thatmanagain

Got this done myself this week - my first time back in Savannakhet since picking up a tourist visa at the old consulate there back in 2006, before the bridge opened. It's still just as dull...

Flew straight into Savannakhet from Suvarnabhumi (with a quick stop in Pakse) on Lao Airlines on Sunday, applied for the visa Monday morning, got my passport back Tuesday afternoon and immediately re-entered Thailand over the bridge to Mukdahan. Stayed with friends in Issan Tuesday evening then took a domestic flight back home to Bangkok on Wednesday.

This is my first non-O, and I took way more documentation than they wanted. All they actually wanted from me was:

1. My original passport.
2. Photocopy of my passport photo page and my Lao entry stamp (the guys across the road will run off copies for 2,000 kip, so about 8 baht). I didn't need to sign these.
3. Sight of original marriage certificate - they just glanced at this, didn't even take it out of the plastic cover, didn't take it off me. I also took a Kor Ror 2 original, but they didn't even look at that.
4. Photocopy of marriage paperwork (Kor Ror 2), signed by wife. This may not be necessary, but they did take it.
5. Photocopy of wife's ID card, signed by wife.
6. Photocopy of wife's housebook (tabian bahn), signed by wife.
7. Photocopy of wife's name change certificate (she took my surname), signed by wife.
8. Completed application form (again, the guys over the road can print one for you, or they're available on site).
9. Two 3x4cm passport photos of myself.
10. Application fee (5,000 THB cash).

No further questions, no other complications. The application and collection area is outside, so be prepared to spend time standing around in the hot sun while you wait. No fans, no air con, but there is some shade as you approach the front of the line. I'd say I was there less than an hour each day though, for application and collection.

Most people arrived early, so you might even get things done more quickly if you deliberately arrived later on (with the risk of running out of time)...

Hi all,

I've been working in Bangkok (non-teaching I.T job with a work permit) for a few years now, but have never bothered transferring to an extension of stay - I've just been applying for a fresh 12-month multiple-entry non-B in Penang every year, for which I show a ton of company paperwork and my existing WP.  British passport, in case that matters.

I married my Thai wife last year, and like the idea of transferring to a non-O/marriage extension, but obviously don't want to invalidate my work permit. What are my options?

Ideally I'd like to transfer from my non-B visa entry (not an extension) to a non-O extension (12 months?) here in Bangkok. But if that's not possible, I guess I'd leave the country to apply for either a 12-month multiple-entry non-O, or a 90-day single entry which I can turn into a 12-month extension at immigration in Bangkok. Would I have to wait for my existing non-B to expire first before applying?

Are 12-month multiple-entry non-O visas available at all regional embassies/consulates, or are they as rare as the 12-month multiple-entry non-B? I'd prefer a long-term visa to an extension, if possible - the fewer visits to Immigration, the better.

Can I use my existing salary (which is comfortably more than 40,000 THB/mo) as proof of income for the non-O, or do I need to transfer 400k into a Thai account?

If the latter, can that 400k be invested in bonds/stocks? Or at least a fixed-term deposit? I don't really fancy watching it rot away against inflation...

Thanks all in advance - I did search the forum and found a few related topics, but those seemed to all be about transferring from an extension, rather than a visa entry.

Meant to say - the visa fee is 550MYR, then the hotel charge an agent's fee of I think 60MYR, making it 610MYR total, or approx 6,100THB.

Wish I could edit my post.

Would be great to see a template for this application letter. Anyone know if the application form can be downloaded and printed so I can fill it out ahead of time? Is there a definitive list of exactly what's required here?

I emailed Banana to ask them what paperwork is required but did not get a very helpful response.

I'm applying for a 1-year multi non-B on the basis of a work permit next week - will try to update so that this thread's a bit clearer for the next reader.

Here's a link to the Thai MFA list of requirements:

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22B%22-(for-Business-and.html

Penang also normally require 8 months+ validity on your Work permit to issue a One Year Multiple Entry Non Immigrant 'B' Visa.

Any concerns then you can always phone Penang, they do answer the phone.

Here's a link to the application form:

http://www.consular.go.th/main/contents/files/services-20120630-200636-192763.pdf

Thanks, I already have all the paperwork from the MFA link, but this thread specifically mentions a "letter of introduction" which isn't on the MFA's list, and nobody has quite explained exactly what it is.

Who should it be addressed to? Does it need to be on letterhead? Signed by whom? Etc etc.

My work permit was issued less than a month ago, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for the application form though, that should definitely save some time.

