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£ slightly down today on the Feds decision not to ease off, changed their tune for some reason

Think you will find that the BoT might have a part to play in it as well.

Firstly, I must admit, I didn't read the whole thread!

But what is the big deal? Why apply for a "marriage"visa in your homecountry? Fly in on a visaextempt, gives you 30 days, straight to immigration to convert into nonimmigrant "O" based on marriage, show them the 400k in your Thai bank account. If your immigration is "friendly" it will give you an extension based on marriage of 15 months, some offices will do it in 2 steps: 3 months first and within the last month the rest.

Seems like most posters are not aware of, that they can have a non O issued in Thailand??

Feels strange to quote myself!

But I would like to hear the visagurus comments on the above solution!

You forgot the 40k baht income option.

You get non immigrant visa entry they don't call it a non-o.

Not all offices do it. For many it will be a trip to Bangkok for first 2 steps.

At most offices it will be a 4 step process (including Bangkok). Apply for visa with proof of 400k or 40k income and get 15 day under consideration stamp, return and get visa/entry stamps, wait 60 to 90 days, apply for extension showing new financial proof and get 30 day (at most offices it is 30 days from current permit to stay date meaning if you go 30 days early it will be 60 days) under consideration stamp and then go back and get extension stamp.

If in the northeast it would be best to make a trip to Laos for a non-o.

Anybody that is reading this topic that is not getting a visa in the UK can still easily get a single entry non-o with no financials needed.

This is great advice ubonjoe but do you have a view on whether it is wrong that embassies/consuls have different requirements.

Surely, in theory at least, they all should fall in line eventually.

In the meantime I have no issue with anyone playing by the rules that are available - i just think that sooner or later everyone will be subject to the same financial requirements for a visa that apply for extensions.

Fortunately my wife is a Chinese-Thai hiso who would not sully herself with internet forums....

Can a border run be made two times in a row? So; border run - 14 days - border run - 14 days.

Serial border running will eventually be challenged .

The immigration guys will suspect you are not a "tourist"

Note this from the Thai Consul in Birmingham:-

The Thai authorities have changed the way in which they will deal with tourists entering Thailand for up to 30 days without a valid visa and as there is some confusion as to the exact meaning of these changes we hope that this explanation will help clarify the situation.

The most important point to understand is that this only affects people who do not have a valid visa. If you have a valid visa there is no change at all to the way your travel arrangements will be dealt with and you need read no further.

If you are entering the Kingdom of Thailand without a valid visa there is a concession which allows you to do so providing that the following conditions are ALL fulfilled.

This has been the rule for many years and nothing has changed in this regard. The only thing that has changed is that these rules are being applied more strictly than in the past. This means that you will not be allowed into the Kingdom of Thailand without a valid visa unless you can fulfil all of the above conditions.

If you enter the Kingdom at an immigration checkpoint, which borders another country, you may be allowed upto 15 days entry providing you have a confirmed air ticket to leave the Kingdom within those 15 days.

Note that this enforcement of the current rules are intended to end the practice of a person without a valid visa going to the border every 30 days.

Please also be aware that Airlines often check if passengers have either a valid visa or a return ticket within 30 days and will exclude you from boarding a flight to Thailand if you have neither. The Thai authorities have asked Airlines to be more vigilant in this respect.

The last point is that this 30 days only applies if your total stay is up to 30 days. It is not a free 30 days which can be added to the length of your visa as some people seem to think.

Wow

Touch frickin crowd. Good to know nobody here is a conclusion jumping, unsympathetic , heartless ass.

Lets hope all your judge, jury and executioner insurance policies are up to date.

Mine is. Is yours ?

I read recently in Health Wire, that beside coconut oil then palm oil was good especially the red one, but normal palm oil was also OK for cooking.

Ricebran oil was not good

Change your reading habits.

Start by reading post 70.

"Prohibitive," that's funny. Having to show financials of a few thousand pounds, basically that one isn't flat broke, is now a "prohibitive financial barrier." And this for someone who is a head of a household to boot!

800,000 baht for a 90 day visa seems a little overboard. And why must it be money in bank acct and not other financial accounts as well

It is actually a 12 month visa.

I believe it states that the 800,000 baht requirement is for both single entry and multi entry Non-O's

Apologies - I must stop thinking just in multiple O terms.

Imposing prohibitive financial barriers on married couples simply wanting to be together is an infringement on Thailands legal commitments on international human rights. These new 'rules' need challenging and to be put under the media spotlight. This could be down to one idiot somewhere rather than official policy. Hopefully all those couples at risk will start writing to their relevant embassies in their thousands.

"Prohibitive," that's funny. Having to show financials of a few thousand pounds, basically that one isn't flat broke, is now a "prohibitive financial barrier." And this for someone who is a head of a household to boot!

800,000 baht for a 90 day visa seems a little overboard. And why must it be money in bank acct and not other financial accounts as well

It is actually a 12 month visa.

Had email from hull last night,£20000 in my Lloyds e-savers account ,was not good enough, for multientry O visa (I am over 50), I have had this money in this account for the last 5 years and have had a O visa for the last 5 years,I have had to transfer money into my current account .....now, not sure if I will get visa as they may say it has to have been in account 3 months ....<deleted>...

