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What should you do if your Thai visa application is still pending after you leave the application country?

Thai visa application DTV visa visa processing delays expat advice immigration rules visa requirements traveling in Asia

Jan 14, 2025

19 hours ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi everyone,

I know this topic often sparks passionate discussions on Facebook, I’m not sure why, but I’m asking because I couldn’t find the information in official sources.

If you’re traveling around Asia and applying for a DTV or another Thai visa (following the online process in the country you’re currently in), what happens if the process takes 10 days or more and you’re in a different country by the time it’s completed?

Has anyone been in this situation and can share their experience or advice?

Please, I’m looking for factual insights and not speculation or aggressive comments.

NOTE: For those who argue that in the past, you needed to wait in the same country where you applied, I believe the main reason was that you had to pick up your passport. Even in the worst-case scenario back then, the waiting time was never as long as the 10 days (or more) that many are currenlty experiencing with DTVs or other visas.

Thanks

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion revolves around the implications of applying for a DTV or other Thai visas while traveling in Asia, particularly the risk of application cancellation if the applicant leaves the country before the visa is issued. Some users share experiences of navigating similar situations, highlighting that it's crucial to remain in the country of application during processing, as Thai embassies can enforce stricter rules. Others mention that the visa can be emailed, mitigating some concerns, but warn that additional documentation or in-person interviews might be required, which could jeopardize the application if the applicant is no longer in the same country.

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Bob **********

You print the visa out and enter Thailand now if it’s a DTV and they require additional documents or an in person interview and your not in that country you’ll most likely be denied

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Myles *******

I had similar situation when applied in Hanoi. I was on Non B visa and had re-entry permit so knew I would have to cancel this anyway.

Left after 5 days in Hanoi and approval was emailed 2 days after. I then canceled work permit & Non B visa and did a border bounce to activate DTV. No issues coming through immigration on either occasion fyi.

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John *******

They email the visa to you. So it doesn't matter where you are (as long as you have internet access)

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

The past is irrelevant. The rules are you must be in the country where you apply from the time you apply until your visa is issued. If they find out you left they will cancel your application without refund.

Although not as common in other countries, the Thai embassies in the countries near Thailand are much more strict on this. There are multiple reports of people being asked for additional proof of still being in the country days after they submit their application. This includes requirements like a copy of every page of your passport, a letter from the manager of your hotel stating the dates you have been staying there and that you're still staying there, and there have even been a few reports of people being summoned to the embassy for an interview.

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Galen ****************

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

I think for countries bordering Thailand, the appointment system was a good option and more practical than e-visa. Or they could offer both options. I think the biggest issue with e-visa is approval time. For instance if someone is going to a neighboring country to apply for a Non-B visa for a new job placement. I don't think the employer will be impressed with the time required for visa issuance for there new staff. In time the authorities may re-evaluate their decision.

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

@Galen ***************

I think the embassies are just using it as a reason to be lazy and making the long approval time because they can. London approves almost every visa application in 2-3 days.

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

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Myles *******

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

where does it say that in the ‘rules’ mate? It states that you need to apply in x country but not that you need to be there when DTV is issued. Obv talking online here not in person applications

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

the "rules" are the same as they have always been. Pretend you are applying in person at the embassy. Everything is exactly the same as that, except you apply online now.

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Myles *******

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

youre making things up mate though! Obviously you have to be in country if apply in person as need to collect in person and wouldn’t be able to leave anyway as have no passport so it is a completely different set of rules!

Im just interested if there is this so called rule as have a couple pals who want to apply

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

I'm not making anything up. There are multiple embassies (Paris, Ottawa are 2 that I know of) that have cancelled visa applications for years already if they haven't processed your application by the time the flight you submitted passed as they assume you're already out of the country. And multiple people have been asked for additional proof they are still in the country after they filed the application in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

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Myles *******

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

as you said the past is the past. We are talking DTV here not other visas.

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

you're just arguing for argument sake and won't accept anything that doesn't match what you want to hear. We are telling you the way it is and the way the embassies are doing thIngs TODAY.

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Myles *******

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

no Im asking to see the rule that u state there is! I dont need anything to match my narrative as I already have the DTV and did exactly what the OP is asking about. He didnt ask about non existent rules he asked to hear from others who had similar experience to what he is asking about!

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

why would they post about changing rules when nothing changed? If the embassy emails you 10 days after you submit your application and ask for proof that you're still in the country, it seems very obvious that is the expectation.

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

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Rob *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Agreed

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Mikkel *******

so, you can complain to the people writing the rules, wherever it is you are reading them.

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

told you what it actually happening, based on personal reports from people going through it. They want you to be present in the country of application until the visa is issued, and if they find that you are not, they will likely cancel the application without refund. That many people have done it without "getting caught" doesn't mean that is the way to do it. Just for example in Laos they require you to come pay at the embassy in person. Pretty sure that's to make sure you are in Laos and not trying to apply from somewhere else.

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Myles *******

I have been through it and left before visa was approved and had zero issues

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Rob *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Only assumptions, where are the proofs? Official sources?, I did not read even one post about someone who had issues flying to Thailand from a different country where they applied, immigration officers are not stupids and know how to read a passport, easy to see also that your DTV was issued in a different country so...

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Mikkel *******

once the visa is issued, you can use it to enter Thailand from any border from any country, via air or land.

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Mikkel *******

the issue is not entering from a different country. The issue is they want you to be present in the country you apply in.

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Myles *******

and where does it state this then?

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Mikkel *******

assumptions about what? It is from people reporting what happened. It's not guesswork.

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Rob *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Where are these reports? I haven't come across any yet. The officers can more easily track when your visa was approved and your intended travel to Thailand. As I mentioned before, if it were not possible, officers would not allow anyone to enter Thailand if they had traveled to another country before their visa was approved.

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Mikkel *******

there is absolutely nothing stopping you from entering from a different country than where the visa was issued. You could have an itinerary through multiple countries. But they require you to be present in the country you apply in.

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Mikkel *******

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Rob *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

I always try to follow the rules, but in the official website there is nothing about this, and I know people who activate the DTV in a different county than the one where the visa was issued, so... If not legal, why the officers allow them to come into Thailand 🤔?

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

a visa is a visa. You don't "activate" it in any country. You use it when you enter Thailand. The fact that people get away with leaving doesn't mean the rules are the same as they were when it was in person. Pretend it's still in person because that's how the embassy sees it. The only difference is instead of a paper application you submit it online.

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

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