I have a non-b but if I did not I would just get a student visa,
works out cheaper than visa runs all the time
Visa run crackdown; 3 strikes and you are out
Re: Visa run crackdown; 3 strikes and you are out
So just to clarify this. I work offshore for 28 days on 28 days off & i go in & out on tourist visa all the time. I never overstay my 30 days & go by air all the time. So i understand this should not effect myself for visa entry on arrival. But i should have marriage cert within this next year. So i hope i get a marriage visa then. Do i have anything to worry about?????
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dtaai-maai
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Re: Visa run crackdown; 3 strikes and you are out
No.
It's only aimed at people trying to circumvent the immigration rules by using repeated border crossings to stay for long periods. If you are married to a Thai and receiving annual extensions from Immigration in your ppt, you will have less to worry about than you do now.
EDIT: You don't go in and out on a tourist visa. You don't have a visa at all. A tourist visa is the endorsement in your ppt that you would obtain from a consulate/embassy in another country, which would allow you to stay 60 days.
It's only aimed at people trying to circumvent the immigration rules by using repeated border crossings to stay for long periods. If you are married to a Thai and receiving annual extensions from Immigration in your ppt, you will have less to worry about than you do now.
EDIT: You don't go in and out on a tourist visa. You don't have a visa at all. A tourist visa is the endorsement in your ppt that you would obtain from a consulate/embassy in another country, which would allow you to stay 60 days.
This is the way
Re: Visa run crackdown; 3 strikes and you are out
Thing is (apart from the ED visa, which is only really suitable for people who want to stay in the same place) there is no alternative visa for anybody unmarried [to a Thai], and under 50.hhfarang wrote: These enforced rules are there to stop foreigners border hopping and forces residents to obtain a more permanent visa to live in Thailand which really should be the case anyway.
I come across a lot of people who seem to be living here and doing nothing. They clearly aren't working. I don't know how they survive here; perhaps they've done well in business in the past, or come into some inheritance - it's not really any of my business - but there's really nothing for them. Why they can't make a long-stay Visa with similar, or maybe even slightly higher, income/savings requirements I really don't know...
Re: Visa run crackdown; 3 strikes and you are out
dtaai-maai has clarified the point regarding visas or visa exempt status.
To Grunter, these new regulations don't seem to have been been very well thought out and it's difficult to tell how they will be enforced. However, I would reckon that you'll be OK in as much as you're flying in (you'll be looked at as having at least some money!!). Personally, I'd bring bank statements with me on arrival to demonstrate that I can support myself whilst here. A pain in the whatever but it's just a few pieces of paper that could well make your entry more easy. You'll also probably have an outward flight that will mollify officers as well. I'm afraid that I just don't know how things will turn out, it's too early to say.
Pleng, I agree with you. I was under 50, not married to a Thai and worked around the 30 day visa exempt status for 11 years here. I wasn't working illegally and my money was legal from the UK etc etc. I simply didn't fit in to Immigration's square boxes. It would make life a lot easier if the authorities could recognise that there are some who aren't over 50 and can actually support themselves properly.
In other words, get rid of the age barrier.
To Grunter, these new regulations don't seem to have been been very well thought out and it's difficult to tell how they will be enforced. However, I would reckon that you'll be OK in as much as you're flying in (you'll be looked at as having at least some money!!). Personally, I'd bring bank statements with me on arrival to demonstrate that I can support myself whilst here. A pain in the whatever but it's just a few pieces of paper that could well make your entry more easy. You'll also probably have an outward flight that will mollify officers as well. I'm afraid that I just don't know how things will turn out, it's too early to say.
Pleng, I agree with you. I was under 50, not married to a Thai and worked around the 30 day visa exempt status for 11 years here. I wasn't working illegally and my money was legal from the UK etc etc. I simply didn't fit in to Immigration's square boxes. It would make life a lot easier if the authorities could recognise that there are some who aren't over 50 and can actually support themselves properly.
In other words, get rid of the age barrier.
Re: Visa run crackdown; 3 strikes and you are out
Yes, and a copy of your work contract, unless you work for Ensco and don`t have one!Personally, I'd bring bank statements with me on arrival to demonstrate that I can support myself whilst here. A pain in the whatever but it's just a few pieces of paper that could well make your entry more easy.
