What should I know about applying for a Thai visa at the Hong Kong consulate?

Sep 10, 2018
6 years ago
Ambrosia *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Some info that might help others considering Hong Kong for a visa run:

The consulate in Hong Kong refused my (and my husband's) 60 day TV application based on "staying too long in Thailand". My visa history is: one 60day SETV, one 6month METV before that (with 3months out of Thailand between those), and one 6month METV from 2 years ago.

I had all documents including proof of exit flight and bank statement showing more than enough funds. The woman at the counter was immediately confrontational about why we were in Thailand and why we were going back even before seeing our passports.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shares their negative experience after being denied a 60-day tourist visa (TV) at the Thai consulate in Hong Kong due to previous lengthy stays in Thailand. They detail their visa history and mention that, despite presenting all required documents, the consulate staff were confrontational. Several comments reflect on others' experiences at the Hong Kong consulate, noting increasing difficulties in obtaining visas, with suggestions to try other locations like Vientiane or Vietnam for potentially easier processing.
Tyson ********
We chose Hong Kong a long time ago for our first VISA run coming up due to multiple people saying how easy it was there and that the turnaround time being a couple days. Also we have kids so we are going to Disney while there.

Come to find out a lot of people having issues there but due to their extensive time in Thailand beforehand.

I'm hoping since it'll be our first VISA run that they'll go easy on us but we have all the paperwork in order, etc. Thanks for the info!
Mark ********
I'm headed there next week to get my Non B. My company said HK or Singapore best for them. No idea why. Hoping its not a nightmare
Mark ********
@Tod ********
I like the sound of that regarding singapore. Sounds like it saves some hassle if the bulk is done online. Thanks for the info.
Tod *********
Hong Kong is good for Non-B visas because they don't require proof you've applied for a work permit.

Singapore is ALL online now and you can't walk into the consulate to apply at all. You submit scans of your documentation to them, the email you when you're approved and you can fly down turn in your paperwork and get your visa
Luke ******
As an extra idea, should the OP decide to give it another go, is separate from husband, pretend they don't know each other, and go to different counters. I believe 2 passports full of tourist visas may have played a role.
Luke ******
Tyson Kuresa That's correct. Proof of funds is not generally required, neither tickets, nor bookings. Just the application form, white backgroud photo, copy of passport including the HK entry slip on the same page, and the HKD 300 fee. There have been reports however, where people that had too many tourist visas in their passports were asked to provide a bank statement, and some isolated reports like the OP's, of being turned down.
Tyson ********
I read your post up top. Is it true HK doesn’t ask for proof of funds? I’m on the website and I don’t see anything about it...we’re doing our first visa run there in December
Luke ******
Tod Daniels Actually , I had visas several times from Hong Kong, with my passport full of other SETVs, and it was one of the easiest places to apply (up until summer of last year). It's just recently it appears they became nasty. Or maybe they prejudged based on looks who knows. I'd seriously try next day at a different counter.

