Dear readers,
Since yesterday, the following message can be read on the website of the Thai Consulate in Amsterdam: www.royalthaiconsulateamsterdam.nl/index.php/visa-service/visum-aanvragen
“Effective of 15/08/2016 WE WILL NOT ISSUED MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA.”
This concerns all types of visas with “Multiple entry” in other words Non-immigrant (O, B, ED) and the “Multiple Entry Tourist Visa” (METV). “Single Entry” is still possible.
Meanwhile, on the website of the Consulate in Amsterdam, all texts related to applying for those “Multiple entry visas” have already been removed.
I have no idea why this is no longer possible, but it is a very strange decision that suddenly comes out of the blue. Hopefully we will get more information on this soon. So you will have to go to the Thai Embassy in The Hague if you want to apply for a “Multiple Entry”.
The question now is whether this is a local decision of the Thai Embassy in The Hague, or whether this is a decision of the "Ministry of Foreign Affairs" (MFA) in Thailand.
In the latter case, this would also apply to the Thai Consulate in Antwerp and the Thai Consulate in Essen (D).
At the moment this is not yet clear.
As soon as I get more news about this I will let you know.
Regards,
RonnyLatPhrao
Military rule is increasingly asserting itself…
I hope that Thailand will also remain my wintering place due to the recent bomb attacks.
Would be very sad after so many years
Always stay in a small village, so ……. go again in the winter
It does not say that you can no longer get a visa. Only you have to go to the Embassy instead of the consulate for a Multiple entry
What are the consequences for your stay?
It seems to me a bit, ehhhhh, bluntly blaming the current government for tightening the strings on visa policy.
The number of "overstayers", criminals and others who do not want to comply with the visa rules has been bothering the authorities for some time.
The attacks just before did not do any good to the atmosphere in Thailand.
Unlike Europe, Thailand wants to know who is entering the country, why and how long they want to stay.
Seems like a very healthy attitude to me.
Moreover, the Thai who wants to come to the Netherlands will also have to go to the Embassy in Bangkok for a visa.
But perhaps there are other things that play a role in this wonder that we all know nothing about?
About two months ago, a German friend of mine also reported that he could no longer get multiple entry for Thailand in Frankfurt.
Has everything to do with the fact that investigations into the perpetrators of criminal and otherwise illegal activities in Thailand show that a large number of them enter and leave the country many times. There was a case of a man who entered Thailand 10 (!!!!!) times in the last 400 years: that's almost weekly. The good must suffer for the bad, as is often the case.
And with a Multiple entry issued by the consular section of the embassy, don't you have that?
What nonsense, I know many people here on Phuket who work in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and who go to their wife or partner every week.
So also just 45 x a year!
Perhaps the Thai Embassy can have more information than the Consulate and thus separate the wheat from the chaff? In fact, the Consulate is being made smaller, perhaps for security reasons and to tighten control.
Nico B
No, I don't think so.
If there is a power to issue a visa, then one must also have access to the same control and registration system. Otherwise, criminals would soon be aware of this.
Moreover, visas are still issued, but only with Single entry.
I think the cause must lie elsewhere.
Maybe we shouldn't look too far and there is a new boss on consular affairs who has simply limited powers.
A reorganization, so to speak.
In the past, and certainly when the visa was still issued in the beautiful building in Scheveningen, obtaining a 'multiple entry' was a piece of cake. In the last two years, however, more and more travel plans and supporting documents have been requested at the Thai embassy in The Hague in order to qualify for a 'multiple entry'.
The fact is that some consulates are much more flexible in issuing a visa, I am talking about a Non Immigrant Visa O/A ME.
In Essen, for example, I had my Non Immigrant O Multiple Entry in my pocket after fifteen minutes. In Belgium and the Netherlands it takes a little longer and they ask for more papers.
If the consulates are no longer allowed to provide ME, that would be a pity indeed.
It is also no secret that the Thai authorities much prefer tourists who come on holiday for 2 or 3 weeks and spend a lot of money during that period. Of course they have much less problems with that.
But speculating is pointless at the moment, just wait and see what happens.
There is no consulate that is allowed to issue a Non-Immigrant “OA”. For several years now, this has only been the competence of the embassy (consular section).
Non-immigrant “O” ME is still possible with the exception of Amsterdam from tomorrow.
The fact that it takes a little longer in some consulates is mainly due to when the consul signs the visas. The investigation takes the same time everywhere. Some ask for more evidence, but there really isn't much difference. Many of those consuls are also local business people who have another business runner in addition to their position of consul. So they only spend a limited time on that. Visas are also only a small part of their task as consuls. They are mainly the liaisons between Thailand and local authorities and companies. The fact that things are going faster in Essen is perhaps because the consul has more time to deal with this.
What makes it go faster is not important to me.
But there are 2 important differences. In March of this year I requested information for a Non Immigrant O ME at the Consulate in Antwerp and at the Consulate in Essen.
In the end I chose Essen because it was faster and easier.
1) In Essen, for example, no “proof of good moral conduct” is required, no copy of an airplane ticket and no proof of hotel booking and/or proof of full residence address in Thailand. If you need proof of good moral conduct, you must first go to the town hall, if this proof is used for a job offer, it is free. In all other cases you also have to pay for it, at least in my municipality. Seems like an important difference to me.
