What should I do if I submitted my Thailand E-Visa application to the wrong consulate?

E-Visa Visa Application Process Travel to Thailand U.S. Consulate Issues Visa Fees South Dakota Residents

Sep 24, 2022

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

So, evidently I screwed up and submitted our E-VISA visitor applications to the Los Angeles office and they've sent me an email saying that as we're South Dakota residents we should have submitted them to the Chicago consulate. Though we're SD residents we've spent the past 7 months on the West coast so I just thought L.A. was closer. 

I supposed we've lost our processing fees and will have to pay for them again if we resubmit them to Chicago? If so we'll just skip it and get the 45 days on arrival when we go next month.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user mistakenly submitted their Thailand E-Visa visitor applications to the Los Angeles office instead of the appropriate Chicago consulate, given their South Dakota residency. They are uncertain about losing their processing fees and whether they need to resubmit the applications to Chicago. Various comments suggest contacting the Chicago office through Facebook, discussing the complexities of the U.S. e-visa system, and expressing frustration over the inability to transfer applications among consulates.

Shayne **********

What a stupid system it's electronic! The "system" should not let this happen. Or the system should be able to be approved by any Consulate. It's not like LA or DC can't get the same information about you as the Chicago one.

When it was geographic of course it's better that way but it's electronic!

I know a 43 year old who was in Vietnam got a retirement visa OA approved through DC because he used his USA address. He's entered Thailand twice already on this visa.

2 years ago

Ken ********

You can extend that for another 30 days too

2 years ago

Cliff *********

How long do you plan to stay in Thailand and when will you arrive?

2 years ago

Gaear ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Cliff ********

We arrive next month and want to stay as long as possible. I'll see what the Chicago consulate says. If we have to pay to reapply we'll just skip it as it won't be worth it for the extra 15 days.

2 years ago

Reply to

Gaear ************

Stuart *********

@Brandon ***********

No experience of using the e-visa system States side. Does the system ask you where you are in the US (and therefore direct the application to the relevant consulate?) For the European places that use them it just asks what country your passport is from and where you are now and then directs whether you can use the system or need to visit a consulate in person.

Do all US consulates use it?

2 years ago

Brandon ************

@Stuart ********

all the US consulates use the evisa system. There's just a drop-down after you select USA to which office, but I don't remember there being any guidance as to which office to pick. You're just supposed to know.

Then when the application asks for proof of residency they want something with your address to make sure you picked the right office.

2 years ago

Gaear ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

It's likely all the US offices use the same system. It asks on the first part of the process which office to submit the application to. Once this is done there's no going back and changing it for some reason, even though you can save your progress and come back later and finish the application. I did this as we needed to get some pictures taken. The Chicago office replied to my FB message asking me to email them and I have done so, so we'll see what they say.

2 years ago

Reply to

Gaear ************

Brandon ************

I think they use the same payment system for all the consulates in the US. I'm not sure why they can't just re-assign the application to the correct office, but Thailand has never been good with digital systems.

Try to Facebook message the Chicago office and ask them. It's the best way since reaching any consulate by phone or email is not easy.

2 years ago

Gaear ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

Good idea, I've just sent the Chicago office a FB message...we'll see what happens.

2 years ago

Reply to

Gaear ************

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