# DTV Update: HCMC Approved!

I'm in HCMC right now and just picked up my DTV today.

Here's what I did to prepare:

- Scheduled my appt at the HCMC Thail consulate 3 weeks ahead of my trip

- Pre-filled the visa app from HCMC Thai consulate

- Printed out my American business license/LLC paperwork

- Printed out 2 client contracts with my American biz name/address shown (matched LLC paperwork)

- Printed out 6mos of bank statements with 500k+ baht showing for all 6 mos

- Printed out my HCMC hotel confirmation

- Had visa pics printed and ready

- Had precisely $340 USD in crisp bills

What they did when I arrived that you can do ahead of time:

- Had me glue my picture to my visa app

- Highlighted the ending bank account summary amount for each month

What issue I ran into:

- One of my USD bills had a tiny bit of ink on it - they asked me to exchange it for a "clean" one. I popped over to a currency converter shop and exchanged it, and was able to get back in line without an appointment.

Visa approval + pickup

- They processed all the paperwork with the "clean" bills in 5 minutes and gave me a slip to pick up my passport with the new DTV in 48 hours. (This means you're officially "approved")

- Two days later, I returned the slip and instantly picked up my passport, which included DTV.

*NOTE: The HCMC Thai Consulate visa center is a tiny container office outside.*

I hope this helps!

Hello, my boyfriend is planning to apply for the dtv. I’m wondering if his dad could be his sponsor and he shows his bank statements or he needs to have 500k in his bank account.

Thanks in advance

1 of my main concerns is that I have a few different accounts that I keep my money in and I would have to transfer the amount of 500K equivalent into 1 bank account, therefore I would not be able to give 3 or 6 months statements showing 500K but I would be able to show the full amount on the day of applying.Any recommendations on where I could apply and this would not be a problem? Is there anyone else that was in a similar situation?

Jakarta DTV update

My husband just got our 2 visas from the embassy!!! 🙌🏼😆

Documents provided

For him as main DTV holder:

- 500k THB on a bank account at date of application

- letter of acceptance from a Muay Thai school on Koh Lanta

- price 5,600,000 IDR

For me as spouse:

- proof of relationship - copy of our civil union certification from Amsterdam (NL)

- copy of his passport

He gave both applications on Monday around 1pm. And got the visas on Thursday at 1.30pm. 3 days like they announce on the website and when you drop the application.

I did not have to be present which allowed me to stay on Bali with our kids.

He only had to proove 1x 500k THB for both of us.

The MT school on Lanta gave a pretty high price to agree to give him the letter.

Note my husband DOES plan on training in MT but NOT everyday because as a family it just doesn’t work. And they were offering daily training at first.

He managed to get the price gor down a bit but still it was quite an expense. Something to take into account when applying for soft power DTV

I feel joy and relief that we are to enjoy Thailand again.

Also happy to answer any questions!

DTV Visa SUCCESS! 🎉 Vientiane, Laos.

Hey all. I just received my passport back with a DTV Visa. Feeling grateful! I thought I would make this post to document the process I took, and my current situation.

I stressed myself out to the max before applying for this visa due to the conflicting info online. It seems to vary heavily from embassy to embassy and is dependent on multiple factors.

DO NOT take my application as gospel, but hopefully there is some info in here that can help others.

Embassy I used - 🇱🇦 Vientiane, Laos

My nationality - 🇬🇧 British

Application type - 🛂 In person

Visa type - 💻 Remote work DTV

Company location - 🇦🇺 Australia

Time taken - ⏰ 3 days inc day of application

Documents I submitted ✍️

• Passport copies

• Passport photos x 2

• Previous month wage slip for July

• Upwork profile page PDF (freelance site)

• Upwork certificate of earnings (payslip)

• LinkedIn profile page PDF

• Rental contract for house rental in Thailand

• Previous years UK tax return proof

• Booking confirmation of hotel in Laos

• Copy of Laos Visa on arrival stamp in passport [they emphasized this]

• Printed out embassy appointment for Laos

• 6 months UK personal bank statement closing balance showing 500k baht, in my name

• Remote work contract from AUS company (not notarized by AUS embassy)

• Cover letter describing my documents (discarded by officer upon submission)

Day of applying:

1. I arrived outside the embassy at 8AM, 1hr before.

2. Went inside at 9AM sharp

3. First hurdle is initial document check & check that you have appointment booked (they checked email confirmation too)

4. Walked up to main counter, handed officer my document stack

5. Officer skimmed through, taking considerable notice to my bank statements

6. Officer did not ask for any further documents it was a very quick process. I could see him flicking through my docs and ticking off the checklist in his head as he went along

7. Officer asked for my passport & 10,000baht CASH (they only accepted Thai baht)

8. I submitted, and got told to come back to collect my passport today @ 1:30PM

9. Collected my passport with DTV Visa sticker 🥳

It was the most hassle free embassy experience I’ve had. Super simple and straight to the point. Much better experience than I’ve had at Thai embassy’s in other countries. Super chilled here.

