Originally Posted by IAN-UK

Not wanting to muddy the clear waters you describe, but my last visit I witnessed an awful lot of faff for E-visas. They had a dedicated desk dealing with these: no idea if this is normal - it's not something that has attracted my attention before.

On arrival the visa purchase part usually rocks along quite nicely, and I've never had a problem paying (very quickly) with credit card. The wait can come for the immigration desk - but I've always got through before, or as, my bags arrive: so nothing lost, time-wise.

The other side of the E-visa's certainty is it's a sunk cost. If plans change and you don't travel, you can't get a refund.