Bangladesh has expressed its grave concern over delay in processing of Thai visa applications in Dhaka.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Saida Muna Tasneem expressed the concern during her meeting with Suvat Chirapant, deputy permanent secretary for Thailand Foreign Affairs.
Saida Muna told the Dhaka Tribune: “I met him [Suvat Chirapant], and expressed our concern over the issue and explained the current situation in Bangladesh where the duration of Thai visa processing period suddenly increased nearly 10 times.”
She requested Thai secretary to ease the visa processing procedure for credible Bangladeshi visa seekers.
A foreign ministry official, seeking anonymity, said Bangladesh has already submitted documents on some specific cases in this regard.
In one case, a visa seeker's application was rejected after 50 days and the Thailand embassy kept the passport of the person with them during the period, he told the Dhaka Tribune.
In another case, one husband, who wanted to go to Thailand for treatment, got the visa but his wife, who wanted to accompany him, did not get visa, he added.
The official further said the Thailand authorities had issued visa to many Bangladeshi businessmen, who visited the country several times earlier, some 30 to 40 days after document submission and their passports were kept with the embassy during the period.
Earlier, it took three to four days to get the Thai visa but since November, it went up to 30 to 50 days.
Last year over 110,000 Bangladeshi tourists visited the country, mostly for medical treatment and health services.
Responding to a query from the Bangladesh Ambassador on whether there has been any changes in Thai visa policy towards Bangladesh nationals, the Thai deputy permanent secretary categorically informed that no change has been made in this regard.
He assured to look into the issue of pending visa applications in Dhaka.
The Thailand deputy permanent secretary thanked the Bangladesh ambassador for the update and expressed Thailand’s appreciation to the people of Bangladesh for choosing Thailand as their “number one” destination for medical treatment, health services and tourism.
Noting that the Thai government will always welcome more Bangladeshi tourists into Thailand, the DPS also assured the ambassador that necessary efforts will be taken to make the visa process smoother within the existing national and regional security context.
Earlier this week, the Bangladesh ambassador to Thailand met Chief of Thai Immigration Bureau to address the issue of visa and immigration challenges of expatriate Bangladesh community in Thailand.