I'll do my best to update this thread next week when I've figured it all out (or been denied, lol).

In the old days, all you took was pretty much the letter of introduction.

Yes it's on letter head in English or Thai addressed to the Consulate in Penang briefly asking that they issue a One Year Multiple Entry Non Immigrant 'B' Visa to you, name abc, passport number xyz.

Thanks for that, very helpful - we added the company stamp as well as the letterhead just in case. No idea whether that's required, but the bureaucrats do seem to like their stamps...

Anyway, for the record, I booked into the Banana Boutique on Chulia Street, Georgetown - they handled everything for me, so no need to visit the Consulate myself. I handed over my mountain of paperwork to the hotel staff at 9.30am yesterday and got the passport and work permit back today, with a fresh 1-year multi-entry non-B.

The hotel staff gave me an application form with the local address part pre-filled with their details, so no need to bring your own forms - I just had to supply the paperwork, letter, WP11, passport photos and fee - the visa fee is 55MYR, then the hotel charge an agent's fee of I think 6MYR, making it 610MYR total, or approx 6,100THB.

Many thanks to digitalchromakey for the info, hope this helps the next applicant.

Would be great to see a template for this application letter. Anyone know if the application form can be downloaded and printed so I can fill it out ahead of time? Is there a definitive list of exactly what's required here?

I emailed Banana to ask them what paperwork is required but did not get a very helpful response.

I'm applying for a 1-year multi non-B on the basis of a work permit next week - will try to update so that this thread's a bit clearer for the next reader.

Here's a link to the Thai MFA list of requirements:

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22B%22-(for-Business-and.html

Penang also normally require 8 months+ validity on your Work permit to issue a One Year Multiple Entry Non Immigrant 'B' Visa.

Any concerns then you can always phone Penang, they do answer the phone.

Here's a link to the application form:

http://www.consular.go.th/main/contents/files/services-20120630-200636-192763.pdf

Thanks, I already have all the paperwork from the MFA link, but this thread specifically mentions a "letter of introduction" which isn't on the MFA's list, and nobody has quite explained exactly what it is.

Who should it be addressed to? Does it need to be on letterhead? Signed by whom? Etc etc.

My work permit was issued less than a month ago, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for the application form though, that should definitely save some time.

I'll do my best to update this thread next week when I've figured it all out (or been denied, lol).

Would be great to see a template for this application letter. Anyone know if the application form can be downloaded and printed so I can fill it out ahead of time? Is there a definitive list of exactly what's required here?

I emailed Banana to ask them what paperwork is required but did not get a very helpful response.

I'm applying for a 1-year multi non-B on the basis of a work permit next week - will try to update so that this thread's a bit clearer for the next reader.

The only nearby location that will do a multiple entry non-b is Penang Malaysia. You need at least 9 months remaining on your work permit to get it and have all the required documents from your employer.

Thanks - I assume the same documents I showed to get my single-entry non-B in London will suffice?

I think this is the Consulate's website: http://www.thaiembassy.org/penang/

But clicking on their Visa section takes me here: http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/services/1287

Unfortunately my Thai is not good enough to read that page, and there doesn't seem to be an English-language version.

Seems strange to set up a website that's only useful to foreigners, and to only have the content available in Thai. But what do I know

Hi guys,

I'm a British national currently employed in Bangkok - came in on a single-entry non-B issued at the Thai Embassy in London, which expires in a few weeks.

I picked up my work permit last week, all my papers are in order, but it seems like I am not going to be able to organise a 12-month extension of stay based on WP before my current permission to stay expires.

Is there anywhere in the region (Embassy, Consulate) where I can still obtain a 12-month multiple-entry non-B, issued on the basis of my current work permit?

I am pretty sure I can get this done in the UK, but would rather not travel that far unless I really need to!

The embassy in Phnom Penh would be my preferred destination as I have friends over there, but I'm guessing that's a bit optimistic.

Thanks in advance.

Finally sorted. I went to the British Embassy this morning with old and new passports. They just give you a form letter where you fill in the blanks with your own name and passport details - they then stamp and sign the letter. Free of charge. In and out within about 10-15 minutes.

I took that letter to Immigration in Lad Phrao along with passport photos, both passports and 1900 baht for the 7-day extension - they told me what to photocopy from each passport, transferred the stamp and added the extension to my new passport. In and out within about four and a half hours.

So just to reiterate - whether it's official policy or not, immigration can refuse to transfer your stamp into your new passport at the airport, and can refuse to transfer it at all without a letter from the British Embassy.

