aussiejon1604

Hi all.

Firstly if this question has been posted previously, could you please supply me the link?

Currently I am on an ed-visa and whilst I have been attending school and studying, I am thinking there might be other options available for me being at an age of 46 and below the retirement visa qualification.

I am considering purchasing a bar and before I hear all the cries of don't, please hear me out. Presently an ed-visa costs me 40,000B per year. 22,000B for tuition fee's. 1,900B for 90 day extensions and 10,000B for a trip to Laos for an application for its possible renewal. These figure's are variable but it has cost me this much this year so just consider the amount as subjective for this inquiry. Along with this, there is always the chance of not receiving each 90 day extension whilst the ed-visa remains under scrutiny. Rent of a room also needs to be added to this as with most of us who have living expenses here in Thailand. This yearly cost and 90 day extensions creates an instability that I'm not too comfortable with and feel there just might be another option available that secures me 12 months at a time. The elite card is something that does not interest me.

When I was previously married to a Thai, my wife owned a massage shop but as a farang I was not involved with it's management or ownership so I am unfamiliar with a business visa and how many Thai staff are required etc. Whilst the shop seldom made any money, it did however allow my wife to pay her staff, and us live above it rent free and have all of the utilities paid for.

My current consideration is to find a bar that's rent and utilities are comparable to my current monthly rental of between 10 -15,000 per month. I have investigated a few opportunities that would see my own accommodation included on the premises. Employee salaries and utilities would of course remain the responsibility of the bars sales and if more is achieved, then it could be put towards the monthly rent reducing my own personal living costs. The entire aim would be to break even every month ie rent, utilities, salaries, licenses etc. Anything more would just be a bonus.

I am not looking to make a fortune as this would be highly unlikely. What I am seeking is the opportunity to change visa's and with it create a little more stability for myself beyond the ed-visa. I have spent 8 years working and managing bars back home so the environment is not totally unfamiliar.

If any member could offer up the requirements and what I need to arrange prior to purchasing a business it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

First off. I am sorry to hear of your situation. It appears to be hard to find some consistency with issues like this when I can apply the complete opposite scenario. I have held my ed-visa for ten months and whilst my school is making every effort to teach us how to speak Thai, we haven't started the reading and writing yet. I attend school as required and study due to being a student as after all it is a student visa, not a way overcoming the old back to back visa runs. Insisting six months is enough to be able to read and write is a bit harsh if your recognised school is yet to teach it. I'm not going to inflame a situation by suggesting who is at fault as these are grey times regarding visa's.

Yesterday I flew back into Thailand after a 9 day holiday in Cambodia via Don Mueng. I had envisaged some scrutiny with all that is happening. I handed the immigration officer my passport and told him in Thai I had a re-entry visa. Pom - mee - re-entry- visa - krup. He flicked through my passport and asked what visa did I have the re-entry for? ED - visa I replied in Thai. Pom - mee - Ed - visa. I had forgotten to sign my arrival card. He pointed to where I needed to sign and I replied sorry kor - toot which he made no fuss about. I signed it and he replied good luck Chok - dee. I replied thank you very much Kop - khun - maark - krup. With that I got my stamp and I was through. No mention of reading or writing or at least a further in depth conversation that I was prepared for.

Whilst I'm not fluent in Thai in just 10 months I am always of the opinion to study more in case a situation arises where you need to demonstrate sentences and their structure whilst holding a conversation with an officer. As students a lot of us get ninety day extensions on our visa's whilst our school support's us during our twelve month tuition payment period. My school doesn't offer a full guaranteed 12 month visa as with a retirement visa and 90 day reporting. An ed-visa in my situation is 90 day extensions with my school's support and at the end of 12 months now that things have changed, I leave Thailand and re-apply for a new ed-visa. At any of the ninety day extensions we could find ourselves in the situation just like the OP. The difference being it would be at our local immigration office whilst applying for our next 90 day extension. I always know how to tell immigration in Thai that my school is yet to teach reading and writing. I wouldn't be lying and if you are speaking enough of the Thai language to be able to suggest this in your conversation with the officer then you are proving yourself to be studying. You can't demonstrate something you haven't learn't yet so maybe the schools need to up their end of the bargain and support those of us who are actually following the visa regulations.

