SETV Vientiane - 2 quick questions

[Baht Simpson]

Off to Vientiane for an SETV for tomorrow. I've got all the required documentation and I will take plenty of cash with me as I think it's sometimes required to show them at least 20,000 baht. Are they pressing for you to show a  flight out of Thailand at the end of 2/3 months now? (They didn't require that on my last visit in February). 

 

Also is the fee still zero or has the 1000 baht fee been re-established?

 

Many thanks.

[paul18620]

1.Cash is no good doesn't matter how much you have on you ,you will get turned away ,you need a bank statement with shows 20,000 bhat 

2.Doesn't have to be a flight ticket a bus ticket will do the same job.

3.Depends what country you are from ,if your from Europe and the USA you need to pay 1000 bhat for the visa.

4.You will also need to copy your Laos visa page when you get that, you can get a photo copy across the road at the German guy shop.

[The Fat Controller]

@paul18620 , could you kindly explain why cash is no good ?

 

A "tourist" could easily be travelling without access to a bank account and after all, the OP is applying for a SETV !

 

If somebody showed a THAI bank account then surely that would be even more suspicious.

 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

13 minutes ago, paul18620 said:

1.Cash is no good doesn't matter how much you have on you ,you will get turned away ,you need a bank statement with shows 20,000 bhat 

2.Doesn't have to be a flight ticket a bus ticket will do the same job.

3.Depends what country you are from ,if your from Europe and the USA you need to pay 1000 bhat for the visa.

4.You will also need to copy your Laos visa page when you get that, you can get a photo copy across the road at the German guy shop.

Vientiane does not ask for 1 or 2. Only Savannakhet has been asking for those.

Number 4 seems to indicate you are writing about Savannakhet not Vientiane.

[ubonjoe]

26 minutes ago, Baht Simpson said:

Off to Vientiane for an SETV for tomorrow. I've got all the required documentation and I will take plenty of cash with me as I think it's sometimes required to show them at least 20,000 baht. Are they pressing for you to show a  flight out of Thailand at the end of 2/3 months now? (They didn't require that on my last visit in February). 

 

Also is the fee still zero or has the 1000 baht fee been re-established?

Every thing is the same in Vientiane.

The 20k baht has been mentioned as being needed at some border crossings but not at Nong Khai.

The free visa went away on the 1st of March for those from most countries. Only 19 countries that qualify for a 15 day visa on arrival get them for free.

[ubonjoe]

9 minutes ago, The Fat Controller said:

@paul18620 , could you kindly explain why cash is no good ?

A "tourist" could easily be travelling without access to a bank account and after all, the OP is applying for a SETV !

If somebody showed a THAI bank account then surely that would be even more suspicious.

 

Not unusual for embassies and consulates not accepting cash as proof. They want a copy of a bank statement or bank book that can be attached to the application.

A copy of a printout of a online bank statement can be done. Even a screenshot of a online account has been accepted.

Nothing wrong with a Thai bank account as long as it shows incoming transfers from abroad.

[Baht Simpson]

7 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Every thing is the same in Vientiane.

The free visa went away on the 1st of March for those from most countries. Only 19 countries that qualify for a 15 day visa on arrival get them for free.

I thought that was probably the case. I'm glad I don't have to book a flight or bus out as I will be staying in Mae Sot which has neither a bus out of the country or a flight. I'll take a copy of my bank statement and some cash in any case: that's never a problem.

 

Many thanks Ubonjoe.

[paul18620]

Okay I will try again,I referred to Savannakhet before I am sorry.

1.You don't need to show any cash.

2.You don't need to show a ticket leaving.

3.You need to copy your Laos visa page ,but this can be done in the consulate grounds opposite the seating area there is a photo copy machine there ,cheaper than the touts ,and if you go to the touts they will try and fill in the form for you and they charge you for this as well ,but its easy to fill in the form so do it your self's I would give them a miss if I was you.

4.Depeneds where your from but if your from Europe or the USA or Australia you will need to pay 1,000 bhat.

5.If you have been there before then you will know about the ticket system when you collect the passport the next day ,if you have a high number there is no need to go when they open the gates the next day as you will just have to wait there a long time I was number 84 and took me 1 hour to get it ,so if your 400 that will give you a rough idea how long you will have to wait ,and there is no cheating the system if you try like people did they just send you back till your number comes up ,doesn't matter what to try and say to them either.

[RyanB91]

I am doing a visa run from Pattaya to Vientiane next week. I am a little worried though because I've just been on the official Vientiane Thai embassy website, and they say you need proof of travel plans and funds. Does anybody know of if they have changed their rules to the same as Savannakhet?

[ubonjoe]

25 minutes ago, RyanB91 said:

I am doing a visa run from Pattaya to Vientiane next week. I am a little worried though because I've just been on the official Vientiane Thai embassy website, and they say you need proof of travel plans and funds. Does anybody know of if they have changed their rules to the same as Savannakhet?

They still do not ask for tickets or financial proof.

This info for a tourist visa does not mention it. http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/upload/pdf/Visa/TOURIST VISA.pdf

[RyanB91]

Thanks UbonJoe, I was just worried that maybe they changed their rules in the last couple of weeks. If they have changed any rules I will report back here with any updates. 

[IMA_FARANG]

It has been nearly two years since I got a SETV from them.

1. As I recall then a out-of country ticket was not required
2. I had a Thai Baht bank account passbook which they looked at.
3. I came in and out of Laos by air and got a Laos visa at the airport.
4. And I remember the Diary Queen Chili dogs at the airport. (good)

 

[barcaman100]

i am slightly confused with the cost of a Tourist Visa single entry. How much is it?

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, barcaman100 said:

i am slightly confused with the cost of a Tourist Visa single entry. How much is it?

It is 1,000 baht at Vientiane and Savannakhet.

[barcaman100]

What about Penang and if different why the difference?

[ubonjoe]

10 minutes ago, barcaman100 said:

What about Penang and if different why the difference?

I think Laos is the only place in the world where the embassy and consulate accept baht for the visa fees.

It is 150 MYR in Malaysia. The difference is the exchange rate used to convert 1000 baht to the local currency.

Some other countries in the region only accept US dollars for the visa fees. In Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar it is $40.

[barcaman100]

Thank you