🌏 🛂 Visa | Best Asian Countries for Student Visa Run

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1

I’m a U.S. citizen and need to do a visa run to Asia to apply for a student visa (long-term Chinese language study). Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam are open for fully-vaccinated travelers to varying degrees, and other countries will follow suit in the coming months, like Myanmar.

Which countries are the most reliable and will process these visas the fastest? How much does it cost? I’ve heard that in the past, Hong Kong was a popular, reliable, and efficient country to go, but that’s clearly not an option now. On the other hand, I’ve heard that Indonesia is unreliable and processes these visas ridiculously slowly.

Here’s the information I have now, if anyone is interested:

Thailand

  • Single visitor visa fee

  • Regular service (4 working days): 7,100 baht / ~212 USD (1,700 baht for visa fee + 5,400 baht) for U.S. passports

  • Express service (2 working days): 8,800 baht / ~ 263 USD (2,550 baht for visa fee + 6,250 baht) for U.S. passports

I appreciate any insights you may have. Thank you! :slight_smile:

2

Are you vaxxed?

3

Yes, fully vaxxed with booster (Pfizer).

4

Manila is accepting tourists now.

Vax required.

5

How reliable is the Manila office? I’d be interesting in knowing.

It’s a much longer flight, but how about Singapore?

Guy

6

It’s a diplomatic mission so I’d reckon probably the same.

And they are used to handling visas.

7

@notbidoofin
Did you ever find a solution to this? Which country did you end up choosing?