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What is the process for obtaining a Special Tourist Visa to return to Thailand from the USA?

Special Tourist VisaThailand Visa ProcessThai ConsulatesVisa Application StepsExpats in ThailandMiami FLNon-O Visa Alternative
Jan 25, 2021
4 years ago
Felix *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello group,

Can anyone point me out to the process of getting back to Thailand with a Special Tourist Visa? I landed back in the USA after 5 years yesterday, and already want to leave after getting a taste of the "freedom" here.

Perhaps, can anyone share a step-by-step guide if available? I'm in Miami, FL right now. The Thai consulate here doesn't seem to be active, and there's no information about the new visa schemes in their webpage.

Thank you. 🙏
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking guidance on the process of obtaining a Special Tourist Visa to return to Thailand after spending five years there, now currently residing in Miami, FL. They express frustration with the unavailability of information from the local Thai consulate. Comments from other users suggest that the application process can be completed online through the main Thai consulates, particularly in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington DC, as honorary consulates cannot issue visas at this time. One user shares helpful tips regarding postal tracking for application submission.
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  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Valerie **********
The Thai Embassy IS NOT OPEN. I know because I drove from Sarasota to find they have not been open for quite a while and have not updated their website. I did it online through the DC Embassy. Good luck. If you don’t right it can done pretty quickly. 😊🙏
4 years ago
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Felix *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Valerie *********
 Thank you Valerie. This information helps.
4 years ago
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Felix *******
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Erik **********
Enjoy the land of the free
4 years ago
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Aaron *******
This is the most real post I've seen in awhile. Thailand is so much better in my opinion.
4 years ago
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Gene *********
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4 years ago
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Dan *********
Yes but be sure to place tracking on postage and your money order inside and return addressed envelope WITH return postage and tracking on it also.
4 years ago
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Felix *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dan ********
 Will do. Imagine losing your passport now in days. Last I read is taking people 3+ months to get a new passport here in the US.
4 years ago
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Dan *********
@Felix ******
 hate to send my passport but no getting around it. 🥴 if getting a new passport, I suggest to pay the $ and use a service that sends many all the time.
4 years ago
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Dan *********
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Tod *********
it's all done online thru the four main thai consulates (Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Washington DC) NONE of the honorary consulates can sell visas right now

This is where you need to start

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4 years ago
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Felix *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Thank you. So this means that I need to mail my passport to them, and there's no in person attendance to one of those 4 consulates. They'll just eventually mail back the passport to me with a visa attached?
4 years ago
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Tod *********
Felix Reyes no I mean you need to start by going to the website and reading the FAQ's to request permission to get IN to thailand, then once you submit your documentation online and they approve you for the visa you mail your passport to them and they put the visa in and mail it back

These are the steps you need to follow to get IN to the country
4 years ago
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Felix *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 One last question. If I'm aiming for the Special Tourist Visa—can a one way ticket do it in this case?
4 years ago
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Tod *********
@Felix ******
 that is between you and the thai consulate you're going thru to issue the visa. DID you read the requirements for the STV on the website of the consulate you're applying at?
4 years ago
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Felix *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Yes. Looks like it's quite general:

"Medical insurance guaranteeing that the insurance company will cover a minimum of 100,000 USD (or equivalent in other currencies) of medical costs incurred by the applicant in Thailand, including medical costs in the event that the applicant contracts COVID-19 (The insurance must cover the whole duration of stay in Thailand)"

I'm sure that Thai health insurance should do it as long as it covers the the financial requirement.

Thank you. I'll follow up after I do this.
4 years ago
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Heidrun ********
@Felix ******
 you also need this: 2.8 Additional health insurance requirement, the applicant must be medically insured for the entire period of stay in Thailand with the following coverage:

– Outpatient benefit with a sum insured of not less than 40,000 THB, and

– Inpatient benefit with a sum insured of not less than 400,000 THB

(To purchase insurance from a Thai insurer approved by the Office of Insurance Commission of Thailand:
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4 years ago
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Felix *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Thank you Todd. I'm on it. Do you think Thai insurance should do it in this case?
4 years ago
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Lisa ********************
@Felix ******
 contact Arawan Namak for insurance advice. Highly recommended.

Email
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4 years ago
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Felix *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lisa *******************
 I'm just going to go on Mister Prakan, and get something from there—it's cheap enough. Unless Arawan Namak is cheaper?
4 years ago
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Lisa ********************
@Fe***
 Arawan has very competitive prices. And good advice. Also very quick results. And provided an extra covering letter for foreigners for visa application and Thai immigration. Recommend take insurance that covers Covid from day 1. And pays direct to hospital, even with no symptoms. If you test positive in ASQ, you get taken straight to hospital, even if asymptomatic.
4 years ago
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Lisa ********************
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Zachary ********
@Felix ******
 turnaround time from when the consulate receives your passport to the time they mail it back seems to only be 1-2 days. As long as all your paperwork is correct.
4 years ago
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Felix *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Zachary *******
 Which consulate do you recommend for that turnaround time?
4 years ago
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Zachary ********
@Felix ******
 I used LA but I’ve heard the same about DC.
4 years ago
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Felix *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Zachary *******
 Did you have to show the following:

Criminal Record?

I got a misdemeanor for reckless driving. Also, how do I go about getting this requirement?
4 years ago
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Zachary ********
@Felix ******
 I only got a TR Visa. So, I didn’t have to get anything about records.
4 years ago
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Zachary ********
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Daniel ************
why not Non O
4 years ago
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Felix *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Daniel ***********
 I'm not sure if I qualify.
4 years ago
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Daniel ************
@Felix ******
 you 49 up?
4 years ago
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Felix *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Daniel ***********
 A long way until then my friend. Still in my 30s. 🙏
4 years ago
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Daniel ************
@Felix ******
 😀😀
4 years ago
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Daniel ************
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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