Unanswered11 days ago

What are the challenges and alternatives for obtaining a DTV Soft Power visa from the LA Thai Consulate?

DTV Soft Power Visa LA Thai Consulate Visa Rejection Chiang Mai Schools Workcation Visa Visa Agents

JoyfulRei*********

asked Oct 16, 2026

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Help with LA Thai Consulate DTV Soft Power?

My husband & I both applied for a DTV Soft Power with registration to the TSL school in Chiang Mai for their 9 month DTV cultural learning program. We included our 3 months bank statements with adequate funds, FBI background, proof of residence & applied from our home county (US) which is processed through the Los Angeles consulate for our state. 

It was rejected in just 1 day and only says "Ineligible for DTV visa".

I'm assuming the issue is the school, though we can't be certain I suppose.

However all our other documents are in order and should meet criteria. 

I know language schools are generally not DTV eligible but this specific program included cooking, dance, and other weekly activities and stated they were DTV eligible. 

Prior to this school we looked at a cooking school which also should have been DTV eligible but they told us upfront that they had issues with the Los Angeles consulate specifically and thus were unable to accept us as students as we live in the LA jurisdiction.

Questions: 

1) has anyone had luck recently getting a DTV visa approval through LA for soft power and if so what school did you use? (no Muay Thai please, Chiang Mai preferred but willing to consider other areas of Thailand)

2) I also own a clothing business here in the US that I only need to be here for the summer months to run in person (festival season) and can do the rest online. Would applying under workcation give us better approval odds? I went with soft power because it seemed more straight forward, as because the business is fairly new. 

3) is there any benefit to getting a visa agent to assist us? If so, what are the costs/benefits? Any recommendations?

Summary so far

The user and spouse faced rejection for their DTV Soft Power visa application from the LA consulate, despite providing the required documentation for a Chiang Mai cultural learning program. They questioned the reason for rejection, speculating the program's ineligibility as a language school. The conversation highlights reports of increased rejection rates at the LA consulate, suggestions to switch to a workcation visa, and discussions regarding the use of visa agents. Community members advised looking for a school with a longer program or applying through a different jurisdiction.

31 repliesnewest first

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Jeffrey **********

Joyful: what’s the real reason you want the DTV? From your various comments it seems that you’re fishing for a Soft Power that will get you a DTV rather than looking for an appropriate visa for a specific Soft Power.

7 days ago

SwiftRasp*********

There clamping down on DTV Softpower doubt you’ll get a DTV with your reason most likely try for a METV you might get that

10 days ago

TheBatman**********

You have answered your own question. You booked through a language school whose main business is language and side business is cooking. Their requirements are not difficult to follow. It's often people who choose to complicate things

10 days ago

TheBatman**********

You skipped right past the part of doing proper research and understanding the rules thoroughly before applying.

1. You booked using a language school which isn't allowed.

2. The cooking school you used probably isn't approved by the Thai authorities that's why the LA consulate said its not approved either.

Please do research prior to spending money

9 days ago

JoyfulRei*********

TheBatman1234567890 did you skip right past the part where the cooking school just said "we can't help you" because the LA consulate doesn't approve them either?

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*****

did you skip right past the part where the cooking school just said "we can't help you" because the LA consulate doesn't approve them either?

10 days ago

BravePers*********

Just get a way to apply in another jurisdiction, get a license or something from a different state, some are quite easy. Then apply from a better consulate.

10 days ago

Dande'lion ********

So, which schools are recommended? I'm also applying for Los Angeles. Or is it to just make sure its a 12 month program?

10 days ago

JoyfulRei*********

@Dande'lion *******

honestly, we're giving up until the dust settles. I talked to several schools. Most said they had not been successful with LA and most didn't want to even chance it by taking us as students. All reputable schools have a refund policy if you can't get the visa, but you still lose an "admin fee" plus the $400 visa fee for each attempt and that's not small $.

Wishing you the best of luck. If you do find a school that gets you approved for a DTV in LA please come back to share with the group!

10 days ago

Dande'lion ********

JoyfulReindeer3586 did you try banglok cooking school? Why is LA being so difficult?! Thats wild. The requirements are covered

9 days ago

JoyfulRei*********

@Dande'lion *******

yes! If you have a valid ID for a state that's not in LA jurisdiction, I would give that a shot, combined with a reputable school.