I would expect any good school to teach you writing and reading at the same time as verbal, but some schools do ask you that up front and may allow you the verbal only option. I assume the test that was given was rudimentary, like pointing at a fish tank and saying the big fish eat the little fish, and expecting you to understand. I don't expect them to be given you an exam. He was probably already under suspicion because of being here 8 years - last 6ish on ED visa.... so the fact that he failed some rudimentary exam only confirmed their suspicions. If you are a straight student who has only actually been in Thailand 6 months - they would probably show more leniency. Immigration will take all facts into consideration when they are trying to determine the veracity of those that are entering.

I agree with their intention of trying to weed out who is legit and who isn't. I would also agree that some schools would teach reading and writing at the same time but my school hasn't this option within the course I am attending. That however is not to say it isn't available as another option. We are always working towards achieving the combination of speaking, reading and writing Thai but within due course and my school is confident they are following their instructed guidelines by constantly reminding us that immigration is doing spot checks on attendance and of their following of current regulations. Thai is not and an easy language or as direct as English. Mai - die doesn't always mean "can not". If it's placed after a verb like go "bpai" - mai - die it does mean "go - can - not". Place mai - die before a verb like "mai - die - bpai" it means "I haven't or did not go". Others like have you eaten yet is it "yet not eat or "yuong - mai - gkin" or have you finished yet is "young - mai - set" As for Blaar - yii - gkin - blaar - lek (big fish eat little fish) or blaar - yii - chop - gum - lung - gkin - blaar - lek, (big fish like eating small fish) I would have to agree that after 6 ish years of ed-visa, the OP was only hindering his chances of satisfying the officer by not being able to respond with anything other than I don't understand or Pom - mai - ko - jai - krup.

There are still instances where I am personally aware that an individual has not been in attendance for 90 days and they are still receiving 90 day extensions. Hard to believe they can be across every school so the simplest form of deduction is always the individual. The fact I left the country might hinder me during my next 90 day extension but the fact that they will issue you with one again suggests you can leave briefly providing that your capable of conversing, suggesting a reason and demonstrating you are applying yourself as a student.

First off. I am sorry to hear of your situation. It appears to be hard to find some consistency with issues like this when I can apply the complete opposite scenario. I have held my ed-visa for ten months and whilst my school is making every effort to teach us how to speak Thai, we haven't started the reading and writing yet. I attend school as required and study due to being a student as after all it is a student visa, not a way overcoming the old back to back visa runs. Insisting six months is enough to be able to read and write is a bit harsh if your recognised school is yet to teach it. I'm not going to inflame a situation by suggesting who is at fault as these are grey times regarding visa's.

Yesterday I flew back into Thailand after a 9 day holiday in Cambodia via Don Mueng. I had envisaged some scrutiny with all that is happening. I handed the immigration officer my passport and told him in Thai I had a re-entry visa. Pom - mee - re-entry- visa - krup. He flicked through my passport and asked what visa did I have the re-entry for? ED - visa I replied in Thai. Pom - mee - Ed - visa. I had forgotten to sign my arrival card. He pointed to where I needed to sign and I replied sorry kor - toot which he made no fuss about. I signed it and he replied good luck Chok - dee. I replied thank you very much Kop - khun - maark - krup. With that I got my stamp and I was through. No mention of reading or writing or at least a further in depth conversation that I was prepared for.

Whilst I'm not fluent in Thai in just 10 months I am always of the opinion to study more in case a situation arises where you need to demonstrate sentences and their structure whilst holding a conversation with an officer. As students a lot of us get ninety day extensions on our visa's whilst our school support's us during our twelve month tuition payment period. My school doesn't offer a full guaranteed 12 month visa as with a retirement visa and 90 day reporting. An ed-visa in my situation is 90 day extensions with my school's support and at the end of 12 months now that things have changed, I leave Thailand and re-apply for a new ed-visa. At any of the ninety day extensions we could find ourselves in the situation just like the OP. The difference being it would be at our local immigration office whilst applying for our next 90 day extension. I always know how to tell immigration in Thai that my school is yet to teach reading and writing. I wouldn't be lying and if you are speaking enough of the Thai language to be able to suggest this in your conversation with the officer then you are proving yourself to be studying. You can't demonstrate something you haven't learn't yet so maybe the schools need to up their end of the bargain and support those of us who are actually following the visa regulations.