Thanks for the good news! BTW, does that form at the British Embassy have a name? I will have to go and ask for it soon i think, lol

If it does have a name, I don't know what it is, sorry!

I just explained my situation, told them Immigration needed a letter from them, and they knew straight away what I was talking about.

Once you get inside the building you just take a ticket number and wait. There's a sign on the wall saying that you must complete all forms before being seen, but you can't actually get the form in this case until your number is called - so don't worry about that

When they call your number, explain the situation, show both passports, and they'll give you the form to fill out. All the information you need is in your passports, so it's just a matter of copying dates and numbers across - when you're done, they'll stamp and date it, and you're off on your way. I went there at opening time (8am) and was dealt with very quickly and efficiently.

Thanks for some of the replies..

After further checking it turns out that Laos will not in fact put a tourist visa into an emergency travel document so that option is out..

As i see it the only possible option is waiting for my passport to arrive and then pay the overstay..

I really hope they get these problems sorted out quickly and my passport arrives soon.. My current visa finished on the 22nd so anytime before that and i would be thankful..

Has anyone who applied at VFS received their passport back or are we still waiting for our first sucessful story?

If I hear anything more or get my passport back I will update this thread..

There are plenty of other Embassies & Consulates outside of Laos. You may be able to get a new Thai tourist visa from the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia for example. I think you ought to be able to travel to Cambodia with no advance Cambodian visa, and just get the regular tourist visa on arrival. But getting your new Thai visa at the Phnom Penh Embassy can take several days at the best of times, compared to overnight in Vientiane.

Or you could go to Malayisa, and apply for your Thai tourist visa in Penang or KL. You'd need to arrange a Malaysian tourist visa on your ETD in advance in order to travel, but it can be done. I'm not sure how friendly the Thai Embassy is in Vietnam, so can't comment there. Singapore, Hong Kong etc might also be possibilities.

Trendy are apparently now saying that it could take up to six months for passports to be issued, so in a worst-case scenario you could be looking at a months-long overstay, and the accompanying fine once you do get your new passport and manage to leave - 20,000 baht.

Edit: But do please double-check with the Embassy, I'm just going on what I've been told. Make sure you tell them exactly what you're planning to do if/when you apply for the ETD - they should know whether or not it's a realistic solution.

I wish i had known about this thread a month ago.. I have some questions that some on here may be able to answer..

Firstly my situation. I have applied for my new passport on 17 April and the 110.86 fee was taken from my my account on 24 April. My passport is valid until 2017 but there is no space for any other visas. Also my current Non-O volunteer visa finishes on 22 May.. I have left that volunteer position and moved to start university.. Due to this I can't move directly so i needed to go to Laos and move onto a tourist visa..

My options - Can I go to the Embassy and get an emergency passport then go to Laos and put my new tourist visa into that emergency passport until my new passport arrives from Liverpool.. What else could possible be done.. All ideas will be greatfully received.. I realise that it's getting late in the day for options however when I applied I expected to have the passport back within 4 weeks.. 28 days is today which i why I checked the internet and found this thread..

I'd double check that plan. I emailed similar questions to the British Embassy when I was worried that my replacement passport might not arrive before my stamp expired. Their reply included this snippet:

Please note that Laos and Myanmar are not accepted for an ETD to journey in the countries and travelling to Malaysia and Vietnam, they require a visa.

Not the clearest of sentences, but I interpreted that as meaning that you can't travel to Laos or Myanmar at all on an ETD. And that if you want to visit Malaysia or Vietnam on an ETD, you'll need to get a visa into your ETD before you travel.

Fortunately my passport arrived before my stamp expired. But then I ran into other issues - as already covered

What end is the Trendy building in Soi13?

Thanks.

Closer to the Sukhumvit end - it's maybe 100 metres in, on your right hand side.

Finally sorted. I went to the British Embassy this morning with old and new passports. They just give you a form letter where you fill in the blanks with your own name and passport details - they then stamp and sign the letter. Free of charge. In and out within about 10-15 minutes.

I took that letter to Immigration in Lad Phrao along with passport photos, both passports and 1900 baht for the 7-day extension - they told me what to photocopy from each passport, transferred the stamp and added the extension to my new passport. In and out within about four and a half hours.

So just to reiterate - whether it's official policy or not, immigration can refuse to transfer your stamp into your new passport at the airport, and can refuse to transfer it at all without a letter from the British Embassy.

(and yes, the embassy is closed tomorrow).

