rooster59 Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 Two week wait for tourist & non-immigrant visa appointments at Thai Embassy in Vientiane Anyone who was planning to visit the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane to apply for a tourist or non-immigrant visa should be aware that there are no appointments available for at least two weeks. Since 1st February 2019, foreigners who need to a apply for either a tourist, non-immigrant or transit visa first need to schedule an online appointment before submitting the visa application in person at the Embassy. Appointments are scheduled via the new online booking platform at: https://thaivisavientiane.com/ However, according to the online booking system the are no appointments available for either tourist visas or non-immigrant visas until 20th March 2019. This effectively rules out Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane for anyone who urgently needs to apply for any of the aforementioned visas. In January it was announced that the online application system needed to be implemented to help Embassy staff deal with the large amounts of visa applications that were being made at the Royal Thai Embassy Vientiane. “The number of visa applicants at the the Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane has increased significantly in the past years”, the Embassy said on its website. “Due to a limited number of officers, the Embassy needs to implement the Visa Application Appointment System in order to maintain service quality with an aim to reduce waiting time of applicants while increasing,” it added. -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-03-03 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mstevens Posted March 2, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 2, 2019 Wow, this is going to cause a lot of worry and anxiety for many, and it must play havoc with the visa run companies. I wonder if other embassies and consulates in the region will see an increase in visa applicants in what could be a spillover from people who would have otherwise used Vientiane? 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Samui Bodoh Posted March 2, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 2, 2019 The cynic in me thinks that, should the price be right, an 'opening' will magically appear. 13 1 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jacko45k Posted March 2, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 2, 2019 48 minutes ago, rooster59 said: aim to reduce waiting time of applicants By introducing a 2 week one? 4 1 1 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post fforest1 Posted March 3, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2019 I said this was going to happen from day one of the announcement of the booking system.....They can almost effectively kill Vientiane usefulness by strangling the number of appointments (a underhanded visa tightening).....Many/Most? people in need of SETS visas are not exactly the best long range planners..This is awful for the visa run companies.... 6 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post edwinchester Posted March 3, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2019 “The number of visa applicants at the the Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane has increased significantly in the past years”, the Embassy said on its website. Not exactly a problem that's suddenly appeared overnight is it so wait so long before trying to fix it? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Leaver Posted March 3, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2019 This must be great news for hotels, guest houses, bars, and restaurant, in Vientiane. Only Thailand could people away to their competition. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BestB Posted March 3, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2019 According to some posts on Facebook , people try to make money out of it by booking out slots and then selling it. appearantly embassy is aware and changing the booking process where each appointment will have your personal data and giving it to someone also would not be possible. from memory change will go into effect from 24 March 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkkcanuck8 Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 3 hours ago, mstevens said: Wow, this is going to cause a lot of worry and anxiety for many, and it must play havoc with the visa run companies. I wonder if other embassies and consulates in the region will see an increase in visa applicants in what could be a spillover from people who would have otherwise used Vientiane? I suspect the visa run companies can pay for overtime for some of the officers needed... so they likely are still getting service. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkkcanuck8 Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 1 hour ago, BestB said: According to some posts on Facebook , people try to make money out of it by booking out slots and then selling it. appearantly embassy is aware and changing the booking process where each appointment will have your personal data and giving it to someone also would not be possible. from memory change will go into effect from 24 March Yes, all they need to do is save the name, passport number and nationality of passport then print a sign-in sheet at the front gate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bender92 Posted March 3, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2019 Plan ahead. No problem. 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bkkcanuck8 Posted March 3, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2019 1 minute ago, bender92 said: Plan ahead. No problem. The people that it will most likely impact are actually the real tourists who assume that like many embassies, you would just go there and get a visa without having to book 2 weeks in advance... the 'professional' tourist in Thailand probably reads boards like this and will plan ahead. 8 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Deez Posted March 3, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2019 The word "efficient" does not translate into Thai 4 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lupatria Posted March 3, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2019 Look at the bright side. I guess 50 officers bored by their daily routine had a lot sanuk in a dozen meetings at posh hotels and restaurants to come up with a half baked idea to implement an online application system. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post thaiguzzi Posted March 3, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2019 Please God don't make this destroy the wonderful, quiet, easy, peaceful, pleasant Muk-Sav border crossing & visa processing. 5 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BestB Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 32 minutes ago, bkkcanuck8 said: The people that it will most likely impact are actually the real tourists who assume that like many embassies, you would just go there and get a visa without having to book 2 weeks in advance... the 'professional' tourist in Thailand probably reads boards like this and will plan ahead. I am neither . Could not extend my non b in time , so had to go out to get a new non b only no slots for 10 days ahead. Went to Penang instead with 9 days overstay, but good thing I had a letter from immigration confirming I was in process of extending yet still had to pay overstay 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorriedNoodle Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 47 minutes ago, Deez said: The word "efficient" does not translate into Thai Google Translate is your friend. Thī̀ mī pras̄ithṭhip̣hāph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jspill Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 As I understand it, this doesn't mean you can't turn up and apply in person, the online bookings are separate from the regular queue of people that just turn up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubonjoe Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 5 minutes ago, jspill said: As I understand it, this doesn't mean you can't turn up and apply in person, the online bookings are separate from the regular queue of people that just turn up. As far as I know having an appointment is mandatory, Without one you will not be allowed to do it without an an appointment, 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chowny77 Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 This is the reason I flew to veitnam. