poka513
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Posts posted by poka513
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The Cannabis Clinic we go to in Lampang is inside a large government hospital and dispenses legal government made medical THC oil (like pictured earlier in this thread), 630 Baht per small bottle (prior to the double pricing which is maybe now in effect) if you have a doctor's prescription which I have because I have a cancer tumor in my throat. All they have had so far since summer is THC oil. I have been wanting CBD oil. Eventually, they plan to have THC oil, CBD oil or a combo THC/CBD oil available via the Thai government. We drive there from Chiang Mai and have been 3 times so far. First trip in August, they gave me 900+ Baht of Morphine pills/liquid (because they only had a limited amount of THC oil), but that stuff knocks me out. Second and third trips I got the GPO THC oil.
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My Thai wife and I spent 4 nights at the Queen's Finger Hotel (recommended) in Da Nang, Vietnam seeing the sights. I have a multi-entry non-immigrant O visa (marriage) we got in August at HCMC, so this was the first time leaving Thailand on it. On return to Chiang Mai, only 5-6 folks ahead of me at Immigration. Took a couple of minutes to process me, no questions were asked, stamped in for another 90 days. I was wearing a Good Morning Vietnam T-shirt, shorts and fake Crocs shoes. Next stop was Immigation near the airport to do a TM.30, took about 5 minutes, done.
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My trip report from August:
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Was at Thai Consulate in HCMC 1 month ago. The guard outside lets 3-4 people in at a time. Once through the outside gate, there is a very small waiting area with a few chairs. The inside room is also small, enough for a table with forms to fill out and a couple of people to queue in front of the window to give your paperwork. I do not think they can even see your pants or shoes or care. Wore T-shirt, shorts, low cut socks and fake crocs, same as when I re-entered Chiang Mai Airport on my new multi-entry non immigrant O visa (marriage), no questions asked. For documents and procedure, I posted a trip report:
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I used a Sony hx9v till it drown when I slipped into a mud puddle a few years ago. I mainly make YouTube videos and was used to operating the camera with one hand, point and shoot. I tried an older smart phone my daughter gave me to use, but found it not suitable, hard to keep steady, difficult to operate even with 2 hands. After watching YT videos comparing the various models of Sony rx100's, in addition to rx100m3 vs hx90v, currently thinking about getting an rx100m3 if still available.
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USA citizen (age 72), married to a Thai (age 52), living in Chiang Mai 5+ years on Retirement Extensions. Wife and I just spent 3 nights in Ho Chi Minh City (Aug 20-23, VietJet Air) so I could get a new Multi-Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa (Thai spouse). As a USA citizen, I needed to apply for an invitation letter prior to leaving Chiang Mai so I could get a Visa to enter Vietnam on arrival (VietJet checked my letter as part of check-in). Mine took half a day to get it back via the Internet, but could take 2+ working days depending. As a Thai, my wife just showed her passport to enter Vietnam (no visa or other paperwork needed), but VietJet did require a return air ticket for her which we had, duh.
Vietnam Visa on Arrival
http://www.vietnamvisapro.com/
Day 1 (Tuesday, Aug 20)
When you enter the HCMC airport passport control area, take an immediate left for the area to obtain the Vietnam visa before walking over to all the passport desks. Give them your passport, a completed visa form (save time by downloading form online prior), 2 passport photos, your invitation letter then wait. When your name is called, pay the visa stamp fee ($25 usd or same amount in VND) and proceed to the passport desks.
We were staying at the Bloom Saigon Hotel (excellent included breakfast) in District 1, so walked outside airport, turned right and found the bus number 109 ticket desk at column number 12 (20k VND per person). We got off the bus at Ben Thanh Market and walked 4 blocks to our hotel.Day 2
Took a taxi to the Thai Consulate. Driver did not speak English and did not know where the Consulate was located, but our hotel looked up address on Internet and wrote down in Vietnamese for driver (I kept note for next day), taxi fare was 35k VND. The building compound is nondescript on corner of an intersection, but look for the large Thai flag flying overhead. They only take applicants in the morning, so arrive prior to 11:30am I believe.
Non-Immigrant O Visa (Thai spouse) - Required documents:
Passport (valid not less than 6 months)
Visa application form (download form online prior to save time)
$200 usd multi-entry visa fee
One recent passport photo of applicant
Guarantee letter hand written in Thai (and signed) by Thai spouse
Copy of marriage certificate (bring original also to show them, they return)
Copy of Thai spouse's ID card (front + back, signed by Thai spouse)
Copy of house registration book (signed by Thai spouse)
http://www.thaiembassy.org/hochiminh/en/services/2886/46902-Non-Immigrant-Visa-"O"---Accompanying-Th.htmlIt was not listed as required, but I included a copy of my passport photo page with above. Also the copy of our marriage certificate above included both front and back sides.
