We are Somruthai and István, an international couple who knows exactly how overwhelming the Schengen visa process can feel.
István is from Hungary 
and works in digital marketing and web development. Somruthai lives in Thailand 
and sells delicious homemade food through local Facebook groups.
Our journey together began in Thailand, where we spent nearly two months together in Bangkok and Phuket after our first meeting on the BTS. When István returned to Europe, we continued to build our relationship long-distance, determined to stay connected despite the distance.
In October, István traveled back to Thailand, and we enjoyed another two months together – first in Chiang Mai, then in Bangkok, where Somruthai introduced István to her children. The kids quickly accepted István, and our family bond grew even stronger.
When it came time to apply for a Schengen visa so Somruthai could visit Hungary, we faced all the same challenges other couples do:
We read every Reddit thread and guide we could find. We decided to handle everything ourselves – no agencies, no consultants, just persistence and research. After several attempts and last-minute adjustments, we finally submitted our application, and two weeks later, Somruthai received a three-month visa. We made the most of it, spending 60 days together in Europe.
On February 14th 2025, we got engaged. After Somruthai returned home on March 16th, we prepared another visa application for her, making sure to get every detail right. She still had 30 days left on her 90 day tourist visa. Our experience paid off: the second visa was approved, and we reunited again in Europe.
Update: We got married in Thailand on November 12, 2025. Our journey continues as a married EU–Thai couple navigating visas together.
