Hi guy's just some details of my successful DTV application in Vientiane.
46yr old male retired fighter.
Application for soft power Muay Thai.
Landed in Vientiane on Sunday 18/05.
Went to the embassy Monday 19/05 to complete payment for my application.
Received an email Wednesday 21/05 to send a different passport photo, the one I originally sent is the same one used on previous official thai government documents so I just sent the same one again and it was accepted lol, it seems in Vientiane no matter how perfect your application is they will find at least 1 fault, I've seen this with almost everyone I've spoken to in Vientiane that applied. Maybe it's a way for them to gain more time to deal with the high volume of applicant's 🤷.
Monday the 26/05 it went to pending approval.
Wednesday the 28/05 I received an email to attend an interview on 05/06.
Saturday 31/05 I received an email to say my interview had been cancelled and will be rescheduled, 4 hrs later I received another email with an interview date on the same day it was originally set for but just 4 hrs later.
Thursday 05/06 I attended my interview, something to be aware of when attending your interview. The wifi and 5g are extremely bad around the embassy area, this caused problems opening the banking apps to show proof of funds and transactions and it wasn't only me there was several of us freaking out as we waited for our turn.
Thankfully after 30 mins of trying to open my banking apps just as I was about to walk up the stairs for my interview my app opened, I can't tell you the relief and happiness it brought 🤣🤣🤣.
I walked into the interview room and before he even got to say a word i said please sir can you check my banking app straight away please, I explained about the issues and he said yes no problem and understand as it was happening often to others.
He looked at my UK account statement's which has a high balance in it and asked me to show the transitions going from my UK account to my investment account (crypto) and from there to my Thai bank account.
This took under 1 minute.
He then asked what will you do in Thailand, I said I will be training Muay Thai everyday as I've been doing it almost every day for the last 35 yrs.
I'm a retired fighter but still train every day.
I had a letter from the Muay Thai school confirming that I paid for 1 yr and pictures of me on the Muay Thai gym's official Facebook page training there.
I also attached 1 yr of medical insurance to cover extreme sports in Asia, this wasn't required but it made my application stronger.
The whole interview was 2-3 minutes as I had everything well prepared and ready to show.
He said ok that's all I need from you and you will get an email today with the results of your application.
As I was walking down the stairs from my interview I received my approval email, around 20 seconds after leaving the interview room.
I went to the print shop near by to get my DTV certificate printed for immigration then jumped in a taxi and straight to the airport.
I had booked my flights the day prior, if you book them on the same day they are usually double the price.
For anyone thinking about applying in Laos I would advise to choose a different country. There are so many better options.
Vientiane is a horrible city, the rds and paths are all torn up, the pollution and dust are crazy on your throat and chest there is litter everywhere and there is absolutely nothing to do and very few people around.
I got stuck there for 8 days.
I then moved to Vang veing for 6 days, it is an absolutely beautiful area with lots of outdoor activities to do, it's 1 hr on the train for Vientiane. Again all paths etc torn up but anything is better than Vientiane 🤣🤣
I then moved to Luang prabang for 3 days, 1 hr from Vang veing on the train which was very different from the other places, good rds and paths and a very clean town. There are lots of little restaurants and bars but again not many people around.
Also allow for an extra $2-3,000 for expenses over the 3+ week stay
Hope this information helps.
If anyone needs some help or advice I'm more than happy to help.
It can be quite a stressful experience but it really doesn't need to be.
It's better to take advice from people that have been through the process rather than from people that read about it.
Have a great Day guy's 😎😎😀
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post details a user's experience applying for a DTV visa in Vientiane, Laos, highlighting the steps involved from arrival to receiving approval. It discusses the application process, including issues with document submissions, an interview experience, and the challenges faced, such as poor internet connectivity. The user shares practical advice based on their journey and suggests considering other countries for the application process. The post also draws comparisons between Vientiane and other locations in Laos, noting that the overall experience is stressful but manageable with proper preparation.
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