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post British Bulldog Posted March 3, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2019 As a Vientiane resident for 26 years now, the whole thing is a Joke ... there are heaps of people like me in the same boat where the wife wanted to take the family to Udon for a family day or weekends shopping .... all that has gone now, most of us won't bother trying to get a Visa on principle, why should we have to pay 1000 for a single entry visa when we never paid anything before .... we do get our 2 free boarder crossing visa's per year, but most of us hang on to these until we have a really good reason to use them, in my case I go to Khon Khen Hospital at least every 6 months for treatment .... now I wonder what will happen if I have to wait 2 weeks for Visa whilst I suspect I have a medical problem ? Ha ! And the Thai Government wonder why their economy is dropping, especially in the north east, as nobody is going shopping from Laos there anymore ... and we use to buy up Big Time ! (For those readers who don't know, we can fly into Thailand every day of the year if we wish, as long as it is a valid international Thai airport .... even more stupid ! 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high plane drifter Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 Don't forget, you come to Thailand fo visa run and between you have short holiday,,, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebean001 Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 All countries have immigration issues. I wish all countries would understand a few things. You beg tourist/expats to come. Remember that. They advertise, etc. They are inviting people to be in their country. Please come. There is a ‘cost of business’ when millions come. Yes, you might have to clean up a mess or 2. Yes, someone might end up in the hospital. Paperwork required at immigration. Countries, for the most part, complain about these costs as they continue to beg for people to come. I spend 100,000b a month. If I leave I assume some people will have less income. If you leave, the same. If many leave then the economy suffers. If many leave and fewer tourist because a country does not recognize the ‘cost of doing business’ then the economy suffers and it is even better for expat/tourist to be in that country. The cost of living goes down. There are silver linings. I lived in Russia. That was easy…very easy to live there. Too easy. The average woman wage went from $300/month to $1,000/month quickly for that reason and many more. The ‘mail order bride’ business is almost nonexistent there after many years of thriving. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visarunner Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, bkkcanuck8 said: I suspect the visa run companies can pay for overtime for some of the officers needed... so they likely are still getting service. as part of a visa run company, this is not possible. The slots are handled online. There are also holidays on 8th and not announced by Embassy that 11th and 12th is a voting day , so no slot available, even visa run companies can not go. We update our website daily. Edited March 3, 2019 by visarunner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
British Bulldog Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 34 minutes ago, ubonjoe said: As far as I know having an appointment is mandatory, Without one you will not be allowed to do it without an an appointment, Yes, read my post above ... we must now make an appointment on line ... all of us ... and that's just to apply for the visa ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visarunner Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 37 minutes ago, ubonjoe said: As far as I know having an appointment is mandatory, Without one you will not be allowed to do it without an an appointment, Only Laos nationals under MOU applications can still walk in. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visarunner Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 23 minutes ago, British Bulldog said: As a Vientiane resident for 26 years now, the whole thing is a Joke ... there are heaps of people like me in the same boat where the wife wanted to take the family to Udon for a family day or weekends shopping .... all that has gone now, most of us won't bother trying to get a Visa on principle, why should we have to pay 1000 for a single entry visa when we never paid anything before .... we do get our 2 free boarder crossing visa's per year, but most of us hang on to these until we have a really good reason to use them, in my case I go to Khon Khen Hospital at least every 6 months for treatment .... now I wonder what will happen if I have to wait 2 weeks for Visa whilst I suspect I have a medical problem ? Ha ! And the Thai Government wonder why their economy is dropping, especially in the north east, as nobody is going shopping from Laos there anymore ... and we use to buy up Big Time ! (For those readers who don't know, we can fly into Thailand every day of the year if we wish, as long as it is a valid international Thai airport .... even more stupid ! Laos people can cross unlimited times into Thailand, the limitation is just for nations under visa exempt stamp and IMHO has hurt Thailand a lot.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visarunner Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 1 hour ago, bkkcanuck8 said: Yes, all they need to do is save the name, passport number and nationality of passport then print a sign-in sheet at the front gate. Not possible, system not allow same day booking. The cut off is midnight. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxin Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 Could this delay be due to the recent changes to the retirement visa, with the embassy now seeing its 1st influx of applications from people who don’t have 400/800 baht in the bank ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovelaos Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 41 minutes ago, British Bulldog said: As a Vientiane resident for 26 years now, the whole thing is a Joke ... there are heaps of people like me in the same boat where the wife wanted to take the family to Udon for a family day or weekends shopping .... all that has gone now, most of us won't bother trying to get a Visa on principle, why should we have to pay 1000 for a single entry visa when we never paid anything before .... we do get our 2 free boarder crossing visa's per year, but most of us hang on to these until we have a really good reason to use them, in my case I go to Khon Khen Hospital at least every 6 months for treatment .... now I wonder what will happen if I have to wait 2 weeks for Visa whilst I suspect I have a medical problem ? Ha ! And the Thai Government wonder why their economy is dropping, especially in the north east, as nobody is going shopping from Laos there anymore ... and we use to buy up Big Time ! (For those readers who don't know, we can fly into Thailand every day of the year if we wish, as long as it is a valid international Thai airport .... even more stupid ! Most expats I know in Vientiane get a multiple entry visa, it’s not really expensive and it’s easy to get. Yeah it was great when we got free travel before but you can’t keep living in the past. I don’t really think businesses suffer too greatly because of the few cheap Charlie’s who don’t bother getting a METV 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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