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Is it normal for a NON-O visa application to be pending approval just a week before travel?

NON-O Visa Visa Processing Visa Approval Delays Thai Consulate E-Visa Exemption Entry Travel Advice

Oct 28, 2025

5 days ago

Dylan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I

I applied for a non-O visa from USA over a month ago. My flight is next week. I’m starting to worry. Evisa site says documents have been reviewed and it’s “pending approval”. Just emailed them to find out what’s going on. Is this normal? ￼

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is anxious about their non-O visa application status as their flight to Thailand is approaching next week and the eVisa site indicates that the application is 'pending approval.' Comments from the community suggest that experiencing delays is not uncommon, especially when applying through specific consulates like New York. Some members shared their own experiences of receiving approvals shortly before their flights, and alternatives such as entering Thailand on a visa exemption and then re-entering on a non-O visa were discussed. Several users also recommended checking for any additional document requests from the consulate.

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Jason *********

Hi Dylan. Glad I saw this. I'm in the same boat. Applied for a 90 day non O retirement visa from the NYC office quite a while ago now. I sent them a polite message last week asking about the status and their reply was basically "be patient and wait." My flight leaves this Sunday so, if they really do wait until right before you leave, then I'm hoping on getting it Friday or Saturday. If that is how they do things there then they should really explain that on the website. It would sure cut down on a lot of messages, phones calls, and worry.

4 days ago

Dylan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jason ********

please let me know how you make out

3 days ago

Reply to

Dylan ********

Mike *******

Chill. You can come in on exemption and do a quickie to Phu Quoc or laos to come in on the evisa, later. That will actually extend your stay, too.

4 days ago

Somsap ********

I received mine in 9 hours after applying. Los Angeles consulate. About 3 weeks ago.

4 days ago

Lonnie ********

After waiting five or so weeks for my visa from the New York office, it finally arrived on a Saturday morning just days before my flight. The timing was especially tight since there were a couple of holidays right before my departure. Based on previous responses, visas from the NY office seem to arrive days before the actual flight.

4 days ago

Dylan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Lonnie *******

good to know

4 days ago

Lonnie ********

@Dylan *******

I did reach out by email a week before my flight to very politely request an update regarding the visa status.

From what I could tell, there is somebody that approves (or not) the application, and someone else in leadership that signs off on the approval.

3 days ago

Reply to

Lonnie ********

Andreas *********

@Lonnie *******

was it a multi entry 6-months tourist visa? Because that's what happens, the Thai embassy will wait until the last day before you fly, so you do not lose too many days of the 6-months visa validity which starts on the date of issue . .ACTUALLY they did EVERYTHING right

4 days ago

Lonnie ********

@Andreas ********

I have the non-OA.

3 days ago

Dylan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Andreas ********

I never heard of a multi entry six month tourist visa for Thailand before.

4 days ago

Andreas *********

@Dylan *******

the 6-months multi entry Tourist Visa has been around since Thai embassies discontinued issuing the double-entry tourist visa . .some time around 2004 . . . . .It can only be applied for in your country of residence

4 days ago

Dylan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

OK good to know

4 days ago

Reply to

Dylan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I wonder why they require flight information when you apply for the visa? It seems unfair that they make you book a ticket and then leave you hanging like this. it’s not as if the visa is only good for entry on one day.