Do you have income as well ?

Posted in the Chiang Mai forum because ???

You have exploited nothing because you can meet the extension requirements. (There was NOTHING stopping you getting an extension).

There are many that cannot

I'm guessing not a lot of thought went into that post because technically, what you are saying is that for 2 people using exactly the same method of staying here, one is innocent because he has money but the other is guilty because he doesn't?

So if you have 800,000, but come here and spend very little you are a model citizen, and if you don't have 800,000 but come here and spend 60,000 a month, you're scum?

Just asking, because I have friends who fall into both categories. One guy I know (on an 800,000 retirement visa) lives - perfectly contentedly I might add - on $500 a month.

i don't make the rules bobl, I just try to understand them.

You have the required funds you get past "GO" if you haven't got the required funds then you are not in the board game.

Pretty much simple as that.

So under the new rules (both Thailand and the UK) some poor sods who are married to a Thai and have children together will be unable to live together as a family.

Correct. If you haven't got the wherewithall to meet the minimum financial requirements.

No difference as far as extensions are concerned but many have exploited 'soft' visa procedures and resided on Non Imm O's with border runs,

Probably, but perhaps many of those folk have used resources taking care of Thai folk.

Comes back to the rules. In this case the financial requirements are crystal clear (a bit foggy round the edges but the principle is there - show the income/resources and you get a visa/extension).

So under the new rules (both Thailand and the UK) some poor sods who are married to a Thai and have children together will be unable to live together as a family.

Correct. If you haven't got the wherewithall to meet the minimum financial requirements.

No difference as far as extensions are concerned but many have exploited 'soft' visa procedures and resided on Non Imm O's with border runs,

I have lived mainly in Thailand since 2004 but have had to return to the UK every year for a medical. I've never known exactly how long I'd be in the UK each time so my wife (and sometimes our daughter) has come with me and we've treated it as and extended holiday of one, two, or even three months.

Originally I went to immigration at Si Ratcha to get an extension to my first non 'O', based on marriage, but, because I had to go back to the UK every year they wouldn't (didn't want to?) do it. They told me to get a new multi non 'O' each time I was in the UK and do ninety day border runs while I was in Thailand.

And that's what I have done every year since.

Does that mean I (under Si Ratcha immigration instructions) have been exploiting the soft visa procedures for the last nine years?

You have exploited nothing because you can meet the extension requirements. (There was NOTHING stopping you getting an extension).

There are many that cannot

So under the new rules (both Thailand and the UK) some poor sods who are married to a Thai and have children together will be unable to live together as a family.

Correct. If you haven't got the wherewithall to meet the minimum financial requirements.

No difference as far as extensions are concerned but many have exploited 'soft' visa procedures and resided on Non Imm O's with border runs,

I also recommend rice bran oil. Now available at a sensible price.

I will avoid palm oil wherever possible.

So when my current visa expires in approx. August of next year, I'm off to Cambo? Seems non-o's - my only realistic visa option - won't be available to me, or am I panicking for nothing?

Sent from my GT-N7000B

You don't say what your visa is based upon.

So it is impossible to answer question.

See posts 111 and 113 and it is easy to answer. He cannot prove income for his visa based on marriage so he will be buggered if Savannaket is brought into line with other embassies.

We are rapidly approaching the point of no evidence of income/bank balance = no visa.

Unless you are a UK OAP then you can show any amount of state pension income and you qualify.

Explain the logic of this one. Over 65 you don't need to be able to afford to live in Thailand - just show receipt (however small) of the State Pension.

SINGLE or MULTIPLE ENTRY “O” VISA FOR PERSON AGED 65 AND OVER:-
1. Passport with minimum 6 months validity at time of entering Thailand.
2. Visa Application Form fully completed and with two photographs attached.
5. Copy of UK “Current Account” bank statements for last 3 months showing
receipt of UK State Pension (no minimum required).

Presumably you have to wait until you are 65 years and 3 months to satisfy the criteria.

This is unlikely to be for anything other than tourist visas for nationalities that can get a transit visa on arrival. No documents or financial statements required for these. You just pay the fee and hopefully they can figure out how to accept credit cards, rather than asking people to transfer money and fax them the ATM slip. There would also be no need to link airlines to this data because the holders of the visas could travel to Thailand without a visa. The US and Australian systems will be the model and these are only for nationals of countries that don't need to supply any information except their passport details and basic personal information.

If I understand what your are saying, there is one fly in the ointment: If you acquired an e-visa and the airlines were not linked in to the system, and if you had no ticket out of the country within 30 days, how would the airline know whether to board you or not? If you show up in Thailand with no ticket out within 30 days, and with no visa, you have not qualified for the 30-day visa-exemption stamp, and become the airline's liability to be repatriated and pay Thai Immigrations a fine. The airline would need to know absolutely that you had a visa to board you, no?

With the Cambodian e-visa system YOU print off 2 copies and staple them in your passport. Very simple, very straight forward.

So even Savannaket is out now!

Is KL's required proof still 100k in a Thai bank for ''marriage'' non imm multi O?

