ScottMallon

Mario is correct in that there will not be a ban on those who overstay less than 90 days.

This part is in contradiction with what Mario2008 posted just after your message, and that seems to be a part transcription of the scanned document we now have to sign at Immigration: "apprehended" + "overstay less than 1 year" => "ban 5 years". There is a long discussion already in another topic about this unclear point.

Okay, understood. If you turn yourself in and overstay less than 90 days, you get 1 year. But I will have the most recent information posted shortly. I was given this yesterday afternoon and I believe it will be quite clear.

> And it's at the moment (correct me if i'm wrong) THE ONLY PLACE where nobody has been refused entry

Why would someone who made an overstay be refused entry?

Overstayers always became clear once they paid before leaving Thailand.

> By the way, an overstay of 10 DAYS will be a year ban. So forget all the talk about the 90 days,

There is no such "10 days/1 year" in the doc they make you sign in Immigration Office when getting an extension.

Maybe you can tell us what's more was on this "paper"...

They showed me a my friend a paper this morning and it was CLEARLY stated:

Overstay over 10 days = 1 year ban

This is what was on this paper can't tell you more, hope it's clear enough...

Yesterday, I met with the Superintendent of Sub-Division 2, Division 1 at Chaengwattana and four of his colleagues.

I was provided with the latest overstay information. I have the two pages of information that was submitted to the Ministry of Interior for approval. The approval takes approximately 60 days. Nowhere on this page is there a 10 day overstay = 1 year ban. If you overstay more than 90 days and surrender, then you're banned for a year.

Mario is correct in that there will not be a ban on those who overstay less than 90 days.

I'm not saying you didn't see what you say you saw but as soon as I have a little time I will show the papers I was given as well as some other interesting details.

I don't know if you're the same I guy I communicated with about this matter but...If you are a correspondent for a foreign company based outside of Thailand and are being paid by them, you pay no taxes in Thailand. I have never heard about a foreign correspondent paying Thai tax on income earned from a foreign company based outside the country, 180 days or not.

That was one one of the last things I said. Go apply for a marriage visa and we will marry here.

Just stupid that Sinsod is becoming an issue.

I understand the purpose of it, but I'm not taking help or an income away.

I am the income.

Tell the Mom that in your culture, the woman's family pays and see how she reacts.

Listen, $1500 is a helluva lot of money for a Thai woman you basically have not known for very long. The woman is 30 years old. Thai culture or not, it's time for her to stand up to her mother and say, "I love him, he's taken good care of us, we're getting married Mom." I know some may disagree but like others have said, she already has a child with another man and nothing should be paid at all. A Thai man won't pay a single satang, neither should you. Be willing to walk away or be taken advantage of, the choice is yours.

Don't you have anything else to get pissed off about in your life? Who cares what they call it?!

So many angry people on here. No sorry no low self- esteem. I just like people to show a little self respect, when out in public places.

He had a half filled trolley so I guess did not pop out for a quick bite. come on how hard is it to have a wash and put

something clean on?

Why do you feel the need to worry about others? Worry about yourself. If someone else wants to dress badly, that's absolutely none of your concern. NONE - farang or not.

That's remarkable, Orpheus. Which immigration office granted the visa, and can anyone get one?

My visa is just a normal Non-Imm with extensions based on marriage and kids.

The Labour Ministry issued the WP.

I believe the question was which Labor regional office actually issued your WP and from which immigration office do you get your extensions of stay. I am quit interested having failed to get a WP as as a freelance consultant or instructor.

I went to the Ministry of Foreign of Affairs in Bangkok first. I'm trying to remember where my work permit was issued. In the beginning it might have been on Ratchada. Then if I am not mistaken it was on Ladprao. It's been four years or so since my last extension so I am a little fuzzy. If I can I'll take a look around for the permit as I know I kept it. One thing though - I never felt the need to say, "I'm a freelancer." They definitely put the names of the two organizations I worked for (at different times) but like I said, when I asked the woman about freelancing she said that it is well known that many journalists work for more than one organization. Of course this could come back to bite you in the arse but if you're working as a journalist here and they want to make your life difficult, they can do so quite easily anyway so I wasn't about to quibble.

For the record, my visa was always an M visa during the time when I had the permit.

I worked as a freelancer for quite a few years and had my work permit and press card.

The process was relatively simple but time consuming. I went to the MFA, filled in all the paperwork, interviewed, and then collected my paperwork a few weeks later. Then I went and got the work permit and my press card.

In my case I had to provide samples of my work. As is my understanding, the only way to get the work permit and press card is to have a legitimate publication sponsor you as a correspondent as someone does contact the sponsor. The sponsor needs to provide a document with all of their company info as well as your salary, position, length of contract, and office address (mine was my home). Although one magazine sponsored me, I was free to submit work to anyone and I did so. Over the years I had two companies sponsor me and like I said, it was quite easy. Now I think everything is done online but I could be wrong.

I did not have an Alien Business license and the process was like anything else done here - not extremely difficult but time consuming.

Interesting. Was there an employer stated on your work permit? If your sponsor was asked to confirm your salary, position and length of contract, it rather sounds like they were asked to confirm you were a full time employee employed by head office, rather than an unsalaried accredited independent vendor selling to them and others on piece rates, as a freelance journalist does.

