gray42

Do you have anything to back that up? I've heard otherwise...

how could they clamp down on a non-tourist visa for not being a bonafide tourist?

Because people can still have a 1 year, multiple entry visa and not have a work permit, so they can still be working illegally (which is the point, they don't want people working here illegally)

then why would they offer a non-o multi which can only be acquired at home and wont be a back to back if they would not let you use the multi entries?

The same reason they'll issue you a tourist visa and not let you use it. It's the back-to-back extensions that I'm worried about. Anyway, it seems the majority of people say there will be no problem. A couple other people were saying there will be a problem. Just trying to get any info on it that I can.

My Non Imm Multi Entry 'O' Visa sticker has three dates... Date of Issue, Enter Before Date and my Birth Date ... I have examined it closely ... there is no other date written or stamped on it...

I have an entry date stamped on a passport page... which is 33 days after my Date of Issue... there is not any sort of expiry date except the 'Admitted until date' on my Visa sticker nor anywhere else in my passport. I suppose my Visa sticker and passport stamps is different than others.

Just remember your 1 year stay starts on the day your visa was issued, NOT the day you entered Thailand.

No... They are only counting tourist visas, not any other visa.

Do you have anything to back that up? I've heard otherwise...

how could they clamp down on a non-tourist visa for not being a bonafide tourist?

Because people can still have a 1 year, multiple entry visa and not have a work permit, so they can still be working illegally (which is the point, they don't want people working here illegally)

6 months of stamps and visas over the last 12 months and you will be deemed not a tourist and refused no matter what visa you have or whether you are coming on a second entry from a double entry visa.

No matter what visa you have ?

So even if you go back on business or on O visa you will be refused ? Tourist not ok, other visas not ok.

Everybody out please !

No... They are only counting tourist visas, not any other visa.

Do you have anything to back that up? I've heard otherwise...

We all get it - you're fabulous and most of the rest of us are lower than whale crap. Now can you please give it a rest?

Illegals are lower than whale crap (lol, does a whale crap in the ocean?). They are criminals who are trespassing. They spread disease and undermine wages for residents. They are parasites that use up the resources of the host country. It takes officers to round up illegals, it takes diesel to ship them to the port, and it takes fuel to send them back to their country.

Don't be an illegal. Go through the proper channels that the government has setup.

Thailand gives illegal workers almost free work permits, only 1,305 baht. So I believe what you mean to say is farang are lower than whale crap. Illegal Burmese, Cambodian, or Laotian workers are treated better. http://www.thephuketnews.com/big-drive-soon-to-register-illegal-workers-in-phuket-47378.php

So I've heard the usual "someone said..." on ThaiVisa about people with a 1 year non-immigrant multiple entry visa and no work permit being denied an extension. I'm planning on flying home and getting a new 1 year visa, so obviously I'm getting a bit worried. Does anyone have any info or educated guesses on if these visas will have the same scrutiny as tourist visas after the upcoming deadline?

I've attended packed conferences in Bangkok specifically for people who work online and live in Thailand. It's not uncommon at all and they don't have work permits. Thailand was on its way to becoming an online business startup hub, but now that's changing. They could make a lot of money by issuing freelancers special visas, but for some reason they're not interested. In fact, now I have no idea what they're interested in. I guess 50+ year old retirees spending their money on bar girls is preferred over young entrepreneurs. 

I love the self righteous holders of various 'legal' visas slagging of other members or folk because of the way they perceive themselves to be in the right and others to be in the wrong.

I lived in Thailand for 16 years and was a member of all 3 of the perceived groups.

I was a tourist for 3 years, only 35 but had a very large amount of cash from a redundancy and a house sale. There was no visa to cover that situation, so I was a border runner.

Later I worked legally for 11 years with WP and Visa extensions on a non imm B. I didn't exit Thailand for 11 years.

I changed teaching positions to find that the rules had changed and my WP and visa extensions had been covered by the so called grandfather rule, but on changing jobs I could no longer get a work permit.

