My recent experience with the Thai embassy in Sydney to obtain a retirement visa. Preapproval was granted very quickly.. 3 days. Following that i sent documents as requested to have the visa put into the passport.

Those documents arrived at the embassy 21 April. On 3 May I eventually made contact with them using the line app as they were not answering the phone. Time frame for passport return was 5 to 7 days. Passport is now on its way back to me.

When making the application consider public holidays. At this time there are songkran holidays and Easter and a few others.. Anzac day labour day and coronation day. If it's urgent use the line app to contact them. Even that took 3 goes to get a response.