Also incorrect. They're open as usual, 8am-11am. So they close in 5 minutes. Wish I'd double checked this yesterday!

https://www.facebook.com/ukinthailand/posts/761678300539239

Same story at Lad Phrao. After much consultation, they told me to get a letter from the embassy on Wednesday, then return to immigration at Lad Phrao.

They'll then transfer the stamp, and issue me a 7-day extension for 1900 baht to keep me legal (the extension is mandatory, even if I'm leaving the country Wednesday).

That decision came from the top, so I'm told, so it seems this is now policy. The girl on the desk showed me an example letter from the British embassy which did state the applicant was on a tourist visa.

Appreciate the advice anyway, as always. Hopefully at least my experience can help others avoid the same problem!

Sorry to hear you got turned away.

It certainly is not the norm and might have been a mistake by the officer. The norm is that with a tourist visa you could have done it at the airport. Did you try to speak to a superior?

(and yes, the embassy is closed tomorrow).

Edit:

Try to do it today at immirgation. The letter might not be needed for a British passport with a tourist visa.

She was the superior, unfortunately - the girl in the booth sent me over to her in the overstay office as soon as she saw the two passports.

She showed me a whole lever arch file full of photocopies of embassy letters, together with the corresponding passport pages. None from the British embassy, which I pointed out, but she was adamant that every new passport MUST be accompanied by a letter from the embassy.

Then when she saw that I'm here on an extension from a tourist visa (extended from 60 to 90 days), she said she wouldn't have been able to transfer the stamp at the airport even if I did have the letter. She insisted that only Immigration Division One can transfer extensions. "New policy", she said, issued in the last month or two. I'm not sure which part of the policy is new - requiring the letter, or the inability to transfer a tourist visa extension at the airport.

I'll head over to Lad Phrao now on the off chance that they can do it without a letter. Suspect not though.

Should I be worried about heading over there on Wednesday, since I'll be on overstay by then?

Final update from me - received my new passport at last yesterday evening, eight weeks and one day after posting my application.

I applied directly to Liverpool, before the VFS changes came in. Didn't hear a peep out of Liverpool until I received my new passport. So there is no notification whatsoever when your passport is issued, nor when it's mailed out to you.

My already-extended tourist visa expires in just over a week, so just in the nick of time really.

I believe I now need to go to the British Embassy to get the new passport certified as an original, after which I'll be able to leave the country by presenting both new and old passports. From what I've read, this is done in person, at no charge, while you wait. We shall see...

PS. None of my supporting materials have been returned yet, just the new passport itself. I believe they're supposed to follow later. No rush on that front, although I really don't see why they can't return everything in one package!

You don't need the letter. Departure immigration does not ask for it.

The letter is only needed at some immigration offices if you want to transfer an extension of stay.

Also the letter does not certify the new passport. It is meant to be just a letter confirming they you received a new passport from them.

Unfortunately this is not true.

I was just turned away by passport control at Don Muang. The immigration officer was insistent that I need to:

1. Get the letter from the embassy

2. Transfer my current tourist visa extension into the new passport at Lad Phrao immigration.

Only then will I be able to leave the country.

Of course the British embassy closed at 11am and my stamp expires tomorrow.

I'm not sure whether the embassy is open tomorrow, but I know immigration is not.

So I guess I need to get the letter and visit immigration on Wednesday. By which time I'm be on overstay. Then I can book another flight and another hotel. Ugh.

You don't need the letter. Departure immigration does not ask for it.

The letter is only needed at some immigration offices if you want to transfer an extension of stay.

Also the letter does not certify the new passport. It is meant to be just a letter confirming they you received a new passport from them.

Ah that's a relief, one less thing to do.

I don't have any visas to transfer - my current stamp for a single-entry visa will expire on the day I'm leaving. I'll apply for the next visa in the new passport before I return.

So l'll just show up at the airport, and present both the old and new passports at passport control, nothing further required?

Thanks again.

Final update from me - received my new passport at last yesterday evening, eight weeks and one day after posting my application.

I applied directly to Liverpool, before the VFS changes came in. Didn't hear a peep out of Liverpool until I received my new passport. So there is no notification whatsoever when your passport is issued, nor when it's mailed out to you.

My already-extended tourist visa expires in just over a week, so just in the nick of time really.

I believe I now need to go to the British Embassy to get the new passport certified as an original, after which I'll be able to leave the country by presenting both new and old passports. From what I've read, this is done in person, at no charge, while you wait. We shall see...

PS. None of my supporting materials have been returned yet, just the new passport itself. I believe they're supposed to follow later. No rush on that front, although I really don't see why they can't return everything in one package!

