redwood13

I just returned from a brief trip to Singapore yesterday and there was no customs form required.

My take on this from years of coming here as a tourist and now as a holder of an O-A visa is that as long as it appears it's for personal use, i.e. it doesn't appear you're going to be stocking an electronics shop for example, you'll be ok, especially if you hold an O-A visa. The rules seem to be aimed against folks reselling gray market goods here or undermining protectionist policies that support Thai industry.

-redwood

This whole thing still seems to be a work in progress and there have been some reports of those getting multi entry O-A visas not using re entry permits and getting a new one year stay on each entry.  Seems we are not the only folks confused with this new category.

As I previously mentioned several months ago, I have an O-A multiple entry visa issued by an honorary consulate in the US on 14 Oct. 2003. I first utilized the visa when I entered Thailand on 25 Oct. 2003 and was admitted until 24 Oct. 2004.

In February of this year I went to Cambodia for about 2 weeks and when I flew back to Bangkok on 18 Feb. 2004 I was given an additional 365 days, i.e. admitted until 17 Feb.2005.

Then last Thursday I flew to Singapore and returned Sunday and was given a new admitted until date of 25 Sept. 2005.

-redwood

Had similar problem. Wattana Computer repair in Pattaya said there was a problem with the modem drivers. Either the drivers had become corrupted or during a visit to another repair shop the wrong drivers were installed. Wattana reinstalled the modem drivers and now I can connect to cslox by dialup though I'm getting errors when attempting to connect using the prepaid T-Net card.

-redwood

I've had problems reaching yahoo mail in Net shops but www.yahoo.co.uk has always worked when the US site doesn't.

-redwood

This type of visa has to be approved in Bangkok so believe what Denver told you, use Washington, should be what you do as it probably all gets routed through them anyhow. 

Did you ask Denver about obtaining a normal tourist or non immigrant visa and doing the process here in Thailand?  They probably don't know what is involved but it is very easy to do here at an immigration office.  A letter from Embassy confirming income and a medical certificate from hospital that you are alive and money in the bank.  You would do this during last month of visa stay.

Whatever route you take be sure to set up your banking arrangements (wire transfer agreement signed) before you leave.

I've never seen any indication that the O-A has to have Bangkok approval. The turnaround times I've heard of are usually a week or less and that's simply too quick for Bangkok to be involved. Further I know of one person who submitted his application in person at an honorary consulate and he left 5 minutes later with his O-A.

One person who lives outside Denver told me the honorary consulate there said he would have to apply to DC as they would not issue O-A visas in Denver.

I didn't find the process for obtaining an O-A particularly difficult and I've heard from others who've had good experiences with the process. I think it's only natural that you're going to hear mostly about negative experiences on this and most other boards because this is where folks come when they need help with a problem. I would avoid Los Angeles as most everyone I've talked to has had very negative experiences there. Suggest you call Houston.

You can of course obtain a one year extension of stay here by entering on a tourist visa or an O visa but it's nice to arrive at Don Muang knowing you're already set for a year.

And as Lopburi suggests do get your wire tranfer details arranged with your bank as you cannot do it once you're here.

-redwood

He added that all documents submitted for this purpose must first be endorsed by the applicant’s embassy in Thailand. Pension documents, for example, can be verified by the embassy.

“A foreigner who has a business outside Thailand must take documents to the embassy proving business ownership and showing the income received each month from the business.

“The embassy will check the documents and then issue a paper stating that the foreigner truly has sufficient regular income from the business to meet our requirements.”

New to me was the allowance for income derived from a business outside Thailand to qualify for retirement as opposed to pension income.

-redwood

To Chanchao,

It makes no difference if you are married or not. Give the child whatever name you want. Just make sure that your own personal details are translated correctly on the birth certificate. ie: if your middle name has a spelling in thai that can easily be mispelt as another name, this will cause problems for the child later. Especially, when they go to school.

A friend of mine tells me when his child was born the officals at the hospital insisted that the kid had to have the mother's surname since he and the mother were not married. He has since met a number of guys in similar circumstances who had no problems giving their children their surnames.

-redwood

At the bottom of my O-A visa (issued in the US) there is a stamp which reads:

EMPLOYMENT PROHIBITED

-redwood

Starter post was from December 2002

-redwood

Regarding headphones, I fly a lot on business and the iPod is a constant companion. I am not especially keen on any of the in-ear buds, so I purchased the Sennheiser PXC250 noise cancelling headphones. These cans are very light, fold for travel and they sound reasonable after a short break-in period. The most amazing part is the noise cancelling feature. Switch that on, and instantly nearly all the background airplane rumble is gone. These sell for about US$100 in the USA and Hong Kong. Sim Leng Plaza in Singapore had then for about US$140. Who knows what kind of exorbitant price they sell for in Bangkok, if you could find them.