Guarantee letter written in Thai was something like:
Thai Consul in Ho Chi Minh City,
Please grant my husband (name)
a visa to visit me in Thailand.
(signed wife's name)
There was only a couple of other people in line, took about 10-15 minutes, easy.
We walked a few blocks up to where the city buses were running when I was looking online prior to our trip. I expected to find a bus stop sign or bench, but never did. However, as we walked along, I noticed the city buses all had a display sign on front above windshield saying destination and it's route number. Bus 04 and I think 152 went to Ben Thanh Market. Anyway, as we were walking along shopping and sightseeing, I pointed out a 3 wheeled cyclo bicycle to my wife and before we knew it, he was on us like stink on poo. First price quoted was 150k VND, then 80k, when I pointed out we had just paid 35k for a taxi, we settled on 40k. That ride in traffic was an experience not to be missed, ended up giving him 70k.
Day 3
Took a taxi from hotel to Thai Consulate to pickup my passport with new visa stamp, fare was 38k VND. They are open I think 1:30-3pm for this, no one in line, only took a few minutes. I did not think to have taxi wait, so we again walked a few blocks to try for a city bus again. Turns out that the bus stop is a cutout area in the sidewalk with white triangle lines painted on the pavement. When you see your bus number approaching, raise your hand for them to pull over and stop. We got bus number 04 to Ben Thanh Market, fare was 6k VND per person, pay the attendant on-board, seems to run every 10 minutes or so.
Day 4
Took hotel's car to airport, 200k VND. Suggest arriving at least 2 hours early to get thru check-in and security as there was a ton of people.
Arrived back in Chiang Mai, only a few other foreigners in line, did the finger print scan while the Immigration guy processed my passport, stamped 90 days, took photo, done. Asked no questions, easy. I was wearing shorts, gray T-shirt and fake crocs shoes.
Next stop was Immigration Office near airport to do TM-30. Only 2 guys in line, handed girl on third floor my passport and said I just returned to same Chiang Mai address from a trip to Vietnam, took a couple of minutes, done.
I now have a one year multi-entry visa based on marriage and except for TM-30s, do not have to deal with local Immigration, but do need to do a border run every 90 days. The family is already thinking about where we will go for future holidays every 3 months.
As with all trips, some things worked, some did not. There was a lot of walking involved, but especially taxing were stairs, my legs and feet still hurt. Not sure how this will go if I am still needing to do trips like this in my 80s, but today, wife and I are wearing our new matching Good Morning Vietnam T-shirts.
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You could begin your holiday with a few days in Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon) where a Multi-Entry Non O Visa is available, then travel to Thailand.
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If at least age 50, seems to me it would be easier to get a one year Multi-Entry O-A Visa based on Retirement in the USA prior to moving to Thailand. The financial requirements are based on income or money in the USA, not Thailand. Then near the end of that first one year while the visa is still valid, exit/re-enter Thailand to get a second one year period, giving almost 2 years of stay in Thailand. If during the second year a trip outside Thailand is wanted, just remember to get a Re-Entry Permit prior to leaving.
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When arriving back to Thailand (Chiang Mai airport) on multi-entry non O visa (marriage to a Thai), am I (USA citizen) required to have 20k Baht cash equivalent on me and a ticket showing onward travel?
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Please correct any errors or omissions...
Non-Immigrant O Visa (Thai spouse) - Required documents:
Passport (valid not less than 6 months)
Visa application form$200 usd multi-entry visa fee
Recent photo (4 x 6 cm) of applicant
Guarantee letter hand written in Thai (and signed) by Thai spouse
Copy of marriage certificate
Copy of Thai spouse's ID card (front + back, signed by Thai spouse)
Copy of house registration book (signed by Thai spouse)Are copies of your passport pages required?
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Attached is a paper in English and Thai for extension based on marriage I got 2 days ago at Chiang Mai Immigration.
Been living in Chiang Mai past 5 years (USA citizen), have gotten one year extensions past 4 years based on retirement and US Embassy income letters. I do not wish to deposit income money monthly into a Thai bank nor 800k in one throw either. If my investments go up in the near term, I might consider putting 400k into a Thai bank to qualify for one year extensions based on marriage to a Thai.