I became a visa runner again hoping for a relaxing of the rules, unfortunately this did not happen in time and I was finally refused a tourist visa at Vientiane.

I decided this was the final push for me and returned to the UK.after 16 years total in Thailand.

A word of warning to those of you who are on visas today, just because you fulfil the visa rules today that does not mean that will be the case in the future and you could be left having to return home.

So a little bit less of the attitude of, 'Why don't people follow the EASY rules' and just be thankful that you are still allowed to stay.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

From what you've seen in your 16 years, are marriage and retirement visas the only ones that have remained somewhat stable? (Aside from a work permit, of course.)

Since they're getting more strict with the visa rules, I'm planning on flying back home and picking up a business visa. Many "tourist residents" don't have the means to fly home and spend the money on a business visa. They've been enjoying the simple, cheap life in Thailand, but it sounds like that's going to change. Sorry, but you should know your fairy tale expat life in Thailand isn't guaranteed permanent, and it sounds like it's time for you to move on. There are many other options, such as Cambodia or Lao. Cambodia makes it very easy to stay long term. It's a different culture and it will take getting used to, but it's similar to Thailand in many ways (and there's plenty of cheap beer and hookers for you to blow your money on). I've considered moving to Cambodia and spending my money there instead. It really wouldn't be difficult either. Only five or ten thousand baht for a truck to drive you straight to your destination with all your belongings. So my point being you were staying on temporary visas designed for people to stay in Thailand temporarily. You can't be angry at anybody, only at yourself for become too comfortable living here.

So very sanctimonious, I do wonder did you read about the guy with a business visa who was refused entrance on his 'B' visa because he appeared to be living in Thailand a little too long (couple of months), but he didn't have a work permit - just the business visa based on doing business with Thai companies. The thing is this guy only came once to do business and tried to do a land based border run to extend his stay for a short while - he wasn't in fact living in Thailand but that didn't matter as he was denied. These same rules will be applied in the airports from August 12th so good luck with that.

Remember as you mentioned above 'you should know your fairy tale expat life in Thailand isn't guaranteed permanent' and a B visa is certainly no guarantee unless it's fully backed up with a work permit.

Ask yourself - will you need to do an 'Out/In' visa run every 90 days at all, if the answer to that question is yes, then you're also on the list unless you have a visa based on marriage, retirement or dependenets / being a dependent.

The B visa is primarily designed for people to stay in Thailand temporarily while doing business, it's not for people who want to live here full time.

Thanks for the heads up, and no I didn't read about the guy. Which thread was that posted in? Obviously things are getting lost in the pages and pages of comments. EDIT: And I apologize if I came off as sanctimonious, that's just the way I write.

I think all they need to do is change their signs from "Visa Run" to "Taxi Van".

Since they're getting more strict with the visa rules, I'm planning on flying back home and picking up a business visa. Many "tourist residents" don't have the means to fly home and spend the money on a business visa. They've been enjoying the simple, cheap life in Thailand, but it sounds like that's going to change. Sorry, but you should know your fairy tale expat life in Thailand isn't guaranteed permanent, and it sounds like it's time for you to move on. There are many other options, such as Cambodia or Lao. Cambodia makes it very easy to stay long term. It's a different culture and it will take getting used to, but it's similar to Thailand in many ways (and there's plenty of cheap beer and hookers for you to blow your money on). I've considered moving to Cambodia and spending my money there instead. It really wouldn't be difficult either. Only five or ten thousand baht for a truck to drive you straight to your destination with all your belongings. So my point being you were staying on temporary visas designed for people to stay in Thailand temporarily. You can't be angry at anybody, only at yourself for become too comfortable living here.

The fact that there's the word "farang" makes me not feel so bad about generalizing Thais.

Sorry, most likely a stupid question but did you already try removing the power supply & then just booting it up with the power cable, assuming you bought a new one after the first was fried?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Do you mean removing the battery and booting it up with just the power cable? I'm a bit nervous to open this thing up...

