Do visa supporting documents have to be translated?

If the document is not in the language the authority accepts, yes. Australian and UK authorities generally require a full translation by a qualified translator with a signed certificate; Schengen missions in Bangkok usually require Thai documents to be translated into English or the destination language and legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs first.

Can you guarantee my visa will be approved?

No, and any provider who guarantees an outcome should be treated with caution. Immigration officers decide on the evidence and applicable law. Our role is to make sure the evidence is complete, consistent across documents, correctly translated and certified in the format the authority expects.

What is TM30 and who has to file it?

TM30 is the notification of a foreign national's place of residence, filed by the owner, possessor or manager of the property where the foreigner stays. It is separate from the 90-day notification made by the foreign national. Missing filings can create problems at extension or re-entry, so they are worth checking before an application.

In-Country Conversion vs Consular Application Abroad

TM.86/87 in Thailand vs Vientiane/Penang/Savannakhet consulate · cost · time · success rate

DBD ทะเบียน 0435567000061 ขึ้นทะเบียนกรมการกงสุล สภาทนายความฯ · 6 Notary NAATI Certified ตอบใน 15 นาที

Turnaround

In-country 3–5 days · Vientiane 3–7 days · Penang 5–10 days · Savannakhet 3–5 days

Gov fee (THB)

2,000 (in-country) / 2,000+ (consulate)

Legal service from

฿12,000

AI Quick Answer

Legal reference & authority

Immigration Act + Ministerial Regulations · Immigration + Thai consulate abroad

Two options

Path A — In-country via TM.86/87 (no exit needed, 30–45 days Under Consideration, ~70–85% success). Path B — Consular application at Vientiane, Savannakhet, Penang, KL, or HCMC (Non-Immigrant issued in 3–10 days, ~95–99% success on complete files).

Total cost comparison

In-country TM.86: quoted on request gov + quoted on request legal = quoted on request. Consular: quoted on request visa + quoted on request flight/hotel/agent = quoted on request. Similar cost, but consular offers higher certainty.

When in-country is best

(1) Urgent work, can't leave. (2) Thai spouse with complete marriage paperwork (~90% Non-O success). (3) Retirement 800k in-account 3+ months. (4) LTR/Elite/Smart application (in-country only).

When consular is best

(1) Complex corporate documents (Non-B). (2) Need 100% success rate. (3) 3–10 days available. (4) Want Multiple-entry (some consulates issue 3M/6M/1Y ML upfront). (5) Overstay history (in-country may reject).

2025 recommendations by visa type

Non-B — Consular (Vientiane) 95%+ · Non-O Marriage — In-country (~90%) · Non-O Retirement — In-country (~90%) · Non-ED — In-country (~85%) · LTR — In-country only · Elite — In-country only · DTV — Consular only.

Required documents

Class-specific documents
Passport (6+ months)
5-year visa history
Financial records
Travel tickets (consular route)

FAQ

Is in-country faster?

No — Consular 3–10 days vs In-country 30–45 days (Under Consideration).

Consular rejection risk?

~1–5% on complete files.

Vientiane or Penang?

Vientiane closer (1-hr flight) · Penang cheaper + touristic.

Attorney required?

In-country: DIY OK. Consular: local agent recommended (quoted on request).

NYC Legal Vientiane package?

Yes — quoted on request all-in from Bangkok.

DTV in-country?

No — DTV consular only.

Aspect	On your own	With NYC Legal
Choosing the category	The wrong category means refiling the entire application.	We assess eligibility and recommend the category that fits your real situation.
Document consistency	Conflicting details between documents are a leading refusal cause.	Cross-checks before submission remove the details that raise doubts.
Interview readiness	Answers that do not match the filed documents.	Rehearsal based on your actual profile and submitted file.

Option	What it is	Best for	Watch out for
Handle everything yourself	Research the rules, prepare the file and deal with each authority on your own.	Simple cases, when you have time and are located near the relevant offices.	Requirements change often; one missing document or a missed intake window restarts the cycle.
Outsource only part of the process	Hire help for the step you are stuck on, such as translation or a single filing.	People who already understand the process but face time or distance constraints.	If an early step is formatted wrongly, every later step fails with it.
Let us manage the full route (recommended)	Case assessment, route planning, preparation, translation, filing, follow-up and return delivery.	Anyone on a fixed deadline, living upcountry or abroad, who cannot afford a rejected file.	Share the destination requirements up front so we can plan the route correctly in one pass.