One last question from me about how to legally leave the country.

I'm stamped in on my UK passport. This is full of stamps, so I applied for a replacement back in March. Still waiting.

My stamp expires in less than two weeks. I understand that my existing passport may/should have been electronically cancelled by now.

I do have a second, non-UK but EU passport (dual nationality), but I've never used it to enter Thailand - it contains no stamps.

Legally speaking, does anyone know if I can do this?

1. Book a flight to Cambodia on my non-UK passport

2. Check in online for the flight with my non-UK passport

3. Present my existing UK passport (possibly cancelled) at passport control, to be stamped out

4. Fly to Cambodia on the non-UK passport

5. Return to Thailand on the non-UK passport for a 30-day stamp, and continue waiting for the new UK passport to arrive

I know I'm not allowed to travel on the cancelled passport, but in this situation I wouldn't be travelling on that one, just using it to leave.

Otherwise, I think I will have to spend 5,320 baht on an ETD and use that for step #3 instead.

Thanks again folks.

Of course it would be courteous and be very much appreciated to be informed that your passport had been approved and posted to you with a postal tracking reference.

Meanwhile, I still remain sitting around on my hands arguing (sorry for that) with TV Trollsters.

I think the current Trendy process is going to have to be reviewed. It really doesn't seem fit for purpose. Even with literate English speaking staff it still involves costly and unnecessary difficulties for many.

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Did you apply via Trendy, or directly to Liverpool?

I'm sure I remember a few posters saying they'd been informed by email when their passports were issued, before the March changes. Has this definitely stopped now? Or did it never happen in the first place?

Thanks folks, a few ideas there. Seems like I might be able to switch nationalities if I fly out, but won't be able to do so at a land border.

The central issue seems to be that there's no way to know whether my existing UK passport has already been cancelled.

At least, no way other than by trying to use it to fly somewhere.

Can anyone tell me what the worst case scenario would be if I tried to use a cancelled UK passport to board a cheap local international flight?

If it's just a polite "sorry, cannot", and a taxi home, then I think it's worth the gamble.

But if the worst case scenario involves immigration police and being thrown in jail, then it's probably not!

You have submitted the application ?.....they have taken the money ?......your existing PP has been cancelled

That's not what I was told on the phone, when I made enquiries back in March. The man I spoke to told me that my existing passport would only be cancelled right at the end of the process, just before the new passport was mailed out to me.

As others have pointed out already though, not worth the risk either way.

My understanding is once they receive your application and take the money off you, your existing passport is cancelled, I renewed my PP earlier on in the year and was worried about getting it back on time to do some business trips and was told in no uncertain terms do not travel on the "current" passport, and if I need to travel get a temporary PP from the BE in BKK, in the end it all worked out as I got my pp back in 24 days door to door

Thanks for that. Hopefully mine will show up in the next week or so. 24 days sounds great, I've been waiting for more than double that already!

If it doesn't, do you know whether I can get an ETD from the Embassy and use that for a visa run? Would it allow me to travel to e.g. Cambodia, return to Thailand with a 30 day stamp, and then board my (booked and paid-for) flight from Bangkok to London in June, either on the ETD, or the new passport if it's arrived by then?

I guess I need to talk to the Embassy. Are they any more competent with email than UKPA? Or do I need to telephone, or show up in person?

What a system.

Thanks folks, a few ideas there. Seems like I might be able to switch nationalities if I fly out, but won't be able to do so at a land border.

The central issue seems to be that there's no way to know whether my existing UK passport has already been cancelled.

At least, no way other than by trying to use it to fly somewhere.

Can anyone tell me what the worst case scenario would be if I tried to use a cancelled UK passport to board a cheap local international flight?

If it's just a polite "sorry, cannot", and a taxi home, then I think it's worth the gamble.

But if the worst case scenario involves immigration police and being thrown in jail, then it's probably not!

You have submitted the application ?.....they have taken the money ?......your existing PP has been cancelled

That's not what I was told on the phone, when I made enquiries back in March. The man I spoke to told me that my existing passport would only be cancelled right at the end of the process, just before the new passport was mailed out to me.

As others have pointed out already though, not worth the risk either way.

My new passport took 21 days from posting to getting back, so yours should be with you soon

Did they contact you at all in between you applying and receiving your new passport?

Or did you just wake up one day to your new passport in your mailbox?

Thanks chaps, much appreciated.

I'll see if I can get over to Lat Phrao tomorrow to apply for the extension. That'll give the UK another 30 days to get my new passport to me - hopefully that's long enough!