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How can a US citizen in Iraq apply for a Non-O visa and certificate of entry to Thailand?

Thai VisaNon-O VisaCertificate Of Entry
Jul 2, 2020
4 years ago
Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello everyone. I have a friend that is a US citizen living in Iraq trying to get back to Thailand to see his Thai wife.

Does anyone know if there is a Thai embassy or Royal Thai consulate in Iraq?

Would he need to get a certificate of entry and a non o immigrant single entry visa from the embassy or consulate?

I would appreciate any advice that could help him.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A US citizen currently living in Iraq looking to return to Thailand for family reasons inquires about the availability of a Thai embassy in Iraq and the necessary steps to secure a Non-O visa and certificate of entry. Community members suggest contacting the Thai embassy in London or the consulate in Jordan, as they handle requests from Iraq. It is advised that the individual cannot mail their passport from Iraq, thus complicating the process, and they might need to apply in person at a US embassy first.
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Oday *******************
He needs to go to Jordan , Amman the Thai embassy there is responsible for cases from Iraq
4 years ago
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Mark ********
@Oday ******************
 For American citizens or for Iraqi citizens?
4 years ago
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Oday *******************
For Iraqi citizens , better to contact them about American citizens
4 years ago
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Mark ********
@Oday ******************
 When I worked in Basrah I had to use Thai Embassy London as a British national. Maybe it has changed now but I don't think so.
4 years ago
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Oday *******************
@Mark *******
 I think he should let someone in the US contact the Thai embassy in the US
4 years ago
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Oday *******************
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Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Even if he applies at the Washington DC consulate online they will still need his passport right? He can't send it in because he works for the US gvt in Iraq and has to show his passport daily. Looks as though he will just have to wait.
4 years ago
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Francis ********
@Sean *********
 he has to then fly back to the USA then apply at a Thai embassy or consulate I would think .
4 years ago
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Francis ********
An American citizen can have 2 passports from the USA . I was told this at the USA embassy in Bangkok.
4 years ago
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Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Francis *******
 didn't know that. Thanks will pass that info to him too.
4 years ago
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Francis ********
@Sean *********
Yes. U.S. citizens are allowed to have more than one valid U.S. passport at the same time, according to the National Passport Information Center, which is a division of the U.S. State Department. But in most cases, you are only allowed to have two valid passports at a time, according to the NPIC.Nov 2, 2017
4 years ago
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Francis ********
This was after all USA embassy stopped putting extra pages in the passport he might want to look into that .
4 years ago
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Francis ********
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Mark ********
@Sean *********
 Correct
4 years ago
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Mark ********
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James ********
If he is an American...have him look at the Washington DC website app...note he can apply for a Non O visa at the same time.

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4 years ago
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Mark ********
@James *******
 Again, it requires his passport which he cannot mail out of Iraq. He is stuck until he leaves Iraq and as I mentioned earlier, embassies and consulates in the Middle East normally only service residents of the country they are in.
4 years ago
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Mark ********
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Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Does anyone know if he could just come in with a certicate of entry only or does he have to have a visa too?
4 years ago
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James ********
The steps for approval are similar to one who has a Thai work permit. In his case...he provides legal proof of his Marriage to a Thai.
4 years ago
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Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
James Miller so they have to be done together correct?
4 years ago
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James ********
@Sean *********
 that is what the DC and LA are saying...process both at same time.
4 years ago
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Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 so he can't even come back unless it is whatever they consider as a urgent situation to see his Thai wife.
4 years ago
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James ********
@Sean *********
 sorry he must have the special permission of the Thai Foreign Ministry. Plus 14+ days quarantine on arrival mandatory at a ASQ approved hotel...at his expense of 30,000 + Thai baht
4 years ago
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Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you James Miller and Mark Atkins for your info. I will pass it on to him. You can close this thread if you want
4 years ago
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Sean **********
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Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Now what do the consider urgent. Looks as though he wouldn't be able to use this method
4 years ago
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Mark ********
@Sean *********
 If you mean a visa waiver or 'tourist' visa, they're on hold as no-one that would qualify for that is able to enter. That may change when the next phase is announced but to now that's anyone's guess.
4 years ago
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Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark *******
 I don't think it's a visa waiver because it's for people who work in Thailand or have family in Thailand.
4 years ago
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Mark ********
@Sean *********
 How would he get permission to enter? All applications must currently be made through the relevant embassy, there is no other way at this time.
4 years ago
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James ********
@Mark *******
 he will apply for a Non O at time of CoE approval.
4 years ago
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Mark ********
@James *******
 Agreed, but not from Iraq as he cannot mail his passport out
4 years ago
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Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark *******
 if he is able to get a certicate of entry you only have to mail in a copy of your passport. But since this is something new I am not familiar with it. I see that the royal consulate in Washington DC you can do a online application for it. When I do a search online it shows the requirements for the consulate in Mumbai.
4 years ago
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Mark ********
@Sean *********
 It's going round in circles, I can only suggest he gets in touch with his relevant embassy and asks directly.
4 years ago
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Mark ********
@Sean *********
 Then let your friend do it online although you've already stated he cannot mail his passport. The certificate of entry is issued by the relevant embassy on a case by case basis assuming your friend complies with the current criteria.
4 years ago
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Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark *******
4 years ago
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Sean **********
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Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
If there is no embassy or consulate in Iraq he will be pretty much out of luck. He can't mail in the application because you have to mail in your passport which he has to show everyday for work.
4 years ago
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Mark ********
@Sean *********
 A lot of Brits have 2 passports for that very reason but I don't know if US allows that.
4 years ago
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Sean **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark *******
 unfortunately for him they don't allow that
4 years ago
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Mark ********
@Sean *********
 Then I suspect he's stuck until he can get out and even then having to get back to the States to apply.
4 years ago
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Mark ********
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Mark ********
There are several consulates around the Middle East but for the most part they only provide services to people holding residency in the country where they are based. I believe as a US citizen he is going to need to apply at a US located embassy or consulate. Brits apply to London.
4 years ago
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Benjamin ******
@Mark *******
 if he's an American overseas, the only consulate is the embassy in DC. The Thai government split up the American consulates into regions based on where a person lives (i.e. someone from New York can't use the LA consulate)
4 years ago
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Mark ********
@Benjamin *****
 Ok, I know when I was working Iraq it was London so 'guessing' it's similar for other nationalities and home countries.
4 years ago
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Mark ********
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Bobby ********
I believe from a post in another group a while back that Iraq is covered by the London embassy. Shoot them an email and see what is the process
4 years ago
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Benjamin ******
I don't know which consulate would represent Iraq. You can go to

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Which gives a listing of all embassy and most consulate for Thailand. He needs to contact the surrounding countries and see which consulate would represent him.
4 years ago
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Benjamin ******
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