The title should be 'Z visa processing in Thailand no more?', but there is no way to edit. Sorry guys!
Hope this is the right forum? Should it of been travel?
Anyway, just a heads up to you all. My friends Z visa was rejected this morning in Bangkok on the grounds 'He hadn't resided in Thailand for at least six months'
Has this happened to anyone else recently? He had all the correct documents and was still denied. So, maybe a better idea to choose HK (or if you have the cash, your home country) if you are going to be processing your visa anytime soon.
I have heard this about Bangkok before, but also heard that people can get them in ChiangMai.
Perhaps someone who has done this can confirm.
That is the rule that's been posted on their website for some time now, but it appears they are starting to enforce it.
More and more I get the feeling that foreigners are no longer welcome in China.
No this is incorrect. I was just in Thailand and got my z-visa in Bangkok at the Chinese embassy at Din Daeng on October 25, 2014 I am U.S citizen so I had to fill out two visa application forms, print a flight itinerary, printed invitation letter as well as all other necessary documents and pay 4560 baht for standard processing. The visa office opens at 9am but be there at 8am monday morning. It will be packed any later than that. If you don't apply for rush service, you can expect to pick up your visa that Friday, a four day standard processing time. Don't forget to smile and say Sawat Dee Kraup (hello) and Kob khun kraup (thank you) to the Thai staff :)
@AlPage: Why do you feel foreigners are no longer welcome in China? The Chinese government has been issuing more and more visas to them every year, and the foreign population of Kunming has been growing. Or do you mean foreigners are no longer welcomed by the Chinese people? If so, why do you think this is the case?
I don't have this feeling, and I have been a foreigner in mainland China since 2002.
I got a couple of family type visas in Chiang Mai quickly and easily a few months ago.
Bear in mind however China maintains a list of 17 countries for which 'express service' is not allowed. So don't take their next day service assurances for granted untill you've shown them your passport ... we wound up losing money on flights because they gave us the wrong info on the phone.
Bangkok, by contrast, have always been assholes.
My experiences at the Chiang Mai consulate have generally been better than those with Chinese immigration officials in Hong Kong, and the folks there are friendlier.