9 days ago

Dande'lion ********

JoyfulReindeer3586 I wonder if I have an id from another state if I can just go that route

9 days ago

JoyfulRei*********

@Dande'lion *******

we were looking north in Chiang Mai. It seems like there was a lot of abuse of the DTV soft power route and for whatever reason LA is just denying while the country makes reforms. There's another comment that someone recently had theirs cancelled on their way out of Thailand after 2 years because their program had ended, so that alone makes me hesitant to trust the DTV now because the programs are too expensive for us to keep paying for them for 5 years. They are up charging them because they have to meet all these criteria and then they still are only approved "at the discretion of each immigration officer" 😕

9 days ago

FabulousP**********

Name you school inn Chang mai

11 days ago

JoyfulRei*********

FabulousPhoenix4971 I did name the school

10 days ago

Alex ****

Simply check if in your documents say LANGUAGE SCHOOL in most cases The Thai embassy will follow strict rules,

Language Schools any programs must apply under EDUCATION ED Visa it's not legit for Soft Power Programs. Only Thai Cooking Schools or Muya Thai Boxing Schools can apply for Soft Power DTV programs

11 days ago

JoyfulRei*********

Alex Ni did you read the whole post or just pick at the one thing you think is the reason? I talked to several cooking schools where I was told that the LA consulate doesn't approve them either so they didn't even want to waste the time trying and wouldn't enroll us

10 days ago

Alex ****

JoyfulReindeer3586 they dont get approved because they don't qualify that simple.

Most *cooking classes* has only LLC to be registered but no any licence.

LA is strict but people get approved if they intentions right and documents in order.

In 2026 no any Language School with any program are welcome for DTV even you can find official posts about it make more due diligence..

And your example can be used as proof.

10 days ago

Bradley *******

Did you reach out to TSL? I attended TSL for a year on an ED visa but I sat with a lot of people with DTV visas. Rules might have changed, but TSL is a great school and very reputable. They also have people on staff that can assist with visa questions and help trouble shooting.

11 days ago

JoyfulRei*********

@Bradley ******

yes, I'm waiting for their reply but I agree they are a reputable school. I did a lot of research because selecting them and they have an excellent looking culture program to meet the DTV requirements. Sadly this seems to be a LA specific issue with not approving soft power in general. Since there's no appeal process, I'm not really looking to keep spending $400 a pop to keep trying as not a single commenter here or in the other DTV group I'm in has said they were approved for a DTV SP in LA 😕

10 days ago

Barnabas *********

Two applications with 9 month courses rejected. Totally unacceptable. Embassy needs to state their minimum course length requirement. They don't deserve their application fees. As already suggested, make a chargeback request upon your credit cards for goods/services not supplied. It's a pity that the second school didn't advise you same as the first. Problem now is claiming a chargeback could prejudice any future applications either by yourself or via a visa agent. If Thailand had done that to me I'd now be looking elsewhere, probably Cambodia or Vietnam. Are you willing and/or able to change your plans?

11 days ago

Henrik *****

No Agents, not worth the money do proper research instead, focusing on only the Embassy you apply at.

11 days ago

JoyfulRei*********

@Henrik ****

that's precisely what I'm trying to do. I did a TON of research on this visa path, but with the changes forcing that we not only apply in the US but through the LA branch, we seem to be stuck. And 3 months before we planned to leave for a 6 month stay in Thailand 😕

11 days ago

Anonymous ******************

JoyfulReindeer3586 You said you planned to only stay for 6 months. Did you say that in your application? No need for 5 years if your program is only 6 months long...that's how they see it anyway. Try for a METV. If you have to physically be in the states for your business and work then it might not be considered remote in the eyes of the embassy. Good luck :)

11 days ago

JoyfulRei*********

Anonymous participant 274 the DTV only allows you to stay 6 months at a time. We actually signed up for a 9 month program but we didn't put on the application that we would overstay the 180 day limit. We intended to come back for the US winter-spring each year. Now I think we're just going to do the Philippines until Thailand decides what they're doing with the DTV or until we're old enough to apply the retirement pathway

10 days ago

Barnabas *********

Anonymous participant 274 That makes the Los Angeles consulate's behaviour even worse. They could have issued a 6 months multiple entry tourist visa instead. Also, we are now apparently hearing about consulates issuing DTVs for periods shorter than 5 years. What about some customer service? They could have contacted the original poster suggesting that if she and her husband booked a longer course, say of 12 months, they could then issue their DTVs.

10 days ago

Roxanne *****

I would switch to workcation and have your husband apply under your DTV.

11 days ago

idiots******

I only read rejection reports from the LA consulate for the soft power. They just refuse to give a 5yr visa for a 9month course. I would not try again. Just dispute the charges on your credit card because you will not get it. Workation with a strong documentation including income tax is possible

11 days ago

JoyfulRei*********

idiotsomchai no chance I'm going to try to dispute the charges. I understood it was not payment for a guaranteed visa, even if it does seem crappy that they are not really approving any soft power recently as far as I can tell... I still do hope to get a visa one day, so not trying to get myself blacklisted over $800

11 days ago

Barnabas *********

JoyfulReindeer3586 You are indeed a most tolerant person (couple). LA Thai consulate has provided zero customer service. If they weren't going to issue your DTVs they shouldn't have accepted your payment. If they now require longer courses then they should publish that upon their website. As you've set your sights upon Thailand what you choose to do is up to you of course.

10 days ago