jimborders

11 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

If needed you could apply for the 60 day extension if needed.

It seems the agent is not very knowledgeable. The 400k baht only needs to be in the bank for 2 months for an extension based upon marriage (been the same for over a decade).

You can use 40k baht of income from working proven by tax payments. You would need a couple of months of income to apply for the extension.

Hi Ubonjoe, many thanks for your reply. 

1. If I extend another 60 days, once it expires, do I need to leave the country or can I do another 1 year extension on top of that? (By then, my THB400,000 would have been 2-month matured). 

2. Prior to this job , I had been working for another Thai company (salary >THB40,000) for more than a year and I have the salary slips with me (except for the month of February.). Will that be applicable for the 40k baht of income (proven by tax payments)? 

I entered Thailand on 31st Jan with a 90-day Non-O Single entry (valid until 29th April)

On 1st March, I was employed by an employer in Pathum Thani. The company appointed an agent to handle my Work Permit and Visa extension. 

It seems that my Work Permit is still under process and it might take some time (probably within first week of April) to get it done, but I'm concern that might be too late for the visa extension.  

What are my options here? Should I extend for another 60-days first and see how things will work out? According to my agent, they mentioned that that I also need THB400,000 in my bank account seasoned for 3-months for the extension of my 1 year non-o (based on work permit) ? I'd always thought an income of >THB40000 would be sufficient?  

Appreciate if someone could guide me on this. Thank you. 

I worked for a BOI company and I also have a Non-O. I can confirm that they did not accept my Non-O as well (that was about 2 years ago though). If nothing has been changed, you have no choice but to exit for a Non-B visa. 

I wonder what happened if one overstays due to emergency situation, like hospitalized / dengue fever / so on? Will that be counted as over-stayed in the passport?

It is just a matter of time before IO will stops you. My body and business partner came into Thailand for the past 5 1/2 years as I moved back to Thailand and we hold all company meetings in Thailand. He was warned several times by the IO at Don Muang that he visits his son and wife and they told him to get the correct visa.

The METV is not free of charge by the way.

Hi, yes I agree someday they will stop me, which was why I enquired about the METV and trying to get the Non-O (Based on marriage) within these 3 months ready before I get stopped, thinking of it is quite scary.. I hope I don't get stopped on my next visit , fingers crossed.

By the way, are you on Non-O marriage too? Do I need the 400,000 Baht in THAI bank account or any home account with a Thai foreign currency / local equivalent value?

I'm still confused whether the METV is free or not. 1) The officer told me it is free , 2) Some people said it is not free , 3) I found this section (fee exemption for Malaysian Nationals) in the Thai Embassy KL website (http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/th/services/962/18989-Required-Documents.html)

Thanks, jimborders.

I hold a Singapore passport.

I'm currently in Thailand on an 'O' visa - parent accompanying a non-Thai minor studying in a private institution. I no longer qualify for that when she turns 20 soon. I just spent the afternoon reading the requirements for the METV on the Thai consulate websites across ASEAN, including Vientiane and Kuala Lumpur. They state you either have to be a citizen or resident of that country to apply.

I don't have to nor want to travel every 30 or 60 days so I fail to see what advantage the METV offers over the 60-day SETV extendable by 30 days that's open to ASEAN... unless that's changed as well? I'm not old enough to qualify for the 'retirement' visa.

We've been here on and off since August 2014 and have seen the immigration rules do a complete flip flop. It's getting less and less enticing to stay. Because my child is in a private institution we've had to make the trek out to Chaeng Wattana every 90 days for the extension of temporary stay, something that completely caught us off-guard and did not plan for or she would not have applied to study here.

The marriage visa is probably the only visa worth having. (said in a withering tone) Nothing personal, of course. Great if you meet the criteria.

Hi, BigOm19. You are welcome.

I see. So, the only option for you now would be the SETV? , since it can be extendable? Do you think the METV is extendable too? Did you try calling Thai embassy in Singapore to ask about this?

