casmeri

I use my USA credit card here and have for years without problems.  At first I communicated with them regularly about my travel habits which avoided location alerts affecting acceptance.  I told them I had second home in Thailand.  Now with the BK BANK transfers through NY not working I use the card extensively and have one for my wife as well.  It works well and is a major part of my financial program.

I also pay it in full each month.

The biggest issue for me is the Third-World mail system.  I have received packages six months after arriving in Thailand but most are never received.  The issue of some things being unavailable, low quality or too expensive could easily be overcome these days if there was a competent mail system that one could depend on.

I am not looking for an apology; I am only relating my experience. For my sake and for others I hope this is absolute rubbish. There is always the possibility of a communication issue which I have been trying to clarify for a year. I had no confidence that they would grant an extension this time so I applied a week early. The IO was clear when explaining the note in my passport and stating the 3 extension limit.

So here's hoping this is only me and no one else will experience this surprise.

My O-A was routinely extended for years until it wasn't last year. My current non-O is being extended and is red-stamped RETIREMENT.

I would very much like to have made a mistake which I could then correct. I have mobility issues and other challenges which make leaving Thailand difficult and expensive. I am very detail-oriented in meeting the requirements and was receiving annual extensions without problems until last year. As said things change and can change back.

Last year my application for a one-year extension of stay based on an OA visa was denied and I was told I had to go to Laos for a ninety-day non O which immigration said they would extend for one year after sixty days. I was confused as to why my O-A extension was denied as it appears many expats receive annual extensions indefinitely.

Yesterday I went to apply for a one-year extension of stay based on the non-O I received in Laos last year. I received a thirty day under consideration stamp and my passport was hand marked with a small 2 indicating this was the second year I was given an extension. It was explained that only three extensions were allowed and then I would have to go out of Thailand to obtain another visa. I appreciate the clarification as now I can plan for a trip which is difficult for me as last year was a surprise with only a few days notice.

I share this as the prevailing wisdom believes annual extensions are granted indefinitely but at the Udon Thani immigration office indefinitely is only three years.

You can do extensions of a permit to stay for infinity as long as you can meet the requirements for it.

Without knowing what the problem was they found all I can do is guess. The one that comes to mind is that perhaps your OA visa had already expired when they gave you the last one year entry. Go back and look at the enter before date on the OA visa and compare it to the date you did that last entry.

If you go out for the non-o visa and then extend that 90 day entry you would never need to get another visa. Be sure you take your bank book with you to show them in Vientiane and have a copy attached to your application.

"You can do extensions of a permit to stay for infinity as long as you can meet the requirements for it."

I did go to Laos and got a 90 day non-o which after 60 days Udon Thani immigration extended my permit to stay for one year. At my 90 day report yesterday, I asked if I would be able to extend for an additional year when this year was complete. I was told they would extend it for 30 days and that then I would have to leave Thailand to obtain another non-o visa. He also requested I bring him a bottle of "Black" for New Years on my next 90 day report. As I noted I am not ambulatory and annual visa trips are difficult and expensive.

"If you go out for the non-o visa and then extend that 90 day entry you would never need to get another visa."

So what am I doing wrong? I came here to retire in 2008 on an O-A visa and returned on an O-A visa in 2011 after a few months trip back to the US. I was granted extensions of stay each year no problem. So it appears I will have to leave Thailand each year to get another visa. Because of my physical condition, that last trip to Laos cost about 50,000 Baht.

I seem to be "up the creek" and in need of a paddle! Any advice will be appreciated.

Look at the stamp they did in your passport to see what it says. I think it says your application is under consideration with a date to contact hem again in 30 days. Udon has been reported as doing those stamps.

When you go back they will stamp your one year extension.

I think there was a misunderstanding about going out for a new non-o after that date..

Thanks ubonjoe,

I got my Non O 10 March 2015 and UdonThani stamped 7 MAY 2015. I then applied for a one year extension and was stamped 7 JUNE 2016. Hoping that the conversation yesterday was a misunderstanding; thirty days before the 7 JUNE 2016 date I will apply for a one-year extension and hope for the best.

You can do extensions of a permit to stay for infinity as long as you can meet the requirements for it.

Without knowing what the problem was they found all I can do is guess. The one that comes to mind is that perhaps your OA visa had already expired when they gave you the last one year entry. Go back and look at the enter before date on the OA visa and compare it to the date you did that last entry.

If you go out for the non-o visa and then extend that 90 day entry you would never need to get another visa. Be sure you take your bank book with you to show them in Vientiane and have a copy attached to your application.