We got married 4 years ago at Chiang Mai Amphoe. One year ago, my Thai wife got angry with me, so we divorced at Amphoe, but I have continued living with and supporting wife and her 3 adult kids. Because of Immigration changes this past year, decided being married would be better than retired, so we tied the knot again at the Amphoe last month.
My current retirement extension was due to expire on July 17, 2019. We went to CM Immigration Wednesday about 11am to ask for a 60 day extension based on marriage to a Thai. They had already given out all the queue numbers, come back tomorrow at 7:30am. My daughter and wife said the lady at front desk talked "violently" to them answering questions. The IO also asked for my TM-30 which I had, but not stapled into my passport (it is now).
We returned a little past 7:30am yesterday (Thursday, July 11, 2019), got number F6. They called number F1 at 8:15am. For some reason number F2 took over an hour (maybe an agent). We were called about 10:45am. They asked for my bank book showing 400k which I said I did not have yet, hence the reason for me asking for 60 days to give time to decide what I will do. They asked why I want 60 day extension, my answer was to Visit My Thai Wife. They did not like that answer and I got the feeling they did not want to grant the extension. After some back and forth, they did agree to proceed, but made a point that I would have to leave Thailand before end of 60 days.
While sorting through our paperwork copies, my wife in her wisdom mixed up our first marriage papers with the current which caused another crisis with 2 IOs and my wife and daughter speaking Thai back and forth. The IOs asked who my wife was married to prior. When my daughter answered HIM (papa), everyone laughed. The correct paper was given to the IO and the proceedure was completed by about 11:30am, including my 90 Day Report which is really easy to do now in CM.
One thing to note: the extension date was granted 60 days from yesterday (July 11, 2019) and not 60 days from my previous retirement extension date next week. So my new expire date is September 8, 2019.
Given to IO for 60 day extension (from memory):
Copies of my passport, TM-30, and Depart Card.
Copy of our current marriage certificate.
Copy of wife's ID card.
Copy of wife's house book.
One passport photo.
TM-7 form.
1900 Baht fee.
A new form to acknowledge overstay penalties.
Another new form for me to sign, sorry forget what it was exactly.
About 15+ pieces of paper, each signed by me and or my wife with some 2 sided.
If needed, copies are done across the busy street from the Immigration Office where there is also overflow parking (20 Baht). The copy place is also an agent. Their cost for doing an extension based on marriage to a Thai (or parent) is 7900 Baht.
This morning, after a good night's sleep, I asked my wife if she would like a short holiday in HCMC Vietnam prior to Sep 8, so I can get a multi-entry one year visa based on marriage to a Thai. Also in future we may be taking short holidays every 3 months elsewhere outside Thailand. Now everyone, wife and kids, are happy today.
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We just did the marriage procedure in Chiang Mai last week.
I am from USA, my wife is Thai.
Because I am not sure if posting marriage/translation company
contacts is allowed in this forum, I sent them via PM to ppatty.
Our timeline...
June 6 - Marriage Affidavit US Embassy and arrange translation
via a company located next to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),
translation fee 400 Baht.
June 7 - met translator lady in MFA office and submitted original
Marriage Affidavit and Thai translation for stamping, fee 400 Baht.
June 11 - pickup stamped documents from MFA, walk to new building
next door to register marriage and receive our Marriage Certificates,
fee 200 Baht.
Note: our Amphur used to be located in the old city, but has moved
out to a new building next to the building where the MFA office is
which is out near the Chiang Mai 700 Year Sports Stadium.
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Both of my parents died from dementia. Mom took care of dad at home by herself. Then later when the situation required it, me and mom moved in together so I could care for her. It was much harder than just taking care of an elderly person who is mentally OK. Dementia is a horrible disease, a slow downward slide into nothingness. Just as you find a solution for one problem, the situation changes and another problem emerges. Although I would probably not have been brave enough to move my mom overseas, I do think keeping them active doing new things for as long as possible helps to prolong life. In my mom's case, she broke a rib getting out of bed when I did not hear her. The doctor said to let her rest in bed and after 6 weeks she will be up and OK... mom died 6 weeks after seeing that doctor. That may have been good advice for a younger person, but it was the wrong thing to do for an elderly person with dementia. If practical, get them back on their feet and active again as soon as possible. If they stop wanting to eat or drink, you are in trouble. In the USA, anyone can call hospice for an evaluation. It does not have to come from a doctor. Best wishes.
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12 Month Multi Entry Non O Based on Marriage from HCMC
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
Posted
My HCMC trip report from August
https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1119531-report-multi-entry-non-immigrant-o-visa-thai-spouse-from-hcmc/