After reading many informative and constructive posts on this topic, I can't help but also read the negative.

TVF is a great source of information but it also houses many who consistently reside in ivory towers that remain determined to have those of us legitimately on ed-visa's meticulously scrutinized whilst we try to promote our own skills and more personal interaction with the Thai's themselves. I am currently on an ed-visa as it is a lawful way of residing here under 50 but my motivations to study aren't purely because I am unable to obtain a retirement visa. I was married to a Thai and in every culture not all marriages are successful so I am now divorced. One reason I would suggest why was because of the language barrier between us. Most of us are willing to comply with the ed-visa rules and over time those who have jumped on board the education wagon as an option out of doing visa runs will get weeded out if they aren't willing to maintain an attendance and attempt to learn. Thai is a difficult language but given time and some personal commitment to study, some Thai's might warm further to more of us rather than just seeing a possible high percentage of foreign expats and sexpats continually willing to sit on the other side of the proverbial fence and be outspoken about the country they chose to reside in.

I agree with many other poster's that if you are going to live here then for your own benefit, your girlfriend or wife's benefit or your newborn child's benefit etc, being able to communicate with all of the above in addition to situational occurrences that may also require conversing with hospital staff, the police or immigration would actually be to your own advantage regardless of your age. Simply implying you have a visa other than an ed means you don't need to bother with the language in my opinion could just be one reason why things are being strengthened. We have all heard in our own countries the catch call of "If they come here then they should learn the language, follow our local rules and integrate with the rest of us". Well, we are now those same people. For those of us who are willing to comply and adjust to the new yearly applications of ed-visa's and the possibility of the spoken increase of school attendance hours will in doing so lessen our chances of problems and will probably be more respected by immigration by showing the initiative. For the doom and gloomers, the sky is not falling but if you are determined to post threats of leaving Thailand, can I suggest you turn your light off when you go? Some have suggested that other visa's may soon come under the same scrutiny. I wonder just how high the ivory tower will stand then?

TVF and its moderators have worked tirelessly during this visa adjustment period to keep its members informed with as mush information as possible. Hat's off to you guys for your efforts and continuous support of the expats who heavily rely on the information that you provide!!!

Things are changing and as we are guests in Thailand, not all new implementations will suit everyone but hats off to the Thai's for attempting to clean their own house and strengthen their immigration laws.

I have just returned from Laos after applying for and successfully being granted my second ed-visa in less than 12 months. I left Thailand in May whilst holding my first but did not do a re-entry visa thinking I would need more time than the extension I held. I arrived back in Thailand earlier than expected and was given the usual 30 day visa exemption stamp. My school assisted me with my appropriate paperwork and with the help of a great team of ,Thailand - Laos visa run guys, I have now been granted yet another ed-visa.

As the new laws are now becoming in to force regarding back to back day visa exemption runs and as stated in another post, ed-visa's are now for 12 months only and require reapplication on there expiry, other details may need to be considered. 

For those considering the ed-visa option please be aware that whilst my trip to Laos saw 550 people (we were handed numbered tickets) attending the Thai embassy in one day alone for visa's of various types but predominately ed-visa's, gaining an ed-visa will not guarantee you a resolve to no longer doing back to back One day visa runs. For most of us, an ed-visa is only good for 90 days on each extension even though it reads on paper a 12 month visa with tuition fees. The thing to become aware of is that if you are legitimately attending school and studying a language applicable to an ed-visa then your chances of maintaining your extensions throughout the 12 months are increased. For those who have really no intention of applying themselves and are now attempting to use the ed-visa as a loop hole might find that they may not survive the full 12 months.

The reason I suggest this is because of the following current process that needs to be followed at my local immigration office of Jomtien for each 90 day extension. Other office areas may differ.

