BritTim

For a while after the introduction of the e-visa system, it was not. They now issue them, both to visit your Thai spouse and, under unclear circumstances, also retirement.

My opinion remains the same. It is work, but might well be tolerated as it does not compete with Thais for work. If the authorities are aware, it comes down to the discretion of the officials. They could definitely come after you if they wanted. I recommend you keep a low profile.

This is not correct. The bank will not report any visa defects to Immigration, but it often affects their decisions. An example discussed on here every day is that banks will not usually open accounts for people on tourist visas.

The word I would use is an "achievement". Even Vientiane is unlikely to give him any more tourist visas.

It is absolutely true that an adult Thai can justify an application for annual extension for a 50 year-old parent based on the child supporting them. Not all immigration offices will allow the application, however, even if you are staying in the same household. It seems your immigration office is one of those that does. If you want to take advantage of this, enter Thailand with a single entry Non O visa to visit your Thai child.

You will be fine. You can choose whether to extend your 30-day visa exempt entry at Immigration (1,900 baht) or to take the flight you purchased to Vientiane (US$40 for a visa on arrival to Laos and other costs). Your choice. It is true that there were cheaper ways of achieving your objective, but it is pointless to worry about that now..

If he is coming without a visa (30-day visa exemption) he first needs to apply for a Non O visa at Immigration. In Pattaya, I think he will need a long term rental or his own condo prior to the application. The application is made using form TM87, proof of his long term accommodation, the TM30 notification receipt (foreigner staying in the property) and financial proof (his bank in Pattaya should understand what this needs to be). If the funds have not been in the bank for a few months already, Immigration will probably want to see proof that the money came from abroad. The application is taken under consideration, with a report back date probably two to three weeks later to receive an initial 90-day stay. Note that the visa application must be done with at least 15 days remaining on his current permission to stay. He can extend his 30-day visa exempt entry by a further 30 days if necessary before submitting the application for the Non O visa. During the final 30 days of the 90-day entry for the visa, he applies for a one-year extension of his permission to stay, based on retirement. This is done using form TM7 and otherwise much the same documents as for the Non O visa application.

Good luck. The experience when using Kuala Lumpur has varied dramatically over the years. The most recent reports suggest it may again be a bad place to apply. Please report back on this forum on your experience. Apart from Vientiane, there is a lack of good places to apply.

For a long time (and I think still) the official limits were 10,000 baht per person (20,000 per family) if entering visa exempt, with a visa on arrival or with a transit visa. The official requirement was 20,000 baht per person (40,000 baht per family) otherwise. However, the recommendation has been to have at least 20,000 baht (or equivalent in foreign currency) cash, regardless of your visa situation.

It would be better if correct terminology had been used, but it is clear in context that he was asking about visa exemptions that he has received before. I often stress the importance of clear, unambiguous language, but there was no ambiguity here if you read his full post.

Consider switching to an LTR-WP (Long Term Resident Wealthy Pensioner) visa. It seems likely that you would qualify, and it frees you from the tyranny of rogue immigration offices. You do need to have good medical insurance but, unlike with the Non O-A visas, they really do accept appropriate overseas plans.

It is worth noting that the excellent Tricare coverage, following a lot of discussion, has now been accepted as meeting the required medical insurance for LTR visa applications. It has never so far been accepted by Thai Immigration for Non O-A or Non O-X visas.

Other possible options for a tourist visa would be Yangon and Kota Bharu, neither a guarantee as we have no recent reports to go on. There are visa agents on Samui that do runs to Kota Bharu and Penang. You could try contacting them to see what they have to say about your situation.

Your chances are not great. I suggest making an appointment for a tourist visa in Vientiane. If the application is successful, enter Thailand via the Friendship Bridge. If not, fly from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai, and plead your case for a visa exemption there. The only airport I am aware of where there have never been reported cases of denied visa exempt entries is U-Tapao, but there are few viable available flights, and you should still stay out of Thailand a few days even using that airport IMHO.

