Just back from the Thai embassy in Vientiane, Laos after receiving a visa through their new online appointment system.
A couple notes on the experience:
- The new appointment system seems to have greatly reduced the number of applicants filtering through each day. This seems to make the entire process much speedier. I was in and out of the embassy in less than 20 minutes when both dropping off my passport and picking it up the next day.
- There were touts in front of the embassy trying to sell queue booking numbers as soon as my Tuk-Tuk rolled up. There is even a sign at the restaurant adjacent to the embassy openly advertising this “service” (pictured). I didn’t check the prices of this, but I honestly don’t know how it’s legitimately possible since your queue number from the online system is cross-referenced against your name/passport number by the embassy staff on a hardcopy printout as soon as you enter the embassy. Seemed fishy to say the least.
TLDR : Answer Summary
A recent visitor to the Thai embassy in Vientiane, Laos, shared their positive experience with the new online appointment system, which significantly reduces wait times, allowing them to process their visa in under 20 minutes. However, they encountered touts selling queue numbers outside the embassy, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the service due to the strict verification process by embassy staff. The discussion includes queries about requirements for tourist visas, the status of non-immigrant visa appointments, and what documents are needed during the application process.
