Everyone was so helpful in this group, I wanted to share my experience getting approval on my workcation/freelance DTV in Vientiane, Laos. It’s long, but hopefully helpful!
In advance of my arrival, I prepared all my documents.
Here’s everything I submitted, and I also submitted a cover page for each, explaining what I was including.
Financial Documents
1/ Bank Statement Summaries for three months (includes ending balance).
(I also offered them full bank statements (17 pages!) with all transactions, but they didn’t request them)
2/ Payments from clients (past three months)
3/ Client letters confirming self-employment status and that none of them were based in Thailand or had any offices there, along with 1099s (independent contractor tax form)
4/ Tax Return from 2024 (to show business income)
Professional Portfolio
1/ Cover letter explaining why I wanted to be in Thailand. Again, I mentioned I had no clients with business in Thailand, that I would be working remotely. I also mentioned wanting to immerse myself in the culture.
2/ Portfolio (I’m a freelance copywriter, so it was samples of client work, and an explanation of my role in the project)
3/ Resume
Proof that I was in Laos:
1/ Photo of plane ticket with arrival in Laos
2/ Photo of passport page with Laos entry stamp
3/ Hotel receipt
Tuesday, 11/11, arrived in Laos and submitted all documents online. PRINT OUT the payment voucher.
Wednesday 11/12, I went to the Embassy of Thailand (15 Rue Bourichane) to pay the $10,000 baht.
They open at 9am, but get there early! I was there at 8:45am and there were already 5 people in front of me. Go to the bank window, present your payment voucher and baht. They’ll stamp your voucher, but you don’t get any receipt.
Thursday, 11/13, they asked for a clearer passport page, and the full page of the passport page with entry stamp (I’d only sent the entry stamp). Respond quickly to any requests for additional information.
Friday, 11/14. I received my request for interview for Monday, 11/17! Just to be on the safe side, I printed out all my bank statements, and everything else I’d submitted.
Monday, 11/17. Interview at 10am. Again, go EARLY. They give the same time slot to multiple people.
The interview was 10 minutes at most: What are your plans while you’re in Thailand, wanted to see online bank balance, and again see client payments. I showed my website, explained my business, and where I’d be living in Thailand. I was told if I’d been approved, I’d hear by 2pm, and the answer was yes!
So amazingly, the whole process took less than a week!
I should mention that I applied before in August (Washington, DC Embassy) and was denied because my 500,000 baht had only been in my account for 2, not 3 months. I was offered the Multiple Entry Visa, which I declined. Having applied and been rejected before had no impact on this application in Laos.
