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expat experience

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This page displays all the results for the Expat Experience tag, sorted by the most recent activity. There are a total of 215 questions that have been tagged with Expat Experience. Explore the questions to find discussions and information relevant to this topic.
Jun 4, 2025
5 days ago
It helps to answer interview in Thai 💕 officer will be nicer 💕 first applied last year in my home country, confident with bank account n yearly income but was met with (we don't have bilateral agreements with Thai govt so we don't know what to charge)

So to rush to get in I did ED visa which helped me to learn Thai เรียนภาษาไทย but 😩 unable to travel out. So I took the plunge & one way ticket out. Lesson learnt to check on bank holidays it was a grueling 18 days wait with just an appointment date. But I think 2 points to learn from this

1) Glad I got an agent, pay 100USD to save on headache, help me check on docs & even advise me retaking photo showing my ears and no teeth to prevent rejection. They help to push along documents.

2) Sometimes you just have to push through, follow instructions, be there early not on time, before office opens (everyone had appointment at 9.30am) what a cute arrangement 😂 just persevere. Be prepared for the weather (correction : thks for helping below, so I be sure not to miss deadline reporting save fine money 😊)
May 30, 2025
10 days ago
I just did my 90 day reporting in Chiang Mai as a DTV and it took less than 5 minutes. I was prepared to spend the whole day there. So happy the process was smooth
May 24, 2025
17 days ago
James ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just sharing today’s exprience in Don Mueng. I used the Thai passport lane as I was traveling with my thai wife. I had filled out the DTAC, and handed it to the immigration officer, who proceeded to totally ignored it. He did not want to see it or the barcode, and just went into the passport to look for the visa stamp.
May 21, 2025
19 days ago
Hello everyone, hope you are all doing good😊.

Just a question if you don't mind helping.

Once you have submitted the DTV application and then a couple of days later received a message for a further document that I've updated as requested, does that mean everything else on my application was ok? Or do they keep coming back as they get further into the application requesting more?

Just wondering if I'm all good after submitting the requested document 🤔.

Thanks.
May 12, 2025
a month ago
Mike ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
TDAC Application

On the application I don't see South Korea listed in the Country of Boarding drop down section, only North Korea.

What am I missing?

Thanks.

Mike
May 8, 2025
a month ago
Zolar *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello every one,

I have got DTV visa since December 2024 and stay at Chiangmai over 5 months already. I have to extend/ renew another 180 days to stay at Thailand and I consider to go Tachileik which I have to cross border line to Myanmar and re-enter. So is there any one has experience for it and Thailand immigration at Tachileik border has capacity to extend visa for another 180 days by stamp in there? Would you please kindly advise?
May 1, 2025
a month ago
Has anyone applied from Switzerland yet? If so, how did it go and how strict were the financial requirements and document check?
Apr 30, 2025
a month ago
EDIT: Finally got it today, May 1st. Patience works! Thanks for all the comments

I've been stuck on "Pending Approval" since April 21st here in Hanoi. I originally submitted on the 18th (Friday afternoon) and got moved to Pending Approval on Monday, no documents check required. I'm applying for a workation visa and submitted a ton of documents so it should cover everything. I bought round-trip tickets and I'm going back to Thailand on May 14th. I've heard some conspiracy theories that the longer your stay here, the slower you'll be processed, so that might be it.

It's been about 8 working days so far, which I know isn't *super* long, but I've seen some people apply after me that have already been approved here in Hanoi. I know there might be a backlog from Songkran and there's a holiday here in Vietnam today and tomorrow. I sent consular.han@mfa.go.th an email yesterday morning with no response yet.

Anything else I can do besides just wait? Was hoping to go to Da Nang to celebrate after I get my visa but we'll see if I have time...
Apr 29, 2025
a month ago
Belinda ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just a heads up. I renewed retirement extension today and was sent to update my bank book again having just updated it all with a years statement from the bank and bank confirmation letter just the afternoon before. Never had this happen before. Apparently if it is a savings account the new rule is it has to be updated ON THE DAY you go to immigration. Of course lost my parking space which I had secured by getting there before immigration opened, my time going to the relevant bank in Phuket town to update yet again and then not being able to find a parking spot at immigration when I got back took another 40 minutes. If in fixed account that’s alright to do the day before but NOT a savings account.

The only other change is there are now 4 forms you have to complete and only one of the forms is the same as last year, so if you took forms last year to prepare and fill in before you come you may find they are now not correct.

Just the fun of all the changes each year to keep you on your toes.
Apr 24, 2025
2 months ago
How my 1st 90 day reporting went for those interested. I’m currently in Phuket. I walked in with my passport, a copy of my passport, and my TM 30.

I waited in queue about 5 minutes. The immigration officer had me fill out the TM 47. Then waited in another queue for about 10 minutes.

They review the paperwork and my passport and instead of putting another stamp in my passport, they stapled a small piece of paper stating my 90 day report was complete and the date I must do my next 90 day report. This had a stamp on it.

The whole process took less than 30 minutes 🙌
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