DTV: Softpower Approved in 2 days in Jakarta!

Details Below:

Applied in Jakarta on the 25th of Jan, got a VOA which takes a picture of you at the autopassport gate (if you have an e-compatible passport, apply online before or when you arrive).

Overall this was a simple, fast, and surprisingly no fuss process.

Visa Class: DTV Softpower

From: Muay Thai Fever - Derry McCourt was extremely understanding and accomidating for this part. 6 Month training plan. He supplied a full range of gym docs & certifications, training details, reciept, scheudle, anything that could be asked for by immigration.

Submitted: All required pages provided to me in a pre-combined single PDF.

Proof of Location:

Uploded the VOA email that has my picture and entry details, my hotel booking in Jakarta, and inbound flight just to cover my bases. I did not have an outboud flight booked so there was nothing to provide.

Submitted: Hotel booking, Inbound flight + VOA approval page with my photo on it, in 1 combined PDF.

Proof of funds:

I uploaded 5 months of bank statements from my USA bank, all showing over 500k THB. I only included the transactions on the most recent 2 months - while including a screenshot from that bank's mobile banking app for the current month (Jan) as I was applying right at the end of Jan and didn't have a proper statement yet. Totalling 6 months of banking. This account had 1-4 transactions each month - something that may have helped move the process through faster.

Submitted: Screenshot of my banking app showing current month + current balance, as well as 5 months of bank statements. Combined into 1 PDF.

Details:

Employement: Freelance & appropriate income. From my understanding employment, and income are not weighted in a Soft Power application, but it never hurts.

Duration of stay: 5 months - I didn't want to under, or over-apply the stay as technically stamps are for 6 months, but if I put only 2 months stay, they may instead say I only needed a tourist visa.

Address in Thailand: My current condo details, just the contact details from their google listing, no contracts or anything required.

Apply mid day Mon 27th, recieved email approval late Wed 29th, printed it out that night and flew out the following morning, the 30th.

When entering, the immigration lady I picked was smiley, but when she got my passport + printed DTV page she had to process for a while, lost her smile, then her supervisor came over and spoke a bit, and then I was stamped in no questions.

Hopefully that helps someone get their stuff sorted. I added all the details I am comfortable with sharing, so take what you need and good luck!🙌🙌🙌🙌

Another shocker! At Nong Khai on the Laos side they asked me to pay in USD for my VOA just now. $40 USD for Canadian. Ofc, I didn't have it because they always ask for THB and complain that USD is not in pristine condition when you mention USD.

So ofc I overpayed 1.7k baht because its their usual scammy rate. I could have saved 350THB. Well, now they don't care about THB, they ask for USD first.

I've been crossing that border for 12 years, and it's the first time they speficially ask for USD. They even have a new pink exchanger booth on the Thai side by the photocopy booth, which I should have deduced is there for a reason.

So if you need to bounce, come here with THB and exchange on Thai side and they will take your USD and I'll save 300-400THB in bogus conversion.

Hello everyone, on September 18 I came to Bangkok with a visa on arrival 15days , by the 1st of October I went to Penang to do a 60 days tourist visa , they don't do walk in visa any more so I came back yesterday with a second visa on arrival. I want to stay and learn Thai and opt for the Ed visa, but the schools here said I have to at list have 30days on my visa , please some advices, is there any solution that I can extend my visa from Bangkok. Thanx 🙏

Tod Daniels clarification, please. Someone in another group stated: "a VOA is for 15 days only, not extendable, and for 31 listed countries, a visa-exempt, however, gives passport holders of 93 listed countries a 60-day visa exempt stamp which can be extended by 30 days at an immigration office for 1900 baht."..... my understanding is that the "visa-exempt" term is in regards to the status of the countries, and the term "Visa On Arrival or VOA" refers to the 60 days stamp given on arrival to Thailand for those 93 countries. Is this correct or am I mistaken? Thank you.

Hi there! I applied for eVisa but so far no answer. I’m wondering if they don’t reply in time or they reject my visa before I leave (I have my flight on 12 February), the VOA is only for 15 days and can’t be extended? (I’m romanian)

Hey everyone,

Needing some advice. I am currently in Thailand on a VOA. My exit date is 2/2/2023. I have a flight to Cambodia on 2/2/2023 via Phuket to BKK at 11:55pm lol - layover in BKK for 5 hours and flying to Phnom Penh at 7am on the 3rd. Will this give me some trouble coming back into Thailand as I technically won’t be out of Thailand until the 3rd. I don’t want to have to pay for an extension for 24 hours. Any advice on what I should do? Should I rebook my flights?

Thank you

Hi All

My friend has valid thailand stay extension stamp with multiple entry till 2024. But his work permit was cancelled in May 2023 and he left thailand as soon as his work permit was cancelled without cancelling his non-b extension stamp. Is it possible for him to enter thailand by applying tourist visa or get VOA next month for tourism purpose.

I would like to know whether embassy will provide tourist visa or get VOA if he is having valid non-b extension stamp till 2024 (WP cancelled) already in the passport? Please suggest. Thank you

Hello! Long time without coming to Thailand (French passport), so I forgot many things about visas and need some help to clarify:

Is there (as there is in Indonesia) a difference between the visa exemption and the VOA? I am referring specifically to the ability to extend it. In Indonesia, you can't extend the exemption of visa as it is not an actual visa. You must leave on the 30th day. But you can extend the VOA (visa on arrival) and get 30 more days. The exemption is free, the VOA is not.

For what I read here, it seems that in Thailand you can extend the visa exemption...is it true or people are confusing exemption and VOA?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi! I’m currently on an education visa that ends August 31. I’m planning on leaving Thailand at the end of November. Is the best way to stay for 3 more months to leave Thailand August 31 come back in on a VOA (15 days right?) and then get a tourist visa for 60 days? (if needed extend it for 30 days)

Dear all,

Had to book air ticket (DEL-BKK-DEL) for some urgent works & meet.. as JULY 25, landing in Thailand & flying back on AUGUST 13.

So it’s 5 days extra as I understand for now we (Indian national) can have VOA valid for 15 days only.

So would like to request to please guide 🙏🏼🙏🏼 for this as:

Q1. As staying for 5 extra days…

I’m aware that I should be paying ฿500/ day as fine totalling ฿2500

&

Q2. Does VOA office need to see ticket within 15 days OR I hope they do allow as it’s 20 day ticket already. Provided i’m ready to pay the fine as per rules.

TIA 🙏🏼