I figured I would share my experience getting a multi entry tourist visa.

I applied at the LA consulate a month or so after it was started. The guy said only 2 were issued that day and pretty much implied this was a huge drop compared to the number of 2 and 3 entry tourist visas that used to be issued before.

Other than meeting the requirements, it wasn't that hard to get this visa. Nobody hassled me about the paperwork I provided, and my situation was a bit unusual too. My company bank account is the only one that has steadily maintained a balance of over $7,000 for the last 6 months. So I had to show that I am an owner of this company.

When I applied for the visa, a man sorted through the documents he wanted to keep and handed back documents that he didn’t seem to need. Here’s what he kept:

• Summary pages of bank statements for last 6 months.
• Photocopy of pay stubs from a client who mails me a check regularly . The checks have a perforated stub that you tear off before depositing the check. The stub shows date and check amount. I showed the previous 2 months or so of payments (whatever fit on 1 page photocopied)
• LLC creation papers that shows I am a part owner
• Outgoing flight to another country in the next 60 days (Unlike the 3 entry, they didn’t ask me for proof of multiple sets of flights)
• 2 Photos and photocopy of my passport

This doesn’t really have to do particularly with the METV, but I should mention the first question the man asked me was if I was working in Thailand. They’ve asked me this when I applied for 3 entry visas in the past. Just like before, I show him my paychecks are from US companies and go into a US bank account. I state that I don’t even have a thai bank account and I’m not working for a company in thailand. He always accepts this answer and proceeds checking out the rest of my documents.

I just recently tried to extend my METV while in Thailand. They said it was fine and I could extend my stay by 30 days like any other TR visa. As a side note, I was applying a bit early for an extension (cuz I wanted to make plans if they didn’t allow me to extend this visa). The man working at the office was pretty mean and seemed to be having a bad day. He yelled at me for trying to get an extension so early. I asked when I should apply, and he stated 1 day before I was supposed to leave the country. I questioned him on this and I said I applied earlier than the day before in the past. He grabbed a pen and wrote on the date field of my form the 13 Feb (No joke). My stamp says I need to leave the country on 14 Feb. Then I walked over to a girl working at another desk and asked her when I should apply for an extension while pointing at my exit date stamp. She said Feb 1. So either way, I wasn’t getting my extension today. But that one officer was a bit of a jackass telling me to apply 1 day before.

Other than that, I can’t think of anything else to note about this METV. Feel free to ask me anything though.