Dave98

2 hours ago, davhend25 said:

 

I am legally married to a Thai national and have already filed the I-130 spousal visa application for her to come to the U.S.  So I need 4 to 6 months more to stay here in Thailand until her visa is issued. If this extension should fail, what are my options for staying that 4 to 6 month time period??

 

Thanks in advance for any helpful replies.

 

DH

 

 

 

 

 

1.-  Use an agent.

2.-  Get a double entry tourist visa.

3-  Get a 1 year visa (not sure what it is called) based on marriage.  Will need to leave every 90 days, but no income proof requirement.  

You a smart to get out of Thailand.  I know I was!

20 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

I have no idea but there is an FBI office at the US Embassy Bangkok who could easily determine if fraud was evident and if so- they could recommend the Federal Prosecutor- move the case forward.  

 

 

Never going to happen.  It would not be easy to determine if any fraud would be evident because as a US citizen you are not required to cooperate with them during any investigation.  This would mean that the FBI would need to first determine if their was fraud in the first place and then actually prove it, which would tie up lots of resources.  They are not going to chase a few guys for fudging their income affidavit because they want to live in Thailand on the cheap and chase Thai hookers.

On 4/30/2019 at 7:51 PM, JackThompson said:

They don't hate us - they do see us as an "other," but that's not the same thing at all.  Talk to those who work in the tourism sector and ask which foreigners they prefer (and hate), to discover that what Immigration/TAT are encouraging is not in line with what Thai's prefer.

I respectfully disagree with you.  Generally, they do hate westerners, but are addicted to the money westerners bring.  I lived in Thailand for 8 years before I left and saw it on a daily basis.  Thailand is for Thais and as a westerner Thailand will never be your home and they will let you know it too.

On a different note and to put the number of Chinese tourists in perspective, I flew in last Friday on a quick trip to see my sons.  Despite being early in the AM, the arrival areas and Immigration Control was packed.  I bet there were 25 Chinese for every westerner. I was amazed.

22 hours ago, sumrit said:

My suggestion would go a long way to getting rid of the agents illegal activity. 

 

You won't find agents fiddling the monthly income method because they will have to show a full twelve months of bank statements and bank book activity. Not easy to forge at all. They now only want to show the money in the bank option because it's easier for them to create those false documents.

 

Agents would become a small minority, just doing things legally almost overnight.

You are kidding yourself if you think that Agents are going away.  My personal thought is that these "rules" are meant to encourage the use of agents by foreigners and that the "powers to be" are consolidating the agent network.

Things are going to continue to tighten with the goal being to force expats out of Thailand.  They see the Chinese as the future and not westerners.  Remember to look beyond those fake smiles; they actually hate us but love our money.  Now that the Chinese are here and have money, we are useless to them. 

While you should not make a habit of it, people worry too much about overstaying a few days.  Recently I had to move my departure date due to me and my family being sick.  I ended up overstaying 7 days, including 1 day because I could not get thru immigration until 3:00 AM (could not get boarding pass because airline counter closed).  First time overstaying in 15 years of traveling / living in Thailand.  Paid the fine because it was cheaper than going to Cambodia to do a visa run.  ExpIained why I overstayed and was polite to the IO officer, who said no problem, just pay the fine.  He also did not stamp my passport with overstay.  No problem getting back in a couple of days ago on 30 day stamp to visit my sons on my way back to the US from a business trip.

5 hours ago, sandyf said:

I was referring to a comment that had been made regarding biometrics during visa application rather than airports. I have recently picked up visa for China and there was no biometrics taken, but may not be far away from what you say.

Looks like we can expect bit of a queue at immigration when we go to Guangzhou in June.

I went in on a 24 hour transit visa due to missing my connecting flight, due to 4 hour delay in SFO.  They were scanning every foreigner's fingerprints as they went thru immigration.

On 4/20/2019 at 8:30 AM, sandyf said:

Outsourcing has become a way of life for visa applications, even the Chinese have turned to it in the last couple of years, but have yet to introduce biometrics.

I was just in China a couple of days ago and they are scanning fingerprints of all ten fingers.

2 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Sorry Chris but it is EITHER 65k per month from abroad and spend what you want/need to, OR, 800/400k in the bank...400 of it untouchable. Which will you do?

Leave

11 minutes ago, Thailand Outcast said:

Any idea what the agents are asking for their "services?" 

15,000 - 25,000

4 hours ago, CMNightRider said:

Do you think Thai Immigration is going to advertise this?  Unless you live in a bubble in some moo baan, you can see westerners leaving each month as their visas come due.  

I was in immigration a couple of days ago getting a 7 day extension on the day my extension based on retirement expired.  Judging from the reaction and questions about why I was leaving after 8 years, it sure appeared that they are seeing many long term expats leaving.

On 3/10/2019 at 8:45 AM, ThaiBunny said:

Do we have any stats on how often that has happened - the prosecutions I mean?

Zero times

You will never see that money.

3 hours ago, Ctkong said:

Unless you are looking at South America, Portugal ,Spain, Central America as options, there are not many places like Thailand with the infrastructures. Moreover your family is thai? If so, even more challenges for them to blend in. I suggest you take a long term view about your situation . Remember, bureaucratic idiocy exist everywhere at the whims of the current ruling party.  There is always hope for a change to the better. Again I reiterate that the current requirement is not a huge hurdle to overcome. If it is, then I think you would face the same hurdle everywhere you go. 

My wife is Thai and my children Thai / American.  I have lived here almost 10 years and it is not that the financial requirements are a hurdle for me,  I just prefer to not tie up money here.  Bottom line IMHO, things are going to continue to be more onerous for expats because they really do not want us here.  Personally, I am  going back to the USA, which will be the right move long term as it will be much better for my children to live there.  A two week visit to Thailand every other year will be fine as I am so over this place.