Finally got the DTV. Went through an unbelievable ordeal to get it. Here’s my story:
Applied in Savannaket a few weeks ago in the workcation category. Waited a few days, then was told that I need to provide some extra business documents from my clients translated and notarised. For various reasons I couldn’t get them, so I went back on a tourist visa.
Decided to apply the soft power route. Found a Muay Thai gym that could provide the documents and I purchased a 6 month course with them for 22k.
Flew to China under the new visa free arrangement, thinking I could apply there. Was told at the embassy there that foreigners cannot apply in China without a Chinese residency permit.
Decided to take a bus to Hanoi. Forgot that I need to apply for a visa invitation letter first for Vietnam (d’oh). Missed the bus. Decided to book a flight straight to Taipei to apply there.
Applied at Taipei on Monday morning. They told me I needed a certain business license document for the gym which was different from the document I had been given (which was strange because 10 people had already gotten the visa with this gym with these same documents, including one in Taipei).
They also said they wanted me to show them my bank account balance on my phone. Opened my bank app, and suddenly I was completely locked out for security reasons. Spent hours on the phone with customer support and waited a full day before I could get back into my account.
Meanwhile, I emailed the gym owner. He said they don’t have that specific document, but gave me a copy of his work permit.
Went back the next day. Got a different visa officer this time. She decided that the issue was actually not about that business license document, but the fact that the name of the gym on that document did not match the company I made the payment to (which is actually the company owned by the gym).
I told the owner. He agreed to issue a new invitation letter under the name of the holding company so that it would match up.
Meanwhile, I suddenly realised that… I could not find my passport. I had given it to the lady at the embassy, and it seemed she never gave it back. Cue one hour of me and all the embassy staff running around frantically trying to find my passport, and me panicking thinking that I would have to order an emergency one and be stuck here for another week.
Finally, some lady in the back room of the embassy yelled “found it!” It was hiding under some document.
By then I was sweating bullets and my head was spinning.
I gave them the updated invitation letter and explained them that the gym is actually owned by this holding company.
Three of them got together and scrutinised the documents. They highlighted a bunch of stuff, then decided they would let the supervisor make the final decision, and told me to come back in the afternoon.
I came back at 3pm, and they told me it was approved.
THE END
