mgjackson69

To the OP, I do not think anyone here is questioning your intentions in seeking the US Tourist Visa for your wife. You asked the questions and people are providing answers.

As an alternative, why not consider bringing your daughters to Thailand to meet your family here?

The problem is that we don't "all know what they are talking about".

The term "retirement visa" is routinely used here for extensions based on retirement as well as Non Immigrant O-A visas and Non Immigrant O Visas, all of these having different rules and requirements. So when we have someone living here on an extension of stay saying he has a retirement visa and asking if he needs a re-entry permit if he wants to leave for a trip, the answer is 'yes'. But if no-one points out that he really has an extension, then someone else with a Non Immigrant O-A visa will think that he will also need a re-entry permit before leaving. Similarly, when someone asks about the requirements to obtain a retirement visa (but is talking about a Non Immigrant O-A visa), and is told that he can qualify with the equivalent of Baht 800k in a bank outside Thailand, then others who wants an extension will think that they can also qualify with funds in their home bank.. And when someone from Great Britain wants a one year multiple entry Non Immigrant O visa and is told that he needs to receive a government pension to qualify, then others will think that the same applies to the Non Immigrant O-A visa.

The above examples are not ones I have made up, but real life examples about people here on Thai Visa being confused about the rules because they mix up the rules and requirements between the different types of visas and extensions, all because people use the wrong terminology. And as you point out, embassies and Immigration are adding to that confusion. If everyone used the correct terms, then much of this confusion could be avoided.

Sophon

While I agree with all that is said, my point was. If we are having a conversation and I tell you that I am here on a Retirement Visa, are you going to correct me? Or do you understand what I am talking about. Are you telling me that I should say, I am here on a Non Immigrant O-A visa?

If we are having a conversation and you state that you are here on a Retirement Visa, I will ask you for clarification.

Bottom line, the US government's position is that everyone who comes to the US is going to stay. It is up to the applicant to demonstrate otherwise.

In your situation it would be relatively easy for your wife to apply for a "change of status" on her visa after entering USA, thus circumventing a bunch of the paperwork and checks that are to be done outside of USA when applying for an immigrant visa. This is a legitimate action, but not one looked upon favorably by US Immigration, thus they try to screen for this up front.

The fact that you are married is not a factor in your favor. The fact that you are "sponsoring" makes no difference either.

What is in your favor is the fact that you are working outside USA and have been on Extension of Stay Based on Retirement (not "retirement visa") in Thailand for the past four years.

The house, the cars, the land are not so compelling. Even the children, not so much...consider how many Thai children are being raised by aunts and grandparents. Plus, I took from your original post that the children are traveling to USA with you.

Other accounts on ThaiVisa from people who have been through the process mention that one of the factors strongly considered is the Thai citizen's employment.

I cannot speak to Siam Legal, good, bad, or otherwise.

I would say, search through the archives here for some accounts of going through the process...I know there are a few that are very detailed.

Then make your preparations and have the wife apply for the tourist visa. The worst outcome is that it is refused.

Good luck.

I have just sold my 2011 2.5 Ranger and would stick with what Ford recommend as they know better than anyone.

Well, through their servicing during the warranty period, having to change the air filter twice suggested to me that they were just after a bit more cash - both used air filters have been blasted with air and are as good as new, sat hoping the truck lasts long enough to actually get some more use out of them both.

I want to look after my truck, but I don't want to go to unnecessary lengths.

I believe that by "Ford" Jase was referring to what is recommended in the manual, not the dealership selling you extra air filters.

One needs to be careful "blasting" air filters with compressed air...it is fairly easy to unknowingly damage the paper element, with predictable results.

I have just sold my 2011 2.5 Ranger and would stick with what Ford recommend as they know better than anyone.

Surely the collective here on ThaiVisa would know better than those stupid stupid engineers at Ford.

If I wanted to hang out with a bunch of dudes I would stay in Saudi Arabia.

<snip>

IMO an individual IO has absolutely nothing to gain by denying entry to someone just for the hell of it, and those in charge of immigration have no reason to give authority to IO’s to unilaterally decide rules for who can and can’t enter.

You are thinking logically here, and forgetting the human element.

An individual officer may have something to gain by denying entry, if only in their own mind. Maybe they are having a bad day and want to take it out on someone...there is a whole queue of potential victims right in front of the officer.

The fact that an officer has not been given the authority to 'decide rules' does not mean it will not happen.

Just as likely, the officer may not clearly understand the rules.

Surprised no one has mentioned the super high quality tequila at decent prices in Mexico....it is so good, that you can sip it rather than shoot it. Also the various rums from Caribbean and other parts are priced very competitively. Not the only reason to retire there, but a bit of a treat nevertheless.

Unlike the "high-quality" El Toro that is widely available in Thailand.

It is palatable with soda and lots of lime.