The employer was stated on the work permit. They did not confirm me as a full time employee, most definitely not. They told the Thais who called them that yes, I was a correspondent for them working on a per job basis but had a contract to do this for the next year. It said right in the sponsorship letter that I would earn X amount per article, X amount per photograph, and would receive a bonus for anything over the agreed upon amount.

I made it a point to speak with the lady in MFA who handled my paperwork and interview about working for other organizations. She flat out stated that they were aware that most journalists worked for several organizations at once but they just needed to show one that was paying the necessary amount per month. I did this for nearly 10 years without a hitch.

I have an Thai AMEX Platinum and I can take out $500 every 15 days. It doesn't matter if it's the ATM or thru a bank. The cash withdrawal amount is the same.

It might help if you spelled Yangon correctly.

http://www.yangonair.com/

Personally, I find going to immigration akin to nails on a blackboard. Anyhow, on Monday I went to Changwattana to have my non-imm O, (marriage) extended for another year.

Last year, I provided an income affidavit from the US Embassy. The male immigration officer tossed my in the trash and said, "This is nothing, I don't care about this." When I informed him that the Thai guidelines stipulated I bring it in and I had paid $50 bucks for it, he just shook his head, no...no...no. "This is nothing, anyone can do this." I informed him I had my US bank statements to accompany the affidavit and he still would not accept it. So I had to go home, get my Thai bank book, then come back the next day to see him.

I didn't do this the first time because I only averaged over 40,000 baht a month in my account. Some months I earned $4000, others I earned $1000. My US account showed I earned $4000-$6000 every month for the previous 12 months. Granted, I should have just brought in my Thai bank book but assumed it wouldn't be needed. Assuming always seems to get you in trouble. The guy looked at the Thai bank book, grunted, and approved my extension.

So this year, I made a concerted effort to avoid getting the same officer. Lunch break came and my number still hadn't been called, so my wife and I had our lunch while all the officers in the section had their lunch. For the life of me I don't understand why they don't stagger their lunch times but T.I.T. We came back and when my number was next to be called, there was one female officer finishing up and the guy I didn't want to deal with finishing as well. The female officer called my number, thankfully, and we went in. This time around I did the same thing, only I came with my Thai bank book / printout just in case. She gave the US bank statement and affidavit from the embassy a quick look, said, "You earn over 65,000 baht a month. Do you want to change this to a retirement visa?" Now frankly, I don't really care whether I'm on a marriage visa or retirement visa so I changed it on the spot.

We waited three hours before seeing her but once seen, it took 20 minutes to get the visa. So now I'm good to go for another year. Some of my visits to immigration have been nightmarish, others have been a breeze.

Had an old man pull a machete on me because I told him he went the wrong way. He got so pissed. I was shocked...but not too shocked really.

The money has to be yours only and if from outside Thailand it is what you/embassy put as your monthly gross income. Embassy should even it out and it should be accepted; although they can ask to see some supporting paperwork so have something with you in case asked.

Thanks. I've never used her income before but with the income I show in the United States and the income I show in Thailand I should be able to pull it off....hopefully.

Rough Guide?

Seams very detailed and very informative to me. thank you so much.

Here's my check list for Samui Immigrations.

1. Two application forms T.M. 7 with two photographs size 4x6 cm. and Visa Fee 1900.-Baht

2. Copy Marriage Certificate

3. Copy Kor Ror 2 from amphur office, marriage registry (not older than six months)

4. Child's birth certificate (if any)

5. Copy wife’s house registration

6. Copy wife’s identity card

7. Copy passport, non-Im visa, arrival card.

8. Interview the husband and wife for confirming status of husband and wife

9. Map to residency (names of roads and house marked in Thai)

10. Picture of house and family, in house and outside showing house number.

With money in bank option.

1. Letter from bank same day or day before stating bank records, make a transaction just before to get it up to date.

2. Bank account must be in Husbands name, joint accounts will not qualify.

3. Letter from bank must show transaction during previous two months.

With Income in Thailand option

1. A copy of work permit

2. Personal Corporation income Tax (PND.1) in latest 3 months and personal income tax for previous year with receipt

With Income from abroad.

1. Embassy letter stating your income.

All of the above in two copies, if not in BKK

I was under the impression that the combined income of both the spouses must be above 40,000. Sometimes my monthly income is under 40K, sometimes it's much higher, so that's another issue...is it an average of 40K per month for the year or does every month need to be above 40K? If they include my wife's income then we're at around 65-70 total. If not, then I need to cross my fingers it's the average and not every month.

Also, the last time I brought the immigration my embassy paperwork, the guy said, "I don't care about this, this is not good for anything." I told him that I wish I would have known this as I wouldn't have went to my embassy and wasted $50 or whatever it was. He just shrugged his shoulders. He sounds like the same guy that has been giving several others a hassle. The lady that I dealt with in the past is easy to deal with, this last guy was a pain in the a**. I've been here for 17 years and have had a marriage visa for probably 8 or 9 of those years, a media visa for 5 or 6 and tourist visas for the rest of the time. It definitely seems like immigration is cracking down, which I don't mind, but I don't always have 400K at my disposal to stick in an account. That worries me a little.

Opinions are like A-holes - everyone has them.