onera1961

11 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I have never heard of a non-oe visa. Do you mean a non-oa visa like you have now.

Sorry, Education visa. Whatever they call it (I think Non-Immigrant Visa Category ED ). In the new passport, I only have a stamp and hand writing that says Non-Imm. The lost passport had the original visa. Don't remember what it said. It was an Education visa for learning Thai language. Got it by enrolling in a Bangkok language school for a fee of around 15K may be. I had to renew my stay every three months but school did all the paper work I only took the papers to Chanwatana office.

2 minutes ago, retiredusn said:

Sounds like you should have done more research prior too your arrival date............

Sorry, I Have not done any research. All my prior visits in the last 10 years was on Tourist visa and one full year was on Non-O E visa. I have never done any reporting, though I have moved all over Thailand including the Issan region. Went to police station one time in Sisaket when my passport was lost. Found very friendly and they issued me a letter in Thai that I showed to US embassy in Bangkok to get a new Passport and then went to Changwatana immigration office to transfer my Non-E visa to the new passport.

I am reaching Thailand (Bangkok) on April 23, 2018 on a Non O-A Long stay visa.
I will stay in a hotel for a few days till I find a place (a mansion or a condo) and sign a one year lease and move in. My question is what are all the reporting requirements for me to stay current and not get slapped with a fine.

1. Do I have to report to immigration after I moved out of hotel and go to the mansion?

2. Do I have to report if I decide to change hotel from A to B?

3. Do I have to report to Immigration if I visit Pattya for a few days?

On 3/5/2018 at 8:01 PM, Get Real said:

I am not so well aware over their rules and regulations, but I would like to hear from you, how long time you can reside on tourist visas without risking refusal or questions regarding your stay?

I always wondered why people want to stay in Thailand on a tourist visa for long (more than 3 moths)? It is a cheap place and if some one wants to retire, it is OK. A digital nomad would like to move to different places after a stint of 2/3 months in a country. So, my question is why people would stay in Thailand on a tourist visa and what they really do in Thailand?

In the UK, they are deported immediately if they find a passport with you. If they cannot find your passport (even after searching your residence), it becomes very complex. The let you go. After repeatedly being caught. they may put you in detention.

5 minutes ago, steve187 said:

who asked for the return ticket

Person on the counter to issue my boarding pass and check my passport.

8 minutes ago, elviajero said:

No. There is no requirement to have an onward flight if you have a valid visa.

With a one way ticket, last time on a two months tourist visa, they asked me for a return flight ticket. Luckily I was going to Hong Kong from Bangkok and had a ticket for that.

I was the creator of this topic because I was thinking to use their services.

Little background.

I absolutely refuse to keep 800K in a Thai bank for extremely low return and who knows what will happen to my money if I am out of Thailand for 6 months.  I cannot get SS at my age (minimum 62). So, my only option was to get a Non O-A long term (one year ,multiple entry) visa every year or two till I am eligible for SS (in four years).

I thought it would be very hard to get a Non O-A because different consulates in the US had different requirements and rules. I decided to use one of these agencies if my O-A visa was denied. However, I got my O-A visa today from Washington DC and found the process is very easy and quick.

Today, I received my Non O-A long stay visa from Washington DC embassy. It is multiple entry and valid for one year.

My question is do I still need to have 20,000 baht cash in hand when I enter Thailand?

Also, do I need a return ticket so that Airlines don't deny me boarding their flight? I have already booked one way trip from ORD to BKK on April 21.

On 3/29/2018 at 6:45 AM, ubonjoe said:

It is on the website but you have to look for it. I found it by clicking on consular services and ignoring the drop down menu. It is near the bottom of this page and just says jurisdiction. http://thaiembdc.org/consular-services/

I got one year Non-O Multiple Entry Visa from Washington DC. The process was not as daunting as I imagined. Total expense

$200(visa fee) and $24.70x2 for postage.

Did not pay anything for Police Certificate.

An US immigration doctor signed health certificate without doing any lab test. He office said that they are going to charge my insurance. Most probably my insurance won't pay. Then I have to pay it. I extremely happy. No need for any immigration issue in Thailand.

So they put the money (800K) in your account for a day and then withdraw it the next day after you get the extension? But the extension stamps etc. are all genuine and entered into immigration system? This agents must have some kind of license, I guess to operate a business.

I have seen agency ads claiming they can sponsor Thai retirement extension without fund requirement. Are these agents reliable, are they doing anything outside the legality of Thai laws? Anybody has any experience with them? Or this is the topic that shall not be spoken in public forum?

There are different types of B visa. B (Teaching) is for  visa to teach below university level. IB visa for for people whose work will bring benefits to Thailand and mainly for industries like export, technology transfer, etc.

Where does smart visa fit into this category? Is it a completely separate visa or a part of Business visa? Apparently smart visa does not require a work permit to work in Thailand but salary should be at least 200K

I hope he finds peace in after life (if there is one) that eluded him so much in earthly life.