I entered last on 28 August and there was nothing about a phone number being required...granted that could have changed.

Even so, I would probably just make up a number....I doubt Somchai is going to call it.

There is always a way, if a person is willing to invest enough time and resources.

I think we are on the same page here...had I been in the position of not being allowed entry ( I doubt he was "deported" ) I would not give a second' thought about those outstanding bills.

Perhaps at a later date, if I was allowed entry again, I might chase it and try to clear the debts.

The O.P.'s insistence that he "pays at 7/11 and they have to have the bill" is a bit disingenuous...almost as if he is looking for validation not to pay the bills.

Assuming that the OP wants to settle the bills....if he is not resourceful enough to figure out how to get them paid without going to 7/11, or indeed without entering the country, then I would submit that this individual probably should not be out in the world unsupervised

How about you stop wasting your time making useless posts and insulting people and suggest how the OP can pay his bills, not having set up a pre-pay or online pay facility. I'd also be very interested in knowing how to do it. My CAT manager couldn't offer me any suggestions when I tried to find a method late last year... (and I'm quite ok being unsupervised here in Thailand.)

Let's see...do a bit of research, get a phone number for the creditor, and call them. Work through whoever answers the phone, sooner or later you will get to someone who can help you.

People need to think outside the box a bit.

You may be quite alright being unsupervised...but you are not the individual under discussion.

No no no you guys!!!

The OP stated that he "pays at 7/11 and you need the bills to pay them".

Evidently that is the only avenue he has for paying his bills. So he must enter the country to pay the bills.

Or something like that....

That's exactly how I pay my bills. Do you have a problem with that method? I wouldn't do it any other way. No way I'm going to have my bills direct debited from my account or card.... in which you would have to enter the country to pay them.

Using ibanking is a good method. I pay all my reoccurring utility bills that way with the exception of my water bill simply because they don't provide reference numbers on the bill. And by ibanking I don't mean direct debit...I mean the bill shows up in my mailbox or inbox, I logon my Bangkok Bank ibanking, and then use the bill reference numbers to pay the bill....sometimes there is a 10 baht charge just like at 7/11...other times no charge. Paying this way also provides a history of payments. You can pay whether in country or out of country...just need internet access to access your ibanking and the bill info.

That does seem like a good method, however, 7Eleven is just too easy for most of us that the idea of paying any other way is never considered. The problem here is that the OP could not get back into the country. He never considered that they may turn him away at the airport and that he needed a contingency plan to pay bills online.

Hindsight is great, but in his position there is nothing he can do until he gets back here. I don't know why he is so worried about the unpaid bills though. I wouldn't have given it a second thought.

Assuming that the OP wants to settle the bills....if he is not resourceful enough to figure out how to get them paid without going to 7/11, or indeed without entering the country, then I would submit that this individual probably should not be out in the world unsupervised.

No no no you guys!!!

The OP stated that he "pays at 7/11 and you need the bills to pay them".

Evidently that is the only avenue he has for paying his bills. So he must enter the country to pay the bills.

Or something like that....

That's exactly how I pay my bills. Do you have a problem with that method? I wouldn't do it any other way. No way I'm going to have my bills direct debited from my account or card.... in which you would have to enter the country to pay them.

There is nothing wrong with paying your bills at 7/11...as long as you are not in front of me in the queue

I guess I forgot the "sarcasm ON" flag when I posted.

This weird immigration attitude is not good for the country. It just show how far more corrupt the junta is that the previous elected governments.

How does slow immigration queues = corrupt junta?

What amazes me is that there actually foreigners living in Thailand on visa exempts only.

Who in their right mind could be bothered having to go to a border every 30 days to stamp in and out. That is no life.

Does anyone know anybody who actually does this?

I don't get why anyone would.

A trip to your local immigration office every 90 days VS a visa run every month???

seems like a no brainer to me

Some people don't qualify for other visas or don't have the money for a retirement visa.

..and yes I do border runs...not for ever of course.

It is enticing when you live 60 kms from the border and it's a 'free' crossing as Malaysia charges no money for visas.

If they do not qualify or do not have the money then they have no right to be here.

No no no you guys!!!

The OP stated that he "pays at 7/11 and you need the bills to pay them".

Evidently that is the only avenue he has for paying his bills. So he must enter the country to pay the bills.

Or something like that....

Living in a derilect aircraft but someone still signed them up to make payments on a Honda sedan.

Which one of the aircraft occupiers did the car belong to? Possibly it was the photographers?

A photojournalist would surely know how to set up and frame a shot.

The car would not be in the photo unless the photographer wanted it there.

What amazes me is that there actually foreigners living in Thailand on visa exempts only.

Who in their right mind could be bothered having to go to a border every 30 days to stamp in and out. That is no life.

Does anyone know anybody who actually does this?

I don't get why anyone would.

