Visa Thailand: Why are there differences when applying for a visa at a Thai consulate or embassy in Belgium
Dear editors,
Here is the story of the strange behavior when applying for a visa for Thailand. If you want to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days, you must apply for a visa in Belgium 2 to 3 weeks before your departure at the Thai consulate. This is possible at two locations (or perhaps even more in Wallonia). Apparently the rules for the visa depend on where you apply. I went to Antwerp for an annual visa for a friend, there you need:
- a valid travel pass (up to 6 months after return)
- a valid airline ticket
- an application form
- 2 recent passport photos
- moreover, in Antwerp they sometimes ask for proof that your health insurance is in order.
I am now doing the same in Brussels for myself for a stay of 60 days (I am staying 50), there you will need:
- a valid travel pass (up to 6 months after return)
- a valid airline ticket
- an application form
- 2 recent passport photos
- moreover, in Brussels they ask for an invitation letter from someone from Thailand or proof that you have booked a hotel in Thailand. They do NOT ask for proof that your hospitalization insurance is ok.
How is it possible that there are differences in Antwerp compared to Brussels? Am I going to the same country? Does any other reader have experience with this? I do find this bizarre.
Here are also the links that prove my story:
In Brussels: www2.thaiembassy.be/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Tourist-Visa-EN.pdf
In Antwerp: www.thaiconsulate.be/portal.php?p=Regulation.htm&department=nl
I commented in Brussels that I should not and have no such proof in Antwerp and I received the answer in Thai style: 'Now mister, you can go to Antwerp if you want'.
I then quietly and politely leave the building with some gang issues in my head
Show
Dear Toon,
This is not uncommon. Most readers will recognize this. If you regularly follow the visa stories on this and other blogs, you will have noticed that every Embassy and Consulate has its own rules.
You will not only find this at Embassies and Consulates. You will also see this in the various Immigration offices and at the border posts.
What is obligatory for one, the other finds superfluous, but that person finds something else very important. I can tell you why, but not why.
How come? The MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) prescribes which conditions a foreign national must meet in order to apply for a specific visa. This is the same for everyone. You will therefore find the standard documents or evidence to be provided, which the MFA prescribes, in every application procedure, and this at any Embassy or Consulate in the world.
And now it comes. There is a very important rule in those regulations of the MFA and that is: “Consular officers reserve the rights to request additional documents as deemed necessary”. This means that additional evidence and documents may be requested if deemed necessary. From this you could understand that it is examined per application whether or not additional documents are required, but that is not the case. Those additional documents or proofs that are considered important are immediately imposed on everyone. The result is that each Embassy or Consulate has its own regulations www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15398-Issuance-of-Visa.html
Why they do this? No one can answer this. Or at least, the person in the Embassy or Consulate who draws up the regulations regarding the documents and evidence to be delivered. One will find a certain piece of evidence important, the other will find it not so important, but he will find something else very important. The result is that each embassy or consulate has its own rules of the game, which can also change when a different responsible person takes up that post.
A tip. Before applying for a visa, it is sometimes a good idea to contact the relevant embassy or consulate beforehand. Even if you are not familiar with that particular Embassy or Consulate.
This is not really necessary for simple tourist visas because few supporting documents are requested, but this is recommended for visas where several forms or proofs are requested. People sometimes want to see additional evidence, and that may not be a problem in itself, but they have forgotten to adjust the website. Also, what is on the website is not always clear to everyone, or it is understood very differently by the applicant. Consequences are often that people can come back later because something is missing or something is wrong.
I would also prefer to see it all differently, but I fear that uniformity in the applications is not yet for the foreseeable future.
Regards,
RonnyLatPhrao
Disclaimer: The advice is based on existing regulations. The editors accept no responsibility if this is deviated from in practice.
In the Netherlands it is the same. The Thai embassy in The Hague is stricter than the Thai consulate in Amsterdam. Experienced myself.
Moderator: Visa questions should go to the comment, but read the visa file first.
For all Limburgers: drive to Essen in Germany, 1 hour's drive from Maasmechelen.
You can wait for it.
Make sure you have all the papers with you, you can download them on the site.
I have indeed always read positive comments about Essen.
