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Will my friend's arrival in Thailand before receiving his DTV affect the visa issuance?

Thai Visa DTV Visa Visa Exemption Immigration Rules Visa Application Process Expat Issues in Thailand

Mar 30, 2025

25 days ago

Rick *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

A friend (US passport) has applied for a DTV through the Thai Embassy in the USA.  The embassy requested additional info.  It now appears that the visa will not be issued before his scheduled arrival time in Bangkok.  Shifting his flight will be problematic, and would prefer not to do so unless absolutely necessary.   He knows that he can get visa exempt for 60 days, and he also knows that he had to apply for the DTV when he was not in Thailand,  but will his arrival in Thailand before the DTV is issued screw up the issuance of the DTV?  One guess is that he would have to leave Thailand once the DTV is issued and then come back to activate the visa, but he has been unable to get a clear answer.  Any wise guesses or experiences on this front?   Thanks in advance.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A friend with a US passport has applied for a DTV (Digital Nomad Visa) through the Thai Embassy in the USA but may arrive in Thailand before the visa is issued. There are concerns that this might affect the issuance of his DTV. While he can enter Thailand on a 60-day visa exemption, there are risks involved with leaving the country before the visa is processed. Some commenters suggest he could activate the DTV by leaving Thailand once issued, while others advise against possible complications during the application process. Similar experiences shared indicate that it is feasible to enter on a visa exemption and later activate the DTV, but careful planning is critical.

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Steve ******

Ok going off the other messages i assume this, if your in Thailand already Sisaket province, and your on a tourist visa, head down to Pattaya not Bangkok and there are a few decent agents around that can easily sort it out for you. It will take time though so enjoy the ride, and stop stressing out. Also before you leave plan your trip and checklist what the agent will need. Look online for agents in Pattaya and call them first as being prepared is everything.

23 days ago

པདྨ་ *******************

This exact thing happened to me. I just went back on the visa exemption. Within a couple weeks, my DTV was approved. A few weeks later, I went to Cambodia and came back. No problems.

24 days ago

Bob **********

Go just hope they don’t call you in for a question or two

24 days ago

Tony **********

Just go and entry in 60 day. Then exit and regret using the evisa. Not too complicated. Had to do it myself with my non-o.

24 days ago

Rick *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

We can all agree the planning was flawed, but thanks so much for pointing that out. The problem is not the cost of reschedule, he has a scheduling issue with people he wanted to meet/see and had a very short window of overlap before they depart Thailand.

25 days ago

John **********

@Rick ********

at the end of the day he needs to work out his priorities. Meeting up with mates and risking his visa being rejected, or staying put and wait for the visa

24 days ago

Rick *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

He has clear priorities. Not sure how the whole " Shifting his flight will be problematic, and would prefer not to do so unless absolutely necessary" was unclear. The question raised was to get some knowledgeable guidance on how the process would likely play out under one specific scenario. It appears, when you cut through all the noise, that the general sense is that he runs the risk of having the application canceled if he lands in Thailand before the visa is issued.. (at least I think that is the consensus, some said he can't even leave the country he applied from (USA) before the visa is issued) . I'll pass along the wisdom...

24 days ago

Reply to

Rick *********

John *********

I did this in December 2023. US passport. Applied for a tourist e-visa from the Seoul Thai Embassy. Left Korea 5 days later and arrived at Suvarnabhumi to get the 30 day visa exemption. 2 weeks after arriving in Thailand, my visa was approved. At the end of my 30 days I did a border run to Poi Pet. Visited Cambodia for 20 minutes and returned to active my e-visa.

They had to have known I boarded the flight that I showed for the visa.

25 days ago

Christopher ********

Poor planning. Need to stay until the visa is processed there was no reason to book the flight.

25 days ago

Elías ********

@Christopher *******

poor planing yes, as he should have alloted more time but there was a need to book the flight, as many embassies do require you to show it. At least in my case it was like that. Of course one could just upload any random fake flight, but I wouldn't feel doing that on a visa application.

25 days ago

Christopher ********

@Elías *******

they don’t require it. They require the flight you will book. If different I usually book a refundable flight until it’s verified then cancel and buy the cheaper flight.

25 days ago

Elías ********

@Christopher *******

it depends on each embassy. Some ask thighs as ridiculous as an at least 6-month lease in Thailand.

25 days ago

Reply to

Elías ********

Kool *******

He has to decide what is more important, a five year visa, or the slight cost of rescheduling his flight. It is that simple. At some point in the process they do check where he's at by immigration records. If not in the country he is applying from then rejection

25 days ago

David *******

I think you need smarter friends. Why book a ticket that is problematic to change before the visa is approved 😂😂

25 days ago

John **********

He is risking his visa application being rejected if he leaves the country he applied from before the process completes

25 days ago

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

If the visa is issued, he can activate it by leaving and returning to Thailand.

25 days ago

Reply to

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