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Why was my DTV visa application denied while my tourist visa is still valid?

DTV Visa Thailand Visa Rules Visa Application Process Immigration Issues Tourist Visa Visa Denial Multiple Entry Visa

Jan 10, 2025

8 days ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

DTV visa Hanoi, denied / put on hold

I applied for the DTV visa in Hanoi. Got requested for further documentation twice. Third time, after nine days, they said I can't get DTV since my tourist visa is still valid for one and a half month more, but that I can come back reapply at the end of next month when the tourist visa has ended. I had read through the rules many times before going to Hanoi to apply, and had never heard of this rule. When I asked where this rule was stated, Thai embassy in Hanoi couldn't give an answer. I thought that the DTV visa replaced current tourist visa. That is what other people in this group have said. Has this happened to anybody else?

Disappointed I traveled back to Thailand. At the airport, I got stopped. Thought it was just a routine control first, but it ended up with them detaining me and sending me back to Vietnam. Because they said I have been on multiple entry tourist too long, even though I still have one and a half month left. So now I'm basically stuck. I can't get the DTV visa because my tourist visa is still valid, and I can't enter Thailand because they said they don't think I am tourist and that I should already have the DTV. Don't know what to do really

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user applied for a DTV visa in Hanoi but was denied because their tourist visa was still valid for another month and a half. The Thai embassy could not clarify where this rule is stated. Subsequently, the user was detained at the Thai airport upon return from Vietnam because immigration officials believed they had overstayed their tourist visa, despite still being valid. The user is seeking advice and similar experiences from others regarding these visa issues.

DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
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John *******

It has been mentioned many times on this page that you can have two visas at once. Some have gotten away with it though. When immigration at the airport denied entry, did you have them cancel your tourist visa? If so, you could head back to Vietnam and apply for the DTV

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Anonymous ******************

Is it the same for visa exempt? I stayed for 3 weeks and left early December. Exempt visa is valid until January 10 and I plan to apply for DTV on 13 or 14. Will that be ok?

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Greg ********

Anonymous participant 627 Your Visa Exempt is cancelled when you leave the country. If you go to another country to apply for the DTV you will not be in possession of any Thai Visa (I know "Visa Exempt is not a visa for the pedants 🙂 )

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Anonymous ******************

yeah makes sense. Thank you!

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Anonymous ******************

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Rob *********

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to leave for Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday, January 12th, but my current visitor visa (non O because thai family) expires on the 18th.

I'm concerned about the timing of my departure. Does anyone have experience with similar situations?

It seems illogical to wait until the very last day to apply for an extension, especially when trying to comply with immigration regulations.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Wannikea *********

unless you have a reentry permit your non O will be invalidated the moment you stamp out of Thailand.

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Andi ***********

You are going to Vietnam 12 and coming back before 18th ? The latest you can apply is the 18th so you will be fine applying before then.

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Andi ***********

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Airon ********

I have heard that you can't hold 2 visas at once, when I inquired about DTV.

If u have (for example, language Ed visa), u have to cancel that Ed visa before heading out to another country for DTV.

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Raed ****

Same thing here my TR 60 will expired end of January after that I'm going to apply for DTV ,, i don't want it risk it so I'm waiting

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Greg ********

The TR60 is a single entry is it not? If you leave Thailand without a re-entry permit then it is automatically cancelled. The Poster has a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa which remains valid if they kewve until the visa ends.

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Raed ****

No ,, I'm afraid you are wrong ,,, TR60 it's (multiple 6 months entries ) ,, TR30 it's a single entry ,,

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Greg ********

Ah OK. Cheers

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Greg ********

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John **********

You can't simultaneously hold two visas so you will need to wait until one expires before applying for the other. You can't cancel a visa.

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Mateusz *******

I want to go for visa to Hanoi but I`m still on education VISA 😮 Its just stupid to cancel it before the new visa...

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John **********

@Mateusz ******

are you actually on a visa or on an extension of stay (look in your passport). If the latter you should be OK going for the DTV but don't forget to cancel the extension of stay when you return

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John **********

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Greg ********

No idea if MFA have access to the Immigration system but being stopped is often when a remark has been put on the system. Happened with a pal of mine but immigration officer put a remark on the system. He was EU national with Singapore PR. He used to come up regularly on Visa Exempt ie 8 or 9 times in a year. Only a couple of weeks at a time and never overstay. He was told to apply for a visa at the embassy next time before coming and a remark put in system and on his passport. Immigration Officer do have discretion if they think you are not a genuine tourist and are living here in exempt of short term visas.

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Wannikea *********

Did the passport control officers in Thailand ask for the 3 proofs before refusing you? Flight out, 20k baht cash, booked accommodation? Surprising they would deny an METV entry unless you have extensive stay history.

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Andi ***********

@Wannikea ********

agreed, unusual to be simply barred on a METV, must be other issues in play

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Andi ***********

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Wannikea *********

You have a 6 month METV most likely. It's true that a visa must expire or be somehow cancelled if you want to apply for a new visa. Extensions are a different matter and a new visa can be applied for while on an extension.

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Sai *****

Sad to hear. Are you holding a tourist visa with re-entry while applying for new DTV?

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Greg ********

Looks like they have a METV

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Andi ***********

isn't it strange to be barred from entry with a METV as that is multiple entry?

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Greg ********

@Andi **********

If the IO believes they are NOT a genuine tourist then no. What is their history previously with other visas or visa exempt? One of the reasons given for DTV is to make it easier for people to get proper visas for longer stays. We all know people who are not genuine tourists have been in the country years with various visa types. Seems they are tightening up on this.

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Andi ***********

ok, something else triggered the ban. The govt said last year they are tightening up on all areas of immigration whilst undergoing a long-term revamp of policy.

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Greg ********

@Andi **********

As well as my Belgian pal pulled while coming up from Singapore a Scottish pal was too. He worked month on month off down there and came up month off. After a few times told to get a METV from Embassy and not use Visa Exempt. The IO does have a lot of discretion which many people do not realise. Same as any country really. Thailand has been very liberal in the past but now seem to want to get a hold of it.

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Greg ********

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Sai *****

Oh I see.

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Sai *****

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Zain ******

Sorry to hear that. What nationality are you? I've not read anywhere that the DTV visa replaces an existing one (though it does make logical sense). And I did read another comment where someone was requested to cancel their existing visa because they couldn't have two visas at the same time.....you may need to dig around for that

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Zain ******

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Why am I being interrogated by Thai immigration despite having a valid DTV visa?

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