mlkik

The Birmingham Consulate asks only for a letter of employment and today my employer agreed to write one for me to submit. I can therefore apply for an METV.

If your still there can't you get them to write, mentioning that you're a contractor and although employed now they cannot guarantee re-employment on your return, economic climate etc.

Failing that, knock up your own and print it on their letter headed stuff before u leave.

Sent from my mobile, please forgive the autocorrect!

I work for a County Council and they are very strict and will not . I don't thing forging a letter will be the way for me as I can not risk my future life in Thailand by doing this.

Thank you for all your replies.

You would only use border runs if you have the METV. If you end up using 3 x SETV you can extend each 60 day stay by 30 days at immigration, but every 90 days you will need to exit and spend one night in a neighbouring country in order to buy a new SETV. As ubonjoe says Vientiane, Laos would be the best option.

So when entering Laos would I need a return flight ticket to be admitted into Laos ? Can I go to Vientiane by coach with my girlfriend and stay the night and re apply a day later?

You would have to go a little further than the border to get a tourist visa.

Your best choice for getting another tourist visa is Vientiane Laos.

Does this have to be a flight or can this be done by land. Is it realistic for me to enter Thailand on July 7th 2016 and reapply for SETV until I am 50 in March 2107 ?

I want to apply for another SETV giving me another 60+30 days extention as I want to retire in Thailand at 50 and am not 50 until March 2017.

If I can not get a METV and get a SETV instead can I go to Jomtien and get a 30 day extention without showing a flight booked to leave ? Also when at the end of the SETV can I do a border run to Cambodia by land or does it have to be a flight out of Thailand?

MULTIPLE ENTRY (METV)

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

- Passport or travel document with not less than 6 months
- Visa application form fully completed
- Two recent passport size photographs of the applicant
- 6 months bank statement with no less than £5,000
- Letter from employer, confirming employment
- Self-Employed a copy of Self-Assessment
- Copies of flight details and Hotel reservation
- Consular officers reserve the rights to request for additional documents as deemed necessary

Thank you for giving me hope again.

You could apply for an METV, some Embassys are not stringent on which forms they require. if not, get an SETV

An SETV gives a maximum of 60 + 30 extension. I am not 50 until March 2017 and wanted to go in July 2016.

I had planned to get a METV and go to Thailand in July and use this visa to get me through until I am 50 in March next year when I was going to get a non 'O' from Vientiane and stay on retirement grounds.

I have spoken with my employer today and they have said they are not prepared to grant me unpaid leave and write a letter to the Thai Embassy stating an expected return to work date.

So I can not get an METV are there any other options. I have only just agreed to rent my house out and was supposed to start my new life in Thailand.

The information phone line says that when entering Thailand by land they only issue 15 days stay. I am getting really confused as what to do.

I will enter Thailand on 7th July with an METV and am 50 on 15th March 2017. I want to when 50 apply to stay for retirement. I will live in Jomtien so could you advise how to go about the leaving and entering Thailand after 90 days .

Thanks

That rule is for visa exempt entries but as you're from the UK you get 30 days. That said you won't be using/needing visa exempt entry.

If I were you I would get a METV and use that up to age 50. With the METV you will get 60 days on each entry which you can extend by 30 days at immigration. At the end of the 90 days use a visa run company that will take you to the Cambodian border and back in one day. At the border you exit Thailand, enter Cambodia, turn around and re-enter Thailand.

Once you turn 50 go to Vientiane to get a non 'O' visa. Visa run companies will take you there for a reasonable fee. When you re-enter Thailand with the non 'O' visa you will be given a 90 days stay. In the last 30 days of that stay you can go to immigration and apply for a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement. That extension can be renewed each year.

I will take this advice and go to Vientiane. Thank you for your help. What do I need to get the non 'O' visa ? Is it the same requirements for the long stay on retirement grounds. 800 000 in a Thai bank funds confirmed from overseas , over 50 , proof of accomadation ? Thanks for your patience and answering questions which must have been asked many times before. I am a little overwhelmed at the moment.

Today my house here in the UK has its first viewing and I am really going to do this.

You just need proof that you are over 50 (passport) and an updated bank book showing a minimum of 800k. (No need to confirm it's from overseas).

You're welcome and I hope everything works out for you. Thailand is a great place to live!

