What is the experience like for obtaining a 60-day SETV at the Thai consulate in Vientiane?

Sep 29, 2018
6 years ago
Jackie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Update. So now have 60 day SETV from Vientiane. (US Passport) Like everyone says, I can confirm you do not need any of the requirements, 20,000 baht, etc. I can also confirm that Thursday is not a good day if you do it on your own. Must have been 2-300 people in line. I was walked right to the front on first day, and close to the front on second day to pick up my passport. Took about 45 minutes the first day, spent drinking iced coffee, mostly and about 15 minutes to pick up my passport, with Visa, the second. Hope this helps someone. Ta. Shalom Cheers Aloha, jb
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat shares their experience of obtaining a 60-day Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) at the Thai consulate in Vientiane with a US passport. They noted that no specific financial requirements were checked and mentioned that Thursdays are particularly busy, advising travelers to visit at quieter times. Overall, the process took about 45 minutes to apply and 15 minutes to receive the passport on the following day.
Ron *******
I don't think i would be very good at Vietiane if people pushed in front of me.
Ron *******
In fairness, I have no problem with disable etc having no need to queue. It's with these agents i have the problem, simply turning up with clients and walking too the front.

It's as bad as people hogging sun beds with towels left on them in the middle of the night.
Ron *******
@Ivan ***********
thats fine. They should use another queue or side door.

Push in front of me, suffer the result. I don't care, agent or not.
Jackie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
yes, however it happened. I am now good until nov 26 when i will get a 30 day extension. so, is good. jb
Ivan ************
It's a queue skipping service, same as you can get if you pay an agent to do your visa extension within Thailand. You are paying someone to go sit in your place in the queue so you don't have to do it.
Tod *********
Hands down the thai consulate in Vientiane is the most user friendly and easy going thai consulate in S/E Asia.

BUT

It's exactly because of that reason that it's chock a block with people especially on the days the visa run companies from Bangkok are there.
Jackie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
I totally agree. Don't need any immigration headaches. I have headaches enuff. Don't need any more. Thanks for the help. jb
Steve *******
@Jackie *****
Dont overstay then, even one day will get you a stamp in your passport and be recorded at immigration. Not quite as bad is it sounds but not the best way forward
Sebastian ************
@Jackie *****
he got stop near Malaysian border
Jackie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Steve Greir thanks, SG. I don't want anything in my PP that says anything bad about me. Don't need those headaches. jb
Steve *******
Jackie Blue Get stopped outside the airport/border on overstay, seroius problems and probably deportation and a ban. Make it to the airport just a fine and an overstay stamp in your passport
Jackie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sebastian ***********
Thanks, SVD. Thatz what I thot. Like I said, I will do everything I can to not have that happen. Ta. Shalom Cheers Aloha, jb
Sebastian ************
@Jackie *****
i know a guy who was overstay 1day on a 1year visa issued in Malaysia got stop by police on that visa run day and got 1 month in jail and 5 years banned from Thailand .
Jackie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
I paid for assistance. Have used this young woman several times. First time for SETV, tho. Worked like a charm. jb
Jackie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have one more question. Not that I plan to have this happen, but letz say you are on overstay, maybe 1 day, maybe a little longer. If you are stopped by police and passport is checked and they find out u r over the limit, do they arrest and then deport you. Someone told me no, but I have also heard that is what can happen. Like I said, I will do everything not to be on overstay. Thanks. jb
Steve *******
@Jackie *****
Prey tell, what help?
Jackie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thatz what i figured, too. But I didn't plan well enuff. But with help, I had no problems or waited in any lines. Just sayin'. jb
Steve *******
Sounds about right.
Tod *********
If you'd have show up around 2:30-3:00 you could have walked right in, got your passport and paid for the visa.

ALL the people are gone by then.

Still, glad it worked out for you. (y) Thanx for the update.
Jackie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ivan ***********
maybe not for you. but for me it worked out great. i don't like paperwork or standing in lines. brain deaded it thru. is ok with me. my number was 470. mine was friday, also. jb
Ivan ************
They do about 200 per hour, giving them back in order of your number. So if your number was 200 you'd expect to get it around 14:30, if your number was 300 about 15:00. Give or take, maybe a little later.

I did it solo without any agency recently and turned up at 14:00 and got it back in 20 minutes. I was IIRC #175 or so. That was on a Friday. I think all the agency does for you is give you a person who is shameless in helping you queue jump the first day, at that particular consulate. It's not particularly necessary.
Jackie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Tod, I got there a little after 2, to pick up Visa, there were tons of people there. Almost
***
of the benches were full and there were long lines to pick up Visa. Tons of Vans out front and several buses. Maybe other days are better, I am assuming. My stamp was up on wednesday, and being the procrastinator I am, waited until the last minute.
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