There are other more recent reports of succesful applicants in HK.
Luke ******
@Maxim **********
I am not falling into an argument trap, I stand by what I say, if mods consider it a problem that's between me and them. If any other members see it as a problem, there is a Report button to every post.
Maxim ***********
@Luke *******
I got warn by a mods, i'm not gonna repeat what I said because it was *wall of text* and I have move on from that but the msg was clear *u are not allowed to talk about possible racial profiling in Thailand without providing actual data that prove ur claim*. So *anecdote* and opinion, *could be* about thai integrity and profiling is not allow here, sadly. There could be possible repercussion if thai official ever read this group, I think it's one of the main reason why there is a lot of censoring on certain topics here.
Luke ******
@Maxim **********
Report it if you don't like it and the mods will decide
Maxim ***********
Luke Thomas U are not allow to talk here about *possible* prejudice based on look or other *racial or discriminating factor* without providing data. I receive a warning the other day for making comments in that regard. Thailand freedom of speech is somewhat limited, so I understand that the mods want to keep the group to *proven laws fact* only even tho it can be frustrating for us commenting at time that have been *victim of* or have seen such stuff with our own eyes.
Ivan ************
That was my experience as well, back in November 2016. They were very easy, didn't require any documentation and I had a passport full of tourist visas that was no problem. This stuff changes all the time, KL used be impossible then it became possible, Penang used be one of the most easy going and then suddenly got difficult.
Luke ******
The other most recent "negative" report I can recall is of a more regular SETV user that was asked for a bank statement and told "this is last time". So things may indeed be getting tougher.
Luke ******
Tod Daniels Nah, no flight, no bank statement, no accomodation, just the application form, pic, copy of passport with HK entry slip, and 300 HKD. However, I do believe they are scrutinising more nowadays, saw another report somewhere of someone posting a pic with a warning for repeated tourist visas they put up in the Consulate.
Tod *********
wow, I knew they were easy for Non-B visas but I had always thought they were tough on tourist visas. Sorry. Maybe they just got an officer who had a bee in her bonnet. Sorry.
Tod *********
Sorry that happened but what on gods green earth possessed you pick Hong Kong as the thai consulate in S/E Asia to apply for a tourist visa? :O The inter-web has many stories of people who had multiple tourist visas in their passports and who had problems there. :(

I would say go to Vientiane where there is no proof of funds, no proof of onward travel, no proof of hotel booking?

OR

seeing as you can meet those criteria try Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. BOTH of those seem to not look too closely at the number of tourist visas you have in your passport. There was a recent report of someone with 5 tourist visas in their passport and they got a tourist visa in Vietnam without a problem.

Keep in mind, IF you use the thai consulates in Vietnam they ONLY take US dollars and they do require proof of onward travel, proof of funds in a bank account and might require proof of a hotel booking :/
Maxim ***********
@Ambrosia ******
Vientiane, Savannakhet and Penang are typically easier then other consulate to get tourist visa. Singapore and HK are typically harder i've been told so I never try go to there to get a visa. But I would agree with others that it can be a *hit or miss*.
Ambrosia *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have read horror stories about every consulate in SE Asia, and I had other reasons to be in Hong Kong. I had asked about the location in this group several days ago before we booked tickets, but only got responses that my 3 previous visas could but shouldn't be an issue if I had all my other documents.
Ben **********
@Biff ******
Agreed.
Biff *******
Screaming at the officials you’re asking for a visa from probably isn’t the best idea anyone ever had.
Tod *********
I mostly tell people to meet the requirements AND remember they only take US dollars there (a tourist visa is 40USD)
Ben **********
Tod Daniels They spent ages thumbing through the docs. Like they didn't know what they were looking at. An American guy at the next counter was screaming that he doesn't normally have to supply these docs etc. They would not let him submit without them. So, be warned. (There is a photocopy shop around the corner that was doing a roaring trade - I had to go there TWICE!)
Tod *********
@Ben *********
, I admit they are no nonsense about the criteria but they seem to not care how many previous visas you have in your passport all that much
Ben **********
I had 4 and they gave me another one at HCM. They also require ALL the documents they mention. I'd advise anyone to make sure they take them all. They're very strict on that.
Greg **********
Confrontational before looking at your passports. I have learned in life that sometimes it IS what you look like what people think of you before they even know you.
Barry ******
Yangon is also supposedly easy last I heard.
Jason ******
What I noticed about Hong Kong when I went there was it was the only consulate that had a sign posted about too many tourist visas, but it was unknown as to how many they look for before they choose to deny applicants. And I thought they only count back-to-back consulate visits. In your case, just 3 previous visas from other consulates, with no warnings and denied for 4th visa. I always thought that it was back to back visas from the same consulate, but if you go to different countries and get a visa from different consulates, they wouldn't count that visa from other countries against you
Terry ******
Good post...forget Penang, forget Phnom Penh, forget Hong Kong.......and looking good, KL, Vientiane and Savannakhet.
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