I fly to Thailand on Wednesday 6th July so intend applying for the METV on Thursday 30th June . So as far as I understand my visa will expire on 30 December ,so I can get another 60 days and then extend it for another 30 days taking me up until the end of March. I will be 50 on March 15th.

To be eligable for the non 'O' visa do I just go to Vientiane and apply with my bank book and that is all there is to it ?

Sounds great for my needs.

The information phone line says that when entering Thailand by land they only issue 15 days stay. I am getting really confused as what to do.

I will enter Thailand on 7th July with an METV and am 50 on 15th March 2017. I want to when 50 apply to stay for retirement. I will live in Jomtien so could you advise how to go about the leaving and entering Thailand after 90 days .

Thanks

That rule is for visa exempt entries but as you're from the UK you get 30 days. That said you won't be using/needing visa exempt entry.

If I were you I would get a METV and use that up to age 50. With the METV you will get 60 days on each entry which you can extend by 30 days at immigration. At the end of the 90 days use a visa run company that will take you to the Cambodian border and back in one day. At the border you exit Thailand, enter Cambodia, turn around and re-enter Thailand.

Once you turn 50 go to Vientiane to get a non 'O' visa. Visa run companies will take you there for a reasonable fee. When you re-enter Thailand with the non 'O' visa you will be given a 90 days stay. In the last 30 days of that stay you can go to immigration and apply for a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement. That extension can be renewed each year.

I will take this advice and go to Vientiane. Thank you for your help. What do I need to get the non 'O' visa ? Is it the same requirements for the long stay on retirement grounds. 800 000 in a Thai bank funds confirmed from overseas , over 50 , proof of accomadation ? Thanks for your patience and answering questions which must have been asked many times before. I am a little overwhelmed at the moment.

Today my house here in the UK has its first viewing and I am really going to do this.

The information phone line says that when entering Thailand by land they only issue 15 days stay. I am getting really confused as what to do.

I will enter Thailand on 7th July with an METV and am 50 on 15th March 2017. I want to when 50 apply to stay for retirement. I will live in Jomtien so could you advise how to go about the leaving and entering Thailand after 90 days .

Thanks

That rule is for visa exempt entries but as you're from the UK you get 30 days. That said you won't be using/needing visa exempt entry.

If I were you I would get a METV and use that up to age 50. With the METV you will get 60 days on each entry which you can extend by 30 days at immigration. At the end of the 90 days use a visa run company that will take you to the Cambodian border and back in one day. At the border you exit Thailand, enter Cambodia, turn around and re-enter Thailand.

Once you turn 50 go to Vientiane to get a non 'O' visa. Visa run companies will take you there for a reasonable fee. When you re-enter Thailand with the non 'O' visa you will be given a 90 days stay. In the last 30 days of that stay you can go to immigration and apply for a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement. That extension can be renewed each year.

So the 90 day O visa is issued at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane ? Is it done in 1 day ? What do I need for this visa to be issued ? Thank you for your advice.

Yes.

No. You apply in the morning of day 1 and collect your passport/visa day 2 in the afternoon.

You should open a bank account in Thailand and have the passbook updated, just before going to Vientiane, showing a minimum balance of 800k baht.

I have a Bangkok Bank savings account with 1 million transfered by TT from the UK. How much does a visa run to Vientiane cost . I will be living in Jomtien. My girlfriend has family in Udon and we could visit them also.

The information phone line says that when entering Thailand by land they only issue 15 days stay. I am getting really confused as what to do.

I will enter Thailand on 7th July with an METV and am 50 on 15th March 2017. I want to when 50 apply to stay for retirement. I will live in Jomtien so could you advise how to go about the leaving and entering Thailand after 90 days .

Thanks

That rule is for visa exempt entries but as you're from the UK you get 30 days. That said you won't be using/needing visa exempt entry.

If I were you I would get a METV and use that up to age 50. With the METV you will get 60 days on each entry which you can extend by 30 days at immigration. At the end of the 90 days use a visa run company that will take you to the Cambodian border and back in one day. At the border you exit Thailand, enter Cambodia, turn around and re-enter Thailand.

Once you turn 50 go to Vientiane to get a non 'O' visa. Visa run companies will take you there for a reasonable fee. When you re-enter Thailand with the non 'O' visa you will be given a 90 days stay. In the last 30 days of that stay you can go to immigration and apply for a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement. That extension can be renewed each year.

