Further Tightening of Non Immigrant 'O' Visa

[crazy88]

What is wrong with "I am going to visit my mate who lives there" or " I am going on holiday" ? Seems strange to me as they are pretty common reasons for visiting anywhere in the world.

Crazy 88

[lomuamart]

For a tourist visa, that's no problem. A Non O is a different type.
On the above criteria, you can get a Non O - single or multi-entry - from honourary consulates in the UK and maybe elsewhere - some in the USA and Australia..
From neighbouring countries to Thailand, you really don't have a chance unless you're married to a Thai or over 50.

[Khundon1975]

Yes I know lomuamartthanks, I just thought I would give Cardiff a mention, as we and many of our friends have used them for all sorts of visa's and they have always been very good to deal with.

There is one particular lady (of a certain age) who seems to go out of her way to be as helpful as she can to all applicants.

[Name Taken]

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.

Can you please explain to me in a bit more detail how i can divorce my Thai wife in Hong Kong?
Thanks Jim

[PeteC]

Here's something else to read NT in case any interest. Pete

http://www.guamdivorce.us/

[Name Taken]

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.

You're right lomuamart, I do not have a copy of my wife's ID card and i do not have the original marriage certificate and that is the reason why i can not get a Non-Immigrant 'O' visa based on marriage.

[Rider]

What is wrong with "I am going to visit my mate who lives there" or " I am going on holiday" ? Seems strange to me as they are pretty common reasons for visiting anywhere in the world.

Crazy 88

I know mate, but too many A**holes have come to the LOS over the years and ruined it for the many alas.

It's like if a knifeman stabs a bunch of strangers, knife laws get introduced which affect the law abiding.
Same gig with visa's I'm afraid.

If it's any help I got my Non immigrant 'o' friends and family 12 (15) month visa no problem and within the same time-frame (3 days) for processing.

Going through swampy airport customs was easy also.

You've got to box-clever now, they introduce a new restriction, have measure's in place to meet it.
So now it pays to know people and have friends that live here.
I'm not the most sociable of dudes but even I like to hang with other expats out here.
You get an address, check if they are cool with it and you're good to go man!

There is another way, if you're a Brit, to get the 12 month visa from WITHIN Bangkok (nowhere else).
There's a Visa firm I know of that can get you multi-entry 12 month Non immi 'o' visa's for singletons.
It's run by a travel agent and has immigration 'approval' but there's a catch, you have to entrust your passport for them to send overseas to a certain Thai Consulate where it get's stamped up and flown 'home' (in this case Thailand). Crucially, it get's the appropriate stamps from the airport (as it's 'walked through' customs)
The cost for this service? Pricey, in excess of 20,000 baht I'm told.
You're without passport for a few days but with a colour p/c of it or Thai D/L you're highly unlikely to catch any 'heat'

I've got to check on the details of this place as the card I have for it is misplaced

[Name Taken]

What is wrong with "I am going to visit my mate who lives there" or " I am going on holiday" ? Seems strange to me as they are pretty common reasons for visiting anywhere in the world.

Crazy 88

I know mate, but too many A**holes have come to the LOS over the years and ruined it for the many alas.

It's like if a knifeman stabs a bunch of strangers, knife laws get introduced which affect the law abiding.
Same gig with visa's I'm afraid.

If it's any help I got my Non immigrant 'o' friends and family 12 (15) month visa no problem and within the same time-frame (3 days) for processing.

Going through swampy airport customs was easy also.

You've got to box-clever now, they introduce a new restriction, have measure's in place to meet it.
So now it pays to know people and have friends that live here.
I'm not the most sociable of dudes but even I like to hang with other expats out here.
You get an address, check if they are cool with it and you're good to go man!

There is another way, if you're a Brit, to get the 12 month visa from WITHIN Bangkok (nowhere else).
There's a Visa firm I know of that can get you multi-entry 12 month Non immi 'o' visa's for singletons.
It's run by a travel agent and has immigration 'approval' but there's a catch, you have to entrust your passport for them to send overseas to a certain Thai Consulate where it get's stamped up and flown 'home' (in this case Thailand). Crucially, it get's the appropriate stamps from the airport (as it's 'walked through' customs)
The cost for this service? Pricey, in excess of 20,000 baht I'm told.
You're without passport for a few days but with a colour p/c of it or Thai D/L you're highly unlikely to catch any 'heat'

I've got to check on the details of this place as the card I have for it is misplaced

Sounds very very sketchy.

[jimk]

NT, I've PM'd you.

[Name Taken]

Not negative minded assumption at all, Rider. The MFA website clearly defines what "other" means. There's therefore no reason to list what is not valid.
Hull and other honourary consulates have always been an anomaly when issuing on the basis of visiting friends and Imm have let it go.
I'm not disputing this. I've had multi-entry Non Os from Hull before on the basis of visiting friends. The nearest place to Thailand to get the visa on this basis was Australia and Perth was generally regarded as the most user friendly. However, I believe they're closed now. They were/still are an honourary consulate.
All I'm saying is that I'd never advise anyone to try and get a Non O any more from the London Embassy on the basis of visiting friends. I'll almost guarantee that they'll be refused as they will be at consulates and Embassies in the region of Thailand. These missions stick to the MFA rules. Honourary consulates make a tidy sum from visas and therefore are prone to relax the rules and long may they continue to do so.
It's probably also worth pointing out that Non O visas are designed to be extended annually within Thailand - ad infinitum as long as you qualify. Not surprisingly, the qualifying reasons are exactly the same as the MFA lay down for issuance of the visas - visiting family (need proof of the de facto relationship) and retirement. There are the other couple of reasons as well and finances always also come into play at this stage.
Hull and some other honourary consulates allow the "friends" option. Missions who are directly employed by Thai authorities, such as Embassies and ordinary consulates, do not as they stick to the MFA regulations.
The moral of the story? If you want a Non O on the basis of visiting friends, find yourself an honourary consulate. That's where you'll stand the best chance of getting it.

Why was the honourary consulate in Perth, Australia closed?

[Nereus]

There is some info on other forums if you Google it, but basically Brigd. Jamieson, the long serving Consul, is now well into his eighties and ,understandably, has now decided to take 'early retirement'!

[Name Taken]

Have any US citizens been to the Thai consulate in Hull, UK and successfully applied for a Non-Immigrant 'O' visa based on visiting friends?

[Billy]

Just had Hull Thai Consulate on the phone asking me for a copy of Marriage Cert and my Daughters Birth Cert faxing to them before they will issue me with Non Imm 'O' Visa !
Think this will cause single guys some real problems,on the other hand it will be good news for Thai girlfriends !!!!!

[Noz]

Just had Hull Thai Consulate on the phone asking me for a copy of Marriage Cert and my Daughters Birth Cert faxing to them before they will issue me with Non Imm 'O' Visa ! Think this will cause single guys some real problems,on the other hand it will be good news for Thai girlfriends !!!!!

Correct! It seems the Hull Consulate have moved the goal posts again. The "visiting friends" category was dropped earlier this year but a new category "to reside in Thailand" emerged and was attainable via a property rental contract. Now that category has gone, so those of us under 50 years old, not married to a Thai, with no family living or working here are struggling.

[JimmyGreaves]

Just had Hull Thai Consulate on the phone asking me for a copy of Marriage Cert and my Daughters Birth Cert faxing to them before they will issue me with Non Imm 'O' Visa !
Think this will cause single guys some real problems,on the other hand it will be good news for Thai girlfriends !!!!!

Billy you under 50?