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Can I leave Thailand while my visa application is being processed?

Visa Processing Visa Exemption Visa Application Thailand Embassy Immigration Rules Expat Advice

Jan 9, 2025

a month ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Sorry if this was asked before - the embassy is taking really long to process my application. Appears to be a common issue at this embassy.  I want to ask:

1. Can I leave the country while my visa is still processing? 

2. Can I enter Thailand on a visa exemption (60 days) while my visa is still processing?

I was in the country of residence at the time of application and I still am. But it would be great to not have to not have to wait in the country for what appears to be no reason. Thanks

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is experiencing delays in their visa application processing at an embassy and is seeking clarification on whether they can leave Thailand while the application is pending, as well as if they can enter the country on a visa exemption during this period. The discussion includes concerns about possible additional documentation requests from the embassy and shared experiences regarding the processing times.

Pelle Eriksson

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Henrik *****

You risk loosing 10.000 Baht, and be rejected, if you don’t wait for the visa to be approved.

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Alistair **********

There’s a limit to how long you can afford to stay in hotels just waiting. I’m in the same boat and it’s a little frustrating.

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Luit *****************

@Alistair *********

It is a free choice of your own to apply in a country where you have to stay in a hotel.

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Alistair **********

@Luit ****************

so insightful.

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Alistair **********

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James ********

Stay in the country where you submitted your application. They can ask for ADDED documents or even a personal interview.

What is your passport nation?

EU is NOT a nation.

In your post in December... you replied:.

Wannikea Wanblee bucharest embassy, online. EU passaport

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Andrei ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Romanian passport

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Andrei ******

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Saroj *********

What country are you applying to?

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James ********

@Saroj ********

he replied to his earlier post : bucharest embassy, online. EU passaport

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James ********

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James ********

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Andrei ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

thanks

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Andrei ******

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Cissi *********

On December 18 you wrote that the processing status on E-visa was "pending document check". Is it still the same? If so, they can still ask for additional documentation...

It has been around 30 working days since you applied. Your embassy estimate their processing time to 45 days... You waited this long, so my advise is - wait a bit longer.

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Andrei ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Cissi ********

yea it’s still processing. It appears to be an issue with my specific embassy, I see a lot of people not getting their visas in time. Which actually happened to me before when I went on a tourist visa.

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Andrei ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Bucharest

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Irene ******

what's the embassy?

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Irene ******

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Greg ********

You are supposed to wait but people have done what you are asking. However, we have seen today Taipei Embassy asking people to go to Taiwan Immigration and ask for certificates of entry etc into the country. This is just one embassy as the moment but who can tell if others will ask? Your decision regarding depending upon how risk averse you are.

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Rob *********

I’m trying to confirm if there’s a requirement to stay in the country where the visa is issued while waiting for its approval. However, I couldn’t find any mention of this on the official page of the Thai Embassy in Ho Chi Minh City.

Is there a link or any official reference regarding this? Thanks in advance!

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Andrei ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

i wasn’t able to find anything explicit for this either. However, a while back I applied for a 30 day tourist visa. It didn’t get processed in time for my arrival so I entered on a VOA which was only 15 days at the time and while I was in Thailand my tourist visa application got cancelled. I would imagine DTV is a little different

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Greg ********

I have not seen anything official ie a link. People have been asked thiugh for further documentation showing where they are. Yesterday posts from Taupei asking that you go to Taiwan Immigration and get a certificate showing this. If you were not in the country it will be a problem. If people want to take a risk it is up to them

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Rob *********

I am totally agree with you mate, but there is no an official announcement as many people claim in this group, the rule to be in the country for applying is clear, but not to stay after finished the process.

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Greg ********

There is the risk they ask you for passport pages or like Taipei a certificate from immigration. The question is what happens if you have left the country and they now know it? My only experience has been when I handed in my passport at an Embassy for visas so really had to stay to get the visa. I did not mind as a company was paying and got a couple of free holidays at a very nice hotel in expenses:-)

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Greg ********

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Andrei ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

do you mean just leaving the country of residence or entering into Thailand directly?

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Greg ********

Some people have posted that they applied for a DTV in a country. Came to Thailand on a Visa Exempt. DTV issued so they did a border run to activate the DTV. However, today people have posted that they have been asked for extra documents in Taipei basically showing they are in country and to prove it. There is nothing stopping other countries asking you to show extra docs or all pages of passport to show where you are.

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Greg ********

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