Remember that wherever you are working you will have dates in you Passport of having entered and departed whatever country you are working in, which clearly shows how long and how many times that you have been there. Many countries also now use a "resident" stamp for offshore workers, which again, will show regular times to back up your position.
Do NOT assume that because somebody tells you it does not affect you, that the Immrigration officer will be of the same opinion! As Lumo has written, it is by no means clear, despite what one officer has been quoted as saying.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Re: Visa run crackdown; 3 strikes and you are out
A little off topic but pertinent, I think.
The first time my Thai wife visited England with me, I went through the Non EEC passport queue with her.
I didn't know what would w would have to deal with in terms of proving our marital status and my financial standing.
So, I took all the documents that had led to her visa in my hand luggage. The process was easy and the papers weren't looked at.
Again, for the sake of entry, I'd take a few financial papers with me. Just to show that I'm not totally worthless.
Never volunteer those papers. Only hand them over if asked for them.
EDIT On the second hand, I meant getting into Thailand. However, I'd take the papers pretty much anywhere.
The first time my Thai wife visited England with me, I went through the Non EEC passport queue with her.
I didn't know what would w would have to deal with in terms of proving our marital status and my financial standing.
So, I took all the documents that had led to her visa in my hand luggage. The process was easy and the papers weren't looked at.
Again, for the sake of entry, I'd take a few financial papers with me. Just to show that I'm not totally worthless.
Never volunteer those papers. Only hand them over if asked for them.
EDIT On the second hand, I meant getting into Thailand. However, I'd take the papers pretty much anywhere.
Re: Visa run crackdown; 3 strikes and you are out
Ok then so i am getting married in the next 6 months. So i should be able to get a marriage visa with some luck. I am under 50 but can also show a work contract that i do actually work & can support myself & wife to be very well. So i should have no issues i hope for a long term visa. I will still be fly in, fly out working out of the country. So should be good i hope
Re: Visa run crackdown; 3 strikes and you are out
That's one of the ways to go, Grunter.
What you'll need is a Non Immigrant O visa which shouldn't be too difficult to get in your home country on the basis of being married to a Thai, or even in another country. You'll obviously need to prove that marriage to the satisfaction of the embassy or consulate where you apply,
The O visas come in single entry, good for 90 days when you enter or multiple entry which lasts a year and you can go and come for 90 days at a time as many times as you want during the visa's validity. However, the multiple entry visa is reportedly becoming harder to get.
Once you are stamped in here on an O visa, you can apply for an annual extension of stay. That's not a visa but you're legal and seems to be what you are after.
There are financial requirements to be met and you need to prove that you're legally married. We can give you the requirements when you're ready.
Just make sure that you have a re-entry permit as well. Imm will issue that when you do your extension. 1,000 THB for single or 3,800 for multiple - I guess that you'll need multiple. That stamp will allow you to re-enter Thailand as many times as you want as long as your annual extension is valid.
You then just need to be here in time for another annual extension and you can apply for that within the last 30 days of the extension's validity.
I hope the above is clear, If not, ask away.
What you'll need is a Non Immigrant O visa which shouldn't be too difficult to get in your home country on the basis of being married to a Thai, or even in another country. You'll obviously need to prove that marriage to the satisfaction of the embassy or consulate where you apply,
The O visas come in single entry, good for 90 days when you enter or multiple entry which lasts a year and you can go and come for 90 days at a time as many times as you want during the visa's validity. However, the multiple entry visa is reportedly becoming harder to get.
Once you are stamped in here on an O visa, you can apply for an annual extension of stay. That's not a visa but you're legal and seems to be what you are after.
There are financial requirements to be met and you need to prove that you're legally married. We can give you the requirements when you're ready.
Just make sure that you have a re-entry permit as well. Imm will issue that when you do your extension. 1,000 THB for single or 3,800 for multiple - I guess that you'll need multiple. That stamp will allow you to re-enter Thailand as many times as you want as long as your annual extension is valid.
You then just need to be here in time for another annual extension and you can apply for that within the last 30 days of the extension's validity.
I hope the above is clear, If not, ask away.