I haven't stepped foot in the USA for 3 years as I've been traveling throughout Southeast Asia, which means I've only had tourist visas. Obviously I don't want to pay for expensive health insurance I can't use, but with only a tourist visa I don't qualify for the Bona-fide Residence Test. Will I be able to show I haven't been physically present in the US by simply showing my passport with all of my visas from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, etc.? On IRS.gov it says this:

Overstays do not affect the ability to get visas or extensions of stay.

Even overstays much longer than yours are not a problem.

You do get a small blue triangle shaped stamp for overstay.

Thanks, good to hear!

About 8 months ago I had a 1 day overstay going into Laos. I just paid the fine, they gave me a receipt and that was it. Another time I misjudged my visas expiration date and had another 1 day overstay. Again, just a 500 baht fine, got a receipt, and that was it. I'm waiting for a check to clear and may have another 1 day overstay. There aren't any red stamps or anything in my passport, so will these 1 day overstays affect my ability to get future visas, or do they not keep records of such short overstays?

Thanks for clearing that all up. I appreciate it.

Today, I was told that my 6 day old bank statement to support my yearly O visa renewal was too old.

The Phibun Immigration office said the new requirement is now 3 days from issue to turning in. Has anybody

else been told this or are they messing with me?

I thought what everyone was saying in this topic was that you don't need to show proof of your income, that you just have to swear to the officer that you make the required amount of money? I guess I'm missing something. Or are you saying that at the US Embassy I only have to swear that I make enough money and they will give me the proof of income form, but at the Thai office I need to show my bank statements? What would the bank statement need to show?

Gray42,

You need to have the required income EVERY month, or combo with a lump sum to make up the total.

If you don't, then no, the straight monthly income route is not for you.

To prepare, sign and present a document you know to be false, and look the US Embassy Officer in the eye and say it is true, is illegal. I could go on about cascading impacts, but won't.

Choose wisely.

"Choose wisely"? Where did you get the idea that I don't make enough money and plan on lying to the embassy officer? I never said anything like that.

I'm wondering if the U.S. embassy would give me a proof of income certificate with my type of work. I'm currently in Thailand as a tourist. In the states I work as an independent contractor (online) for a few different companies. Income is sporadic... there's no set amount I make per month. If I can show the embassy that I've had the required income for 3 months in a row, will they give me the proof of income certificate needed for a marriage visa? After that I'll need to show proof of income again after 1 year, correct?

It's pretty sickening seeing the Thai kids (and even adults) dumping spoonfulls of sugar onto their pad see ew or whatever it is they're eating. But then again, it's sickening seeing farang dumping 3, 4, 5 spoonfulls of sugar into their tiny coffee or tea cup.

what kind of Visa do you apply for and where (visa excempt, visa on arrival, visa from embassy)?

is there a reason why you could be declined a visa?

immigration will find you with your name, as I assume it will not change.

It's a tourist visa from a neighboring county's Thai embassy. What I've read is after 3 or 4 Thai tourist visas, they may decline you a new tourist visa. Each one past 3 or 4 it gets more and more difficult to get another. I was hoping getting a new passport would solve this problem, as I'll have a new, blank passport.

I have a few Thai tourist visas, but soon I'll be getting a new, blank passport. When I go to get a new tourist visa will the agent who is issuing my tourist visa be able to see my previous visas from my old passport on their computer and possibly deny a new tourist visa, or can he only see what's in my current (new) passport?

Lockman is right. You can get your passport mailed back to you. Here's the email I received from U.S. Embassy in Bangkok:

MAIL BACK OPTION: If you wish to have the passport mailed back to you, please purchase a mailing envelope from us for 75 baht during your appointment and inform the interviewing officer. Please note that you will need to surrender your current passport at the time of application, as we will need to cancel it when the new one arrives in our office. It will be returned to you, along with the new passport, and a letter for Thai immigration to help with the visa transfer.