Please help me with some weird visa questions I have. Thanks :)

[Thai-Fan]

Hi everyone.

I'm looking at visiting a few different SEA countries this year, with Thailand being the country I want to spend the most time in. I want to spend the maximum time possible in Thailand before moving/visiting the next country.

I am looking at obtaining a SETV - I would like to stay in Thailand for 60+30 days, before going to another country or two, but then return to Thailand months later in the same year. Would I be able to apply for a second SETV from a neighbouring country in this case, if the original has expired? Are there financial requirements of your bank balance for the SETV like there were for the METV?

 

Apparently, proof of accomodation is needed as evidence during the visa application. As someone who likes to move around a lot and experience different towns and places, I would find it extremely difficult to plan a full 60 days accomodation before even getting to Thailand and seeing which areas I like more. Is there any way to skirt around this question and still be issued the visa? It would be frustrating to be stuck in one area for weeks I didn't like much because I had to prebook weeks of accomodation. Maybe find a second hotel willing to issue refunds and then cancel/rebook on the fly while over there?

Alternatively, would just putting my initial hotel I will use for the first week down be enough or will that cause a problem if my booking says I only have 7 days there? I was browsing some threads for answers and saw Faz wrote a post saying put down 'not applicable' as an answer to this question, will this work or cause problems?

 

When submitting proof of funds as part of the application (bank statement pdf), would a new recently opened account with enough money to match the visa requirement be acceptable, or it is one that needs to have been opened for months/years beforehand? Is it more favorable to have higher than the minimum amount of money required, or is that not important?

 

When applying for the visa, am I right in thinking the process is;

a.) Go to https://thaievisa.go.th and apply online there uploading/submitting documents                                                                                                    (passport + passport photos / bank statement / travel insurance / flight details into Thailand + outward travel for end of 60 days / accomodation details).

b.) The application is processed and then approved/rejected.

c.) If approved, I must travel to the nearest Thailand consulate and present my documents in person where I will be issued the visa.

If it is rejected, is it okay to reapply and try again or is it a one strike and you're out kind of deal?

 

To sum up this post / tl;dr -

1.) Could I re-enter Thailand after leaving by obtaining a second SETV in the same year after the first one expires? From a neighbouring country?

2.) Is there any way to get around the requirement of the visa which requires proof of accomodation for the full length of the trip? I don't know which areas I would like and which not as I haven't been before, so I feel like booking everything before going would be very limiting and I might miss some nice places and experiences because of that.

Could I book a cheap hostel for the second half of the trip then cancel and find alternative accomodation while over there?

3.) Are there financial minimum requirements of your bank balance for the SETV like there were for the METV? If yes what are they (how much money/how many months previous must the account statments show for? Is it more favourable to have a higher amount of money sitting in your bank account vs a lower amount?)

4.) If the visa application is rejected for whatever reason, can I apply for another one immediately after?

5.) I am looking to take a flight into Thailand, then have a coach trip booked for my outward journey for the end of my time allowed there. Is this an acceptable plan?

 

I would really appreciate some help with my questions, thank you

[Faz]

1 hour ago, Thai-Fan said:

1.) Could I re-enter Thailand after leaving by obtaining a second SETV in the same year after the first one expires? From a neighbouring country?

Yes.

1 hour ago, Thai-Fan said:

2.) Is there any way to get around the requirement of the visa which requires proof of accomodation for the full length of the trip? I don't know which areas I would like and which not as I haven't been before, so I feel like booking everything before going would be very limiting and I might miss some nice places and experiences because of that.

There is no requirement to provide proof of accommodation for the full duration of stay.

1 hour ago, Thai-Fan said:

3.) Are there financial minimum requirements of your bank balance for the SETV like there were for the METV? If yes what are they (how much money/how many months previous must the account statments show for? Is it more favourable to have a higher amount of money sitting in your bank account vs a lower amount?)

A minimum of the equivalent of 20,000 BHT.

1 hour ago, Thai-Fan said:

4.) If the visa application is rejected for whatever reason, can I apply for another one immediately after?

Yes.

1 hour ago, Thai-Fan said:

5.) I am looking to take a flight into Thailand, then have a coach trip booked for my outward journey for the end of my time allowed there. Is this an acceptable plan?

Yes.

The only issue I foresee is if you want to visit an Immigration office to extend your stay for 30 days.
A TM30 must have been filed, which a hotel will do, but a hostel or Airbnb won't.

[Thai-Fan]

 

Hi Faz. Thank you very much for the help and quickness of your response. Your answers are encouraging and put my mind at ease a bit.

Do you have any tips how I can avoid any issues regarding the TM30? What is the correct procedure, do I need to book accomodation before applying for the 30 day extension (then the hotel can notify the government of my longer stay with the TM30)?

What day of the initial 60 should I apply for the 30 day tourist visa extension? (The 44th day?)

Do you think there would be an issue with submitting a bank statement of a new account only a few weeks old (with 20,000 BHT equivalent deposited in) or should I send an older account statement in?

Thank you

 

[Faz]

7 hours ago, Thai-Fan said:

Do you have any tips how I can avoid any issues regarding the TM30? What is the correct procedure, do I need to book accomodation before applying for the 30 day extension (then the hotel can notify the government of my longer stay with the TM30)?

You'll have to apply for the 30-day extension at the Immigration office within the Province you're staying at that particular time. A TM30 (notification of an alien's residence) must have been filed with that office for them to proceed and grant the 30-day extension. It's the responsibility of a hotel to file that TM30, and you should request a copy of the filing from the hotel to ensure they complied with the law.

The law can be found in section 38 of the Immigration Act  B.E. 2522 (1979) ENG.pdf  

7 hours ago, Thai-Fan said:

What day of the initial 60 should I apply for the 30 day tourist visa extension? (The 44th day?)

There is no specific time to apply, but not last minute in case of an issue.
Usually within the last 7 - 14 days of the 60 days.

7 hours ago, Thai-Fan said:

Do you think there would be an issue with submitting a bank statement of a new account only a few weeks old (with 20,000 BHT equivalent deposited in) or should I send an older account statement in?

Why a new account?
Use an up-to-date statement from your existing online bank account. 

[Thai-Fan]

I will send them my older bank account then. I'm just normally very stringent with privacy and feel uncomfortable with the thought of someone I don't know looking through a month or more of my transactions, despite nothing bad/dodgy being on there.

 

Thanks for all the info, it's very helpful. I'll put my application in next week and tell you how I get on

[Faz]

6 minutes ago, Thai-Fan said:

I will send them my older bank account then. I'm just normally very stringent with privacy and feel uncomfortable with the thought of someone I don't know looking through a month or more of my transactions, despite nothing bad/dodgy being on there.

You need to provide your latest monthly statement.