CodeCoded

Hi,

Apologies foremost if there's a thread detailing this but couldn't find anything succinct on a quick search!

I was in Thailand most of this year, and had started with a Non-B application, but by time paperwork was in place, my tourist Visa no longer had the 21 days required left, and Covid meant I couldn't do a border run.

I am now back in UK (left 2 days before initial amnesty expired..), along with all the paperwork for the company that was setup. 

But...looking to apply here, it's a little confusing. The Thai London website says to apply online but there's no options for Business Visa when I make my application. Calling the Embassy ends in saying call cannot go through and I'm waiting on email reply.

I've seen some online Visa services (some I've used before for tourist), but wanted to see if anyone can suggest how I would go about it myself given the above? 
This is a real application to setup a software development studio out there and hire and help Thai developers for multiple projects I oversee.

Grateful for any advice / tips somone could give.
Many thanks,

Sky


 

Just now, Finlaco said:

@uberfarang @CodeCoded  this happened at Chang Wattana?

No, Chonburi, Pattaya for me. Just to add confusion to the fire of irregulalarity

Hey

So I've posted about this as someone with first hand experience - but I am slightly different in that I got my under condiseration stamp whilst on my another visa extension denied, 7 days to leave Thailand situation.

Regardless - I got Under Consideration on the 1st April (was meant to leave Thailand on the 3rd I think but had letter from Consulate), they gave me 20 days Under Consideration, so on 21st April went there again, got given another 10 days Under Consideration. Now I have to go back 1st May. This makes it 30 days in total which from what I have and cross-referencing, seems to be the legal time they have to see this Under consieration out before they can you approve a Visa. 
 

There is one other member of this forum who is going for their 3rd time on the 27th April (he only oddly got 3 days extra on his stamp on second visit, rather than 10) so I'm seeing how it goes with him (hope he updates)

Otherwise...just do what the stamp tells ya - go visit IO on that date, and ain't nothing's gonna change that. 

My rent runs out on 2nd May for a much in-demand place I'm at...- so do I pay for another month hoping I get amnesty...or risk losing my place because I worry about the outcome of my second visit to IO on 1st May? So we're all dealing with consequences of this but I'm making sure I do things by the book and following the order of my stamps. 

A trip to the IO is not much for me and the consequences of checking far outweigh the not knowing.

That's all I can assist with for now and remember - I was on a 'Visa's run out, have 7 days to leave grace period' when I got my UC so situation most likely not 1:1 with yours

9 minutes ago, theVenerable said:

I'm remarkably calm considering.
the constant misleading advice and guarantees in here are shameful.

not even an acknowledgement from you.

Any chance  you can STOP making promises until you are sure ?

is that really unreasonable to ask?

 

Hey up,

I'm in same boat so to speak (or more swimming alongside). I'm having faith in that basically, that they're just giving you those 3 days as right now, there's nothing else they can do as part of the legal process. Admittedly I got 10 taking me to 1st May a few days and fulfilling the 1 month out, but here's my guess...they're expecting the extension to the amnesty to come into law any day and when you go back, provide it for you and so hence they reckon 3 days is just enough time to wait it out.

Frustrating but on the plus side, the offices are quiet and it's a quick process (and remarkable, for once, free ???? ) . Plus with this lockdown always good excuse for me to get out of my place and go for a wander. 

Cheekily, it's good to know someone has to get their 3rd stamp before me - thought I was gonna be the first guinea pig ???? But in seriousness, please update here when the time comes. Helps a lot seeing how other people in similar situation are doing.

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

When did you get a 3 day extension?

You wrote you need to go back to get the remainder of your 30 day extension after the 20 day under consideration period.

Just go to immigration to get the final stamp that gives your remaining 10 days or so.

After that you certainly safe to stay until July 31th if you cannot leave the country to get a new entry before then.

