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vientiane

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This page displays all the results for the Vientiane tag, sorted by the most recent activity. There are a total of 357 questions that have been tagged with Vientiane. Explore the questions to find discussions and information relevant to this topic.
Jun 5, 2025
4 days ago
Approved Vientiane.

Get me out of this Horrible place.

I will write up the full details tomorrow.
Jun 4, 2025
5 days ago
Queue at Consulate Vientiene today to pay 10,000 baht for DTV. Prepare to queue 1.5hours but queue goes fast no queue cutting 💕 nice people. But I've paid last week. Today interview success!
May 30, 2025
10 days ago
Frank *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Detailed report of DTV process in Vientiane, Laos

Outcome: Approved within 10 days including weekend

Used soft power, Thai cooking class

Firstly I want to mention that this report is based on my personal experience, I suggest nobody takes that as a bullet proof general guide as every case is a little different.

Submitting application and pay:

Flew to Udon and crossed the border on Sunday 18-05 and submitted application the very same night. I prepared the application form and all attachments before the trip except for the evidence of current location which I obviously received after having crossed the border. Took a photo of visa and entry stamp, also confirmation of hotel booking, put it into my PC, converted to pdf, attached it to the prepared application and submitted. Paid visa fee early Monday morning 19-05, arrived before gates of embassy opened and had already a queue of around 20 people before me. I would mention that there could pop up 2 places when you put Thai embassy Vientiane into Google Maps. I went to the wrong place in the morning, make sure you go to “consular section” of Thai embassy, Rue Bourichane. Took around 40 minutes to complete payment process due to the queue, got the receipt and back to hotel.

Documents:

I had several “requests for additional documents”. Firstly, the photo was not clear so they needed a new one and they wanted a 3 month statement of my bank account. At first I put in my term deposit acct, took photos of bank book cover with my name and every page plus I attached a confirmation letter of the bank dated on the very day of application which I obtained online and that confirmed my current balance. This did the job for every yearly extension of stay that I obtained within Thailand (and I had many of them) but at that embassy, they obviously don’t fancy that. Hence they asked for a 3 month statement even my bank book contains almost 2 years of transactions and is basically the same as a statement. However, I recommend to use only transactional bank accounts, that is easier to handle for them and for the applicant. I didn’t know that. I then created statements for both term deposit account and transactional acct (which I luckily filled with money for standby a month ago) whereas the amount in the transactional acct was not 500k all the time during the 3 month period but at the end and it did the job. But I also had the term deposit account statement sent and I can’t say which one they preferred. I put both just to make sure. I have to mention that the application form doesn’t mention a 3 month statement but it only sais “proof of funds”. So I thought what’s good for the IO in Thailand would be acceptable for the embassy as well. But it’s not.

Then the story with the photos: application form doesn’t specify the requirements of the photo, so the first photo was too blurred for them, the second one didn’t have a white background and the third one, I was wearing my glasses. So it came to the fourth photo which was finally accepted. Remark: I would have very much appreciated if they specified what resolution, what size, what background and clothing, glasses or other details that matter. Basically it must be a digital passport photo as they use it to put it into the EVisa and it serves as identification at the border. I didn’t know that. Almost lost my nerves on it as the photos kept being rejected…

Appointment:

I got the appointment 1 day after my last document upload and they asked me to come to interview 2 days after that notification. It took them 2 days for every document upload to check them and to update the status. Altogether it took 8 days from Monday 19-05 until Tuesday 27-05 to schedule the interview including mentioned various document requests.

Interview:

I arrived 30 minutes prior to my appointment, had 3 guys waiting before me and I got in exactly as scheduled, 10 am. I would mention that you need to show the invitation e-mail, whether as a print out or in your phone. Based only on passport or name, security will not let you in. My email acct was on my other device not the one I carried so I had to improvise and set up the email acct on the device I carried and I didn’t have my password in mind. Was able to manage but made me pretty shaky. I then was kind of nervous and I think almost everyone is if I read faces and body language correctly.

The officer was of middle age with good English, not particularly unfriendly but also not extra friendly. Asked me to confirm my name.

Questions:

What would you like to do in Thailand

Where is the school you applied at

How long lasts the course that you enrolled at

Check of original documents + banking app:

Check of original bank book, cross check of number and name with online submitted statements.

Check of original house registration booklet and cross check with address mentioned in my application. I put in “own property” so I offered to show copies of title deed and purchase contract of property by land office. He gladly took that.

Check of banking app, scrolled through the last transactions to see if strange money income would appear. They don’t want applicants to work illegally means in the Thai market so very careful with incoming transfers, applicant should be able to explain/proof what kind of income that is.

Questions about previous history in Thailand which he could see from my previous visas/extensions of stay. In my case NON O based on marriage, based on Thai child and NON ED.

Have you been married before, do you have kids, do you speak Thai or similar can be expected according to applicant’s visa history. Beware of leaving the country during application, this will most likely be detected when check passport history.

He then right away confirmed that I was good and he was satisfied with the interview and documents. Confirmed that I would receive email soon, within today. In 10.00 am, out 10.05 am, received email when walking down the stairs in the building, 10.06 am.

