What are the steps and requirements for applying for a Soft Power DTV visa in Thailand?

Approved visa in Hanoi Vietnam! ✅🎉

Applied for the Soft Power DTV with Arun Thai cooking

Application submitted: Friday 16/10

Changed to Pending approval 17/10

No document requests.

Approval received: Wednesday 29/10

What I submitted:

Bio data page of US passport

Passport photo

Proof of current address:

- Hanoi evisa document

- 1 passport page with Vietnam stamp

- Agoda bill recent for apartment in Hanoi

- Confirmed booking for flight from HAN to DMK for 25/11

- a picture of me holding apartment keys and a grocery receipt showing the date on the receipt as 14/10

- A close up of the keys and receipt together.

- Agoda page with address of serviced apartment

Three months of bank statements from a HYSA

- September, August, July statements

- The tenth of August had the full amount 500k baht amount and September the entire month. July had like 200k baht.

Arun Thai Cooking school documents.

I wrote a cover letter in English explaining that I will write a small letter in Thai explaining why I choose soft power cooking. I explained why in Thai because I had previously studied Thai getting an ED visa for 18 months and wanted to show that I actually studied and am continuing to learn Thai. The letter was basic and just said Thai food is famous and listed some of my favorites and that I want to learn.

Last time I went Bangkok in January 2025 after spending a month in Japan, I got grilled by the IOs for trying to come back without a proper visa. Because I had basically lived in Thailand for a little over two years. Mostly with ED visa. So an hour later they agreed to let me in but they left a note on my file that said I would apply for the dtv visa.

Huge thanks to the group for all the help. I'm excited to go back! Happy to answer any questions!