Approved visa in Hanoi Vietnam! ✅🎉

Applied for the Soft Power DTV with Arun Thai cooking

Application submitted: Friday 16/10

Changed to Pending approval 17/10

No document requests.

Approval received: Wednesday 29/10

What I submitted:

Bio data page of US passport

Passport photo

Proof of current address:

- Hanoi evisa document

- 1 passport page with Vietnam stamp

- Agoda bill recent for apartment in Hanoi

- Confirmed booking for flight from HAN to DMK for 25/11

- a picture of me holding apartment keys and a grocery receipt showing the date on the receipt as 14/10

- A close up of the keys and receipt together.

- Agoda page with address of serviced apartment

Three months of bank statements from a HYSA

- September, August, July statements

- The tenth of August had the full amount 500k baht amount and September the entire month. July had like 200k baht.

Arun Thai Cooking school documents.

I wrote a cover letter in English explaining that I will write a small letter in Thai explaining why I choose soft power cooking. I explained why in Thai because I had previously studied Thai getting an ED visa for 18 months and wanted to show that I actually studied and am continuing to learn Thai. The letter was basic and just said Thai food is famous and listed some of my favorites and that I want to learn.

Last time I went Bangkok in January 2025 after spending a month in Japan, I got grilled by the IOs for trying to come back without a proper visa. Because I had basically lived in Thailand for a little over two years. Mostly with ED visa. So an hour later they agreed to let me in but they left a note on my file that said I would apply for the dtv visa.

Huge thanks to the group for all the help. I'm excited to go back! Happy to answer any questions!

Applied for a soft power DTV in Jakarta 07/10 and waited until 21/10 for the answer that the Visa was rejected, since I don’t know the reason why, I will apply again in Laos, has anyone applied recently and got approved there?

Thanks

Approved visa in a few hours! ✅🎉

Applied for the Soft Power DTV through the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles.

Application submitted: Friday 10/10 10am

Approval received: Friday 10/10 5:30pm

What I submitted:

* Bio data page of passport

* Passport photo

* Proof of current address (front & back of driver’s license)

* Three months of bank statements showing $50k USD - used a high yield savings account through Marcus but no issues here!

* House of Taste Cooking Class: invitation letter, payment receipt(6 month membership), company info and data

Notes:

* Super smooth process for me

* My partner had to resubmit his application and pay another $400 because he submitted with his personal account financial account that wasn't seasoned. The second time he submitted with letter explaining the accounts + business account funds transferred, he was approved.

Huge thanks to the group for all the help. Happy to answer any questions!

✨ Question about the Soft Power DTV Visa (Thailand) ✨ — especially the courses that actually qualify.

I’ve seen that things like Muay Thai, Thai cooking, cultural training and even wellness or fitness courses are included, but I can’t seem to find an official list anywhere.

Also, I’m a bit confused about the medical route. I need some dental work done soon — but would that actually make me eligible for a 5-year DTV visa, even if the treatment only lasts around 6 weeks?

Ideally, I’d love to just do a yoga or fitness-related course, but I’m open to whatever works best for the visa requirements.

If anyone has gone through this process or knows a school / course that’s been accepted under the Soft Power DTV, please share! 🙏

Would really appreciate any tips, links, or firsthand experiences.

Hi Members,

I have A DTV Visa. I intend to stay in Thailand approx 123 days.

I have an elderly mother who is 80 years old and relies on me as her carer.

I understand the spouse Visa is for a wife and Children under 20.

1 - Will they make any exception to allow me to sponsor a Elderly dependant parent if paperwork (Medical - birth certificate etc) is provided to show the dependancy.

2 - If this is not possible, and we apply for her own Soft Power DTV Visa, can anyone recommend a Thai cooking class Close to Pattaya who we can book with, Ideally a company that can provide the relevant paperwork for the Visa Application.

Any help would be appreciated, I just want to decide which is the best route to go down.

Many thanks

Jac

Hello,

Did anyone apply for Soft power DTV visa, but with multiple Muay Thai gyms?

I want to do multiple gyms in different locations, Chiang mai, Bangkok, Koh Samui etc , changing the gym every month

I want to apply for the visa in October-November, London embassy

Thank you 🙏

Hii everyone,

For the Soft Power DTV visa, you need to leave the country every 6 months, and then you can return and stay for another 6 months. But if I no longer have a membership to train MMA after the first 6 months, my DTV visa will no longer be valid, right? Even though the visa itself is valid for 5 years.

Does anyone know how this works?

Hello group ✨

I have a question about the legality of online employment when applying for the Soft power Muay Thai DTV visa. Is it legal to work online for an overseas company in this visa category? From what I’ve read in the group and online, many who applied for soft power are showing income from overseas (and they ask for proof) so it seems ok, but it’s not the workcation option and legally it seems a bit grey.

Is it better to say unemployed or student?

I’m applying from Hanoi this week and a little worried now with posts about rejections…

Thank you 🙏🏼

I am still maintaining 500,000 baht in my bank balance. I want to make a soft power dtv visa. I am looking for a reliable company to help me with this.

Hi everyone!

I’m planning to apply for the Soft Power DTV visa from the Thailand consulate in Chennai and I had a few questions. I’d really appreciate any help from people who have applied recently:

1. What documents did you submit?

2. How many working days did it take to receive the visa?

3. For the bank statement requirement, do they expect to see personal savings history, or is it okay as long as the account reflects the required balance at the time of submission?

Thanks so much in advance for any guidance or tips!