MCR2k1

It is significantly more expensive at Viet Nam embassy in BKK than online. Plus its a three-day waiting period unless you want to pay even more for the 'express fee'.

I don't recall it being "significantly more expensive" to get a visa from the Consulate before you go, I thought it was about the same.

The visa on arrival letter costs US$19 plus a stamping fee of $25 on arrival in Vietnam, the Consulates website says the standard fee is $40, though I think it was slightly more.

I will concede that the three day wait is not convenient to everyone, but it was convenient to me.

Like most embassies from countries in this part of the world the website is fairly useless and the fees haven't been updated in half a decade.

When I was at the consulate in person in November of 2010 it was 2,800 for a single entry tourist visa and 4,200 for a multi, if I remember correctly, WITHOUT the 'express' fee.

It is significantly more expensive at Viet Nam embassy in BKK than online. Plus its a three-day waiting period unless you want to pay even more for the 'express fee'.

The downfall of the Bali consulate is a three-day processing period. I was going to get a new multi-entry Non-O when I was there in May but it would've been a significant burden (and cost increase) for my travel plans on the island, so I ended up making a separate trip to KL.

Overnight service and it would be the very best place for visa runs IMO.

The visa is good for 10 years.

It can be for any length of time they determine. 10 years is the usual maximum. I have seen 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, and 10 years for first time applicants.

True, depending on the type of visa and country in which the visitor is from. I’m assuming the OP’s GF is Thai, and requires a visitor/tourist B-2 visa, which is valid for 10 years. The length of stay is determined by the immigration officer upon entry.

http://travel.state....5.html?cid=9660

Nope, 10 years is the max. My wife (then GF) received a one-year B-2 last year. They come in different lengths.

One thing that nobody seems to mention on here, is that if there is a big difference in age between you and your lady, your chances of getting a tourist visa are virtually nil. Other than that, showing all the good stuff you mentioned and especially YOUR intent on returning to Thailand and you've got a good shot.

Yeah Mac I sent them an email and they said to call or to come in to the office to discuss local filing eligibility.

I think I read somewhere that you need a one-year extension of stay to be able to do a DCF/local filing (not a multi-entry); I don't have this as I don't have the funds nor a work permit. Also I'm 31 years old, so obviously retirement status is out of the question. Multi-entry Non-O is really the only option for me and honestly I don't mind flying to somewhere else in the region for a quick sojourn every few months (Air Asia makes this affordable and I cannot stand border runs via bus or even my own car to Poipet).

Anyway I plan on going down to USCIS in the coming days. It's important to figure out if local filing is possible because we plan to travel a year from now, so if we have to do a US filing we'll be submitting the I-130 it in the next couple of weeks whereas if we're able to do it locally we can wait until early next year.

Cheers,

T

Congratulations.

My wife and I will be filing an I-130 very soon so I have a couple of quick questions;

1.Were you able to file directly with USCIS in Bangkok (DCF)? If so how did you prove residency in Thailand? Or did you file it with one of the US lockboxes?

2. How long did the full process take, from filing your petition to the visa interview? How long did it take to get approval on the I-130?

I'm confident that we'll be fine - we have lots of evidence for our relationship and she has been to the US on two different visas, once before I met her in 2007 on a J-1 and then again with me last year on a B1 tourist visa issued here in BKK. My only concern is that I have not been working for a few years so I cannot show means of support but my parents will be a co-sponsor and their funds/assets will be plenty. We will also be living in the same household as them when we first relocate to the US.

I would love to file directly with USCIS in BKK to shorten the wait time, but from what I can tell thus far that won't be possible with a multi-entry Non Immigrant O visa and a condo lease in my/our name.

Thanks!

Chlorine gas leak from the nearby water treatment plant possible the 2009 deaths?

http://www.jotadventure.com/2009/05/unexplained-tourist-deaths-on-koh-phi.htmlt

I emailed the TCT a couple of weeks ago and was told that I must get a Non-B for a provisional teaching permit.

This is incredibly annoying as I'm already here on a Non-O and know several teachers that have permits on the same visa.

The exact words in the email were:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Non-B please is required.

Detail: http://www.ksp.or.th/Khurusapha/en/khurusapha_NewsPopup.php?newid=35

Hi all,

I'm likely heading to KL next month to get either a multi-entry Non-O based on marriage or a Non-B for teaching if I score a teaching contract that I've applied for.

I have a few of questions:

1. With the Non-O, the 100,000 baht requirement: I have the funds in a Thai bank in my own name, can I just bring the bank book (plus a copy) to show this?

2. As for the Non-B, The KL embassy/consulate lists the following requirements (below) for a Non-B visa teaching application. Does anyone know if they actually request the police clearance certificate? Seems like a pain to have to go and get that. How strict are they about all this other stuff? Seems like there is far too much room for error.

3. One other issue, somewhat related do any teachers know if its possible to get a provisional teaching permit (waiver) on a Non-O? The TCT website says Non B, but I'd prefer to just get my work permit on a Non O so that they are not attached. However, I can't do this without first getting a provisional teaching permit. On that note, the labour department in BKK definetely requires a provisional teaching permit/waiver before issuing a work permit for an employee of an international school, correct? Even in the case of English instructors?

Thanks in advance.

KL NON-B requirements:

Teaching purpose

1. Visa application form duly filled out.
   
2. Applicant passport valid not less than 6 months. The validity of 18 months is required for one-year visa application.
   
3. Copy of passport.
   
4. (4 x 6 cm.) Photograph(s) of the applicant, taken within the past 6 months.
   
5. Document required from the inviting company in Thailand:
   

5.1. Letter indicating applicant’s name, passport number and the objective of the visit to

Thailand, etc., requesting for Non-Immigration Type ‘B’ visa.

5.2. Copy of the employment contract indicating position and salary.

5.3. An approval letter from the office of private education commission.

5.4. Copy of the School’s registration.

5.5. List of all foreign employees employed by the inviting school/college/university.

(Specified by name, nationality, and position)

5.6. Map indicating the location of the school/college/university.

1. Letter of approval from the office of private education commission.
   
2. Criminal report verifying that the applicant has no criminal record, issued by Competent Authority valid for not more than 3 months and notarized by notary organs or application concerned diplomatic/consular mission.
   

<>8.Copy of work permit (if any).

Disappear for days? Hmm I hope that doesn't happen. There's always Laos I suppose.

Mae Sot is much closer to Nakhon Sawan than Mae Sai. You can get a bus there from Tak and you'll need a tuk tuk or some kind of transport about 3km to the border (a bicycle rental would do if you have a lock).

Used it in December and it was quite quick and easy to walk over the bridge and back. 500 baht for burma stamp in and out. Check to make sure this crossing is still open.

If you are going for a multiple entry, the consulate in Savanakhet (Laos) will issue a multiple without the need of showing money.

Good to know. I'm booked for a five-day holiday in Bali so will be giving it a shot regardless, but if it doesn't work out I'll probably just make a run over to Savanakhet.

Cheers.

Hi all,

Can't find any recent insight into the Bali consulate - heading there next month. Any recent experience or current contact info would be very helpful.

I was recently married here in BKK and will be applying for a Non-O visa, would be good to know what they require other than a marriage certificate/fee/passport/photo/letter from wife and copy of her passport (she will be with me). Money in the bank?

Hoping to land a multi-entry but realize that's not so likely in the region.

Thanks!