For those who are interested
Royal Thailändisches Honorargeneralkonsulat in Essen
Ruttenscheider Str. 199/ Eingang Herthastraße
45131 Essen
Tel: 0201 95979334
Fax: 0201 95979445
Home Page: http://www.thai-konsulat-nrw.de
Opening times: Montags bis Freitags from 09:00 – 12:00 Uhr
Freitags from 14:00 – 17:00 Uhr
For 2 Entries: (in The Hague)
- Valid passport;
– Copy of passport (page with the photo);
– Copy of the flight details or flight ticket;
– 2 recent similar passport photos (black and white or color);
– Fully completed and signed application form.
– Itinerary
and of course the Euros
I also added a statement from the bank with my income just to be on the safe side.
That is actually only asked for an annual visa.
In the Netherlands they do not ask about health insurance.
We go to the Royal Thai Consulate in Berchem for our visa if we stay in Thailand for more than 30 days.
We always inform you in advance what the current rules are.
We are always correctly spoken to and informed and have never had any problems.
However, the rules are sometimes different.
This year my son (20) had to provide proof of good conduct and morals!!
This was new again..
Although he too has been staying in Thailand regularly for 20 years.
Just inform yourself on time and follow the rules!
From my own experience from 1 week ago: in Antwerp on Thursday the application and on the following Monday the visas already arrived by registered mail. The treatment was therefore done the same day. Type non-immigrant O multiple entry 90 days
At the beginning of this year I went to the embassy in The Hague for another 60-day visa for me, downloaded and completed the application form from the website. Was not accepted, an application form was handed to me on the spot, which I still had to fill in. Same questions just a different layout, minimal difference. Of course I always remain friendly and to be honest, the employees at the consulate are always very friendly to me.
At the embassy in Brussels it is a Western woman who speaks to you. Very unpleasant contact.
True, but that story of proof of hotel is very simple to solve. You book a hotel via Booking.com, print it out and cancel the booking a few days later. Easy.
It is well known that they are not friendly in Antwerp, I was even called names there
because I simply asked for information about traveling after Thailand to Cambodia and then back to Thailand.
I have my own apartment in Thailand too, and they asked for everything that I couldn't believe myself, good behavior and morals, income, etc.
Just called after Brussels, a very friendly welcome, and normal circumstances, no good behavior and morals and no income to show, just have an account statement
showed that I do have money in my pocket and it was ok
no thanks, never again Antwerp, I would rather leave without a visa than have to go there after Berchem Antwerp for a visa, wow.
Brussels is ideal if you need a visa and they will tell you what you need over the telephone
I was nevertheless very friendly and yet in Antwerp they treat you like a dog.
kind regards, Kris
After all my extremely annoying and rude experiences with amsterdam and the hague, they feel like god there (especially that arrogant pimple kltz from amsterdam).
So I went to Essen in Germany.
Perfectly arranged, extremely friendly people, nice Thai lady and cool German.
Within 45 minutes I was regularly drinking a cup of coffee nearby.
That was it , I will NEVER go anywhere else .
I also asked why it was so easy here in Essen, he said it's very simple if you want to make it difficult for people you can.
But why make it difficult when it can be done easily.
Super ordinary, maybe a little further away but you go there with a good feeling.
And you come back with a smile.
I have been to Berchem Antwerp, there they ask, 2 forms fully completed - 3 passport photos - travel ticket - from the bank account of your pension money - travel pass still valid for 6 months + for 3 months visa you pay = 60 euros + 12 euros to send it by registered mail
minus point = very unfriendly woman who snaps at you + plus point = very quickly it will be in the mail minus 2 to 3 days
I have also been to Brussels, long waiting times, many people queuing and it is not sent
Regularly went to the Thai Consulate in Amsterdam, never had a problem.
Of course you should not ask them questions about how to travel from Thailand to Cambodia, that is not what the Embassy / Consulate is for. Furthermore, if you sit there for an hour you see that many people arrive there completely unprepared, copy of this, copy of that, passport photo etc etc is that necessary??? I can imagine if you stand there day in, day out and HAVE to answer questions over and over again every day - everyone expects it to also be an information desk for Thailand about everything and anything - you sometimes get out of your depth. If you hand over all your papers & copies & passport photo, it will be ready in no time. YOU need to have your papers in order, it is not THEIR job to get your papers in order or even worse fill them in!!!!