What is the process and required documentation for obtaining a DTV visa in Thailand for South Africans applying from Hanoi?

**DTV Visa Approved in Hanoi

**Our Thailand DTV's have been approved. As South Africans applying at the Hanoi Consulate, here’s a timeline of our journey:

Main Applicant - South African

* Application Submitted: Wednesday, 16th October 2024, at 11 pm (just after landing in Vietnam, selecting the Hanoi Consulate), have my own business therefore selected Visa type "Workcation".

* Status Update: Application status changed from "Document Check" to "Pending Approval" on Thursday, 17th October, around 10 am.

* Approval Received: Monday, 21st October 2024, at 10 am.

Documents Submitted for Main Applicant

* Bank Statements: Approximately two months’ worth of statements from three separate accounts (savings account

holding required funds and my cheque account where my salary is paid into).

* Employment Documentation: Employment contract and supporting company documents to prove ownership of the business.

* Current Location Verification: Photo of the Vietnam visa as proof of presence in Vietnam.

* Identification: Biodata page of passport or travel document.

* Recent Photograph: Taken within the last six months.

Dependent Visa - South African

* Application Submitted: Monday, 21st October 2024, around 12 pm.

* Status Update: Documents reviewed, and status changed to "Pending Approval" by end of the day on 21st October.

* Approval Received: Tuesday, 29th October 2024, at 12:23 pm.

Documents Submitted for Dependent Visa - 2 separate applications for 2 children

* Bank Statements: Three months' worth from three different accounts (main applicant only).

* Current Location Verification: Photo of the Vietnam visa as proof of being present in Vietnam (for each dependent).

* Identification: Biodata page of passport or travel document (for each dependent).

* Recent Photograph: Taken within the last six months.

* Unabridged Birth Certificate: Includes both parent details, matching main applicant’s passport information.

* Main Applicant’s Approved Visa: Provided as proof of connection to the dependent.

*As a single parent traveling with my kids, it was interesting to note that no consent documents were required from their father.*

Additional Follow-Ups for Dependent Visa:

* Since dependent Visa approval seemed to take longer than mine, I made daily calls to the consulate from 24th October, during which I was advised that the processing time for a dependent visa is typically five business days.

* Messages Sent: Contacted the Hanoi Consulate via Facebook on Friday, 25th October, and received a reply confirming the five-day processing time for dependent visas. 23rd was a public holiday and was noted counted.

* Emails Sent: Attempted contact with thaiembassy.han@mfa.go.th (no response) and later to consular.han@mfa.go.th on 28th October.

* Consulate Response: Received an email from consular.han@mfa.go.th on 29th October at 8:49 am, they confirmed the main visa was approved. I responded promptly to request an update on the pending dependent visas.

* Final Approval: Dependent visas granted at 12:23 pm on 29th October.

Thank you to everyone in this group for the support, the information, responses queries etc. made all the difference!