One each extension application you are asked to submit your schools paperwork and passport to two people. The first processes your paperwork and accepts your extension payment of 1900 Baht and stamps your passport. The second however is a high ranking immigration official with whom you sit with that signs your extension and makes it official. It will not take too much for this official to work out if you are being legitimate in your attempts to learn. Whilst commonly you could accept Thai immigration appreciate that the Thai language to a foreigner is a difficult tonal language, it would not take too much for them to scrutinize your attendance records or ask a simple question such as what is your name or what days do you go to school or even do you like Thai food when you have supposedly been studying for just your initial 3 months or an even worse case scenario of 9 months or 1-2 years. To simply shake your head or suggest you don't understand may be a direct indication of a lack of effort and a valid reason for the official to deny you your extension. Whilst I am not aware of any particular instances where this has occurred as yet, in the coming months some who believe they can continue to cheat the system may start to be singled and weeded out.  

Time will only tell. Food for thought.

Thanks Ubonjoe.

I did research doing exactly what you have suggested with my ed-visa and school but there is one problem I found that seems to be applicable to applying for an ed-visa through an Australian Consulate or Embassy. Whilst my school is prepared to supply me with the two documents you described in your post, the problem lays with the more important 3rd original letter from the Thai education commission / ministry accepting me as a student. It appears it is best sourced through the school whilst in country. Without it, the approval in Australia will be denied according to advise from my local consulate. To organize it off shore would cause delays due to having to provide a copy of every page in my passport and previous visa's, an address substantiated by a lease, ownership or spouse etc (which I don't have at this stage but will have the opportunity to do so once I'm back) and passport size photos. These all need to be originally signed before submission to obtain the commissions letter. School had thought I could also apply with the first two documents alone so as to fly back in with a current ed-visa and avoid having to go to Laos to have it processed. They have since advised me to do what you have suggested in regard to gaining a 30 day visa exemption and obtain the new ed-visa through due process once I have returned to Thailand.

Thanks for your help.

Hi all.

I am returning to Thailand in the next few weeks and hopefully before the August deadline but I am not sure whether my circumstances will become scrutinized or not. I wasn't doing back to back visa runs whilst I resided in Thailand and from what I can continue to gather, it remains the issue that is currently being enforced. When I return, I will be flying into BKK. It might be a case of paranoia but it's best to be forearmed than left stranded.

My situation is this.

I left Thailand via BKK late May. Whilst I lived in Thailand I held a non-immigration "o" visa and during the last 7 months, an ed-visa. I did attend school as required but I did not get a re- entry visa which voided my ed-visa upon my departure as I was unsure of the time frame I would need back in Australia. (I fully believed it to be September and well pass my last issued 90 day extension date of the 09/08 so even with a re-entry visa, the extension would have expired)

I believe upon my return, due to the above stated, I will be issued with a 30 day tourist visa. School has corresponded with me suggesting that I can organize a new ed-visa but this has to be done in person at the school during my 30 day tourist visa (the first time I applied was when my "o" visa was due to expire) and as with my first ed-visa, leave Thailand with the paperwork for it to be submitted at an out of country embassy which in this case will be Laos. If it is completed, I can return back into Thailand on an ed-visa and just go back to doing my studies and my 90 day extensions when they fall due. (My school cannot just send me the paperwork whilst I'm abroad and is a credible school who features regularly on Pattaya Plus)

My question then is...

Do any other members who are aware of the current situation in Thailand foresee me experiencing any problems when I arrive in BKK over visa issues and gaining an initial 30 day tourist visa? (I appreciate that immigration at any entry have the final say)

I know Whalen School is involved in this forum but switching schools can create its own problems plus I have already paid for a full 15 months tuition.

Thanks

Hi all.

Do any other members know of decent places in Sihanoukville I can look at for long term rental for $150-250US per month? I plan on arriving in early August for what I plan to be at least a 6 to 12 month stay if not longer. Would prefer not to be on top of a bar that rocks till the early hours of the morning. Not too worried about not having a kitchen but at least my own bathroom, fridge and internet would be ok.

Thanks

Hi all. I was living in Pattaya and had been issued an education visa in November 2013. Between now and the present I have had 90 day extensions given to me at Jomtien immigration. The last extension was due to expire in early August 2014.

Due to circumstances I had to return to Australia late May 2014 but didn't get a re-entry visa thinking that I would be here for an extended period of time. Due to things finalising more quickly than initially expected I would like to return to Thailand.

