mrjohn

Looks like I may have to fly back to the Uk soon due to parent's illness. Have only just got retirement visa what is the best way to get the reentry permit. I've heard they are available at the airport but takes time.

Anybody know how I can get a radio commentary on the internet? The BBC is blocked since they do not have the rights outside the UK. I am even prepared to pay for it!!

Before the "O" visa expires. Cross the border and get a 30 day tourist visa exemption stamp. Then change this 30 day stamp into a 90 day 'O" visa inside Thailand. Before the 90 day visa expires, you then do the extension of stay with the money being in the bank for 90 days.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Sorry can't quite follow this. How do I change the 30 day stamp into a 90 day O ??

I should add that my original visa "expired" on 4 Oct so I am now on the last three month period having reentered Thailand on 3rd Oct

There I was all ready to extend my Non Imm O visa as per the info recieved on this board and advice previously given by police in Songkhla. I have recently moved to Phuket and made the mistake of not keeping up with the shifting of the goalposts. Yesterday I was told by Phuket police that I could not extend the visa because I had not had the funds in my account for three months. The same officer told me to transfer the 800000 bht and then leave the country returning on the 30 day entry permit until the money had been in my account for the required period. He informed me that I could then apply for a non imm O here in Phuket which I find hard to believe.

I then went to see a Thai lawyer/visa consultant who suggested that I go to Kuala Lumpur where obtaining the visa was easy. I find this hard to belive as well. I have the money sitting in my UK account but have been screwed by the rule change. Any help please.....my visa expires at the end of Dec.

.. As well as effecting the live here border hoppers these rules drastically effect others too.

On another forum we are discussing who is effected so far its only legit tourists.

Whilst you may not be a "low-life border hopper" I am somewhat concerned that you have apparently managed to gain employment as an English Teacher.

Just an observation!!

Thanks again but what if I left the country during that three months??

Thanks for that but I can still apply for the extension during that three months? Correct?

My Multiple entry non imm o visa (obtained in the UK) expires on 4th Oct. I went down to my local immigration police office because as I understood it the visa can only be extended while it is still valid, ie before 4th Oct. The friendly officer informed me that if I left and re-entered the country before the visa expired that would give me a further 3 months during which time I can apply for the extension. Does anyone have any experience of this? It seems a little odd to me.

If I were to leave the country during this period would I be allowed back in on my original visa??

I am about to transfer some money from the UK to a bank in Thailand to support my non immigrant visa extension. I then want to send some back to the UK (I get a better interest rate and more security) I get the impression from a local branch of Bkk bank that this is not really a problem provided I can produce the documentation from the original transfer that proves that the money came from the UK in the first place.

Has anyone any experience of this?

ATM receipts are not normally accepted by immigration for proof of anything.

All Thai banks are paying about 4.5% currently for time deposits. These are not normally accepted for immigration money purposes. The money is expected to be in a passport savings account to be used for your support - that is the reason they issue the one year extension of stay - because you have demonstrated the funds to support yourself are available.

Interest rates on bank accounts in Thailand are the same for everybody, regardless of nationality, race, colour, creed, gender, sexual orientation, body-mass index, etc.

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Maestro

AsI said the system is ridiculous.

Anyway noone has answered the question as to how I prove that I have a regular income from the UK which goes into a Uk account from which I draw funds to support myself.

I said at the outset that all I wanted to do was to renew my existing visa I do not want a retirement visa yet

So its OK then for my income from property to be going in to a UK bank account??? But not the lump sum.

I make withdrawals on a regular basis from my UK account via an ATM (which should be able to prove that I am not working)for which there is no charge.

I am asking these questions because the visa system is ridiculous.

Does anyone know why, having shown that you have more than adequate funds to support yourself for a year you are still required to leave the country every three months?

I am currently spending about 7000 Bht per week (more than many Thais earn in a month)and living really well on it. That amounts to 364000 per annum! Less than half of what I am required to deposit in a Thai bank.

OK I am living cheaply at the moment.

The 800,000 itself is not the issue I have much more in my UK account. I just want to avoid putting my money in Thai banks.

I have just seen on another thread that you can get 4% interest in a Thai bank. Does anyone know where?

My visa application in the UK required a bank statement showing 10,000 pounds or about 700,000 Bht and that is all. No medical and no explanation of why I wanted to stay in Thailand for a year.

The assertion that "Its all explained on www.thaivisa.com" is equally absurd especially since these "rules" are open to widespread differences in interpretation.

If these matters were adequately explained there would be no need for this forum.

The only reason I would transfer the money back to the UK is that my UK bank pays interest whereas, as I understand it, we farang cannot earn interest in a Thai bank account. Is this correct?

Two other points: Do I have to do this before my current visa expires which is therefore a genuine renewal? or is the visa a new application altogether?

I forgot to mention that I have an income of about 500,000 Bht from property in the UK. Can this be offset against the required 800,000 Bht in a Thai bank?

Ok So what is the cheapest and easiest method to transfer funds from Uk to Thailand and back again? I am assuming that once the visa is issued the money can be sent back to my Uk bank.

I am a 55 year old British citizen currently in Thailand on my second type O non-immigrant visa both of which were issued in the UK. It is due to expire in Oct. Last year I went back to England and obtained a new one but do not wish to do so this year.

My preferred option would be to renew the visa here in Thailand. Is this possible? If so how?

I have read the postings on this subject but I am wondering if someone could clarify a couple of things for me since I am currently in the UK.

I already have a one year license so do I need to show an international driving license or will the Thai one be sufficient?

Can one apply at any issuing office or must it be at the same one where the original was first issued?

Thanks

I have just obtained a multiple entry non-immigrant visa type O in the UK. What exactly does multiple entry mean? I understand it to mean I can leave and re-enter as many times as I like (during the one year validity of the visa) and can then stay up to 90days on each occasion. Is this correct?