@Wayne *******

A single-entry Non-Immigrant visa is indeed used up once you enter Thailand. If you leave Thailand after that entry, the visa cannot be reused. However, once you obtain an extension of stay, you are no longer staying on the visa itself but on a temporary permission to stay based on the stay the Non O gave you. The point here is simply that it was the IO who was mixing up the terminology.

@Graham *****

Yes, because the underlying visa is already used, and what you hold at that point is only a temporary permission to stay, which does not survive departure unless a re-entry permit is obtained. That is precisely why the re-entry permit is required, -it’s not a visa anymore.

Good, but you should have asked why you could not leave and re-enter without purchasing a re-entry permit, since you still had a valid visa and not only a temporary permission to stay.

@Cyrill ******

And on the actual permission to stay that you receive, it will, as the IO pointed out, only state “Non-O” without specifying the underlying basis.

@Cyrill ******

The basis on which you apply is listed under “remarks” here in Thai, but it is not always entered.

You cannot apply via your home country’s Thai embassy if you are not physically present in that country. Thai embassies process applications based on current physical presence within their jurisdiction, not nationality or stated residence alone. If you are in Asia, you must apply through a Thai embassy or consulate in the country where you are actually located. Listing the US as your location while being in Hanoi or elsewhere would normally result in the application being rejected or cancelled. So in your case, you must leave Thailand and apply from a nearby country such as Vietnam or Laos, using the embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction over where you are physically present at the time of application. There’s a general three months seasoning requirement for a DTV, som foreign missions require six months. The process in Hanoi is known to be quite straightforward.

@Alan ****

There is no official government list of cooking schools formally “approved” for the DTV Soft Power category, but in practice a number of Thai cooking programs are being used successfully because they can provide the documentation embassies look for, such as an enrollment letter, course description, schedule, and proof of legal business registration. Examples that have been used by applicants are mainly in Bangkok and Chiang Mai and typically offer structured programs of several months rather than short tourist classes. What matters is not the school name as such, but that the program is genuine, ongoing, and able to issue proper supporting documents for a DTV application. Requirements and interpretation can vary slightly between embassies, so it is always wise to confirm in advance with the foreign mission where you plan to apply. I am not personally aware of any cooking schools in Pattaya that have been used for this purpose. Prices varies from approximately 20 000 baht for the cheapest six months to 60 000 baht for a twelve month course plus visa fee.

@Greg ******

Yes, there are real examples of DTV Soft Power visas being granted based on music and festival participation, but what has worked in practice is not ordinary festival attendance as a tourist, but documented participation in recognised cultural or music events aligned with Thailand’s soft power initiatives. Successful cases have involved established festivals such as Wonderfruit, Big Mountain Music Festival, Rolling Loud Thailand, and certain international electronic music festivals, where the applicant could show formal registration, accreditation, an invitation or a confirmation from the organiser. A simple ticket purchase is normally not sufficient.

It is possible if you enroll in and participate in one of the soft power options at an institution that is approved for this.

This is the new description for the O-A.