"You can do extensions of a permit to stay for infinity as long as you can meet the requirements for it."

I did go to Laos and got a 90 day non-o which after 60 days Udon Thani immigration extended my permit to stay for one year. At my 90 day report yesterday, I asked if I would be able to extend for an additional year when this year was complete. I was told they would extend it for 30 days and that then I would have to leave Thailand to obtain another non-o visa. He also requested I bring him a bottle of "Black" for New Years on my next 90 day report. As I noted I am not ambulatory and annual visa trips are difficult and expensive.

"If you go out for the non-o visa and then extend that 90 day entry you would never need to get another visa."

So what am I doing wrong? I came here to retire in 2008 on an O-A visa and returned on an O-A visa in 2011 after a few months trip back to the US. I was granted extensions of stay each year no problem. So it appears I will have to leave Thailand each year to get another visa. Because of my physical condition, that last trip to Laos cost about 50,000 Baht.

I seem to be "up the creek" and in need of a paddle! Any advice will be appreciated.

I entered Thailand in 2011 on an O-A visa, just before a year was up I exited and re-entered receiving an additional year. I have been extending each year since using the 800K in the bank for three months. This year they scrutinized my passport carefully and determined that NongKhai immigration made an error and subsequently Udon Thani did as well. It was not clear what these errors might have been. At any rate I was told that my extension was denied and that I needed to go to Laos and get a non-O for 90 days which Udon Thani would extend for a year after 60 days have past.

I thought my O-A visa from the Thai Embassy in Los Angeles could be extended indefinitely; the official seemed to say it could only be extended once.

One official kept saying to the other "go ahead and give it to him" while the other refused.

Traveling to Laos was expensive and difficult as I am wheel-chair bound due to a stroke and now am wondering if I must make this trip every year going forward.

My final report date on my nonimmigrant O-A visa is scheduled for May 04. I left Thailand and reentered March 25. I received a one year permission to stay "admitted until March 24, 2010". Does my report date to present the TM 47 form remain May 04 or change to June 25 based on the date of my reentry?

Thank you!

Yes. It all depends on the use before date. Have a look at the original Visa. Somewhere on it will be printed "Use Before" or "Enter Before" or something similar.

My visa says "This visa must be utilized before April 29, 2009"

Does anyone know if I can accomplish this flying out of and then back into the Udon Thani Airport? They say it is an international airport; do they have service to other countries in the region?

Thanks for the information!

I live in Udon Thani. I am here on a MULTIPLE ENTRY NON-IMMIGRANT O-A VISA "Admitted Until" 08 May 2009. I am seeking suggestions on the best way to leave here and return to add another year to this visa.

I no longer qualify financially based on monthly income to apply for a one year extension when this visa expires so doing it right is important.

By "best way" I am considering cost, convenience and possibly a nice two or three day visit for the wife and I.

Thank you...

Must admit I like most foods and can find favorites in all cuisines. US does have an incredible variety of international options; just about everywhere. When I think of "American Food"; I tend to think about breakfast. My favorite meal:

Rib steak & eggs with hasbrown potatoes and toast at the local truck stop. Then there is Smitty's Pancake House: short stack with eggs, bacon and sausage links on the side and real maple syrup. Hard to beat!

Clipped,

There are other important factors in working a remote location besides money and physical risk. I have been here in Iraq four years. First of all; it is important to be here with a well-established, experienced company that has a good relationship with coalition forces and who cares about their employees. There are plenty of companies here who do not meet that criteria. Having a side arm will do nothing to protect you from an IED, rocket or mortar attack.

There are many jerks here; chances are you will report to one. Some companies have many childish rules that defy common sense and create an oppressive work and living environment. You could be surrounded by incompetent and inexperienced personnel who got their job because of a buddy or relative. In an environment where decisions impact your personal safety; it is hard to tolerate that for long.

These are issues that affect how long you last here far more than the infrequent IDF attacks. If you are lucky, find a nice niche with a good company and great co-workers; you may actually enjoy the experience and stay long enough to build up that nest egg.

It is very easy to lose your job here; for a perceived transgression of the rules or just getting on someone's bad side or to make room for your supervisor's cousin or new brother-in-law. If you come; do not buy anything on time payments!

Calculate how much you can make where you are now if you work 14 hours a day, seven days a week and compare.

Good luck to you; maybe I will see you over here!

What country has the most freedom in terms of individual rights and privacy?