Is there anything I can do to regain my education visa as I am confident on my return I will be issued with a 30 day tourist visa?

Thanks

The poor sex tourists.

Chug Whaol tonight for these lonely fellows

“Genuine tourists are fine. All they have to do is prove to the immigration officer at the border checkpoint that they really are tourists by presenting evidence such as their travel itinerary, hotel booking, tour bookings and any other documents to prove their travel in Thailand is genuine,” Lt Gen Pharnu said on Wednesday...

What am i to do, when i'm between job's or waiting for work i have several times spent my time in Thailand, i arrive with absolutely no plans other than the hotel booked for the first 2 - 3 nights from that on i usually do whatever i pleases and feel like to do. I arrive on the arrival visa and a quite few times i have done the border run. I wont as it stands now be able to show hotel booking, travel itinerary or tour bookings because i like to stay on my own terms. I'm not working here, i'm not a drug carrier i follow the laws here and i don't do anything illegal. I even drive motorbike with helmet and have a international licence. I spend a shit load of money here and probably also way to much and have done so for 5 - 6 years now. I stay in thailand 3 - 5 times a year for periods from 10 days to 2 months as i like it much more than my cold clima.

As i can understand from this i'm no longer to be considered a genuine tourist and might risk a charge of working illegal in Thailand, yet i fail to understand why i would work for a month in thailand for a salary that can be done home in 1 - 2 days. I'm sorry to say but it's getting more and more clear that this country have a high percentage of no brainers or people who forget to put on the thinking cap.

Time to move on?....I recon it might be the best, can the Philippines offer me almost the same but at a lower price...Yes, and goodbye Thailand may you rest in peace.

Stop with the panic...and with the amount of money that you spend. Explain all, calmly, to the officer if questioned....but better still...get a Tourist Visa, at the very least.

The fact is that no one has bothered you at all to date. Yet here you are, ranting, as if someone has taken your toys away. Your stays show you to be a likely tourist.

I have to agree with Jiu-Jitsu. If your a tourist your as safe as houses, Fort Knox or your local fall-out shelter. The sky isn't falling. You will have no problem. If your not following what your legally obligated to do then as in any situation or countries governed by common laws, "Your knabbed". Thailand has announced a crake down because of three reasons,

1. It's Thailand.

2. It's owned by the people of Thailand

3. It's not where you are from.

In others words, because they can.

Many western countries immigration screens you before you pass through local customs. What's stopping Thailand for increasing their scrutiny? If you haven't worked out TIT by now and then learn't to accept it without doing a comparison and complaint of "They should be doing it this way" or "Back home this wouldn't happen" then you're probably in the "worried" category.

So...come August Thailand can kiss goodbye to all the oil and gas and mining lads who fly in and out on month on, month off rosters?

I don't think so. If the guys are out of the country for a month working they aren't doing a visa run.

This is an example of one of the visa type run's which is currently being discussed.

Pattaya to Cambodia.

Get picked up in a mini van in Pattaya and taken to the Cambodian border at the Ban Pakard crossing. Thai immigration stamp your passport as leaving Thailand. Walk into Cambodia and have your passport labelled with a full page visa for 30 days in Cambodia. Collect your passport and walk back to Thai immigration and have it stamped as re-entering Thailand for 15-30 days. You have spent a total of around 20 plus minutes in Cambodia out of a 30 day visa and seen about 20 square metres of it before re-entering Thailand. In total you would be lucky to spend no more than 30-40 minutes at the border crossing. This is what they are now cracking down on.

As others have said, the rest of us have had to jump through hoops with reams of paper to stay here long term on retirement, non-o and ed-visa's etc. I must admit that I do feel sorry for those caught out without notice. Welcome to Thailand TIT.