A trip to your local immigration office every 90 days VS a visa run every month???

seems like a no brainer to me

I agree...I did one "visa run" and all I could think about was what a pain in the ass it would be to do that every month.

Thanks guys, when I renew the passport at the end of the month I am hoping it will be just a renew but we all know what we might have to deal with as we approach passport control so I hope as it can be read all will be ok

Here's a stupid question is it the number written above the re entry permit you need for the entry card of the number inside the box, which is called :-) "number". Which one is the number that takes over from your extension. If it's the one in the box then no worries it's readable

Not a stupid question at all...

The number in the Re-Entry Permit box labeled "Number" is what goes on the Arrival Card (TM6) line labeled "Visa No.". It is typically <4 digits>/<2 digits>, written in pen and often half-legible. I just take my best guess at it...the Immigration officer will correct it if you wrote it wrong.

On one Re-Entry Permit several years ago the Immigration officer who entered it wrote the wrong number in....then proceeded to use White-Out in my passport. I was none too happy about that, but it never gave me a problem.

There is nothing wrong with the new truck automatics, I just prefer a manual for myself especially for going up and down mountains. I use the gears a lot. My old Nissan had 150,000 kilometers on it and still had the original brakes. That should tell you something about my driving style. I changed the OE Bridgestone tires at 90,000. Not because they were worn out but because they got hard and slippery on wet roads. They are stacked outside beside my garage waiting for someone who has an old clunker that needs a set of tires. Just come and get them.

Address please................

Nong Hin, Loei. Come and get them.

We still need to meet in person one day...The past few times I have been in-country I have not made it north of Korat.

I will return for my follow-up Extension of Stay visit next month. We might make it up to Nong Hin to check on the rental units and visit Maae Lom.

Strict = Slow

I have had another friend just inform me today that you can use the yellow book to register yourself at the local government hospital to get health care services at Thai prices as well. Sounds better and better.

Re: birth certificate, I thought I had mine but it does not seem to be in with my big folder of documents I have the information, names and DOBs, and the list of documents Nongpreu wants does not ask for the BC, so I'm gonna try to do it without the BC, though I'm going to order a new copy if I can't find it after a more exhaustive search.

Totally not true. Yes, there were a few folks up country that were erroneously enrolled in the government health system based upon the having a Yellow Book , but once the Thai authorities found out about this those privileges were quickly revoked

See what our resident health expert, Sheryl, says on the matter:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/517331-expats-with-yellow-book-to-prove-residency/?p=4903155 (post#11)

/shrug

Juzt tonight we were talking about this and the guys were showing me the hospital cards they have.

Maybe they are something different than the Thai cards. Honestly, I have not delved into the mysteries of the Thai health care system at all. Just passing on information, and being clear where it came from.

The cards they were showing are probably what I call "customer cards".

You go to the hospital or clinic for anything and they input your info and they give you the card. Now you are in their system and on subsequent visits you just show the card. The card in and of itself does not entitle you to Thai pricing on services.

When I worked in BKK, as part of the temporary relocation package I was given a tour of Bumrungrad Hospital. They took my info and registered me into their system and gave me a card. I still have the card, and I guess that would be a starting point if I went there for medical care, even though my employer, insurance, and passport have changed since.

thet don't want us here. Otherwise they would allow us to buy house/land to have a secured and safe life up to the end. They are only looking how to get our money. The best would be for them we would leave our money here and dissapear or die!

I am not sure why people get so hung up on the owning land/house thing.

If the Thai government decides that foreigners are not welcome, they are not going to give one tin shit about whether you own land or a house here. In fact, you would be out more, because now that investment you made would go to ???? when they ship you out.

On the flip side of this argument, I have never understood why people in other countries get so wound up when foreigners come in and buy up properties...what are they going to do, take it with them? The Japanese lost their asses buying up expensive properties in USA years ago when the real estate market subsequently regressed.

At the core, we do not own real estate, we rent it from the government...that is what our tax payments are, in effect.

I am not sure why people get so hung up on the owning land/house thing

If a Thai (e.g. the Thai prince) comes into my home country , he can buy whatever he wants. Land, houses, condos, aso. But the other way round we cannot.

Also a property you buy here you can't give to your kids later. So it's lost investment. You think it's a good feeling?

So you are restricted to buy a condo only. This you can give after you passed away to your kids... (in Vietnam you can buy for 100 years....)

I do not care what someone who emigrates to my country can do. It is irrelevant to what I can do in Thailand.

Property I (read: my wife) buy here will go to my Thai step-daughter...I am fine with that. I cannot leave it to my son in USA, but that is fine. I have assets in USA that will go to him when I am reduced to ashes. If he wants to follow in the old man's footsteps and come to Thailand he can do his own deal here.

What one can do in Vietnam is also irrelevant to this conversation.

What anyone else is giving is irrelevant.

Give what *you* think is fair and be done with it.