You can only get a DTV from a Thai embassy or consulate. Obviously there are none of those in Thailand.

You must physically be in the jurisdiction of an embassy to apply there, and must remain until the application is processed. This takes anywhere from 3 days to 1.5 months depending on the embassy.

It's taking about a month in Laos currently.

You go to Laos. Then you submit the application online and upload your entry stamp from your passport.

Then you go to the embassy/consulate between 9-11 AM to pay for your application.

Then you wait and should get contacted in 1-2 weeks with an appointment to come to the embassy for an interview, and that date is usually another 2 weeks after the notification.

After the interview you usually get the visa before you can even get back to your hotel.

Sponsorship letter is for a dependent that is applying for DTV based on another DTV. Like a wife applying based on their husband, or a child applying based on their parent. The sponsor letter states that the primary person will be responsible for the financial aspect of the application.

Not relevant to you.

The owner of this group offers safe entry.



You would fill out their TDAC form linked above, put in your information, and then when you submit the form, there will be a little pop-up that offers you the opportunity to purchase safe entry. Fill in how many times you have entered and how long you've spent in Thailand, and it will give you the price.

@Angie *********

okay. I'm done trying to help. You refuse to listen. I and others have told you that it's not a requirement. I even told you how to verify that it's not a requirement. Yet you insist on hobbling yourself with a requirement that doesn't even exist. Good luck.

@Angie *********

forget about DTV. Apply for the correct visa. Your sister got information about the non-OA retirement visa. That's not what you want. Apply for the non-O. Stop asking questions. Stop doing other things. Login to the e-visa system and start the application. Use the same options in the photo I uploaded. It will show you exactly what's required, and background check will not be one of the things it asks you to upload.

@Angie *********

there's no such thing as applying in person. All Thai embassies use the e-visa system. You just need to select the 90 day non-O visa using the options in the screenshot I uploaded. There's no background check required for a non-O.

@Genevieve ********

that's about mid-range. I've seen people talk about 200,000 per year up to 800,000 per year depending on the school.

@Angie *********

NEVER listen to anything an immigration officer tells you about embassies. And never listen to anything an embassy tells you about immigration. They're completely different government agencies that know nothing about each other.

Also you did not need to go back to the US. You could've just went to Laos and applied there. Or even bounced out and back in a few hours and then applied at immigration once your money seasoned long enough.