Yes, I bought one of these a couple of years ago. I think it's a must have for anyone who travels with their music. Not only vastly improves the quality of the listening experience but also will likely save your hearing by lowering needed volume levels.

-redwood

>Additionally I get "cannot find server" when clicking on a new URL or -> "page unavailable" (or whatever the verbage is) when clicking on a > new page in the same URL. And yet there still appears to be a >connection. This happens in both IE & Firefox and the only solution >I've found is to re-boot.

To me this rather sounds like a dodgy DHCP server at the provider side. Try ->Network Connection -> <yourdialinconnection> ->TCPIP settings -> repair. And see if this fixes the problem (temporarily).

PS: Shagwell Mansions LOL. I love this name! In Pattaya!!!

Sunny

Sunny, I owe you one Drinks, dinner, bar-fine - up to you

Tried your instructions last night and for the first time in weeks I've had _relatively_ decent Net surfin'.

Couldn't find "repair" per your pathway (there seem to be variations of OS & software???) but nevermind. I simply unchecked TCPIP and then clicked "install" though I don't install anything and then recheck the TCPIP box and reboot and I'm ok for some hours. In other words I don't know why it works but it does.

Thanks again,

-redwood

I'm on a TT&T line right now, but ADSL isn't supported in my area in Soi Bongkot (accordning to the ppl at Carrefour & TT&T website).

The connection over the phoneline isn't that stable and my modem reconnects about 20 times a day. Connection speeds are a blast too.. i've never had more than 45 kb/s and often get 16.8/19.2/24 etc. I've noticed a reduction in speed and more frequent reconnects as the wind picks up (apart from once when i think it was a bird that took a break and s(h)at on the cable).

Same-Same Me

I'm near "noBuzz" in a townhouse just E. of Soi Bongkot on Soi Arunothai near Nirun Granville & Shagwell Mansions. I've had exactly the same experience as noBuzz. Connections lasting no more than a minute and then sometimes several hours. My last phone bill was 1000 baht and almost all of that was for 3 baht dial-up calls.

Additionally I get "cannot find server" when clicking on a new URL or - "page unavailable" (or whatever the verbage is) when clicking on a new page in the same URL. And yet there still appears to be a connection. This happens in both IE & Firefox and the only solution I've found is to re-boot.

I've also had a major problem connecting to various ISPs. I'm now using a 30 day package from TT&T (T-net by CAT) at 335 baht - purchased at their Carrefour office. I tried a loxinfo package and it worked fine for a few days so I signed on for a loxinfo monthly contract. I could never make the connection work. Consistently got ERROR 691 "Access denied - username and /or password was invalid on domain." Then I started getting the same with the loxinfo package!

And the same slow speeds. Max of 46 down to 9. McAfee reads the 46 as ~25.

TT&T says it'll be 6 months before the ADSL is available for my phone.

-redwood

Pianoman,

[snip]

Will your stays in Thailand be less than 90 days? That's my situation, plus maybe not being in Thailand at the same time every year to renew visa extension.

But if your stays are going to exceed 90 days, a multiple entry O-A would be nice, since each time you re-enter Thailand, you get a 'valid for 365 days' stamp (am I remembering your experience correctly, Redwood?).

Essentially, if you re-enter Thailand close to visa expiration date, you'll then have second year in Thailand without having to go to immigration for your first in-country extension. (But, I believe, the visa's multiple entry feature expires with the visa, so you would have to go to immigration for a multiple re-entry stamp.) Anyway, Redwood's experience with getting an O-A that I gleaned from his earlier posts have sure kept that option on the radar screen for me.

[snip]

Jim has a good point, if you cannot be in Thailand because you have business to attend to near the date to extend your stay for another year you might have a problem.

Jim I've only had one experience re-entering Thailand on an O-A. I received my O-A in Oct. 2003 (good for "multiple" journeys) so it expires Oct. 2004. However in February I went to Sihanoukville, Cambodia for a couple of weeks. This was overland via Koh Kong. I returned to Thailand by flying from Phnom Pehn to Don Muang, Bankok. Immigration at Don Muang stamped me in for a full year so that I'm now admitted until Feb. 2005. So, I don't have to request an extension of my stay until then. But since the visa expires in Oct. I'll lose the benefit of the multiple entries this year - Oct. 2004. So, if I leave Thaland after Oct. 2004 I'd have to obtain a re-entry permit to maintain my status.

I checked with immigration here in Pattaya and they tell me this is correct.

-redwood

Yes, when you fill out the visa application for the O-A it will have a space where you'll be asked "number of entries" and you can request "multiple". The form I filled out last October when I got my O-A also had a box to be checked for Non-Immigrant (B, Ed, O, O-A) with a choice of either $50/one entry or $125 multiple entry. (I think there are a couple of editions of this form in use and they are a bit different.) I requested multiple and that's what I got.

