BritTim

The FAQ section of Kasikorn's website has this: I assume the black and white statement would receive the bank's stamp and be acceptable for immigration purposes.

If you entered on a visa purchased at the visa on arrival desk (rather than entering without a visa) there are no explicit restrictions on how many you can have. However, since these only give you a 15-day permission to stay, and cannot be extended, you are better off getting tourist visas in advance.

The visa exempt entry for Brazilians has no 30-day extension. What the conditions for Brazilian VEE basically mandate is that you cannot use them back-to-back (no border bounces). At some entry points, the official might bend the rules and disregard the 90-day consecutive rule. Since this is a visa exemption treaty under bilateral agreement, the two-per-calendar-year by land rule does not apply. However, as I wrote above, a border bounce will not usually be allowed after entering visa exempt. If planning on trying a border bounce, talk to the visa run companies. They will not take you unless it is possible for Brazilians to exit and re-enter.

Do you mean "visa on arrival" (buying a visa at the visa on arrival desk) or visa exemption (entering without a visa)? If unsure, tell us your nationality. That determines which you are using.

You entered on a visa exemption (lucky, as a visa on arrival cannot be extended or converted). To apply for a Non O visa, you use form TM87 and just about the same documentation as you used before for extensions of your permission to stay. You need at least 15 days (up to 21 days at some offices) left on the permission to stay from the visa exempt entry at the time you apply. Get the 30-day extension of the visa exempt entry if you have less than the required time for the application. When booking an appointment, you use "changing type of visa".

That can be your problem when your home is effectively turned into one. It is still unusual in Thailand for employers to accept 100% remote workers. Usually, they only have remote workers who can represent the company regionally.

In some cases, there are procedures laid out in law for appealing the decisions of the officials. That is the case for most denials of entry with a visa, or for deportation orders. When it comes to extensions of your permission to stay, there is no statutory appeal process if your application is denied. You can ask to talk to the official's boss, and that might work, or it might simply make you a marked man at that office for the future. There is an Immigration complaints line, but they will not help you in cases where the official is simply being difficult. Thailand has an ombudsman. In extreme cases involving senior officials you can take a complaint there. My recommendation (and the Thai way in general) is to try to avoid being in adversarial situations with Thai officials. Do your best just to comply with what they ask. Conflict avoidance is the best strategy. Occasionally, officials may be totally unreasonable, and your best efforts cannot keep things friendly.

For what it is worth, my understanding is that offices have discretion to do one-year extensions up to 90 days early. I have heard of Chaengwattana agreeing to do it early for someone who needed to travel around the time they would normally extend. As ever where discretion is involved, you may or may not be lucky, and a good rapport with the official helps.

That is a question for the Labour Department. I believe they ignore your home address, even if you frequently (or mostly) work from there. You may rarely visit the office, but that is your assumed place of employment. If you work from your home office in Chiang Mai for an employer in Bangkok, there may begin to be questions of whether the company's regional office (your home) is properly registered.

That is an excellent plan. Luang Prabang is well worth a visit if you have never been: more fun than just crossing to Nong Khai and flying from Udon Thani.

It is pretty confusing if you call both the sticker issued by the consulate, and the stamp informing you of the expiry of your permission to stay a "visa", and just told you must leave before the end of your "visa" (whatever that means). Which visa? the one issued by he consulate or the "visa" issued by immigration at the airport or the "visa" extension issued by the local immigration office or the re-entry "visa"? It is easy to call everything in your passport a "visa", but unhelpful when trying to understand the rules.

It was in the last century when financial requirements were last increased. In fact there were two changes within a couple of years. The first increased the amount that must be deposited from 200,000 baht to 500,000 baht. The second increased further to 800,000 baht. In both cases, those already on a permission to stay based on the old rules were allowed to continue without having to increase the amount on deposit. I think there are few people still here under the old rules.

I have removed a bunch of posts arguing pointlessly about whether the thread is appropriate, and whether there should be comments criticising the author. If you cannot answer questions asked, or otherwise seek to help, I suggest resisting the temptation to comment.

No need for a whole new thread on LTR applications. The OP has already been directed to a good place for his question. CLOSED

... as, for instance, they believed they needed to leave Thailand before the expiry date of their visa (meaning the visa sticker placed in their passport by the consulate).

Indeed, they can be used interchangeably without any problem until the difference gets you fined and deported from Thailand.

That is the whole point. A visa is used on entry into Thailand. It has an expiry date which gives the last date on which it can be used to enter. People all too often assume that, as in most countries, the dates on the visa define when you are allowed to be inside Thailand. The visa is not a permission to stay, only to arrive. You can have a five-year visa that gives a one-year initial permission to stay when you enter; you can have a one-year multiple entry visa that gives you a 90-day initial permission to stay. You must understand the difference.

True. Do you have a Non-OX visa? If not, why not? Many who qualify will not be deterred from an LTR-WP visa by the US$0.39 per day cost.

You seem to understand the situation fairly well. No doubt, you have talked to others. Eventually, easing the visa issue can become one of the motives for marriage, but it is not a good idea to rush into that!

Work out how much 10 years of extensions and re-entry permits will cost (without considering the costs for bank letters and travel to/from immigration offices) and then tell me that the 50,000 baht to avoid the need for them is excessive. In my view, the low visa application fee is one of the attractions. If you feel it is not for you, fine. Many for whom it will seem attractive are unaware that the option exists.

It is only superior if you qualify. Many people looking at the Non OX visa do. If you do not qualify, it is obviously not superior. Some advantages: no annual extensions, no 90-day reports (report once a year if you do not travel outside Thailand during that time), ability to work if you wish (with a virtual and automatic work permit included), greater willingness to accept overseas insurance policies., five-year permission to stay,

Getting another tourist visa will not impact your chances of a Non Ed visa later. If you are planning on becoming a long term resident in Thailand, your best approach will depend on your age and how financially secure you are.

If you are thinking about a possible Non OX visa, look into the LTR-WP (Long Term Resident Wealthy Pensioner) visa instead. It is far superior.

From Koh Samui, there are agents who take people to Penang, Kota Bharu and Ranong (depending on their requirements). That is not the absolute cheapest solution, but may be best for the inexperienced. At Penang and Kota Bharu, it is possible to apply for tourist visas. At Ranong, you simply do a "border bounce" for a 30-day visa exemption (entering Thailand for a short time without a visa"). You can do that overland twice per calendar year, and the 30-day permission to stay from the visa exemption can be extended for 30 days at immigration. Are you planning to become a long stay tourist? If so, advance planning is important. It is very difficult to use tourist visas and visa exemptions long term.

It should be easy for you to make the transition in March 2024. At the same time your work permit and permission to stay based on working are cancelled, you apply for a new one-year permission to stay based on retirement. Make sure you have 800,000 baht in a bank account in your name continuously for at least two months prior to that date.