Thanks Ubonjoe. I was on a non-o previously so I understand the multiple entry and yes you are right when questioning minimizing costs as an extension is comparable to a visa visa run financially without the "balls in your mouth" border crossing. It though doesn't mean having to supply immigration with a stack of supportive documentation comparable to a novel when applying for each extension. I wasn't aware however that you could combine a multiple entry visa with an ed as per what I had written in my reply to the OP. I was of the believe you either had one or the other? As far a restrictions, as you know multiple allows you to come and go without the need for a re-entry and will allow you up to 15 months where as I have to go and apply for the extension and the re-entry to stay and leave the country. The multiple has no such restrictions. As for the multiple entry ed-visa. I know Sydney Australia doesn't issue them, so I am wondering where the OP has gotten his from?

Ok. So what I wrote wasn't a total waste of information and I'm glad to hear you have been able to have your OP question answered.

Could I then please get some clarification of the criteria of the multiple entry non immigrant ed-visa then? I if can avoid extensions and their added associated costs and restrictions, I'd be interested in investigating it.

You can leave before or on the day but I am confused about you statement of a non-immigrant multiple entry ed-visa though. Generally ed-visa's work in this fashion. If you know differently, I would like to hear your response as I am on an ed-visa. My experience so far has been this.

You pay your fees and within a month the school arranges your paper work and a letter from the Education Ministry confirming your student status. You then leave Thailand and apply for an ED-Visa at that countries Thai Embassy or Consulate. When it is granted you come back into Thailand and the initial 3 month Ed-visa labeled in your passport is stamped "Used". Depending on your schools policy, 20 days prior to the Ed-visa expiring they organise supportive documentation for you to take to immigration before the end of the 90 days. If it is in order, immigration extend your ED-visa for another 90 days for a fee of 1900 Baht. This process is repeated every 90 days. You only ever need to leave Thailand once to achieve an ED-visa. They suggest a one year visa but that is really only applicable to your school tuition fees. You are only ever good for 90 days each time. When your initial 15 months (initial 3 + 12) is up, you pay your fees and it then becomes every 12 months and the school just keeps supplying you with the appropriate immigration paper work. For you to leave Thailand at anytime during these 90 days you will need a re-entry visa. If you are going to leave Thailand multiple times during a 90 day period you will need a multiple re-entry. If you are only going to leave once, then a single re-entry is sufficient. Ed-visa's rotate around 90 days. You must apply during each 90 days for the extension. If you are out of the country whenever any of your 90 days expire, customs will give you a tourist visa upon your arrival back into Thailand. In other words you let it expire and you need to reapply for an ED-Visa.

 

 

Don't they teach them English in College?  I don't think speaking broken English means anything bad..  The girl I was talking with spoke broken English.. she could type basic English... but she was college educated and had 2 foreign boyfriends in the past so I would expect her to know some English... also she was looking exclusively for a foreign husband.. so was probably learning English on her own as well..

The fundamentals to your post. College and foreign boyfriends IE Sex tourists gone straight because they met someone or Expats. Isn't that what I have already written in my post? High school that ceases at 13-15 years of age cannot be catergorised as college. Speaking broken English is the same as speaking broken Thai when your learning to master it and I wasn't being critical of someones ability to become fluent. I was posting how some bar girls learn it. Ignoring the reality of their bar school education and becoming defensive doesn't negate how a high percentage have learnt a foreign language like English. I'm learning to speak Thai and it's not from sitting in a bar. It is at a College. Whilst a certified "piece of paper" to me never depicts a persons ability in full even if they claim they can do the job, it is their personal demonstration that will prove their capability. Currently we are surrounded by world leaders with "pieces of paper stamped full of qualifications" who can only be described as educated idiots. Self promotion should never be criticised. If you have missed my point, then........

 

Seems ironic that you're lecturing about learning English when your posts are full of errors!

(Sorry. Please feel free to delete my post).

 

Stop trolling and using the word "posts" that suggest somehow I have become the centre of your attention. 

Sorry Obi Wan Kenobi. If you show me the way, I promise I will learn the powers of the force.

I have meet and talked with at least 100 English teachers without WP or the right visa in the last 10 years. Everyone have blamed either the school or the Thai authorities for everything. Even more strange is that they keep on doing it for less than $ 1000 a month most of them.

Lars you are truly a legend! Been everywhere and knowledgeable on every subject and such the expert in the field of critiquing. Can you please tell me where you got your PhD or Doctrine from regarding The Structure and Dynamics of Foreign Immigration and Migration Habits that define Foreign Employment based on Geographical and Socioeconomic Characteristics found within Environmental and Non Environmental Impact Studies from? I would love to enrol.