9 hours ago, khwaibah said:

 

I would like to think your correct but I would not bet on it. Just a couple years back the MFA directed Thai embassy's and consult's world wide to upgrade their systems on issuing of visa's. For the US this meant that a honorary consult such as Portland or Boston could not issue a O-Muti. and the 4 Royal Thai Consular Office being Washington D.C.,New York, Chicago and Los Angeles were directed to only except mail in application from there given area of responsibility. Now if your a walk in and live on the other side of the country they will process you but not by mail.

As usual with everything Thailand, their Embassy (in DC) does not have a common sense to put this information in their website. It is always mai pan rai. While this stress-free attitude may be good for many situation, it can also have grave consequences in lots of other circumstances.

10 hours ago, Langsuan Man said:

So you can't pick to use the location that suits you best  

That is alarming. Do you think they will return my application and keep the money order ($200)? I live in Southern Illinois.

43 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

$200 bucks for a visa? wow

Yes. For one year multiple entry.

Sent my application for long stay O-A visa to Washington DC. DC embassy website does not mention anything about notarization So I did not notarize any documents. They asked for one original and one copy and that's what I sent. Let's wait and see what I get. Documents I sent

1. County police verification

2.Health certificate

3. Bank Statement

4. Letter from bank. Ally Bank calls it account verification letter

5. Application.

6. Additional personal information form

7. Money Order for $200

8. Return Express envelope with 24.70 postage stamps

9. 3 photos (kind of odd, Passport pics are generlly taken in pair. Had to pay double for 4 pics.

10. Original passport.

7 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You can also write a statement that you certify that all the attached documents are true and correct for a notary to stamp.

This is what I did when I got my lifelong visa to India based on my father's Indian Nationality

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Just go to any notary and ask about doing the others.

Do you mean notarized copy of the original? I don't think notary can authenticate original.

I can see the forms for medical certificate is different in Washington Embassy and Chicago Consulate. Chicago consulate requires Doctor's signature notarized.  That means, your doc's office must have a notary. Washington Embassy form does not require notarized.

9 minutes ago, TDCNINJA said:

 

Okay, thanks. I think I understand. Go to a notary public, have them make copies of the originals and notarize the copies. Once they notarize the copies, take the copies and the originals to the Secretary of State's office and have them authenticate the notary's signature.

Still confused. Who in Secretary of States Office will authenticate the notary's signature? You have to travel to state capital for that. I have never heard of certifying signature of notary public. I think low IQ officials don't know what they re talking about or don't know how to frame sentence properly. When you call Washington office, ask them if copies need to be certified or not. If you send originals, I don't understand why copies need to be certified.

26 minutes ago, TDCNINJA said:

I have all of these required documents. I understand how to get my police check and birth certificate authenticated by the Secretary of State as its issued by the same state. My question is how do I get the retirement/income letters from Veterans Affairs and Social Security authenticated? Since they are printer generated forms how does a notary authenticate them?

Just curious, how do you authenticate Police Certificate?

And where did you get the police certificate? Is it from county clerk office or State Police office?

Why do you need a birth certificate?

Can't you apply in Washington Embassy? I don't think they require any authentication

http://thaiembdc.org/consular-services/non-immigrant-visas/non-immigrant-category-oa/

1. Your actual Passport or Travel Document. (Passport or Travel Document must be valid for at least 18 months    and contain at least ONE completely empty visa page).
2. Visa application form completely filled out (black and blue ink only) (Download)
3. Addition Application form (Download)
4. Medical certificate showing no prohibitive diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No.14(B.E. 2535) certificate shall be valid for not more than three months (Download)
5. Two photo’s passport-size photographs (2″x2″) (photocopy or photo taken from Photostat will not be accepted). Photographs must have a light color background with a full- face view of the person without wearing a hat or dark glasses. Photos must be taken within 6 months.
6. Bank statement or evidence of adequate finance showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht, or a deposit account plus a monthly income totaling not less than 800,000 Baht In the case of submitting a bank statement, a letter of guarantee from the bank (an original copy) is required
7.  Letter of verification stating that the applicant has no criminal record (verification have to valid for not more than three months and must be issued from a state or Federal Bureau of Investigation only. Online criminal record without authorizer’s signature is unacceptable )

On 3/18/2018 at 10:54 PM, Suradit69 said:

Even taking the example of a low end rental of Baht 10,000 a month for 20 years, you'd have spent   10,000 x 12 x 20 = Baht 2,400,000 and have nothing to show for it other than some receipts.

Historic S&P 500 return over  a period of 20 years is 10%. Of course, your real estate asset may also appreciate. If you're able to get a mortgage it may be a good option but I would still prefer renting. I find it hassle free. gives me more freedom to move around if I don't like it in one one place