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

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

San Diego is America’s 17th-most populous city and is the third-most populous urban area in the state of California. This metropolis of 3.3 million residents shares a 15-mile border with Mexico, where just to the other side sits Tijuana—Mexico’s sixth-most populous city. About 200,000 people cross the border each day, making this one of the busiest land borders in the world. San Diego is well known for its mild Mediterranean climate, which some consider to be the best in the U.S. The San Diego metropolitan area includes cities such as Carlsbad, Chula Vista, El Cajon, San Marcos, Santee, La Mesa, National City, Oceanside, Vista, Escondido, and Encinitas. There are a few thousand Thai people living in the San Diego area and there is a Thai Buddhist temple in Escondido that serves Thai food on Sundays and offers classes in Thai culture and language.

Thailand is a Southeast Asian country of nearly 70 million people that borders Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Bangkok is the country’s political capital and commercial center. There are hundreds of American companies doing business in Thailand, including several San Diego-area sports equipment and apparel companies exporting their products to the country. Thailand is the 2nd largest economy in Southeast Asia and has a growing industrial sector that includes the manufacture and export of vehicles, electrical appliances, and computer equipment. The country is also a major exporter of precious stones and jewelry along with frozen seafood and natural rubber. Thailand, known as the “Land of Smiles”, has a huge tourism sector that attracts nearly 40 million visitors each year, including one million Americans. Thailand is also well known for medical tourism and welcomes over one million visitors each year for medical procedures.

Obtaining a Thai Visa from San Diego

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 San Diego, you must send all the necessary documents by mail or courier service (FedEx, UPS) to the consulate in Los Angeles. (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, Los Angeles
611 North Larchmont Blvd., 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90004

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://thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org/en/page/visa-information. 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, Los Angeles” 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 San Diego

If you are a Thai citizen in San Diego with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the consulate in Los Angeles by calling + 1 323-580-4222. 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 Los Angeles website: https://thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org/en/page/thai-passport

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in the San Diego area and have difficulty applying for a Thai visa, or require assistance with this 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 San Diego:

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)