Thread: Aussie needs a holiday visa for his Lao girl.

Hi all,
I have been told there is a place in Bangkok we can go to apply for an Australian holiday visa for my Lao girlfriend.
A name and address of such building would be greatly appreciated.

So joining TD to post the question was easier than punching "australia tourist visa Thailand" into google.

First entry is Australia Visa Information - Thailand - Home Page, they should be able to assist.

Originally Posted by Jollyroj

I have been told there is a place in Bangkok we can go to apply for an Australian holiday visa for my Lao girlfriend.

Home - Australian Embassy

37 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok - Telephone: 02 344 6300 - Fax: 02 344 6593

Geez Fondles you're a sarcastic one aren't you. Maybe I have already done a shitload of research and decided I would like to hear from genuine people who have walked the line, instead of going down all the government avenues.
Sure glad you were the first to answer.!!

Originally Posted by Jollyroj

I would like to hear from genuine people who have walked the line, instead of going down all the government avenues.

Here is the straight answer ,

Australia Visa Information - Thailand - Home Page

Aussie embassy mate, it's a piece of piss just make sure you have your shit together.

I dont know what the rules are but carrying a Laos Passport, this might be easier.

Home - Australian Embassy

Thanks to all will give it a shot on thursday. I'm pretty sure I have all I need but just wondering if I need a birth certificate for myself as I am the sponsor or will my passport be sufficient?

passport is fine mate. More important is a decent bank balance.

Rather than the 'sponsorship' route I got letters of invitation from family back home, accounting for accomodation, which is the bulk of what you need to show you can cover.

Don't forget health insurance while she's there.

we got a 3 month visa but 60 day tickets and insurance for the mrs.

Originally Posted by 9999

Rather than the 'sponsorship' route I got letters of invitation from family back home, accounting for accomodation, which is the bulk of what you need to show you can cover.

Thanks 9999 good advice will get the old man to send a letter via email today.

no worries if you can show plane ticket and accommodation covered she won't need to show a big balance on top of that. It also helps if you can prove they have something to come back to, like a job or business.

Originally Posted by 9999

if you can show plane ticket

Yeah good idea regarding the plane ticket but if the visa doesn't get approved for whatever reason I'm out of pocket. If he mentions it I'll buy it on the spot in his office.

Yep you don't want to be out of pocket. That link above though, usually know your odds and won't process anything they think won't get through, and tell you why.

If this place: Australia Visa Information - Thailand - Home Page accept it, it should really be just a formality, same as the embassy.

The Mrs hammered them with info, photos and all sorts of shit, and they gave most of it back before sending on to the embassy.

Originally Posted by 9999

Aussie embassy mate, it's a piece of piss just make sure you have your shit together.

Nah embassy wont do fuck all, they do not directly accept visa applications. ya need to apply at VFS which is a few kilometres further down south sathorn road.

Originally Posted by Vientianeboy

The Australian Embassy in Bangkok is definitely not a "piece of piss", (sic) as mentioned by one poster. I would suspect that the Australian Embassy in Krungthep would not process an application for a Lao citizen anyway.

It is a peice of piss. I've done it. Are you sure Laos people can't apply at the Aussie BKK embassy (via VPS service)? why not? Does Laos have an Aussie embassy? If so, the OP should apply in Laos. Good luck with that.

What is the reasoning behind not being able to apply for a tourist visa outside of your country? Or is that just a guess?

I know an Indian guy that got granted a tourist visa applied for in Thailand.

Originally Posted by Vientianeboy

Do NOT book your plane ticket before obtaining the visa.

Great advice. They're so onto it, that even the private airlines won't accept your ticket without a visa.

"Does Laos have an Aussie embassy? If so, the OP should apply in Laos. Good luck with that."
Yes, of course they do.

Oh, my bad, I didn't think Australia had an embassy just a consulate. We did build that bridge that the thankless fuckers make me pay to cross. Piece of piss for Thais, maybe not so for Laos.

Would be interesting to know though, if embassies do accept visas from residents of countries other than that of where the embassy is located. Technically I don't think it should make a difference.

It's common for westerners to apply for visas outside of their own country (Laos for eg.)

Originally Posted by 9999

If so, the OP should apply in Laos. Good luck with that.

Hence my link to the Australian Embassy in Vientiane in post 8.

^ Silly me I thought that was a link to the embassy in Thailand. Why does Australia have a full blown embassy in a backwater like Laos? What's next, Bhutan?

But yeah probably best for the OP to get his Mrs to apply from Laos embassy, but that may not be practicle (If she's living in BKK for example).

There's no reason why the Aussie embassy in BKK (via VPS) wouldn't take the application. An embassy is considered part of that country, so it should make no difference. They ship them off to Australia to get processed anyway. And like I said, it worked for an Indian guy I know. Westerners are always applying for visas at embassies outside their home country.

I think if applying in Laos is a problem, the OP should call immigration in Australia via skype. It costs just a few dollars and the call centre staff are helpful and know their stuff.