13 replies to this topic

[COYS]

I've just applied for a tourist visa (double entry) and they didn't even look at my passport. Normally they flick through and reject you on the spot if there is a problem don't they? He just said 2000 baht and gave me a ticket.
I have the dreaded red stamp from the last time round and I only have 3 tourist visas in there and only 2 of them are back to back.

My question is this. Has anybody had their application accepted only to go and pick up your passport the nest day and find you've been refused?

If this is the case it hardly seems fair as I've seen people have their passports looked at and rejected right away, yet he didn't even look at mine even though he looked at the person's before me.

Ha, if I'd have know this would happen I'd only have asked for single entry and just risked 1000 baht instead of 2.

[OnTheEdge]

Red Stamp sounds scary.

I don't know, but remember, the fact that you have a Visa does not give you right of entry to the Kingdom.

.

[COYS]

Yeah ok I'll bear that in mind.

Vientiane are giving red stamps to people who have too many tourist visas in their passport. Some consulates don't even care if you have the stamp or not thogh apparently and give you a visa anyway.
My plan was to pay a tout a bit extra to do it for me but I couldn't find one that knew what this red stamp was so I thought I'd give it a go since I was there.
I'll keep my fingers crossed!

[Scumbag]

I've just applied for a tourist visa (double entry) and they didn't even look at my passport. Normally they flick through and reject you on the spot if there is a problem don't they? He just said 2000 baht and gave me a ticket.
I have the dreaded red stamp from the last time round and I only have 3 tourist visas in there and only 2 of them are back to back.

My question is this. Has anybody had their application accepted only to go and pick up your passport the nest day and find you've been refused?


If this is the case it hardly seems fair as I've seen people have their passports looked at and rejected right away, yet he didn't even look at mine even though he looked at the person's before me.

Ha, if I'd have know this would happen I'd only have asked for single entry and just risked 1000 baht instead of 2.

Are you in the UK or a neighbouring country? I have read reports where the person has been issued a visa but where also told not to apply for another (with a stamp stating this in the passport). I think that is probably the worst case scenario.

Red Stamp sounds scary.

I don't know, but remember, the fact that you have a Visa does not give you right of entry to the Kingdom.

.

That is true for any country that issues you a tourist visa.

[COYS]

I'm in Laos. I'd planned back to the UK after this next tourist visa runs out (if I get it) and I'll renew my passport whilst I'm there. Maybe I'll be going back early though, I'll update tomorrow when I find out and let you know

[OnTheEdge]

..............................................

That is true for any country that issues you a tourist visa.

I know, but I thought it was worth mentioning as a general point, because many people think that if they get a Visa then checks have been carried out and they're cleared to come in.

All it means is that they can board the plane to come here and if they're not allowed in then the airline is in the clear and the tourist has to fund his own return.

You may recall this lady got a nasty surprise...................

[Ohyesuare]

Usually if they take your money you get the visa but it is strange he never even looked through it. Maybe he just liked the look of you. Very risky to apply for one without an agent when you already have other tourist visa's and a red stamp though. I would be interested to know if you end up getting it.

[COYS]

Yes I know. I was surprised and thats why I posted this thread.
What actually happened was I met a tout in Vientiane last time I was there and took his card. He assured me through emails that he could get me the visa even though I had the red stamp. So I went to Vientiane and when I met him he looked at my passport and said "oh you have a red stamp, we cant get it done here but we can still get it done in Savannakhet. We will send the passport by bus and it will take an extra day" And extra cost!
So I just thought fuck him, I'll go myself and get a tout to do it for me. But the situation here is different than Vientiane and there were no touts available. So I had a try myself.
To be honest I was hoping he would just look at how many previous TV,s I have and just issue a single entry instead of a double. The red stamp doesn't say that you WILL be refused, just that you may.
Anyway, I'll post back tomorrow and let you know how it goes. If I do get it I think it will just be down to luck but I read of somebody who went there last month with quite a few tourist stamps and still got one. He said that the guy just flicked quickly through his passport and that was it. He didn't state if he had a red stamp already though.

[COYS]

Just an update. I got my passport back today with a double entry tourist visa. Was speaking to a guy that had ten tourist visas in his passport (but no red stamp) and still got his ok. I might have just got lucky, who knows. Either way, I'm happy.

COYS

[Nak Muay]

Just an update. I got my passport back today with a double entry tourist visa. Was speaking to a guy that had ten tourist visas in his passport (but no red stamp) and still got his ok. I might have just got lucky, who knows. Either way, I'm happy.

COYS

where did u send it? country and an agent?

why havent u gone for a ED visa? after taking into account costs of boarder runs and visas for country you enter the price is not that different over the total 15motnhs or so

[Ohyesuare]

Just an update. I got my passport back today with a double entry tourist visa. Was speaking to a guy that had ten tourist visas in his passport (but no red stamp) and still got his ok. I might have just got lucky, who knows. Either way, I'm happy.

COYS

Oh you went to Savannakhet, ya apparently they are the most friendly embassy in the region now and will approve almost anything. Who knows how long that will last though. Happy to hear you got it ok.

[COYS]

Yeah thanks. Yes who knows how long it will last, things change so fast with these embassies/consulates. It was a painless application though with no questions asked. One guy who I spoke to said that there were only about 15 people waiting when he came the last time. There was considerably more than that when I went but that could be down to it being a Monday.
Hopefully people in the same situation as I was in will find this thread and have some hope. There's no assurances that they will be as lucky as I was but it seems like it's worth a shot.
If anyone has any questions about it please feel free to PM me here.
Cheers.

COYS

PS. I also emailed an agent in Phnom Penh who wrote back and told me that every application he had made for people with red stamps had came back ok. So that's another option.

[COYS]

Yeah thanks. Yes who knows how long it will last, things change so fast with these embassies/consulates. It was a painless application though with no questions asked. One guy who I spoke to said that there were only about 15 people waiting when he came the last time. There was considerably more than that when I went but that could be down to it being a Monday.
Hopefully people in the same situation as I was in will find this thread and have some hope. There's no assurances that they will be as lucky as I was but it seems like it's worth a shot.
If anyone has any questions about it please feel free to PM me here.
Cheers.

COYS

PS. I also emailed an agent in Phnom Penh who wrote back and told me that every application he had made for people with red stamps had came back ok. So that's another option.

where did u send it? country and an agent?

why havent u gone for a ED visa? after taking into account costs of boarder runs and visas for country you enter the price is not that different over the total 15motnhs or so

I didn't send it anywhere, I actually took it to Vientiane, then Savannakhet, in person. I thought of the education visa and was going to weigh up all my options if I was refused. I'm not planning on staying another full year though, so the tourist visa was my first choice if I could get it.

[gingerchelsea]

whats the red stamp???if you go back to your home country and get the holiday visa there will you have the same problem??also heard a story that if you stay in thailand 6 months you have to stay in your home country 6 months before you can get the 60 day mulity entry holiday visa is this true??

Edited by gingerchelsea, 11 June 2012 - 08:48 PM.