The visa itself has the line "Good for ......... journey (s)" and the word "multiple" is hand written in. If for some reason you don't get the multiple entry as a part of your O-A you can request a multiple re-entry permit after you've moved to Thailand or simply obtain single re-entry permits as required.

I did not find obtaining an O-A particularly difficult. But, DO NOT APPLY TO LOS ANGELES. Myself and several others that I know of have had bad experiences there. And as far as I know that is the only consulate that requires notarization of documents required for the O-A.

The criminal record clearance only requires a trip to your local police department with your driver's license. It's a routine request for them.

If you've been seeing a physician for routine physicals a phone call may be all you'll need to get a letter for the medical requirement.

Make it easy on your bank by typing up a sample letter for them to copy on their letterhead. Nothing much more than, "At the close of business day [date] the balance to your credit on our books........blah, blah".

Getting the O-A in the US you'll avoid trips to Suan Plu, Thai banks and maybe the US Embassy for the first year. And in your case you can come and go, carrying on with your business without having to concern yourself with the possiblilty of missing an appointment at immigration. You also won't have to worry about being rejected for an O visa based on retirement.

It's a great feeling to know that when you arrive at Don Muang at get stamped in for a year you're done!!!

(Feel free to PM me.)

-redwood

Thanks a bunch, DFW.  All this time I never knew they existed!  Been going thru Chicago where service has been OK.

Can these honorary consulates issue the same visas like an O-A Retirement/Supporting Thai Wife

Yes, they CAN issue O-A visas but it doesn't mean they WILL. I was residing in California and received mine from an out of state honorary consulate as have a couple of other guys with whom I've exchanged emails. Also know of a guy who was living outside Texas who was accomodated by the Houston consulate.

BUT, a would be applicant for an O-A to the Denver honorary consulate was told to use the Thai Embassy in D.C. He lived in a Denver suburb!

Or as that phrase goes: YMMV (your mileage may vary)

-redwood

P.S. on Dr. Pat's post, make sure your documentation for the Embassy is as strong as it can be.

It's my understanding that the US Embassy only requires the applicant to state his monthly income and that document, notarized by the embassy, is used to apply for extension of stay. No verifying documents are required.

The British Embassy does require verification of pensions.

-redwood

I asked about this at TT&T in Carrefour the other day and was told not available for my phone number. I'm W. of Sukhumvit off Arunothai (soi running S. from Carrefour). "Available in six months".

-redwood

Just got mine here in Pattaya Similar story as above, there was a phone in the townhouse I'm renting but an 11k baht bill outstanding. After badgering the landlord for 2 months he finally came one day - took my passport and returned with forms for me to sign. Got a new phone number in my name. Cost ~3,300 baht and took about a week after the application to actually start service.

-redwood

Books, use M-Bag at a US$1/lb.

http://www.hvousa.org/smb.cfm and see your local post office for further details.

For LCL (less than a container load) contact James Yoon per a recommendation by a Bangkok shipping agent. (I have NOT used them as yet.)

Note that a lot of shippers do not want to deal with one off personal goods shipments from what I've learned.

Air Power International Express (USA) Inc.

8366 Isis Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90045

Ctc : James Yoon / Marketing Manager

Tel:310-641-0830 x 301

Mobile: 310-938-4571

Fax:310-641-8515 / 310-641-0967

website: www.airpowerusa.com

e-mail: [email protected]

-redwood

I am going to Bangkok to get my first Non-Im O in Thailand, first one got in UK. I want to qualify on the fact I rent my house in the UK over 65,000 per month. Will they accept copy of my rental agreement as proof of income. ?

Visas are issued outside Thailand. Usual procedure is to obtain a NI-O Visa, in UK in your case. This is valid for 3 months. Once in Bangkok apply to extend the visa for one year on the basis of retirement.

You'll have to present documentation from the British Embassy in Bangkok verifying your monthly income. It's my understanding that the British Embassy requires proof of that income (unlike the US Embassy).

Problem. My experience a year ago was that Bangkok Immigration wanted 800,000 baht in a Thai bank to issue a one year extension for the purpose of retirement. They would not accept any monthly income to meet the finanacial requirments for the extension.

Question is, is this still the case in Bangkok?

My understanding is that in the recent past Pattaya and Chiang Mai have been more flexible in this regard.

-redwood

Re banks, you can open an account at Bangkok Bank with a tourist visa. Only need your passport and local address of some sort.

One nice feature of Bangkok Bank is they have a printer at their branches that will automatically update your bank book. It will print out all previous ATM activity and also will show deposits coding those that come from outside Thailand as wire transfers

Do other banks here have this feature??