Ah this would make sense as to why I got 10 days on my 2nd visit to the immigration office (1st Apil -> 21st April -> 1st May), as my first UC stamp was for 20, so tallies it to 30 days. Gives me hope that I will get a longer amnesty when I go again though my issue is I was given UC whilst I was on a 7 day extension denied stamp (but had letter from consulate)

 

4 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

The UC's were initially granted awaiting announcement of the proposed amnesty and many have since been granted further permission of stay, which will be further automatically extended as per amnesty announcements

Before the end of this month there will be a further announcement and I'm expecting it to extend the amnesty to 30th May.

 

Your situation is unique in that you fall in the date void not covered by the amnesty.

Just continue collecting the UC stamps to stay legal.

15 days seems to be the norm, only less if you reach the amnesty expiry date.

 

 

Ah well - so now it seems 3 months for everyone else whilst I have toddle around back and forth passport stamp collecting ???? Was told this is gonna be an unlucky year for me based on my star signs =/

Missed out getting my Non-B application in by 2 days, missed out on amnesty Visa by 2 days, now 7 month development app getting flat-out rejected by Apple....gash! 

lol - Best I go make an offering at a temple somewhere as was told that would help ???? 

...hope for everyone else the 3 month extension comes as a sense of relief. 

@Tanoshi

No worries ???? Just come across posts in here that throw shade at people for no reason, and I'm here just to contribute experiences to help build up a record. Years ago when I applied for Auz citizenship, forums like these were invaluable, but only if people give clear indication of their circumstances and experiences.

You have now answered though, a question of mine - why a 7 day 'extension' says not permitted to stay....no-one has ever explained that so, I appreciate that little nugget of wisdom...also explains why talking to a few Visa companies they just say 'cannot do' when I mentioned I've been given the 7 day limit.

I do wonder though on the UC what determines the timeline - was 20 days, now 10...next 5? ???? There's always the Overstay I guess but want to minimise all risk to my Non-B application. Few agencies offering sick 2-3 month visas but that's not my style.

As for places to go - guess whatever is flying out of Thailand to places that allow me when the time comes =/ (Turkey perhaps?) 

@Peter Denis
Exactly - was no conversion and have to head back 1st May. I've attached photo for clarification.

Could be many reasons, one that paperwork is less for such a stamp, so until they know what's happening may as well keep me ticking over easiest way possible rather than change to amnesty which is only 9 days left.

I'll be making up my mind come 1st May and my re-visit to the immigration office on whether to just pack up and go isolate somewhere else until they re-open their borders to continue my Non-B process or if given the choice, continue to stay.

I have rented a lovely place for myself to work in peace for the last month, but thatruns out on 3rd May so it's all a tad stressful - but definitely not keen to throw myself into the bustle of international travel looking for new digs =/

 

10 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

@CodeCoded

You were given permission of stay until 25th Feb.

You extended to 24th March (a date prior to the amnesty date of 26th March)

You were then given a 7 day extension to leave the Country by 1st April.

 

I think you've presented a problem for Immigration as you didn't/couldn't leave the Country by 1st April and your entitled permission of stay under the regulations ended on 24th March.

It appears in Immigrations view you don't qualify for automatic extensions under the amnesty, but as an alternative they are technically extending your stay by virtue of 'under consideration' stamps.

 

My question is why you didn't return to the UK prior to 24th March. I assume you had a return flight booked.

International commercial flights weren't ceased until April 1st.

Immigration must be pondering the same question.

@Tanoshi
Below is for Tanoshi to help clarify their intrigue, nothing useful here!

"I assume you had a return flight booked."
That's quite an assumption Tanoshi and feels somewhat judgemental ???? - 'typical tourist farang'.....

