What steps did you take to secure your visa approval in Vientiane?

Visa approved in Vientiane.

Yesterday I got an email for an interview scheduled for Monday morning the 17th. I muttered under my breath having to stay the weekend. The standard form email invitation for an interview was missing text and cut off mid sentence. So I hatched a plan to go to the consulate this morning and ask the staff about the missing information in the email in case it was important to prepare for the interview, with the hope that since I was there with my documents that somehow I'd be granted an interview regardless. The young man behind the counter called me up and I showed him the email and tried to explain that there is some missing context in the email, Even though it clearly stated that my appointment was for Monday he gave me a queue number and I waited. About 30 minutes later I was called into the consular and he carefully reviewed my application I showed him some of my supporting medical documents, he looked at my passport opened my bank apps and told me I was approved and expect an email soon. (Jedi mind trick level 2 achievement). I never got a chance to explain why I was there according to the email and by the time I got back to my hotel right now it was approved, so tada. I saved a weekend of waiting. The consul was very clear in instructing me to print out the DTV to be shown in case there was any mistaken visa exempt stamp given at the border.

Submitted March 11th, pending document check 12th, pending approval 13th, interview request 13th, cutting in line 14th, unleashed Jedi mind trick, visa issued 10:30am 14th.