2) in Essen your visa is prepared while you drink a coffee. So you only have to go once, no extra costs for transport and no extra costs to have it sent to you.
Peter.
Peter,
Without going to chat.
It's just what works best for someone.
I would never go to Essen myself. Why ?
I live 15 minutes from the Consulate in Antwerp.
20 minutes to get there and never been in there longer than 5 minutes. Total 25 minutes. Pick up the same a few days later. So together less than an hour.
You can request the “Extract from the criminal record”, as it is officially called in Belgium, electronically. Collection must be done in person or by an authorized person.
Is free in my municipality and I think also in all other municipalities in Belgium. Regardless of what it is for.
To call that an important difference.
Copy of an airline ticket. You request a copy when you order a ticket, or print an extra copy. Small effort anyway.
Proof of residence. In my case no problem because I always have a copy of the “Tabien Baan” in my laptop
Transport ?
“also no extra costs for transport and no extra costs to have it sent to you” you say
How about the distance? In my case 2 x 220 Km..
I'm about 6 hours away by car (in the best circumstances).
By train it would be about 2 x 40 Euro. Nearly 4 hours. Same back
Speaking of “no” extra costs….
No, it will be different for everyone and Essen is therefore not always the best solution.
Then I'll get those extra pieces of evidence.
Numbers have taken on a life of their own.
Live 20 minutes from the consulate, 5 minutes in and 20 minutes back.
Total 45 minutes there and back. Pick up ditto.
Any “Extract from the criminal record” is available at the municipality at the reception if you request it electronically. So no need to queue. You will receive your ID after checking.
Is not actually a standard document that is requested for a Non-immigrant “O”, but well… it can be requested and it is best to take it with you.
http://www.thaiconsulate.be/?p=regelgeving.htm&afdeling=nl
Thanks for the additional info.
I have also gone to Essen twice for a visa, the distance to Brussels or Antwerp is a bit closer to me than Essen. Still, I prefer Essen because of the quick handling and indeed less hassle with paperwork, as Peter rightly pointed out.
I hope that the consulates will continue to issue multiple entry visas.
Fingers crossed.
Like I said.
Personally, I don't think it's worth the time, distance and travel costs and I certainly don't think it's a "hassle with paperwork", but everyone has to decide for themselves.
For now it seems that it is only something that only affects the Consulate in Amsterdam. If so, it will probably have been a decision of the Embassy in The Hague.
Perhaps it will become clearer in the next few days when the Consulate in Antwerp will open (currently a holiday so please wait).
I understand very well that for a person who does not have a special foot for the Antwerp consulate and wants to be sure of the result, it is worthwhile to go via Essen,
I myself put the chance of results above the effort if there is any doubt about success I would also go to Essen ..
I have always had results at the Antwerp Consulate, but sometimes slightly different than you ask, sometimes better, sometimes less ...., depends a bit on how people are disposed (we all have sometimes ..)
You only have to take the lady of the Embassy of Brussels with you when she is present in Antwerp….she can be a bit difficult.
All in all not aloof that Consulate staff there, good to do (last 3 years back in time anyway)
Normally I don't need this consulate anymore because of registered Amb.BKK now I can negotiate with the Thais, ... not too bad ..!
If this is the response of the Immigration Service to the bombings, I wish the Bureau de Tourisme good luck and wisdom this winter.
The Best
I was sent this message by a close acquaintance.
I'm fed up with it. I bought a ticket to Thailand not too long ago based on being there for a while, so I will need a non-immigrant visa.
Is it possible to arrange things on the spot, so in Thailand itself.
MVG
Ruud
But what are you worried about?
You can still obtain a Non-immigrant “O” Single entry in Amsterdam.
This allows you to stay in Thailand for 90 days. You can always extend the 90-day stay for a year. You can read the conditions in the Dossier.
If you want a Non-immigrant “O” Multiple entry, you will have to go to the Embassy in The Hague instead of the Consulate in Amsterdam.
Here too you can obtain a year extension in Thailand following a period of 90 days stay.
It does not say anywhere that you can no longer obtain a Non-immigrant “O” visa.
What's the problem then?
It may just be less practical for people who used to go to Amsterdam, and will now have to go to The Hague.
Moreover, you also have Essen or Antwerp as a consulate if this is more practical.
Dear people, what are you doing? Difficult about documents? Someone who travels to Thailand is supposed to prepare his trip properly. If the explanation given on the website does not make sense to you, please send an email or make a phone call to the consulate or embassy and ask what you exactly need for a specific visa. I'm sure it won't take forever for you to have an answer. If the visa you have requested cannot be delivered at the consulate in Amsterdam, you can go to the embassy in The Hague.
Distance The Hague to Amsterdam is about 65 km, which is, in my opinion, not to the end of the world. Someone who comes to Thailand will undertake a journey of 10.000 km, will certainly drive around there for a few hundred kilometers and then those mere 65 km and back would apparently be too much.
View the move to The Hague as a trip and that way you have also seen the capital of your country.