I'm merely passing on my situation for others to help build a picture due to my own situation is as you pointed out, a little 'problematic' but, again, referring to my first post, someone else was in identical situation as me and several others were before me today for same reason

This isn't a situation I'm keen to be in, tired of living in limbo and month by month rentals - but if you must know, to alleviate this pondering, I 'left' UK some years ago, due to the nature of my work, so have no home 'per-se' to go back to (other than my mother's who is in the vulnerable category) and was meant to be heading to Singapore to finally settle and run a business out there, but during my time in Thailand, I decided to form a Thai owned business here instead (Singapore raised their digital tax during this time). It was all go until Covid-19 suddenly meant I couldn't get those extra days I needed on my passport to apply for Non-B and only had a week left (The tax accountant had convinced me prior this wasn't an issue). I extended 7 days, to literally buy myself some time and see which way things went with neighbouring countries (

Vietnam in particular) then saw I could obtain a the letter from UK Embassy just via email and with everything closed and so suddenly upside down and no-where to go, I applied for my Under Consideration as it became clear I couldn't re-enter Thailand if I left.

So here I am. Keen to wait it out, until re-entry is allowed, so I can get on with my Non-B which I've already paid 30k THB for forming a Thai company. If UK returns to normality and there's a safe place for me to stay and no other neighbouring ASEAN countries are open, then yes, towards end of May when it looks like this may be the case, I will have to willingly move on to only wait for Thailand to re-open so I can get a new Toursit Visa and have those 21 days clear to continue my Non-B!
 

So no - had no return flight but did have onward flight to Singapore to run a company but plans changed days before Covid-19 which got me where I am now.

If immigration did care to ask, I would be happy to explain and reach an outcome, but since everyone is processed without question I noticed in my 6hrs at the office a few weeks back, it doesn't seem I will ever get the chance and no immigration lawyer can offer any assistance whilst I am still under consideration.

Hope this answers your question ???? For sure, I'm lucky to be here...am I taking advantage? No - I don't feel I am because in all intent and purpose I am in process of legally moving and working here (and was even interviewing Thais for employment!), just got caught short by a few days mid-flow, and, in truth, I really do not want to go stay at my Mother's (where i normally stay for months at a time when I do head back) for slightest fear of contagion. I am lucky to have that freedom to be where I want (but not rich enough yet to get an Elite Visa ???? )

14 hours ago, CodeCoded said:

Hi Peter, 

In my post, I quoted my original post which detailed my original entry so readers could see the complete timeline.
For clarity: 
Arrive on 2 month Tourist Visa on 27th December ->
Original exit -> 25th February 
Extend 1 month -> 24th March

Extend 1 week -> 1st April
Get Under consideration-> 21st April

I'll be heading to immigration office tomorrow and am expecting to be put on the amensty.

 

@Peter Denis
So another follow up

Went to immigration office today, had to wait 30mins or so for it all to be done.

But - I got another Under Consideration stamp until 1st May. I believe some default 10 days extension...*sigh*

So back to the immigration office on the 1st May I guess =/ Hopefully everyone else gets automatic extension and I'm not in some nightmrae scenario where everyone is at immigration that day as well....

On 4/16/2020 at 1:23 PM, Peter Denis said:

Thanks for the report.

What was your original permission to stay date, before you went to IO and received the under-consideration stamp?

CASE 1 > If that original permission to stay date as stamped in your passport was after 26 March, you would have been eligible for the automatic extension till April 30.  And in that case it seems to depend on the IO whether they require you to come back for the conversion of your under-consideration stamp into a permission to stay stamp.

CASE 2 > If your original permission to stay date was before 26 March, you are indeed required to come back on the report-back date and have that under consideration stamp converted into a permission to stay stamp (which will then make you automatically eligible for the amnesty).

 

Hi Peter, 

In my post, I quoted my original post which detailed my original entry so readers could see the complete timeline.
For clarity: 
Arrive on 2 month Tourist Visa on 27th December ->
Original exit -> 25th February 
Extend 1 month -> 24th March

Extend 1 week -> 1st April
Get Under consideration-> 21st April

I'll be heading to immigration office tomorrow and am expecting to be put on the amensty.

