Hi all, my wife is from a visa-on-arrival country (Ethiopia), but we'd like to stay longer than 30 days while the Elite or Smart-S is processed (tbd), and not have excess VOA history. We will be applying in Vientiane. She needs an operation, so we could get a letter for a Medical Visa, but hospital says Tourist Visa sufficient.

Are we more likely to get a Medical Visa than a Tourist Visa, or the same? I reckon VOA applicants are scrutinized more than visa exempt residents, and nervous that if a tourist application is refused a subsequent medical one might not look great, (although planning to get an initial operation consultation to show in case, as we're in BKK now, on a busy 15-day VOA). Thanks 🙏