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What are the best consulates for applying for the DTV Softpower visa in Thailand?
DTV Softpower VisaVisa Application ProcessThai EmbassiesVisa Rejection ReasonsExpat Experiences in ThailandVisa ExtensionsFinancial Requirements for Visa Applications
Jul 3, 2025
10 months ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERHello, we would like to apply for the DTV Softpower visa. Our story in brief:
We applied for the first time in Germany at the end of April. It was rejected because the course only lasted 12 days instead of the minimum 6 months. The cooking school recommended this course to us, and to date, no other course has been rejected except for us.
We entered Thailand on May 21st. We left on May 29th for Vietnam, Hanoi, and applied again there, but this time for a 1-year course at the same school.
Rejected again in Hanoi – this time without explanation. However, our cooking school told us today that the exact week we applied for the visa in Hanoi, the consulate was very strict and there were sometimes up to 6 rejections a day.
We submitted both applications through the Issa Compass agency.
On June 4th, we entered Thailand without a visa, but I returned on June 4th. I left immediately due to a death in the family and traveled to Germany, re-entering Thailand on June 14th.
We would now like to extend our visa-free stay by 30 days and then try to apply for the DTV again in September, as the agency advised us not to do so again for another three months (it was rejected on June 2nd, so we’re commuting to September).
Which consulate is the „best“? Better saying: Where did you have the best experience?
Thank you for your help! 🙏
We applied for the first time in Germany at the end of April. It was rejected because the course only lasted 12 days instead of the minimum 6 months. The cooking school recommended this course to us, and to date, no other course has been rejected except for us.
We entered Thailand on May 21st. We left on May 29th for Vietnam, Hanoi, and applied again there, but this time for a 1-year course at the same school.
Rejected again in Hanoi – this time without explanation. However, our cooking school told us today that the exact week we applied for the visa in Hanoi, the consulate was very strict and there were sometimes up to 6 rejections a day.
We submitted both applications through the Issa Compass agency.
On June 4th, we entered Thailand without a visa, but I returned on June 4th. I left immediately due to a death in the family and traveled to Germany, re-entering Thailand on June 14th.
We would now like to extend our visa-free stay by 30 days and then try to apply for the DTV again in September, as the agency advised us not to do so again for another three months (it was rejected on June 2nd, so we’re commuting to September).
Which consulate is the „best“? Better saying: Where did you have the best experience?
Thank you for your help! 🙏
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shares their experience applying for the DTV Softpower visa, detailing two unsuccessful attempts in Germany and Hanoi. They seek advice on extending their visa-free stay in Thailand and which consulate has the best reputation for successful applications. Responses from the community suggest potential issues with agency assistance, the importance of financial documentation, and recommend applying directly at less busy consulates, particularly in the Philippines.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV 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.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted DTV Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Kool *******
Currently the Thai embassy in the Philippines is pretty straightforward, and doesn't have near the queues as the embassy in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, or Malaysia.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kool ******
do you maybe know which embassy in Philippines? Or do you mean the consulates in general?😊Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kool ******
, thank you for the helpful information!! 🙏Reply to
Anonymous *************
Reply
Anonymous ******************
I would definitely stop using that agent which seems perfectly useless...
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERAnonymer Teilnehmer 937 yes we decided that too.
We want to apply for the visa ourselves in September without an agency
We want to apply for the visa ourselves in September without an agency
Andi ***********
Anonymous participant did you get a refund from issa?
Reply to
Andi ***********
Reply
Angelina *****
Do you have at least 500k THB (13,000 EUR) in your bank account for at least 6 months? If not, another application will also be rejected
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Angelina ****
yes we had. Both of usAngelina *****
Anonymous participant have you done a lot of land border runs before applying for the DTV visa?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Angelina ****
no, the last time before we applied, we were there in October 2023Angelina *****
Anonymous participant I'm sorry, I don't know why you are having such a hard time. I got my DTV workcation visa on first application in Hanoi. I was approved 10 working days after sending in my application on my own (no agent). I wasn't asked to attend an interview, only a clarification of one document (one bank statement did not have my name on it, only bank account number).
Reply to
Angelina *****
Reply
Golden ****
I am very sorry to hear this. If there are two consecutive failures, it is necessary for the agent to explain the reasons clearly and whether the relevant fees should be refunded. Can you switch to a different agent.
Greg ********
@Golden ***
Agree. Need agent to use contacts to check immigration system for any notes etcAnonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Golden ***
Yes, our agent told us that it can happen. The second time, our application was submitted free of charge, so we didn’t have to pay the visa fees either. Issa Compass covered that. After the second failure, however, I decided that we would apply for the visa ourselves the third time, without an agency.But I also didn’t understand why they didn’t ask the embassy why it was rejected
Reply to
Anonymous *************
Reply
Fitfac *****************
2 possible explanations:
1. the school is blacklisted and when you apply with document from blacklisted school you will also get blacklisted too.
2. you are the only one that get black listed because insufficient financial statement.
1. the school is blacklisted and when you apply with document from blacklisted school you will also get blacklisted too.
2. you are the only one that get black listed because insufficient financial statement.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Fitfac ****************
: Our financial documentation was well over 500,000. The school wrote to me yesterday that several people have received their DTV visas again in the last few weeks. I think we’ve really reached the critical phase in Hanoi. That’s why I’m asking which consulates (in which country) you had the best experiences with.Fitfac *****************
Anonymous participant That is a good owner.
Fitfac *****************
Anonymous participant the school can told you anything there is no real proof that they are telling the truth. Did you get money refund for course fee?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Fitfac ****************
no, we are in constant contact with the course owner, but he told us he will refund us the money immediately as soon as we want itKool *******
Anonymous participant remember that Vietnam embassy, and many others, want the money in your personal bank account for more than 3 months, and is why most get rejected there.
Greg ********
Anonymous participant Get the refund and try another school or route. If refused by 2 different embassies there is something up. You might also ask an agent with good immigration contacts to check there is no note on your record.
Reply to
Greg ********
Reply
Frank *********
Firstly, why use an agency in the first place? Pay them to push paper for you. If your documents are ok, you are perfectly fine without any agency’s “help”.
Then you guys failed twice via agency, you don’t blame them and consider using them again? They obviously don’t know what they doing.
If you don’t mind, staying in south east Asia during the process, you can apply in Laos, but the waiting time has increased a lot.
You could read my post about applying in Vientiane, Laos. It is pretty detailed and the process is straightforward if you have done your homework…
Then you guys failed twice via agency, you don’t blame them and consider using them again? They obviously don’t know what they doing.
If you don’t mind, staying in south east Asia during the process, you can apply in Laos, but the waiting time has increased a lot.
You could read my post about applying in Vientiane, Laos. It is pretty detailed and the process is straightforward if you have done your homework…
Andi ***********
@Frank ********
Then you guys failed twice via agency, you don’t blame them and consider using them again? They obviously don’t know what they doing. --- Exactly!!Reply to
Andi ***********
Reply
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