As I see from the Thai Embassy KL website: (http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/th/services/962/18989-Required-Documents.html), there are a few things which I don't understand, they did not state how much minimum bank statement amount, they also did not mention how much Single/Multiple entry is valid for per entry.. etc. Then there is this Gratis, does that mean we apply for free (as told by the officer I met?), some said it is not free? confused.

Do you have the information about the SETV that's open to ASEAN as you mentioned? Can share a link?

Thanks

"he said that application for METV for Malaysians are simple n FOC, just a 4x6 photo, passporf n form. No need bank statements or other requirements, only for Malaysians citizens though."

He lied.

Hi ,

I was quite doubtful when he said that too, maybe he just wanted to cut me off quickly?

By the way, out of curiosity, i checked the Thai Embassy KL website, do check out the Fee section, it says Gratis : Nationals of Malaysia, Singapore.. (Fees Exempted). Perhaps this was what he meant? Otherwise, what does the Gratis stand for?

http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/th/services/962/18989-Required-Documents.html

Which ASEAN country are you from?

I tried to enquire about this METV from Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur recently too , the officer told me that Malaysians no need to apply for METV as it is unlimited entry for Malaysians for our normal 30 day Visa-exempt passport, like some kind of agreement between our countries. He said unless we get a warning from immigration in Thailand airport/land border, only then we come back n apply it, but he said very unlikely because the land border itself have so many Malaysians crossing daily, just imagine the magnitude amount of Malaysians if we want to apply. Furthermore, he said that application for METV for Malaysians are simple n FOC, just a 4x6 photo, passporf n form. No need bank statements or other requirements, only for Malaysians citizens though. But Other foreigners who apply in Malaysia must fulfill the requirements strictly and pay.

I have a Thai girlfriend n i fly to Don Mueang almost every month, each stay of avg 22 days. But pretty soon I Will get a Non-O visa soon though, then do the 1 year extension based on marriage. But no problem of entry for me, more than 8 times per year.

My opinion is to do your METV at home country n ask if got any special requirements fulfill. If not, just follow their instructions, probably you need a marriage cert or a form of document to prove that you are not working there illegally i think.

Hey OP, how is it going for you now? Did you manage to get your work permit and hired the 4 Thai employees? What is the outcome?

Ok Thanks again everyone, well noted all your comments..

I am still 14 hours away from my flight and as of now i decided to print a copy of the TM30 form JUST in case he (the owner) doesn't have the copy tomorrow, good luck for me!. But yeah, I really really really dont want to go to the immigration office if it is not necessary (which indeed not necessary given the other alternatives), I just hope this can be settled on the premise of the apartment itself.

Until then , good night everyone and hello Thailand here I come!

I have always wondered about these fictitious borders that we humans have created between 'countries' on this planet. On a map you see them all clearly but from space there are none whatsoever.

Anyway, I do not have overstay but I am musing here, how hard can it be to simply find a passage to a neighbouring country which is not an official border crossing point. Like walking through a jungle or something, it must be impossible to guard the entire border of a country

Hahah nice one! I agree completely!

Thank you to all your replies.. I just knew about this TM30 form just now and seek some advice from my girlfriend

Interesting enforcement though.

Hmm, but i am pretty sure I am not the only one who is oblivious of this requirement. Perhaps some people like myself, who will visit their girlfriend or friends and staying just for a couple of days might find it shocking when the officers came knocking their doors.

But maybe the government of Thailand can put this notice in the arrival card (stating it is mandatory to do a reporting , TM30 form, etc) or just announce it somewhere , or give a separate paper notice so that first time visitors can be prepared and not lose out any legal procedure that they may missed.(maybe they already did, i just did not see it) . That will make it easier.

While most owners/hotels know about this policy, not everybody is going to stay in these places, what happen when we stay at our local Thai friends' house who do not know anything (In turn, that will be my responsibility to notify them) .. Some of my local Thai friends didn't even know about this too until just now (yes literally 5 minutes ago), they were like "huh, what?! That's absurd!"