BANK STATEMENTS FAQ ❓

I did NOT have 500k balance for the entirety of the past 6 months. I recently topped up my account from elsewhere to ensure the closing balance was over 500k baht (literally 2 days before applying). I circled my closing balance of this month with a pen, and converted the GBP 🇬🇧 currency to Thai baht 🇹🇭 to make it dead easy for the officers to see I had the required amount.

Good luck everyone!!

Interested to see what happens in 180 days from now, but that’s a story for another day. Got 6 months to breathe & eat Pad Krapow now. 😂

Happy to answer any questions below. 👇

Would like you guys' advice on my situation:

I would like to get the DTV, but having some doubts.

Context:

I have been in-and-out of Thailand trying to maximize my stay for about 5 years, always on a TR visa. This is because my boyfriend moved to Bangkok in 2019, and he was able to get a Thai passport because he was born in Thailand.

I always brought supporting documents like our appartment lease and his invitation letter + his ID card copy to help me pass immigration. During my last stay this started becoming harder. Despite having a multiple entry TR visa, the immigration officers started grilling me extensively on every entry, and despite being understanding of my situation, they insisted every time I had to get a different visa and I might be refused entry next time.

At this point I am not comfortable anymore going back on a TR visa and facing this same scenario again (being grilled, facing the risk of being rejected at immigration, doing visa runs every 2 months...)

Since I am a freelance web developer, the DTV seems ideal for me.

However:

- With the TR visa, immigration makes issues if they suspect you of trying to stay in Thailand year-round. I wonder if this also applies to the DTV. Because technically I would like to be able to stay year-round, aside from the occasional trip.

- I do not have a bank account with 500k THB or equivalent. I can loan this from my parents and put it on an account, but this won't make for a 6-month statement of 500k+.

This makes me worry I will face an issue getting it.

Alternatively, we could look into a spouse visa. But this might require me to wait for a while. Thailand is due to allow same-sex marriage this year, which will be a matter of months now. It is not clear yet how this will play into our ability to get married in Thailand (as a Thai national and a foreign national), or the ability to have a foreign marriage recognized. We aren't married yet but we've been together for 11 years now and we are engaged. That being said, the DTV seems like a better solution while we wait this out.

Any advice or insights much appreciated :)

Can I provide my Thai bankbook as proof of funds for a visa exemption by air entry? My work contract ended and I had to leave the country that day. I hoped to get a temporary tourist visa in Malaysia to buy enough time to get my affairs in order before I go back to SA, however both consulates in Penang and KL didn't want to process a TV for a South African passport holder. They said it would take 45 days with a series of interviews and background checks and even then it's a maybe. I booked a flight from KL to Hat Yai tomorrow and was worried if I gave them my bank book it would create a problem. Came in with a non-b and it was extended for 3 years so my income for that period was all from the Thai company I worked for.

Setting up to renew O visa etc. Its harder to renew then just start all over it seems. Seems impossible to proof income when your own Embassy is worthless. Deposit over 65000 baht each month but it doesnt matter. All those politicians we get disgusted with, well they are everywhere. Im going back to being a visitor only. Three month's then gone! They hate farangs, then so be it. Costa Ric, Combodia, Phillipines, Uraguay, Panama, Belize...see you soon.

Hi. Chiangmai. I have a 90 day retirement visa, expires 1 June. They said, come in 1 month ahead for the 1 year extension.

Regarding the bank letters, do I have to have 2 letters, one a current statement of the account, and then another letter showing one years transactions? Thank you.

Good morning,

I've been working in Thailand for the last 6 years (Non-B visa), and when my current contract comes to an end, I'll be finishing up work as I've got a new job in the UK.

Before I go back, I want to spend a few months travelling/relaxing, so I plan to go to Laos (Vientiene) and apply for a 60+30 day visa. Since it's been a while since I did a visa run, I just want to check I've got it correct.

1. My WP/Visa will be cancelled, then I get a 7-day extension to leave.

1. Go to Vientiene to the Thai embassy (with appointment) with these documents

- visa form + 2 photos

- passport + copy of passport

- 3 months bank statements

- plane ticket out of thailand

- itinerary inc accomodation

1. Pick up a few days later.

Then plan is then spend 4/5 days in Laos, travelling down to Pakse and reentrying Thailand at the Ubon boarder.

I had a few questions about the documents.

I've got an old UK bank account with about 1000GBP in it, or I've got a Thai saving account with about 100,000THB. Is one better than the other or do I submit both? Is there an issue with using a Thai bank account?

Do they actually expect a full itinerary w/ hotel bookings for 2 months, or is the first hotel enough? I plan on just bouncing around for a while, no solid plans except at some point going to the beach.

Essentially, my only concern is that I might run into a problem if I submit a Thai account due to work history, they end up thinking I'm want to work on the visa etc etc.

I appreciate any reassurance or advice.