O-A Visa From Thai Embassy Washington DC - Report Jan 2019

[AAArdvark 95]

I just received my O-A visa from the Thai Embassy in Washington DC.

 

I got the visa back 7 business days after they received the applications and documents.  Their website says "minimum 15 days".

I had made 3 phone calls and 2 emails to the Embassy prior to mailing the applications to them.  All of these were answered promptly and courteously.  Make sure you are in an area that is supported

   by the Embassy and not by one of the Consulates like Los Angeles or New York City.  For some reason the Consulates have different, and harder, requirements than the Embassy.

As per their website, I sent the following documents, original and (unsigned) copy.

   Passport with at least 18 months remaining

   Visa application  (for entries I used "Multiple", for "reference person" I used my hotel and their phone number)

   Additional application  (I used my hotel for "reference person").

   Medical certificate  (I was able to get my primary care doctor to order a couple of the tests and he then signed the certificate.  My insurance paid for it)

   Two passport photos  (I wear glasses, my pre-2016 passport had me with glasses and my new photos without.  Not a problem)

   Bank Statement  (see below)

   Criminal record check (this has to be at least at the State level.  I got mine in Florida from the FDLE online and returned certified in about a week)

   Money Order for $200  (no checks, got mine from a post office)

   Express mail self address and stamped envelope  (I used a larger USPS flat rate envelope.  This size was not needed, since the only thing returned was the passport and a receipt.  I used a larger envelope 

      in case they needed to return something for clarification) 

   I also sent a copy of my flight itinerary.  (Consulate says yes, Embassy says no, so to be sure I just sent it)

 

Bank statement details:  I had both the $ amount of 800,000 baht and the $ amount of income for 65,000 baht.  The bank could only give me a typed and signed letter showing my current balances.  For the

income statements, they provided me with literally 3 inches of signed statements.  I called the Embassy and they said what they needed instead were (unsigned) copies of any retirement statements.  So

I provided them with a copies of my Social Security "new amount" statement which is sent out each year.  This did not reach the 65,000 baht amount, so I provided them with originals and copy of each of my 3 annuities 

for each month of the last year.  This was a single page each.  I have no idea which of the two methods they accepted, the total bank accounts or the monthly retirement income.   

 

They Embassy suggests that the visa application not be sent in "too early".  The reason is, they enter a "Valid From" date of the date they receive the application and a "Valid Until" date of 1 year after that.  I chose to 

mail mine 2 months prior to my arrival, just in case there was an issue with my application or documents but in doing so I lost 1 1/2 months.  You decide when.

I have seen references to a "Enter Before" date.  The was not on my ME visa, when does it come into play?

 

 

 

Edited January 11 by AAArdvark
Added to title

[elviajero 5,781]

1 hour ago, AAArdvark said:

I have seen references to a "Enter Before" date.  The was not on my ME visa, when does it come into play?

An "enter before" date is on every visa. It is the last date the visa can be used to enter the country.

 

Your new non 'O-A' is valid for unlimited entries from the date the visa is issued until on or before the 'enter before' date.

 

Whenever you enter during that year you will be given permission to stay for 1 year. So even if you entered on the 'enter before' (the visas expiry) date you would be given a 1 year stay.

[AAArdvark 95]

3 minutes ago, elviajero said:

An "enter before" date is on every visa. It is the last date the visa can be used to enter the country.

 

Your new non 'O-A' is valid for unlimited entries from the date the visa is issued until on or before the 'enter before' date.

 

Whenever you enter during that year you will be given permission to stay for 1 year. So even if you entered on the 'enter before' (the visas expiry) date you would be given a 1 year stay.

I still don't see anything that says "enter before date"

[elviajero 5,781]

It looks like a different style of visa to those generally issued.

 

The ‘valid until’ is the equivalent of ‘enter before’.

[AAArdvark 95]

I thought the the "valid until" was equivalent of "get the hell out date".

[George36 20]

Op, thanks for the thread.  You did good!! 

 

I have a thread going where I am moving to Thailand next month and I am working on my OA visa through Los Angeles.  Almost done and should be able to get the visa next week.  Fingers crossed.  

 

Thanks again.

[AAArdvark 95]

9 minutes ago, George36 said:

Op, thanks for the thread.  You did good!! 

 

I have a thread going where I am moving to Thailand next month and I am working on my OA visa through Los Angeles.  Almost done and should be able to get the visa next week.  Fingers crossed.  

 

Thanks again.

If you live in or near LA, it would be good to hand deliver it.  Saves time and uncertainty.

[Justin Side 266]

3rd January 2020 is your enter before date.

They worded it differently.

Every entry up to that date will give 12 months stay.

Edited January 11 by Justin Side

[jacko45k 7,665]

3 hours ago, AAArdvark said:

I thought the the "valid until" was equivalent of "get the hell out date".

No, and make sure you understand the difference.

[ubonjoe 27,708]

3 hours ago, elviajero said:

It looks like a different style of visa to those generally issued.

The ‘valid until’ is the equivalent of ‘enter before’.

The visa stickers have been stating valid until instead of enter before for some time now.

I think it was back in late 2017 when they started appearing on the forum.

[post 12]

5 hours ago, AAArdvark said:

..... Bank statement details:  I had both the $ amount of 800,000 baht .....

Does the amount of money need to stay in the same bank account for a certain period of time before making the visa application? 

[AAArdvark 95]

4 hours ago, post said:

Does the amount of money need to stay in the same bank account for a certain period of time before making the visa application? 

If you are referring to the Thai Embassy in Washington DC, the answer is no I don't think so.  Again, since I provided both monthly income and current bank balances, it is hard for me to say.  My total bank balances that I provided were simply a list of my 3 accounts and the current amount in them on a signed letter from my bank but the Embassy may or may not have disregarded that in favor of the monthly deposit amounts. Just no way for me to know.  The Embassy documentation does not mention seasoned balances.

[SpokaneAl 1,724]

If you live in or near LA, it would be good to hand deliver it.  Saves time and uncertainty.

I have obtained six non imm o-a multi entry visas over the past six years through the LA Thai Consulate via the mail. I follow their requirements as spelled out in their website and have never had a problem. They are good people.


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[SpokaneAl 1,724]

Does the amount of money need to stay in the same bank account for a certain period of time before making the visa application? 

Nope.


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[overherebc 12,682]

When I read they ask for passport with 18 months left it made me think about the second year, ie, leave and enter a day or so before the unter by/ valid until date you should get a one year permission to stay, making 2 years total.

If your passport only has 6 months left I'm not sure you would get the year permission, 6 months max?