RC8

Im going back to the UK tonight for work for 2 weeks (i work a 2 weeks on, 3 weeks off rota offshore).

Just had good news my wife is pregnent so wanted to get a visa for her to go to the uk in 2-3 weeks time to meet the family during my next holiday rotation.

Then she would return to Thailand when i return to work,

 

I have filled out the online application but not submitted it yet as i have no gathered supporting evidence and no printer to print it out here (could go get one now).

 

Its all a bit of a rush as after this next holiday period (June 8th to June 28th) i dont think a uk visit is possible due to the hospital appointments ect in Bangkok.

It would have to wait until after the baby is born.

 

Some other issues:

The wife unfortunatly washed my passport yesterday in my trousers

Main page and visa are ok but nearly all the entry exit stamps are illegeable apart from the latest one or two (luckily).

I have no regular history of payments to my wife. I tend to just give her cash but there are some payments to her account.

 

History:

Known each other for 2 years.

Started a relationship about a year ago.

Married in a village wedding in Oct 2016.

Made legal in Feb this year (i have the translated certificates and original Thai ones).

I have 3 years of yearly contracts for renting my condo in Bangkok.

 

She used to work in a british pub (not a bar girl!!) but stopped work last month as it was interfering with our travels around Thailand.

 

Is it worth me sumbitting a rushed application?

 

What should i say about her job/lack of?

 

I was going to leave out the pregnancy bit.

 

 

 

 

I live in Bangkok and travel in and out the country every month so immigration will not issue one to me I believe. 

 

The uk embassy probably will but it's a pain and 5000 baht for the 2 I need for a driving licence  (car and bike).

 

My wife owns a house in Roi Et and we go thee quite often.

Would it be easier to get a COR there?

Would I have to get my driving licence there?

Would that pose a problem living in Bangkok but having a Roi Et address on my driving licence? 

Up to 3 months per entry. Not sure if I can get an extension but I never stay more than 3 weeks so won't affect me.
All original documents returned.

Ok. I will try to do it in one trip to BKK anyway and ask about the length of validity to inform others.
Thanks again Joe

The UK would not change your residence if you got a proof of address from them.

Thanks Joe. Is the proof of address only valid 1 month?
If so I will have to make sure I get the driving licence completed in 1 trip to BKK

I did want a Thai driving licence but it looks too much hassle. I may just keep getting an international driving permit from the uk every year.
Any big disadvantages with doing that?

What about the British Embassy?
I have the same problem. I work in the uk but live in Thailand (offshore rota), so I only stay 3 weeks max. If I get a certificate of residence from the Embassy do I risk them registering me as non resident in the uk?
That would mean I have to pay 150% of any NHS medical treatment I recieve in the uk despite me being a uk national and paying 2 million baht in tax a year.

You need nothing more than copies of page 1 and the page she is registered on in her house book.
No need for proof of residence to apply for the visa.

I had copies as Joe said but they also asked to see the original blue house book. Said same thing to the guy in front of me in the queue. He had to fish about in his bag for a while to find it. Don't know how much of a problem it would be if you did not have it.

Update: Just had the appointment yesterday. The embassy said the address on the Affirmation has to match her ID card or they will refuse to register the marriage. The woman was very helpful and was able to translate the ID card address into English for us.

Thanks Joe

I have an appointment at the British embassy in Bangkok for an Affirmation of permit to marry.

 

I have downloaded the form but at the bottom it asks for my future wife's address.

 

She lives with me in Bangkok but her ID card and House Book have her address in Roi Et, written in Thai.

 

She doesn't know how to spell it in English.

 

If I put her address as Bangkok on the Affirmation of permit to marry will this cause a problem getting married and hence getting a visa?

10 hours ago, elviajero said:

The website has been wrong for years. No financial info is required. You will need copies of your marriage certificate and your wife's ID and house registration book (Tabien Baan).

 

Postal applications can only be made while you're physically in the UK, and only take a few working days. An option if you have time and want to avoid a trip to the Embassy.

 

Thank you elviajero, that's really helped me out.