Lesson learned, will inform my friends and my Thai friends if i ever stay over their place..

Cheers guys!

yeah exactly.. what is the problem? I stay -> 3 weeks later -> I leave.. back to the airport --> Stamp. Perhaps he is legally obligated to report me, then that is fine, I will do it.. But surprisingly none of the previous apartment owners did that to me.

Hi all, tomorrow i am going to visit my girlfriend and stay at her apartment in Bangkok for LESS than 3 weeks. The owner/management of the apartment requested for a copy of my passport tomorrow and asked for my Arrival Card.. then the strangest thing was, he said "You need to go to the immigration office as soon as you come here"..

Hmm... strange.. Is it necessary to do that? I don't mind with the passport copy and arrival card , but visiting the immigration office? Do all tourists have to do that if they stay in a non-hotel accommodation (What about Airbnb or staying over friends' residents)? Can't be! Dont ever think such law exist on earth.

he must have mistaken me for staying there long term..I don't intend to work or live there permanently, just visiting and I didn't even plan to overstay/violate my tourist visa length (30 days for my country).!

Hope i am not in trouble tomorrow! Can anyone here clarify this with me? Sounds like utter BS.

Edited: Confusion on the visa tourist part. For Malaysians (me) no tourist Visa is needed, we are all permitted to stay less than 30days. Been there done that. Just not for this apartment.

So, is it safe to say that whether an applicant has a degree or not (non-teaching jobs), the decision is solely based on the discretion from the Ministry of Labour? There is no fixed law stating a mandatory requirement of a degree? or.. what?

Strange... the answers here and the answers I found on other websites seems very vague, this is one of them: (http://www.thaiworkpermit.com/thai-work-permit-requirements.html#respond). As you can see, it says "You need to provide a proof of their Education Certificate (Degree+Transcripts)..

I read on another forum (I will post the link later) , there was a guy tried to apply for a job (non-teaching), but the employer said that the company cannot do so because it is required by the Ministry of Labour to have a university degree + transcript. Either the employer is misinformed or it is the truth?

Therefore, can someone who has a work permit (without a degree) give more assurance on this?

Thank you

Thanks Mario, I will take note of that as well.

Ahh ok...! I think I should play it safe and try not to repeat the same pattern , or at least space out the gap in between my visits. I definitely carry cash equivalent or more than that value, because I don't usually use credit cards in overseas unless emergency. Regulation is one thing, the other thing is that the real barrier is facing the immigration officer. and speaking of that, most of the time when I travel solo to a country, I often get questioned in the middle of the walkway, I remember in Bangkok two men flipped through my passport and started chuckling! And the most intimidating one was (not in Thailand) "Sir, this is just a random check.. May I know is this your bag?" , "Ahh, No, I carried it on behalf of a passenger whom I just met 5 minutes ago". I wished I said that..

Sorry I digress, ok so back to the topic, I found out that there may be a 180 day block and the maximum I can stay in this block is only 90 days. But anyhow, I might come up with another plan of inviting her over to Malaysia instead.. I think I have all the information/reassurance I need here now.. Wish everyone a great new year! Last but not least, Khob Khun Kap, Yin Dee Di Dai Ru Jak Krap!

Thank you for your feedbacks! I run a small company and most of the works are done routinely by my other associates, hence most of my work can be done through my laptop.

By showing proof, I assume I will need to have my bankstatement / salary statement standby ?

Perhaps this question has been raised before. I'm a little paranoid about this ever since there is a crack down for visa runners on August 2014.

I am a Malaysian, intending to visit my girlfriend in Bangkok every month. On each trip, I am planning to stay there for 20 days (maximum) and then return to Malaysia for 10 days before returning to Thailand again. I will be doing this every month, is there any possibility that this "pattern" will make the IO barred me from entering? If i'm not mistaken, there is a limit of days for tourists to stay in Thailand within a year, right? Is 10 days in my home country enough to justify that I am not a visa runner? should I wait for XX days longer before booking the next flight to Thailand?? Any thoughts about this? Thanks!