 

On 4/13/2020 at 11:25 AM, CodeCoded said:

@ANDREW999 Just to say I'm near exact same situation as you. Arrived Dec 27th on 2 month tourist visa, extended 1 month, extended 1 week whilst waiting for letter from British Embassy, and now "under consideration" until 21st April (a worrying non-safe distance of 6hrs in ChonBuri immigration that day...ugh). 

I was in the process of setting up a Thai owned company and was applying for Non-B when it all just shut-down. Without 21 days left on a tourist visa and no way to renew it, and no home to go back to in UK, am now waiting things out here - hovering like a fly I gues....

Hoping to go see a contact any day now about my current Visa situation and work out what's what. I'm thinking if there's one more month extension, may have enough funds to try the Elite visa at that point...certainly saving enough now there's a lockdown and alcohol-ban!

If I have any news of consequence will update

So if anyone interested who is in the Under Consideration status, after catching up on the posts here since my last, I still didn't see if it was clear if I could visit the IO before my end date (21st April), so I went along this morning (11:30am) to the Chonburi, Pattaya immigration office. 


TL;DR: For what seems like a no questions asked stamp (not yet sure what it will be), visit the IO on the day Under Consideration visa expires, not any earlier, but it seems for sure that Under Consideration Visa's are not part of the amnesty in the Chonburi province

First, there was no queue or anything outside, immediate entry (no surprise now), though did have to wait to cool off as my temp read 38 (that be 10 min the taxi motorbike ride there in the sun)
 

• I showed the main officer (I believe he's the Captain) my Under Consideratio Visa stamp in my passport at the reception desk and he sent me to desk 6 (the one at the back), no ticket given.
• I immediatley noticed they had put up perspex glass panels at all the desks, a much needed improvement not only for the staff's health and safety but added a more professional touch. The building has a toally different vibe when near empty.
• I showed the IO my passport and he was about to give me a stamp within a few seconds no questions or documents asked, until he noticed my Under Consideration stamp date was 21st April. I do believe that stamp he was about to apply was going to be just a valid extension until 30th April - it wasn't an adjustable stamp, so must be fixed wording.
• I was told to come back on the day my Under Consideration visa expires. 

Will update / quote this accordingly if people finding it useful. Thought I'd contribute as without these posts I would have assumed I was eligible for the waiver / amnesty renewal program!

On 4/12/2020 at 9:50 AM, ANDREW999 said:

I do qualify, according to my imm office, and i entered exactly when Mulambana said. Dec 27 with SETV, and first extension expiring on March 26. Did also emergency extension, and came back on under consideration day. Not 'enjoying' since then. That wouldnt be the correct word. I should have changed to non b visa already, but this situation (and specially my passport - Italy) didnt make it possible in March. Im not the kind of living day by day, speding hours and hours reading interpretations about ambiguous information. This is trully a nightmare and some people here try to judge us as some kind of person (read perpetual tourist on last comment) that deserves to attend to imm office every 15 days.

 

Ps.: The perpetual tourists deserve to do quarantine too, and not risk their health for "national security" reasons

@ANDREW999 Just to say I'm near exact same situation as you. Arrived Dec 27th on 2 month tourist visa, extended 1 month, extended 1 week whilst waiting for letter from British Embassy, and now "under consideration" until 21st April (a worrying non-safe distance of 6hrs in ChonBuri immigration that day...ugh). 

I was in the process of setting up a Thai owned company and was applying for Non-B when it all just shut-down. Without 21 days left on a tourist visa and no way to renew it, and no home to go back to in UK, am now waiting things out here - hovering like a fly I gues....

Hoping to go see a contact any day now about my current Visa situation and work out what's what. I'm thinking if there's one more month extension, may have enough funds to try the Elite visa at that point...certainly saving enough now there's a lockdown and alcohol-ban!

If I have any news of consequence will update