So the 90 day O visa is issued at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane ? Is it done in 1 day ? What do I need for this visa to be issued ? Thank you for your advice.

The information phone line says that when entering Thailand by land they only issue 15 days stay. I am getting really confused as what to do.

I will enter Thailand on 7th July with an METV and am 50 on 15th March 2017. I want to when 50 apply to stay for retirement. I will live in Jomtien so could you advise how to go about the leaving and entering Thailand after 90 days .

Thanks

My flight is on the 6th July so when should I apply for my METV ?

I wouldn't leave it to the last minute. If you apply in person they are issued the same day. If you apply by post it must be to the embassy in London. They say to allow 3 - 5 working days.

Example: If it's issued on July 1st the 'enter before' date will be Dec 31st. If you were to make your last entry on Dec 31st, and extend that stay by 30 days, it would give you until March 30th 2017.

I will be 50 March 15th so on that basis do I have enough time on my visa to convert to stay for retirement reasons ?

Using the above example.

If you entered on 31 Dec and are fifty on March 15 it would not seem likely that there would be enough time to secure an "O" visa conversion unless you were very lucky.

Better to plan on obtaining an "O" visa after March 15 from Vientiane or Penang.

Would it be easier for me to return to the UK and apply for the visa here ?

My flight is on the 6th July so when should I apply for my METV ?

I wouldn't leave it to the last minute. If you apply in person they are issued the same day. If you apply by post it must be to the embassy in London. They say to allow 3 - 5 working days.

Example: If it's issued on July 1st the 'enter before' date will be Dec 31st. If you were to make your last entry on Dec 31st, and extend that stay by 30 days, it would give you until March 30th 2017.

I will be 50 March 15th so on that basis do I have enough time on my visa to convert to stay for retirement reasons ?

I would like to do a same day application. Do they do same day in London ? I live in Norwich so this would be the closest for me.

My flight is on the 6th July so when should I apply for my METV ?

I am spending 3.5 weeks in Thailand in April and coming back for 2 months. On 7th July I had planned another holiday but have now today decided that in July this will be when I make the move for good. Why come back and waste more of my life in the UK ? As far as I can work out in going in July a METV with extensions will get me through until 15th March when I am 50 and apply for long term stay on grounds of retirement.

Is this do able ?

Yes it is but if you want to maximise the visa make sure you buy it as late as possible as they are valid for 6 months from the issue date. Your last entry must be on of before the 6 month 'enter before' date.

I thought that the six months starts from the first time you enter Thailand and the clock starts ticking as from the first entry ?

I am spending 3.5 weeks in Thailand in April and coming backto the UK for 2 months. On 7th July I had planned another holiday but have now today decided that in July this will be when I make the move for good. Why come back and waste more of my life in the UK ? As far as I can work out in going in July a METV with extensions will get me through until 15th March when I am 50 and apply for long term stay on grounds of retirement.

Is this do able ?

I will not be 50 until mid March 2017 and will go to Thailand September 2016. This is why I will need the METV.

You could get a single entry from the UK and then after that another one from Laos, this should see you through until March

So do you suggest the single entry and then extending if for 30 days and then from Laos getting another single and extending it ? If I go in September it will be rather tight as I am 50 mid March and there will not be much room to play with.

I am greatful for all advice as it is a bit scary at the moment on what to do.

Sounds like the METV would be you're best option if you can get it.

I don't think two SETV's will be enough but that depends on your travel dates. You might need to do a border hop at the end of the second SETV to get a 30 day visa exempt entry as you need to be 50 and have at least 15 days left of your stay to do a conversion.

I have enought cash in my UK bank account for the METV and can get a letter from my employer stating I am employed and on unpaid leave and an expected return to work date. I will then email my notice once the long stay on retirement grounds has been issued.

I will not be 50 until mid March 2017 and will go to Thailand September 2016. This is why I will need the METV.

You could get a single entry from the UK and then after that another one from Laos, this should see you through until March

So do you suggest the single entry and then extending if for 30 days and then from Laos getting another single and extending it ? If I go in September it will be rather tight as I am 50 mid March and there will not be much room to play with.

I am greatful for all advice as it is a bit scary at the moment on what to do.

I will not be 50 until mid March 2017 and will go to Thailand September 2016. This is why I will need the METV.