All in all I would say that he was fair, not very strict or bullied around as from my passport it was easy to see that I have been living in Thailand for many years and permanently. And I don’t know if that’s the “clientele” they are looking for under that visa.

Costs of the trip:

Application is obviously 10.000 Baht in cash. Visa on arrival in Laos 1.700 Baht. You can easily count on 500 Baht up per day only for meals. That’s pretty much the minimum, on top comes beer, nightlife or purchases which I didn’t do at all. I pretty much only worked out in a gym that was nice and rest and relax the rest of the time. Costs of living are higher than in Thailand, around 30% I would say. But food and cafes are good, at least in the tourist area of Vientiane. Then costs of accommodation, in my case took a nice tidy hotel, roughly 900 Baht/night including breakfast. But it was a little away from town so walking was the task of the day. Additional are costs of transport. In my case taxi to Bkk, flight to Udon, minivan to the border, taxi from border to town. Back: international bus to Udon from morning market Vientiane, tuk tuk from bus station Udon to airport, flight to bkk, taxi back home. Almost everywhere in Vientiane they take Thai Baht but I would recommend to change like 5k on the first day or use the ATM. Exchange rate is better and it makes it easier as they always change in Lao Kip. The ATM costs was roughly 70 Baht for a 3.000 Baht withdrawal in Lao Kip.

The whole “project” costed me like 32k which I find not expensive. I had an offer from a well known agent in bkk of 60k, but that would be a visa with guarantee means no hassle or stress, they would arrange everything for the applicant. But I cannot recommend that as the guy seemed unreliable, he didn’t answer the phone or gave me a call back. And with a service price of 60k (plus costs of living during the time of the wait) I would say it’s appropriate to answer some detail questions of the customer.

Summary:

Anyways, it was stressful due to the uncertainty of the outcome of the whole thing and the length of stay in Laos. If I would have known the details regarding photo and statement/type of bank account, that would have saved me some hassle. Hence this report, hope it helps others out. I had a guy who fed me lots of info regarding the whole application process, interview, application form, attachments. Regarding the trip he gave me details of transport, costs, schedules even food and cafes in Vientiane. Hence I want to pass this help further on. Martin, thanks a lot Mate. Can’t appreciate it enough.

Anybody has details he is curious about, feel free to text me.

Cheers and good luck to everyone.
May 29, 2025
11 days ago
Ben *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hey guys what is the best embassy for the DTV (quickest turn around) I have the requirements. I have a condo in Thailand so I don’t want to be paying rent while I’m waiting outside the country for my visa to be accepted.

I’ve been told kuala lumpa/vietnam are a quick turn around.

Thanks in advance people 🫡🤝
May 23, 2025
17 days ago
Day 5 in Vientiane.

Application still stuck at the first step, was asked for a different passport photo on Tuesday which I sent immediately.

No further contact from them.

I'd seriously rethink coming here, not just for it being slow but every day in this city feels like a month.

The city is in ruin's and it's like a ghost town.

There are so many other beautiful surrounding countries that you could apply.

Even if it took 3-4 weeks elsewhere it would be a better choice than here.

Hope this helps others avoid this miserable place.
May 21, 2025
19 days ago
Gigi *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Has anyone with DTV crossed from Vientiane/Nong Khai border recently and have been asked for additional documents beside the visa?
May 14, 2025
a month ago
Chonluethai *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have a couple of questions related to obtaining a 3months Non-Imm.O(marriage visa) in Thai Embassy in Vientiane.

Firstly, after applying through evisa sytem being in Vientiane, will I still need any official applications in paper as it was before to submit to thai Embassy in Vient.,or not?

Secondly, should I make the payment of 2000baht for the visa through the Thai Embassy in Vientiane before applying through evisa and attach that payment to the official evisa application?

Thirdly, How long(how many days) usually it takes for embassy to issue that visa if everything is in order and accepted by the immigration in Thailand?

Fourthly, is the any financial requirement (how many thousands baht) should an applicant has in his Thai banking account ,if any?); and,if this financial proof should be issued by the thai bank or it is enough to attach the copy of the bank book to evisa application?

Furtheremore, I live in Thailand for many years on Non-Imm O visa(marriage visa), but it will be the 1st time when I need to go to Laos to apply for this type of visa using eVisa system,and this is why I ask so many questions.

Kindly let me know with all detailed and current requiremnts.

Thank you so much for any piece of inf.
May 13, 2025
a month ago
Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Heading to Laos tmrw for my DTV just wondering as I’m 30 km out of Bangkok if the local banks carry USD
May 3, 2025
a month ago
Khc *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am going to apply for the Soft Power option - 6 month cooking course (There is also a 9 month course, do you think this one would be more acceptable?) I can transfer the 500k from my investment account in the next few days, so it will have been in my current account approx a month by the time I apply for the DTV. I can see Hanoi and Vientiane look like good options for getting it done quickly. Which one would you recommend I apply to with my circumstances? Thank you ka :)
Apr 29, 2025
a month ago
Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Applying in a few weeks at Vientiane.

Just need to clarify a few things on documents from ppl who applied there and in general.

1 . Does the letter from your clients need to be signed by them

EG the letter stating you can work remotely as well as the contract.

2 . If my german client sends his company certificate in german will it need translating.

3 . does each client need a letter of approval to work remotely and a contract
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