Don't you have enough problems with wife, house & lawyers without starting more trouble here ??

All sorted Lars thank you and all in a very satisfactory manner even with your unfounded comments and unsubstantiated criticism. How about posting a response that is constructive to an OP rather than just being critical of it that ultimately finds yourself only to be proven wrong with comments that can't be deleted. A bit embarrassing don't you think? There's no trouble Lars. Don't let your imagination run too wild.

My suggestion to the OP is to contact and to seek advice from a visa specialist to confirm whether he is currently a legal alien in Thailand or as others have suggested, now in the territory of over stay and accumulating a debt to immigration. Thailand can be an ambiguous cauldron of information but surprisingly not when it comes to money owed to the state. Considering the OP has declared his financial status as not being able to afford a "visa run" surely see's himself in a unique position and one for concern if a lump sum be demanded. Whilst reading other posts that had similarities, each case is held against the individual and relying on others well intended hear say might find the quote that "ignorance won't stand up in a court of law". I'm not suggesting court, just that not knowing won't buy you out of any potential trouble. His new employer could also be offering up information, but having it put to the test could see them become suddenly quiet if they themselves find they are working outside of government limits especially if no current WP has been obtained. I believe there is only one person who can source the information and put a clearer picture to the predicament concerning the visa and that is the OP himself considering it is applicable to him alone. Calling immigration unfortunately hasn't been conclusive which is why I suggest a visa specialist. Considering they can arrange things under the table for extended fees often has me thinking they know the immigration laws better that those in any regional office.

Good luck and I hope it has a positive outcome for you.

Don't they teach them English in College?  I don't think speaking broken English means anything bad..  The girl I was talking with spoke broken English.. she could type basic English... but she was college educated and had 2 foreign boyfriends in the past so I would expect her to know some English... also she was looking exclusively for a foreign husband.. so was probably learning English on her own as well..

The fundamentals to your post. College and foreign boyfriends IE Sex tourists gone straight because they met someone or Expats. Isn't that what I have already written in my post? High school that ceases at 13-15 years of age cannot be catergorised as college. Speaking broken English is the same as speaking broken Thai when your learning to master it and I wasn't being critical of someones ability to become fluent. I was posting how some bar girls learn it. Ignoring the reality of their bar school education and becoming defensive doesn't negate how a high percentage have learnt a foreign language like English. I'm learning to speak Thai and it's not from sitting in a bar. It is at a College. Whilst a certified "piece of paper" to me never depicts a persons ability in full even if they claim they can do the job, it is their personal demonstration that will prove their capability. Currently we are surrounded by world leaders with "pieces of paper stamped full of qualifications" who can only be described as educated idiots. Self promotion should never be criticised. If you have missed my point, then........  

 

 

 I know, but we skyped every day for 2 months for like 2 hours a day so I didn't just fall in love over 2 weeks.  You learn a lot about each other when you video call each other this much so I already had feelings for her before I went to Thailand.            I don't believe she would Skype with me this much if she wasn't really interested me as she was always asking in email "you Skype tonight mai".                    Its to much time to just try and scam someone, a scammer or some one who just wanted a gik payment wouldn't invest that much time.
 
 I appreciate all replies, cynicism included as I need to look from different view points as I feel quite confused at the moment.   Mrjlh I appreciate your post mak.

 
Tell you what, after you have had a few dozen Thai ladies, all of whom will laugh with you and provide great sex (they are in every bar BTW) you will be able to reevaluate your situation.
 
Did it occur to you to find out how and why she knows English? Only bar girls and international business executives speak English in Thailand.
 
If you are smart, you will call the husband and tell him for US$ 15,000 you will disappear and let him have his family back. Be careful about the collection arrangements. Do not accept the cash in person have it wired. Over and out.

I would like to include lots of government officials/managers and some cops in the English speaking category.

 

Another nit picker who defines everything literally. Those who work in bars haven't been exposed to a profession that allows the skill of another language like English to be learn't and accepted as a communication tool when conducting duties within their professional careers. A bar girl learns English or any other language for that matter from working in a bar and being exposed to sex tourism or expats seeking company of any sort. That's the reality. There is no diploma attached to a soi bar.