 

And thanks to everyone else who replied for the excellent advice.

14 minutes ago, buick said:

 

departure hall 2 at suvarnabhumi.  i have not seen the desk yet but when it was in departure hall 1 (recently moved), the desk was after security in the area with the immigration counters.  i believe the cost is 1200thb.  you don't have to bring form or picture.  they do everything for you.  it took about 20 minutes to get one when i last did it (about a year ago).  the permit is just a stamp in your passport, you don't do anything with it.  but remember it doesn't add any time to your original permission to stay (i made that mistake once).  

 

Thanks buick.

Does the original 60 days freeze while im out of Thailand and restart when I return or is it just 60 days from when I first enter the country?

2 hours ago, JackThompson said:

 

Yes.  Several people who have plenty of money and do not stay here long-term (therefore are not illegally working here) have been told they can no longer use visa-exempts to enter Thailand when they entered by air.  Others have been denied entry, forced to buy a return-flight, and literally held captive until their flight left - later that day or even locked-up overnight until the next day. 

 

Visitors like yourself are the definition of "good guy" tourists who have solid incomes they wish to spend here.  What possible sane reason would have Thailand wishing Oil and Gas workers go to Cambodia or Vietnam during their down-time?  What if they don't have a girlfriend to marry? 

 

Land Border crossings for visa-exempt entry have now been limited to 2-per-year, which will put an end to thousands of expats living in Cambodia and Laos, who do frequent shopping in Thailand (removing more jobs and economic opportunity for Thais).  In discussion of this new rule, many mistakenly stated that entry by air using visa-exempt is "still unlimited."  Clearly it is not, has not been for some time, and the new land-rule has not reduced scrutiny at air-entry-points.  Arbitrary and undefined rules are used to deny visa-exempt entries which vary by entry-point, and over time at those entry-points.  "Swampy" is considered one of the more "friendly" air-entry points. 

 

Is everyone in Thailand too wealthy already and, therefore, economic opportunities for its citizens need to be curtailed by reducing the wealth flowing in from overseas?  Is there no awareness that visitors have several other much more welcoming options in the region, and around the world? 

Good news and more jobs in Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines, it seems.

 

Agree 100%

 

Good God I had no idea they were clamping down that much. Guess I've been lucky up to now.

 

I was thinking of chancing my luck and just go without a visa but not now!!!

 

Thanks for the heads up.

3 hours ago, elviajero said:

1. People overusing visa exempt entries are still getting warnings to get visas.
2. You can get as many re-entry permits as you want, but they do not add time to the original 60 day permit to stay. Single entry re-entry permits are 1,000 baht and multiple entry cost 3,800 baht. I don't see much point in you getting one. A second SETV or a Non 'O' whilst in the UK would be a better choice.
3. As far as I know the formalities are always done within a few hours on one day.

4. Quote

   Getting it from London is the easiest option. No financial proof required, and it can be done by post while you're in the UK.

   Quote

    

    

 

No financial proof required in London!!!

If that's true it would be great but the London Embassy website says proof is required.

 

Cant do it by post as I need my passport while offshore but I stay near London when not working so no biggie.

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You could get a single re-entry permit for the 60 day entry from the the tourist visa.

You will need an appointment at UK embassy to do the affirmation of permit to marry.

Next day service is possible for at the MFA if the translation is submitted early enough in the day.

I think your best option my be to get the re-entry permit to enter the next time and register your marriage.

My advice visa wise would be for you to get a multiple entry non-o based upon marriage at Savannakhet or London instead of trying to get an extension of stay. I doubt you will have to apply for an extension if your trips back here are short.

It does not matter where your visa is issued. Immigration on entry will only be interested in it still being valid for entry not where it is issued.

 

 

I have an appointment booked at the UK embassy.

 

According to another site the MFA now requires 3 days to process documents for foreigners.

http://www.thethailandlife.com/married-thailand-diy-day

 

I think I will do as you say and register the marriage next trip.

Sorry for the stupid question but where do I get a re-entry permit and what do I do with it?

