Further Tightening of Non Immigrant 'O' Visa

[pinky]

Hi.. got our last non imm o from Hull and the box we ticked on the form was 'extended stay' - my question is how do i extend to 15 months?? I have been told local immigration and pay 1900baht, i have also been told Ranong the week before my visa expires which will give me the further 90 days?? I am not married to a Thai national, so there is no possibility of extension that way..
Many thanks as always..

[JimmyGreaves]

If you receieved your visa on 3/11/2009 and it was to be utilised before 2/11/2010 then when you arrived in Thailand on say the 5/11/2009 you got 3 months and then have to do 3 monthly visa runs. If you then do your last visa run on 1/11/2010 the day before the visa runs out you will get another 3 months bringing you up to say 1/2/2011 about 15 months. Hope that makes some sense.

[margaretcarnes]

I was at the Hull Consul office in September and yes - had to do that extra form re 'friends'. It wasn't a problem because I have friends in HH anyway. For people who are new to HH it could be difficult.

(BTW Lomu the 'friend or family' doesn't need to be Thai for the purpose of the visit.)

But I can see where Rider is coming from here. Hopefully it will be a passing fad, because really the proof of income in the UK should be sufficient for a non O. And - by the way - a statement of means is required by the Hull consul but not validated!

I think a bigger issue for Thai Immigration should be those tourists who enter on the automatic 30 day and who clearly intend to stay longer.

[Super Joe]

I think a bigger issue for Thai Immigration should be those tourists who enter on the automatic 30 day and who clearly intend to stay longer.

Yes, but I wouldn't mind betting they only have issues with those without plenty of money to spend on the economy etc.

But I can see where Rider is coming from here

We should also consider Lomu's point that friends and family is not an official Thai Immigration reason for long stay permit, and not permited in all consulates. This is example of Immigration's relaxed side, if they really wanted to clamp down on us, I think we'd know about it. New requirements/extra documentation often seems related to local Asian foreigners, illegal workers etc, but I guess they have to implement things accross the board.

And I'd like to know the % of new requirements that arise due to us exploiting loopholes, 99.9999% maybe

SJ

[lomuamart]

Pinky,
JG's advise is sound. What you need to be mindful of is the expiration date of your visa. As long as you exit and enter the country before the visa expires (even the day before), you'll get another 90 day "permitted to stay stamp". That supercedes your visa, so the visa can have expired, but you're allowed in until the border Imm stamp expires. The "permitted to stay stamp" is always the important one, even if your vise has expired beforehand.
An extension dosn't come into play in your scenario. You're just using your visa to its fullest extent.

Mags,
Proof of income dosn't apply at Hull for a Non O, either single or multi-entry, does it?. You just self-certify don't you?
Proof of income/savings does matter if applying for an OA visa, but that's a whole different kettle of fish.

SJ,
We've had some discussions on visas issues before, but I reckon you're about right there.
I've had three annual extensions here in HH now. The only things that changed for me, document wise, is that I had to sign every piece of paper last year and they didn't ask for a hand-drawn map of where my hovel was - I'd forgotten that, but did have the lease agreement.
So, I suppose I ended up about even.

[usual suspect]

Just as a bit of a foot-note to this topic...I was chatting to the woman at the Hull Consulate yesterday...
she was telling me how busy they were just now, and despite the high-season uncertainty due to
the riots in BKK, she is busier than ever with visa applications this autumn.

[uncle tom]

Just got my single entry 'O' visa - no problems at all - mailed to Hull on Tuesday and got it back on Thursday..

The new standard letter in the visa pack is quicker and easier than the covering letter I used to pen before.

Our 'usual suspect' kindly let me use his Thai home address for a friend to visit, but I put my guesthouse address down as the place I'd be staying at.

I nearly overlooked the £8 fee for getting your passport mailed back by special delivery BTW - easy to miss, I think..

Tom

[Name Taken]

Well, I can not get a Non-Immigrant 'O' visa because i am still legally married to my Thai wife and we have not legally divorced yet. I have not seen her in over 3 years and i don't really want to see her either tbh. I met and spoke with a lawyer in Bangkok about legally divorcing her and the lawyer told me that if i wanted to get a divorce in Thailand she(wife) would automatically get 50% of everything i own including money. I told the lawyer i would think about it and walked out of his office. I am not going to give her anything at all and i don't think that either party should automatically be entitled to anything in a divorce.

[jimk]

So don't divorce her in Thailand then, NT. I divorced a Thai wife in Hong Kong (we were married in Bangkok) and wasn't required to give her a penny.

[Randy Cornhole]

Bloody hell why can't you just say -

Hi, i'm comming over to Thailand for a year. Here is my proof of income/savings and where i'll be staying. I'll even visit the police station every 3 months just to prove i'm alive.

Now get out of my way you horrible little oik!

See it could be so easy...

[lomuamart]

I don't really understand that, NT, but must admit to being a bit tired after the Xmas excesses.
One of the main reasons to be granted a Non O visa is because you are married to a Thai. So, why are you being denied one?

[Name Taken]

Sorry for the confusion lomuamart. I can get a Non-Immigrant 'O' visa if i travel to Hull and apply for a visa there. I just have not been able to get a Non-Immigrant 'O' visa in a neighboring southeast asian country based upon visiting friends or family.

[lomuamart]

Ok, I think see where you are.
I'm pretty sure that most neighbouring countries require a copy of the marriage certificate (which you may have), but also a copy of your wife's ID card (which might be difficult to obtain). A letter from her asking for the visa so you can visit dosn't go amiss, but the first two are more important. All the copies/letter should be signed by your wife and dated.
I'm sure you realise this already, hence your situation.
I'll have a think, but initially I'm afraid, I see your dilemma.

[Khundon1975]

Got a 2 month tourist visa for my son from Cardiff consulate a few weeks ago.
Visa was free, only cost was for the secure postage of our 2 Passports, a grand total of £10, payable to the Post Office.

No request for extra information etc and the visa was back within the week.

Great service.

[lomuamart]

That's a tourist visa though, KD. A different one to a Non O.