What should I do if my Thai DTV visa application is delayed before my travel date?

Question

I applied for my DTV via the NYC consulate on July 7. It’s now Aug 17th, and I’m supposed to arrive on Aug 28! I emailed the consulate but got this generic message:

***Your visa application has been placed in the queue awaiting a final decision from the consul***
The consul, with sole authority to approve visas, has been notified of the matter.
She will consider your application as soon as possible.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Sincerely,
Visa Officer
—

Can anyone advise on if this is progress or what to do if it does not come in time? Enter on tourist visa from USA?

Ask Thailand · Answer

The user applied for a Thai DTV visa and received a generic response indicating that their application is still pending. With their travel date approaching, they are seeking advice on whether this indicates progress and what alternatives they might have if their visa does not arrive in time. Responses suggest that entering Thailand on a visa-exempt basis could be a possibility, with several users sharing their experiences and suggesting that processing times can vary. Some indicate it's advisable to wait for the visa, while others mention it could be possible to enter and later adjust their status.

Thai ************ · Answer

That sounds frustrating, especially after planning your travel around the expected processing time. Unfortunately, processing times can vary quite a bit between consulates, even for similar DTV applications. Hopefully NVC can clarify the status before your planned arrival date. Please update the group when you hear back — it would be useful for others applying through NVC too.

Zie ***** · Answer

I just got approved from NYC embassy for DTV last week. It took 10 weeks total. I did have    a request for further documentation so that definitely added time.

Liza ******** · Answer

consider taking the flight but transiting before clearing immigration to another international flight to a neighboring country - you will need to book your bags through to your final destination (something all the airlines can do but often try not to for some reason).  Then wait out until your approval and then enter.  Think it is possible to do this without having to clear immigration.

Shin ****** · Answer

If you come you will have to leave and re-enter on the DTV, however that could get you flagged since you already entered. To be safe I would just wait. Also it depends on the category of your DTV, Soft Power or work stay. 🤷🏾‍♀️

Cristina ******* · Answer

We applied NYC and took 6 weeks. Better to contact them through fb messenger. They responded by sending me my passport pic, to show they knew who I was and were working on it. They also said it was OK to enter thailand while we waited.

Robert *********** · Answer

6-8 weeks has been the norm in NY

Chris ****** · Answer

Almost 2 months for mine, got it on the way to Thailand. Had to email them twice and one more time while traveling

MysticalAs*********** · Answer

Not telling you what to do, but when i talked to someone who worked at the NY consulate about the same issue, they actually advised me to enter on visa exempt. It goes against what most say on the matter, but that's what they said.

Knowledgeabl************ · Answer

Jai yen

Wannikea ********* · Answer

It's not uncommon for the embassies to prioritize visa approvals according to intended arrival date. Worst case scenario you enter on Visa exempt and wait for your approval email and then border bounce to activate the DTV if changing your flight isn't an option. On the face of it that email looks positive and should give you some comfort that they will look at your application soon.

สมองควาย ****** · Answer

DTV is tourist visa.

What should I do if my Thai DTV visa application is delayed before my travel date?

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