 

Thanks for the good advice as always Joe.

 

Hi,

 

After a good run of almost 3 years entering 10 times a year on visa exempt (offshore worker in the UK on 2/3 rota) I received a grilling from the IO boss at Swampy in December and a warning "this time I give you warning, next time you must have visa".

 

Plan A was to get an O-A visa from London (I was 50 last year) but my doctor wanted to do tests and I don't have time for that.

 

Plan B is to legalise my marriage to my Thai wife. I will get a SETV from the London Thai Embassy and come to Bangkok. Go to the British Embassy for my affidavit, get it translated and then to MFA for verification.

I believe MFA takes 3 days and I only have a week so I'm cutting it fine to get married before I go back to London. I plan on getting a re-entry permit so I can return on the same SETV in February.

 

So, my questions to the good people of this form are:

1) Has anyone else had problems with visa exempt lately as I have seen no posts on this?

2) How many re-entry permits can I use with a SETV and where do I get them from (no idea on this process)?

3) Any recommendation for an Amphur that can marry us in 1 day?

4) Any advantages/disadvantages to getting my marriage visa in London as opposed to Savannakhet (or Bangkok if that's possible)? I know no proof of income is required in Savannakhet but will it raise any red flags with immigration if I fly back and forth London to Bangkok but with a visa from Lao?

5) Am I missing anything?

 

Thanks in advance for your help,

 

David

8 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

A tax return would probably be accepted but sure since you will no longer be working I assume. I think they would normally expect to see proof of pension or some other income such as from a rental property.

 

The may accept you income if work on a rotation.

It might easier to get a single entry tourist visa for your next trip to here. Then get married and get the non-o visa.

Thanks Joe

After coming every month on visa exempt for 3 years I got pulled at swampy and told by the supervisor "I give you warning, next time you must get visa".

 

I was going to legalise my marriage to my Thai wife and get a M/E marriage visa in Savannakhet but could not get an appointment at the British Embassy in December.

 

Now back in the UK working offshore so will try to get an O-A from London. Failing that I have an appointment booked in late January at the British embassy to get the required paperwork and will go the marriage route in Lao - if they let me into Thailand that is!

 

I think it will be ok if I explain I will have a marriage visa next time.

11 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Where and for what do you need the proof of income.

Same as the OP. To apply for an O-A visa from the Thai  Embassy in London

Would a P60 and some wage slips be adequate proof of income?

 

I have applied for a certificate of income from my employer but don't know how long that will take.

I do about 10 to 12 visa exempt entries a year for about 2 weeks each time. Questioned once by the immigration supervisor about why I come so often but I explained I come for a holiday when I'm not working offshore. Showed her a uk bank account statement with my wages from my uk job. Never questioned again.

Entered on 16th December and got pulled by immigration. The officer showed me a computer message on his screen in Thai that apparently said I had too many visa exempt entries. Got escorted to see his supervisor. She said I had 6 VE entries in the past 3 months and that was too many. I explained that I work an offshore 2 and 3 rota so it was impossible for me to have 6 entries in 3 months, 3 entries max. She said whatever it was I had too many. I explained I just come for a holiday and she did eventually stamp me in for 30 days but said "I give you warning, get a proper visa next time".
Now I would like to get a proper visa and did get married in October to a Thai but it was only a village ceremony so not legal. I looked at legalising it in bkk this trip but no appointment available at the British embassy until mid January so it will have to wait till next trip. Then I intend to go to Savanekett to get an non o marriage multi entry.
But.... will I get in next time on visa exempt? Do you think if I get pulled again and explain I will have a marriage visa next time they will accept that?

I do about 10 to 12 visa exempt entries a year for about 2 weeks each time. Questioned once by the immigration supervisor about why I come so often but I explained I come for a holiday when I'm not working offshore. Showed her a uk bank account statement with my wages from my uk job. Never questioned again.

Thanks for the info guys.

I think I'll give O-A a try in the UK first. I will start to get the documents and apply after my birthday in August.

Thanks again. You've been a great help.