1. Employer: Your English is very good. Where did you learn? Applicant: I studied English for 2 years at an International College recognised in Language Excellence. I can read and write English. Employer: Excellent. 2. Employer: Your English is good. Can you read and write English. Applicant: No. I can only speak it to some degree. Employer: Why is that? Applicant: Because I use to be a bar girl.

I have meet and talked with at least 100 English teachers without WP or the right visa in the last 10 years. Everyone have blamed either the school or the Thai authorities for everything. Even more strange is that they keep on doing it for less than $ 1000 a month most of them.

Lars you are truly a legend! Been everywhere and knowledgeable on every subject and such the expert in the field of critiquing. Can you please tell me where you got your PhD or Doctrine from regarding The Structure and Dynamics of Foreign Immigration and Migration Habits that define Foreign Employment based on Geographical and Socioeconomic Characteristics found within Environmental and Non Environmental Impact Studies from? I would love to enrol.

I'm seriously wondering why the moderators haven't closed this topic?? With 500 plus replies, if he isn't capable of working it out by now for himself, he can only be identified as a lost cause or someone who possibly suffers from narcissism by reading his own posts and liking the idea of being the centre of attention. Pay the 500,000 Baht ransom for divorce or get on a plane and see a real Thai village beyond the Go-Go and Beer Bars and confirm it for yourself. Engineers build bridges. Walk over one. Thailand has plenty of good people in it. Please don't post, "I'm tending to lean towards it being a scam". So many TVF members have spoken from experience which in any form of life is priceless. Make a choice or stop wasting good folks time with excuses. T.I.T. The world isn't a nice place at times and this prolonged agony should be seen as huge as Sydney's Harbor Bridge and Opera House combined.

Have you got anything to say for yourself son? Bugger All your Honor. OK. Case dismissed! 

Your best bet might be to consult a notable visa agent here in Thailand for more immediate answers to your questions. I had a tourist visa for my then wife to OZ arranged within 7-9 days with all of the correct paperwork. We applied at the VFS office ourselves in Bangkok. She was granted the 3 months.

Here is a link to the Australian immigration visa wizard. It will stipulate processing times and requirements. For residency the applicant is usually granted a temporary visa with a consideration to permanency upon a successful application. They are applied for at the same time. The permanency stipulation could take up to 2 years if my memory serves me well when I was considering bringing my wife to OZ. You can work during this period and gain access to medicare but I believe you are not entitled to any benefits It maybe of some help to you as I'm sure it also contains work visa's.

http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/Find-a-visa.aspx

"A marriage visa does need to be applied for 1 month prior to its total expiration validity."

Normally an extension can be done any time within the last 30 days of your permission to stay.

It is often recommended that you do the extension early in the 30 day period in case there are problems, but it's not required. You can apply on the last day.

When the accept the app they'll give you a 30 day 'under consideration' stamp. When you go back then, they normally give you the remainder of the years extension.

Just wondering then....

If you don't do it within the last 30 days to give yourself time for clarification in case of problems and you do leave it until the last day, what happens to your visa should you find you do have problems? EG. Supplying a bank letter declaring your balance that isn't dated within the last 24 hours of your application. I have heard that some officers can be particular about this with a retiree friend having such an issue and forgetting to supply his bank book thinking his bank letter would have been sufficient.

Is an extension of stay based on marriage basically what is known as a "marriage visa"?

Can anyone clarify what actually happens to you if you divorce whilst living here under the marriage criteria?

Wow 500,000. That would buy land, build a new home and supply a buffalo to any village member. I'm glad you have seen the light. Whilst she has been throwing up warning signs all along, this request proves that scammers who aren't too smart eventually bring themselves undone. They have been quietly laughing at you. At least now you get to have the last laugh. 

Maybe they could write an "Idiots Guide To Scamming Farangs" Whilst they might be able to sell a few copies to their friends, as a reference it would be full of flaws and useless Dumbness only breeds dumbness. You seem like an intelligent fellow. Prove it to her by proving her to be anything but.

"Amazing Thailand". I never ceases to put a smile on my face.