Visa Help

[jbradley]

I am a US citizen and have not been to Thailand for about 5 years.  I'm planning to go later this month (Tourism...not work)....and will only be there for a few days.  I'm seeing all sorts of stuff about new visa requirement / e-visa, etc.... I used to just show up and get a visa on arrival (or whatever they call it).  Do I need to do anything now? Can I just show up like I used to?  Any info from recent travelers would be appreciated.  The info on the Thai embassy site is not a model of clarity.  Thank you 

[bgtp]

You should fill out a TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) online within 3 days of arriving (link).

[jbradley]

Thank you very much!

[Rocky Rockstar]

Presume you can do this on arrival too? 

[Griff71]

Hi Rocky, apparantly there are booths you can do it on arrival but you can expect a delay, if you have a smart Phone it appears very easy to do in advance ,

[Pattayabobb]

3 hours ago, Griff71 said:

Hi Rocky, apparantly there are booths you can do it on arrival but you can expect a delay, if you have a smart Phone it appears very easy to do in advance ,

i arrived on May 1 and anticipated the expected glitches but everything went smoothly.  i was initially unable to input my lodging in the TDAC so i just showed the friendly Immigration Agent my reservation on my phone.

I found having screenshots of each open took away any anxiety about connecting to BKK wifi as i did not have a Thailand SIM.  

The lines were long and seemed to move at the same pace as before TDAC.  No worry, Beef Curry, @jbradley

[hotbastard]

I just organised my arrival card.

All very easy. You will need:

Your personal information including passport number/

your arrival flight information including flight number

Your departing flight information, including flight number.

Reason for visiting Thailand.

visa number if you have one.

Type of accommodation.

Address of accommodation, including area, sub area and post code.

This was not on my hotel booking and I had to visit Google maps to get it.

An email address to send your digital copy to.

They email you your digital arrival card very soon after.

Hope this helps.

[jbradley]

Many thanks.  Worked very well....I filled out the arrival card online and got an email confirmation within about. a minute.  Very smooth clearing immigration / customs.....about 20 minutes from wheels down until I was thru and had my bag....can't complain about that.

[ricktoronto]

The online arrival card isn't a visa and Americans get/got a waiver or exemption for a visa. visa on arrival is an actual visa with lineups up the hoop. 

Can't be too many VOA countries left after they allowed the most high volume countries in on waivers.

The TDAC is what they used to get on paper forms you got on the plane, which they then ignored and filed away in warehouses until they needed space and burned them. Now they'll ignore them on a computer. 

I'm sure they lower the odds a bit for truly dodgy characters they can refuse before they arrive.