Can Americans apply for a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) at the Thai consulate in Melbourne?

Sep 5, 2018
6 years ago
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I can confirm Melbourne Australia Thai Consulate - will grant Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) to Americans (probably anybody else also). They asked for my Australian Visa Grant Letter (a Australia visa thing), proof of funds - credit cards will do, the cost of the visa, and flight information into Thailand. The did not ask about my proof of accommodations. However the lady helping me was "in training" and it may have been over looked. I had to wait two business day. No waiting at the office not for drop-off, not for pickup
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shared their experience obtaining a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) at the Thai Consulate in Melbourne, Australia, confirming that Americans can indeed apply there without the usual residency requirements. They were asked for specific documentation, including proof of their Australian visa grant letter and evidence of sufficient funds, but were not asked for proof of accommodation during their application process. Others contributed to the discussion by sharing their thoughts on the overall costs of traveling to Melbourne for the visa and related experiences.
Thomas *****
i am an American living in Thailand can I use this
Robert *******
@Thomas ****
I made the topic for you. Don't have to thank me for that.
Thomas *****
Just a simple question Robert you can put the Jack Boots and swastika away.
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I think the answer to your question directly is: As an American (or other nationality) you can get a METV from Australia.

METV (Multiple Entry Tourist Visa). Technically a tourist visa. On this site there is a lot of opinions about the definition 'work', 'live', 'tourist' -- hence a loaded question.
Robert *******
@Thomas ****
This topic is about the METV, so if you have questions about a "retirement visa" you should make your own topic. And read this topic first to explain what kind of visa you like
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Thomas *****
no its a retirement visa i have been here 2 years
Robert *******
It still is a tourist visa, not meant to be used to live inside Thailand and is employment prohibited.
Christie *******
Did they ask for proof of employment?
Tod *********
@Carl ****
There is no visa application charge but a service charge of AU$20 applies for applications lodged online.

Google is your friend (y)
Carl *****
Tod Daniels Do you know how much the "Australian Electronic Visa (VEVO)" fee is? I'm a Canadian citizen.
Tod *********
There is no proof of employment required

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Maxim ***********
But haven't said that, it's probably better to get a non-O for ed visa and doing something useful like learning thai, for approx the same price. METV is mostly useful if u need to go out of Thailand a lot or if u are still in ur country of origin so not expensive. No idea if Perth would be cheaper overall then Melbourne, I don't have the energy to search right now, lol.
Maxim ***********
I think that school are obligate to not allow u to go get a extension if u don't attend classes whatever the language is. Rules are stricter for school so they most follow them cause they can too get the boot. I think u can learn other language class like u mention for about 2 years before having to change language. Be careful when u choose a school, a lot of them don't have government approval for ed visa anymore.
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Carl ****
I have been curious about the same thing. Sometime ago they did a crack down and gave a bunch of people the boot.. But I think you can take language class other than Thai. Spanish, Chinese, etc. If it's a language you already speak and if the IO doesn't speak it - what will the test demonstrate?
Carl *****
@Maxim **********
Ok thank you very much.
Maxim ***********
Carl Liu Yes u do, they are cracking down on people who get ed visa and then fail to speak thai to officer when they get tested, which mean they can denied u an extension. But u can find school that u only have to go twice per week not 5 time a week. It's the same crackdown for volunteer visa. As for martial art (self defense or muay thai) I don't think u need to go more then 2-3 time, no crackdown that I've heard of but maybe it has change need to ask someone else for these two.

Learning thai is a must if u want to ultimately teach english or something similar. English teacher that don't speak thai here are miserable, seriously, their experience is vastly reduced and they are missing a lot. Youtubers I follow it's always one of their biggest regret (not learning thai while teaching english).

+ thai is a easy language to learn, the grammar is almost non-existent. The hardest part is learning the different tone and how to write. But the basic which is speaking and listening is not hard at all. Learning english is harder then learning thai... the first month is a nightmare went u learn thai but after that it's not difficult.
Carl *****
Thanks for your information. If I get the ed visa do I have to attend the classes?
Maxim ***********
There a way to get the round trip down to 8k baht if u book separate flight (BKK-KL, KL-Perth&Melbourne (almost same price), then from Perth&Melbourne back to KL then back to BKK. Also can save more $ on hotel by couchsurfing.

Sorry for the triple post I need to sleep badly.
Maxim ***********
2k usd for 4-5 days... what? You can easily find round trip BKK-Melbourne for $300-$350 usd direct flight if u book a few months in advance. For ex, I found round trip direct flight in october for 10k baht on skyscanner. After that just sleep in dorm room for 3 days and eat the cheapest food u can find, doesn't matter, 3 days later u'll be eating real food again.

I found city center hotel for 1.5k baht a night, so 4.5k baht for 3 nights (and if u plan the trip better it can be only 2 nights) if u apply in the morning when u arrive. What's left to pay is ur METV which is 5k baht, and foods. Let's put a round number for food of 1k baht per day eating the cheaper stuff so 3k total (free breakfast with the room I forgot to mention).

So total for flight + hotel + visa + food = 10k + 4.5k + 5k + 3k = 22.5k so $685 usd. What's missing is transportation, I have no idea of cost of transportation from airport to hotel, but during those days I would rent a bicycle from guesthouse to go around and to embassy for my visa. I would avoid taxi. So I mean I don't know maybe another $100 for transportation. So total $785, then another $115 for anything that I forgot so $900 usd?

I'm pretty sure under 1k usd is fairly easy, and having experience traveling cheap I bet I can do it for $700 total (with some good planification prior)..
Francesco **********
@Maxim **********
ahah ok well i never travel budget even if im not rich šŸ˜‰ and i didnt mention my 5-600 usd upgrade to business class on the way back to bkk.... 555
Maxim ***********
Yeah well I was implying that most people thinking about going there for METV were looking at making the trip less expensive as possible. Backpackers kind of trip ;xd
Francesco **********
i went to adelaide in july 15. about 600 eur flight and almost 100 eur / night for a 4 stars hotel. plus drink (i drink quite much) and food and extras.... around 2k usd or eur....
Francesco **********
interesting but is it worth? i mean, flight to melbourne, accomodation and extra costs (melbourne is not cheap!!), makes at least 2000 USD for 4-5 days... iā€™d preferably go back home to apply... šŸ˜‰
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
The Australian visa thing. For Australia you will apply for a e.visa, if granted it is in their computer system, no stamp, nothing in your passport. When they notify you that you've been granted a visa- you can download a grant letter that has your visa information. Basically the Thai Consulate is requiring proof of you Australian visa
Maxim ***********
What is that: *Australian Visa Grant Letter (a Australia visa thing)*?

Also proof of funds, how much did she ask, 20k baht or more?

And flight information into Thailand, did she also ask for a onward ticket from Thailand to the next country?
Tod *********
THANX for the update (y) and Congrats on the visa :)
Tod *********
Other than getting a 6 month METV from a thai consulate back in the country your passport comes from the thai consulates in Australia are the only ones that will issue them without the residency requirement.

The closest to thailand is the Perth consulate about 6 hours away.
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
?? Melbourne is not my home country. USA is my home coutnry. I got the METV from Melbourne (Australia).. The website said that I would have to show proof of accommodation. They didn't ask for it. I think they didn't ask for it because the lady was in training and it was overlooked. The point is - I would recommond bringing proof of accommodation.
Tyson ********
As an American(and I'm sure everyone else), I thought you had to get METV in your home country. Do you think it was an oversight of the lady helping you?
Robert *******
Australia is the only country where the Thai Consulates do not have the requirement of residency in the country.
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