How to Apply for a Thai Visa in Detroit : visasupply.com

UPDATED November 27, 2022 (Please see information below under "Other things to consider")

Detroit is the second-largest city in the Midwest (after Chicago) and is better known by its nickname “Motor City”, or “Motown”, because of its prominence as the global center of the automotive industry. Although the city has certainly had its share of ups and downs, Detroit remains an important and influential American city. The Detroit metropolitan area, known as Metro Detroit, has a population of 4.3 million and is the fourteenth-largest metropolis in the United States. Metro Detroit includes the towns of Dearborn, Royal Oak, Auburn Hills, Troy, Livonia, Southfield, Rochester Hills, Warren, Pontiac, Sterling Heights, and other municipalities. The Thai immigrant population is small and there are only a few thousand Thai people living in the state of Michigan, however, Metro Detroit does have a Thai Buddhist temple located in Sterling Heights and another temple in Warren. Thai restaurants in Detroit also have an annual Thai Street Food Festival.

Thailand is a Southeast Asian country of nearly 70 million people that is about twice the size of Michigan by land area. Bangkok is the country’s political capital and commercial center. There are hundreds of American companies doing business in Thailand, including Metro Detroit firms like Domino’s Pizza, General Motors, Ford, American Axle, Federal-Mogul, and other automotive manufacturers. Thailand is the 2nd largest economy in Southeast Asia and has been given the nickname “the Detroit of Asia” because of its growing industrial sector that includes the manufacture and export of vehicles. The country also has a strong agriculture sector and is one of the world’s major exporters of seafood. Thailand, known as the “Land of Smiles”, has a huge tourism sector that attracts nearly 40 million visitors each year, including one million Americans. The country is also well known for medical tourism and welcomes over one million visitors each year for medical procedures.

Obtaining a Thai Visa from Detroit

Visas for Thailand are issued by the Thai government in the United States. The Thai government is represented by three consulates in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City, along with one embassy located in Washington, D.C. To apply for a Thai visa from Detroit, you must send all the necessary documents by mail or courier service (FedEx, UPS) to the consulate in Chicago. (NOTE: The consulate does not provide in-person service at this time due to COVID-19.) Here is the mailing address for the consulate:

Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chicago
700 North Rush Street,
Chicago, IL 60611-2504

UPDATE: Starting 27 SEP 2021, Thailand now has a new e-Visa Stickerless System. This means you will no longer mail your passport and visa application documents to the consulate. Instead, you must apply for the visa online and submit your documents electronically through this website: Official Website of Thailand Electronic Visa (thaievisa.go.th) The visa will be issued electronically by email.

It is important to review the requirements for visas on the Thai consulate website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate. Here is the link to the consulate website: https://cgchicago.thaiembassy.org/en/page/consular-services-visa?menu=6320e42d4243a35b156e8873. You will also include a self-addressed return envelope with a $26.35 postage stamp (US Postal Service Express Mail) along with a money order made payable to “Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chicago” to pay the visa fee. Processing time will take about 2 weeks.

Other things to consider:

U.S. citizens do not require a visa for stays of up to 45 days if they are traveling for tourism or visiting family.
U.S. citizens should have a valid passport that does not expire within six months of their date of arrival into Thailand, AND an onward/return ticket that shows they are leaving Thailand within 45 days (if traveling to Thailand without a visa).
Starting October 1, 2022 travelers entering Thailand are no longer required to show Proof of Vaccination or a COVID-19 test result.
It is recommended to purchase travel insurance before any international trip in case of medical emergencies. We advise getting the Geo Blue Voyager Single Trip Plan.
Please visit the U.S. Department of State website and review the Entry, Exit, and Visa Requirements for the latest information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Thailand.html

Emergency Assistance for Thai Citizens in Detroit

If you are a Thai citizen in Detroit with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the consulate in Chicago by calling + 1 312-664-3129. If you need to renew your Thai passport or obtain an emergency passport, you must schedule an appointment online and appear in person at the consulate. You can find more information on the Royal Thai Consulate General Chicago website: https://cgchicago.thaiembassy.org/en/page/thai-passport?menu=6213487e00c83c6950131963

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in the Detroit area or anywhere in the state of Michigan and have difficulty applying for a Thai visa, or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company. We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Thailand visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents. Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the Thai government. Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans.

We provide the following Thai visa services for our customers in Detroit:

Thai Tourist Visas (Category “TR” – Single and Extended Multiple Entry)
Thai Business Visa (Category “B”)
Thai Work Visa (Category “B”)
Thai Medical Visa (Category “MT”)
Thai Spousal Visa (Category “O”)
Thai Retirement Visa (Category “O-A” – 1 Year and Category “O-X” – 10 Year)
Thai Student Visa (Category “ED”)
Thai Elite Visa
Thai Smart Visa
Thailand Special Tourist Visa (STV)