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Is it normal for a NON-O visa application to be pending approval just a week before travel?
Oct 28, 2025
6 months ago
Dylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI
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? 
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? 
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.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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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.
Dylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jason ********
please let me know how you make outReply to
Dylan ********
Reply
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.
Somsap ********
I received mine in 9 hours after applying. Los Angeles consulate. About 3 weeks 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.
Dylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Lonnie *******
good to knowLonnie ********
@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.
Reply to
Lonnie ********
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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 rightLonnie ********
@Andreas ********
I have the non-OA.Dylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andreas ********
I never heard of a multi entry six month tourist visa for Thailand before. 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 residenceDylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER OK good to know
Reply to
Dylan ********
Reply
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.
Andreas *********
@Dylan *******
you are right, it is absurd. In the light when you consider that the e-visa form only asks you for your INTENDED flight dates, not for already booked tickets . . I think it being unfair and humiliatingTG *********
@Andreas ********
Yes "intended date of arrival" is key phrase. Not "confirmed date of arrival".Andreas *********
@TG ********
sadly, many Thai embassies ignore it and ask the applicants for already booked tickets in and outReply to
Andreas *********
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Jay *******
When i applied in May they said 14 working days and it was right about that time. If you had to provide more documents I would count 14 working days from the day you provided the requested documents. You can email them if its been longer. Start researching your options in case approval doesn't come in time.
Dennis *********
@Jay ******
they asked for an additional document from me and I uploaded 20 minutes after their request and received approval next day. Total time was 10 days.Reply to
Dennis *********
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Wayne ********
I don’t know if this can happen and I’m sure many people on this group will correct me if I’m wrong but when your flight date comes get on the plane visa or no visa and fly to Thailand and get stamped in as a tourist under 60 day visa exempt. Once you get your E Visa in the email, leave the country for a day and come back in using your new Non o Visa. I don’t know if that’s allowed, but it sounds like a possible solution to me.
Daniel ********
This is exactly what I did. No issues and I was able to do it all in the same day👍🏻
Graham ******
@Wayne *******
You only need to leave for long enough to get stamped in and back out from the chosen countryDylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wayne *******
yes somebody else mentioned that too. thank you 🙏Reply to
Dylan ********
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Andreas *********
Dylan Taylor . .did you check your spam folder? Maybe the embassy has asked you for additional documents and now is waiting for your response
Wayne ********
@Andreas ********
his status is pending review so if they were waiting for documents, it would say soAndreas *********
@Wayne *******
well, I think you are wrong. It can say "pending approval" and he still will receive an email with a request for more documents. The bracket where it might say "pending approval" does not contain the possibility to mention a document requestDylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andreas ********
I went back and checked to see if there were any more emails requesting more documents. There weren’t. I went back-and-forth with the embassy a couple of times on September 24 providing documents. even though I submitted bank statements saying I had ฿800,000 in the bank, they still wanted to see $2000 a month income, which was going into another account. On the evisa site there’s kind of a timeline. it’ll say awaiting payment, pending document review, and then pending approval. So I’ve made it past payment and document review.
Wayne ********
@Andreas ********
yes he wil get an email but his Status will be “Request for additional documents “ The screenshot are just three of the status categories. There are more. Source : ChatGPTGraham ******
@Andreas ********
has that happened to you because I've never before seen a post to that effect?Andreas *********
@Graham *****
I have also never seen a post to that effect, so I assume correctly it doesn't applyReply to
Andreas *********
Reply
Bob **********
No,better than loosing the airfare
Dylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andreas ********
actually they asked for more documents almost right away, which I provided. The evisa site says they have reviewed all the documents and now it’s just pending approval.Andreas *********
@Dylan *******
the long delay is very unusual, however the explanation might be, that the high season is approaching and the consulate has to process more applications than they do during the low seasonMatthew *********
@Andreas ********
no high season anymoreJim *******
@Andreas ********
High season is for regular tourists, on Visa exemption. Nothing to do with visa applications, Non 0 visa appllicants are always there, no seasons.Dylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andreas ********
I hope soBob **********
@Dylan *******
if worse comes to worse fly in get 60 exempt stamp and when approved do a border bounce and activate the non-oDylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bob *********
yeah I could do that. It’s not the end of the world, right?Jim *******
@Dylan *******
You can be in Thai only on one visa. If visa exempt, you have no other visa unless you apply again from a different place outside of Thai.No just activation of an O-visa, eVisa 90 days, you do not have it, you could not possibly have it or it was anulled once you enter Thai. No piggybacking visa exemption and then non-O Thai visa.
Dylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jim ******
oh really? Well, that changes things.Reply to
Dylan ********
Reply
Robert ******
I applied for my non o in USA a months before my stated travel date and reached out to the Thai consulate about two weeks before I traveled and was told they did not like to approve so early. I dealt with the NY Thai consulate and they were quick to respond when I sent a direct message on fb to them asking. I would suggest doing that
Dylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert *****
thanks. So I gotta beg them to do their job, huh? Sounds like the city of Philadelphia. Robert ******
hahaha not bad like that they were actually good to deal with totally not like Philly, and if you are in Philly you are dealing with the same NY office i did. If you want DM me i just got mine approved about 2 weeks ago. unfortunately we were in Thailand already so will have to leave again soon and re-enter.
Reply to
Robert ******
Reply
Dylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert *****
I dmed the consulate. They just wrote back with the following message:The Consul has been notified of this matter. We will consider your application as soon as possible.
This is good news. Thanks for your help!
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙌🙌🙌
Robert ******
I messaged them twice both times after getting basically that message you received the following day I got answers to my inquiry. Good luck with your non o and your move
Reply to
Robert ******
Reply
Dylan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert *****
OK thank you I will try thatReply to
Dylan ********
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