What documents do I need to apply for a cooking program visa in Thailand, and how quickly can I expect approval?

Question

**DTV Soft Power Approved! Two weeks!**

Location: Washington DC

Activity: Cooking (1 year program)

School: Arun Thai

Visa Service: ISSA Compass

Applied: May 14

Approved May 29

I was sweating a bit hearing all the stories of 1 or 2 day turn arounds but mine took 2 weeks. I provided all my documents and didn’t get any further document requests. I was not asked to provide flights.

Documents provided:
* 4 months bank statements. One consolidated PDF for each month. I had a summary sheet showing the balances in each account and doing a Baht conversion. I did a screenshot of the bank balance on the summary but provided the entire statements with no edits or removing pages.
* In February I opened a WISE account and started moving my balances there in March so I made a note on the summary sheet with some arrows and explanations showing what I did and why.
* Passport photo – I got it taken at Walgreens
* Every page of my passport
* Driver’s License
* Photos of me cooking
* Hotel booking for 2 weeks around the time I want to enter
* School documents & payment receipt

The Visa agency asked for foreign sources of income. I’m really taking a sabbatical so this where I kinda got lucky. I quit my job in early April but I happened to be picking up a few little contract jobs to keep busy (and stash cash). I also happen to have an LLC I ran my contracts through.
* Paystubs January – April
* Copy of my contract
* Articles of Incorporation for my LLC
* EIN for my LLC
* All the invoices I’ve submitted for my contract

Ask Thailand · Answer

The post details someone's successful visa application for a one-year cooking program in Thailand, approved in two weeks. They shared documentation requirements, which included bank statements, passport, photos, and proof of income. Several comments provide advice on financial documentation rules, the importance of sustained fund availability, and tips for resubmitting applications.

Tomasz ******** · Answer

Offtopic- do they accept as proof of finance investement account balance (shares)?

GreenOl******* · Answer

When I had this request they wanted not just the summary per month for the past 3 mths, they wanted detailed documentation so transactions shown so they can see legitimate deposits. If you transferred it from another account and that’s what you provided you need to send the history from the old account it was in to satisfy this request.

Adam ****** · Answer

Just give them the last 5 mo the balance. The more you give the easier it is. I provided 6 months worth of statements and they approved me without asking for anything. Because I gave more than needed. :)

Carlberg ******** · Answer

So 37 days needs 500.000 baht?

Luis ******** · Answer

Does 500k baht convert to $16,000? I thought it was closer to $15,000 with current conversion rates

James ******** · Answer

One thing I’m not sure on is do you need to keep the 500k once you get the dtv approved? Or when you go to extend or leave and return ?

Sefton ******** · Answer

They just cant write clear English.. They mean 16,000 every month, not per month.

DTV_Be******* · Answer

No, your bank statement needs to be above 500k for the last 3 months, so you need to show you have had the funds for awhile.  If you are applying as a family, it is 500 k per person

Malcolm ********** · Answer

You're good, you have already provided what they are asking.

They want to see total bank balance of no less than 500k baht, and they also want you to have had these funds available for at least three months,

So, not the full 500k transferred a week ago for example..

BUT, this also depends on where you apply from, some do get approved this way also, or if youve only had it for 1 or 2 months.. But probably not worth risking, so if you(reader) can wait another month or two before applying and having the full balance for the full duration, i do believe that would be worth it instead of risking anything.

Best of luck to ya and anyone else reading whom may be applying :)

What documents do I need to apply for a cooking program visa in Thailand, and how quickly can I expect approval?

Activity

Related

Resources