thaipara

I thought I'd check on some of the "facts" asserted in some of the previous postings and discovered that the reasons for US visa denial related to crimes involves "crimes involving moral turpitude".

Googling shows many sites which explain this. A site for US visa lawyers in the UK says: "Moral turpitude refers generally to conduct which is inherently base, vile, or depraved, and contrary to the accepted rules of morality and the duties owed between persons or to society in general. [Citations omitted] Moral turpitude has been defined as an act which is per se morally reprehensible and intrinsically wrong, or malum in se, so it is the nature of the act itself and not the statutory prohibition of it which renders a crime one of moral turpitude." Elsewhere, one learns that the decision in such cases is within the discretion of the officer evaluating the application. There are no clear-cut lines.

But, even in the case that one is so convicted, it is always possible to apply for a waiver of this requirement; see US immigration forms I-601 and I-192.

In short, there are pleny of ways that a visa could have been issued legally, without any special contrivances, plots, or external influences.

Just sayin' . . .

Amazingly, I think I am beginning to understand, thanks so much. I will contact Mary at the Portland CG as suggested. The complexities of this are, to me, stupefying, but I am beginning to see. Thanks again to all, especially Jim Gant and wayned.

Thanks for the advice. It's nice to hear that that the retirement visa can be so flexible. Unfortunately, the Portland CG's site says "Only issued by Thai Embassy - Washington DC or the Los Angeles, Chicago or New York City Consulates." Will check more thoroughly there about the retirement visa. . .

Having done so, I see that this is not an easy process. Sigh. For one thing, the NY CG site says income of 65,000 baht per month is OK, but the Chicago CG lists this option only for renewals. Neither says that the 800,000 baht has to be in a Thai bank, nor do either say it say that the amount has to be in a certain kind of account, which I gather it must be.

If I do go through with this, I may just extend the retirement visa for another year just to avoid having to plan trip timings and all in the future. (I make 4 or five trips a year, though of shorter duration, but often including land crossings, with the 15 day VOA.)

Any idea what an "income certificate" is? I gather that in Thailand I could get this from the American embassy, but if I were to try to do this via a CG here, what would it be? A notarized letter from my university? Bank?

And, since I would never be in Thailand for as much as 90 days, does that mean there would be no need for 90 day reporting? Logic tells me one thing, but experience in SEAsia warns me logic may not apply.

Thanks again for the info.

Hi, I'm writing to discover your highest wisdom (= best advice, in southern Indiana), visa-wise, about my situation:

I am an academic on sabbatical leave from May this year through next August. During that time, I'd like to base myself in Thailand five times during for periods of 6 - 10 weeks (starting late this May, the last period starting in late May next year, hence four times in a 12 month period). During these times, I expect to travel to other SEAsian countries, mostly by land.

I can qualify for a retirement visa, except for the detail of not being retired, and I have a house in Nongbua that I can claim as a residence, although I don't expect to live there for more than a month. (Would immigration look askance at a "retiree" who spends 50% of the year outside Thailand?)

Tourist visas would be expensive, since double or triple entries would be needed. (Would the consulate think four visas within a year excessive, even though they aren't back-to-back? I know, no one can tell what consulates may think.)

Or, I could arrive vias-less and do border runs as needed, which would be tiring and irritating, as well being, potentially, expensive. (Having accompanied a friend on a run to Poipet, I wot whereof I speak. I also note, irrelevantly, that taxis back to Pattaya or Bangkok from Aranya Pratet are about 1000 baht more expensive than for Thais.

I gather that certain law firms can sponsor one, for a fee, to qualify for a one-year multiple-entry investment-seeker visa, though all I know about that is what I read such firms' websites. (The idea seems not quite 100% to me, somehow.)

So, what do you think? I hope I have included all relevant details, if more is needed, I'm sure I'll be told.

Thanks for the advice, I'm sure I'll have lots more to consider about all this later.

>public buses 554 and 555 for 35 baht start running at dawn.

Last month I took the 554 to Don Muang at 2:30 after about a ten minute wait. I was told that the 555 and 554 services were 24 hr.

The bad thing, possibly, about the these is that they are regular city buses with no special provision for bags (or at least this was true of the one I was on), and my bus had only one free seat as the route is used by airport/airline emloyees. Also, the Don Muang stop is across the highway from the airport and you are left off at the pedestrian bridge. Anyone with substantial amounts of luggage might find this a challenge.

It's about a five minute walk to the terminal, and they don't open up the X-rays machines until 6:00 or 6:30.

่่่้้