute ago, sotonowl said:

That's great, thanks for that. I'm off to Hanoi on 21 Feb and my hotel was telling me I needed a visa application form and 2 photo's, he was adamant but I never believed him anyway.

 

I've been to HCMC twice and Hanoi once on the visa waiver (since July 2015), you should be fine. You will need photos as part of any Thailand visa application, but you could get those once you're there... the arrival stamp itself should be straightforward.

Anyone who is looking for a flight to HCMC I have just seen some Promo on lionair form about 450THB including tax one way from Bangkok.



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4 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

 

I've been to HCMC twice and Hanoi once on the visa waiver (since July 2015), you should be fine. You will need photos as part of any Thailand visa application, but you could get those once you're there... the arrival stamp itself should be straightforward.

Thanks, i'm arriving in Bangkok on 2 feb on tourist visa, then to hanoi for a week on 21 to 28 feb and then back into bangkok on a tourist visa, hopefully that should all be ok. 

3 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

Thanks, i'm arriving in Bangkok on 2 feb on tourist visa, then to hanoi for a week on 21 to 28 feb and then back into bangkok on a tourist visa, hopefully that should all be ok. 

 

You could even use a visa exempt entry (no application nreded) into Thailand for the initial four weeks, as long as you're not planning to use more than two over the course of the year. 

3 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

 

You could even use a visa exempt entry (no application nreded) into Thailand for the initial four weeks, as long as you're not planning to use more than two over the course of the year. 

think this will be my last time tbh, return uk on 15 march. how do i get the visa exempt? can i get another when i come back from hanoi?

Visa exempts are limited to two a year now since the beginning of this year, you just arrive and get a 30 day stamp, no pre-application required. For frequent visitors or long stayers they're best avoided, the authorities don't like seeing too many of them in the passport nowadays. For average tourists under a month though they're still the most common mode of entry. 

1 minute ago, lamyai3 said:

Visa exempts are limited to two a year now since the beginning of this year, you just arrive and get a 30 day stamp, no pre-application required. For frequent visitors or long stayers they're best avoided, the authorities don't like seeing too many of them in the passport nowadays. For average tourists under a month though they're still the most common mode of entry. 

TBH mate, that's probably what I meant in the first place.

You've been really helpful, thanks for that. The hanoi thing was doing my head in, bloke at the hotel sent me visa application forms and tell me i need photo's and i just couldn't get my head round it. I'm well happy now, just turn up and more or less straight through.

Thanks again

1 hour ago, lamyai3 said:

Visa exempts are limited to two a year now since the beginning of this year, you just arrive and get a 30 day stamp, no pre-application required.

If you are writing about a visa exempt for here that rule is only for entries at a land border crossing. There is no limit by air.

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

If you are writing about a visa exempt for here that rule is only for entries at a land border crossing. There is no limit by air.

Joe, you've previously answered this for me, i'll get the visa exempt in thailand when i first come for 3 weeks, go to hanoi for a week and return to bangkok and get the visa exempt again, is that correct.

2 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

Joe, you've previously answered this for me, i'll get the visa exempt in thailand when i first come for 3 weeks, go to hanoi for a week and return to bangkok and get the visa exempt again, is that correct.

 

Yes, Joe is right - two entries is just for the land borders. With the dates you've given (both under four weeks in Thailand) you'll be fine with the visa exempt entries. 

Just now, lamyai3 said:

 

Yes, Joe is right - two entries is just for the land borders. With the dates you've given (both under four weeks in Thailand) you'll be fine with the visa exempt entries. 

Thanks again to you both, happy days. I find this stuff so bloody stressful

Just as an add on, the last time we went the IO was asking for boarding card stubs for some obscure reason. Caused a bit of a panic for some. Lots of scratching around in handbags etc. 

Not sure why he wanted them.