It would be interesting to know how it could be arranged by an agent. In theory, switching from a Non O-A entry to a Non O entry without a border bounce should be completely impossible, regardless of the seniority of the officials the agent liaises with. If the process involves a simulated border bounce without the passport holder accompanying his passport on the journey, I would recommend staying away from it.

Coming back without a visa makes the process a little more involved. Rather than applying directly for a 12-month extension, you apply for a Non O visa at Immigration (using form TM87). This application is taken under consideration with a report back date maybe two or three weeks later to receive an initial 90-day stay. After that, you can apply for one-year extensions in the normal way. It is not too bad, but you might want to consider getting a single entry Non O visa (retirement) prior to your arrival to simplify matters.

Honorary Thai consulates in the UK are now, unfortunately, history. I have fond memories of using them, but they were too useful to survive. Even before they were finally extinguished, their ability to issue multiple entry visas had been removed. At one time, there was an excellent honorary consulate in Bali. That is now gone. I do not know the current status of the honorary consulates in the US, but suspect they are no longer able to issue visas. I suggest you contact one of them to enquire.

While I cannot confirm this for certain, if you entered by air, I do not think you will be required to complete a TM6 before leaving by land. You still need to complete a TM6 if entering by land.

For a Non O-A (long stay) visa, a basic DBS report should be sufficient. As suggested above, there are some drawbacks to the Non O-A visa. If you intend to stay in Thailand long term, a Non O (retirement) with extensions or LTR-WP (Long Term Resident Wealthy Pensioner) visa might be better. If visiting often, but spending significant time outside Thailand, a multiple entry Non O (retirement) visa, valid for 90-day stays on each entry might be a good fit. It is possible for the Non O-A visa to be best, but for most people it is not. I suggest you try to familiarise yourself with the alternative options I mention above, and decide what ultimately will work best for you.

Since they have a Thai mother, the two sons are entitled to Thai nationality. That would ease the issues of staying in Thailand significantly. However, they may not want to claim this since it would lay them open to potential military call up when they reach 20 years old. I believe entering Thailand visa exempt (or with a tourist visa) it should be possible to apply for a "conversion" to a Non Ed visa to study at a formal school. The trouble is that, although it should be allowed, Thai public schools tend to stonewall attempts to register foreign children. If the family is financially well enough off to afford private schools, it will be much easier. I recommend getting tourist visas or Non O visas to visit Thai family for the boys. They will need the maximum possible time to make the long term visa arrangements.

Just phoning your wife to tell her that she has a customer is surely OK. However, selling anything from the shop is definitely against the rules, and could get you into trouble. Your activities may be tolerated, but it only needs one zealous official or vindictive neighbour to potentially put you in a world of hurt.

Your options are Use form TM87 to apply for a Non Immigrant visa at Immigration from a visa exempt entry Pro: no need for travel Con: bureaucratic process with application under consideration; requires at least 15 days (more at some offices) left on your current permission to stay on the day you apply Travel to Savannakhet Laos to apply for a Non Immigrant visa Pro: less bureaucratic, and visa issued day after application Con: cost and inconvenience of travel If you go to Savannakhet for the visa, I suggest applying Tuesday or Wednesday. It is often extremely busy Monday and Thursday when visa run groups tend to arrive.

If you plan far enough ahead, and can make the required appointment, best is probably Vientiane. Recognise that there is no embassy/consulate in the region that will issue you unlimited serial tourist visas these days. If you want to be a long stay tourist, you will need to find a solution other than tourist visas and visa exemptions.

You will definitely not have a problem with three visa exempt entries with each stay being short.

The requirement that you can only apply when in the country where the embassy/consulate is located is longstanding, predating the e-visa system. It would, indeed, be very convenient if you could apply for serial tourist visas (especially METVs) without ever needing to do more than border bounces to use them. However, the authorities have decided not to make it easy to circumvent the limits on visa exempt entries by land by simply using continuous online visa applications.