I'm nearly 63, don't have a UK address for my UK bank, don't get statements and am under 40k a month

from my 2 private pensions yet my Thai wife and I have lived here with 2 fully paid-up houses very happily for 12 years!

I am probably one of the 'poor farang' that YL /TS want shot of as we contribute nothing to Thailand.

Please remind me of the requirements for marriage extension at imm in Thailand, are they :-

400k in Thai bank for 3 month prior to app, map to house, photo's of both in and around house, wife ID & Tabien Baan, marriage and Kor Ror 2 cert, 2 photo's and 2/3 copies signed of each, or is there more?

.....my head hurts

Just playing Devil's Advocate here, but you would appear to be "one of those Farangs" that don't meet the minimum financial requirements (as set by immigration authorities/police orders) to live in Thailand.

I think that is the bottom line really and local consulates have now been told to enforce those requirements in the issue of visas.

If you are 63 why are you asking for a visa to visit friends.

You can get a multiple O in Perth or Brisbane for retirement. No financial proof needed.

Just an update, have phoned both Perth and Brisbane this morning, the answer is NO the new regulations even a '0' now must have 800.000 in Bank and letter confirming you have this account...

Did ask requirements if married to a Thai, both said, also now needs money in Bank..

Hate the idea but try to get another double TR Visa ? then just under 2 years overstay appears to be the only option ?. or get another new Passport and keep trying TR Visa route

so doors slams shut everywhere ?

I think the message is getting through and the third option is NOT staying in Thailand if you don't have enough money.

I'd move to India if I had to leave Thailand. 1000 times better than Cambodia.

I can't think of anywhere I would rather not go than India. Personal choice, of course, but it has zero appeal.

India is a huge diverse country - high mountains up north, beautiful quiet beaches nearer the South. Great food, very spiritual people.

All the people I have known to go to Cambodia were mongers looking for cheap, desperate girls.

I would imagine this task would be better achieved by staying in Thailand.

Puchooay, sadly my only other experience with the FC was much the same, only that time they didn't have several meals that we wanted.The only reason i went back this time was because Brimacthai was singing the praises of the place.

And yes I was once asked by the same person if I would go and meet him at the FC, and give him some ideas that would help out the lady owner. I made the trip(160 k's) round trip but the lady owner could not even bother coming downstairs for the meeting. But I spent over an hour explaining how I would change things, simple things like changing the menu, trimming it down to a reasonable manageable amount of dishes, also brightening the place up a bit. But the first thing he needed to do was to retrain or replace the staff they had, as the ones they had at the time weren't very friendly and even less experienced.

I was glad to see that they managed to get back the girl who worked there before (Neean) sorry about the spelling. She was very good with the customers, and also a good cook. But I hear she is now working elsewhere.

He never got back to me, so I presumed that he wasn't bothering getting involved, must say I was surprised on saturday that he had took my advice on the menu, it was a lot smaller, but he seemed to have taken off some of the basic english dishes, maybe I didn't look hard enough but i was sure that there were no fish and chip on the menu.

ANyway Puchooay, this is only my opinion, but I would say it is still a long way from it's former popularity, and you know the old saying "It's easy to lose customers, but it's a hell of a lot harder to get them back" I hope i am wrong and it does return to it's past glories, but they need someone who has had experience running bar/restaurants to push them along.

Rarely is it possible to make a silk purse from a sows ear.

FC would also do well look at it's premium prices versus it's less than premium product.

It think if you refined 'divorce rates' to include 'relationship failures' (i.e. where there may have been a village wedding but no 'legality' or an amphur registered marriage where the parties have not bothered to divorce) the picture would be somewhat difference.

The Thai males' reputation for monogomy is not great. Most Thai women who take a fan/gik/new husband usually seem to do so anly after a partner has transgressed.

I would reverse the above statement (which may be way many Falang/Thai relationships do actually work) and say that it is mainly the young bucks who come for fun and P2P. The older guys may also arrive with the same concept in mind but often find the level of companionship to be far better than in the west and seek to develop longer term relationship. Both parties finish up with their own version of security.

A relationship coming to an end is rarely a "failure" unless the couple were kidding themselves into thinking it would be lifelong.

And expecting monogamy is in my opinion one of the biggest causes of such failures.

The Thai way of accepting multiple relationships and realizing that moving on from one to another is just part of life is to me much healthier than the usual western model.

And I agree that the older guys are usually the ones more likely to want to settle down, or at least more susceptible to being persuaded to do so by those lovely feminine wiles. If only more were smarter about the fine-print details of how they went about it so as to ensure their independence and financial sustainability against the likelihood of things going south at some point. To many end up being an appendage to the SO's family and in a position where it's difficult to extract themselves once the honeymoon's over.

I personally agree with you but I think the western ideal of "'til death us do part' is still very strong. I also don't think that Thais typically 'willingly accept' multiple relationships - it seems to be a take it or leave it system.

I think think the general attitude to sex (as a function) is one of the reasons that it is so easy have multiple relationships. I accept your view that in some cases this can the longevity of some relationships.

Or we could just do a crossword puzzle