-redwood

Flew EVA SFO-BKK last Oct. with an O-A visa using a one way ticket.

-redwood

Personal Data Form is item 2.3

http://www.thai-la.net/visa/non-o-a.htm

-redwood

If you're going to obtain an O-A visa, that is a visa for retirement issued OUTSIDE Thailand, you don't have to open a bank account in Thailand until you approach the date (one year) for extension of your permission to stay. You do have to convince the Consulate or Embassy in the US or elsewhere, on applying for the O-A that you meet the financial requirements for the visa. You could contact the consulate/emabassy to see what is acceptable or you could simply submit the application and hope for the best. If it's rejected on the basis of insufficient documention of meeting the fianancial requirement you could reapply.

If you decide to obtain the retirement visa IN THAILAND you will obtain an O visa listing "retirement" as the reason for wanting the O visa in the US or elsewhere. (No financial information required to obtain this 90 day visa.) Then once in Thailand apply for a one year extension. In the case of US citizens you'll have to go to the US Embassy in Bangkok and sign a statement swearing that you have an income of X dollars per month. The Embassy staff will notarize your statement. There is NO requirment to show proof to verify your statement of income to the Embassy. (I'd think it would be impossible for the Embassy to have the ability to verify every kind of retirement income statement so they just don't do it. But, on the other hand the British Embassy does require some sort of documentation for proof of income when applying in Thailand from what I've heard.)

Problem is, Bangkok from my experience and that of others will not issue an extension of an O visa based solely in income. They want 800,000 baht in a Thai bank. It's my understanding that Pattaya and Chiang Mai will allow a mix of income and money in a Thai bank deposit to meet the financial requirements. I think I've also read here of one or two folks who've gotten extensions based on income only. But I would definitely not count on using income only to meet the financial requirements. You'll have to show some money in a Thai bank either when you apply for your extension of an O-A visa toward the end of your first year in Thailand or when you apply for the extension of the O visa for purpose of retirement. But, you won't have to document your monthly income.

-redwood

snip

Chuang reentered Thailand 18 days before his O-A multi entry visa was to expire. This was in Chiang Mai. They allowed his stay only up to the expiration date of his O-A visa, i.e., 22 Feb. So he did what I thought you will have to do upon expiration of your O-A visa, namely he applied for, and received, a 365 day extension of stay in Thailand based on retirement. The 365 day clock began on his latest reentry date, per standard procedure for most all 'extensions of stay.'

But your experience says, Reenter Thailand one day before your O-A visa expires and they will give you 365 days more to stay before you have to go to immigration and apply for the 'one year extension based on retirement.' (However, I would suspect that during this period your multiple entry permission based on O-A visa would expire, and you would need immigration to give you a multiple reentry stamp.)

Anyway, this all gets very confusing, but very familiar -- as you say, each immigration officer has much leeway in regulation interpretation. You and Chuang had two interpretations of the relatively obscure O-A process. Just when you actually have to get your 'extension based on retirement' is a great unknown. And will that 365 day clock begin the date of your last reentry(?). So, yeah, your visiting immigration for an answer should be enlightening. Please keep us informed.

Oh, did that requirement for airplane ticket arrival date have any effect on the 'issue date' of your O-A visa? I had surmised that maybe the Consulate would postdate your 'issue date' to maximize stay if, indeed, the stay would terminate on visa expiration date (as did Chuang's).

Again, thanks for you input. Sorry about the multithread chase.

Just returned from Pattaya Immigration and the officer at the "Retirement Visa" desk confirms that I have permission to stay in Thailand until February 2005 and that should I leave Thailand again, say in August, I would, on returning, have my stay extended by 365 days until August 2005.

As you surmised the multiple entry visa expires in Oct. of this year.

I'm not sure I completely understand Chuang's situation. IF this was his INITIAL use of the O-A retirement visa to enter Thailand it MAY be that when the immigration officer saw that it had been issued based on documentation (especially bank financial statements) that was a year old he may have wanted to see more current information and thus only gave him until the expiration date of his visa, thus requiring him to apply for a new 365 extension and submitting current financial information.

I don't think the airline ticket date had anything to do with the visa date or arrrival date. It seems simply to have been one more "requirement". The date of issuance of the O-A visa only affects the validity of the visa. That is, it can be first used up to one year from date of issuance. The visa gets you to the "starting gate" at say Don Muang. At that point you get an "admitted until" date which is based on the type of visa that's been issued to you. Of course the immigration officer has some leeway in determining what that "admitted until" date is going to be. Normally it would be one year for an O-A retirement visa but as I've speculated in the previous paragraph if the officer is not satisfied with your presentation, he doesn't have to give the full year admission and MAYBE this is what happened in Chuang's case.

Again, if the visa is a multiple entry, that aspect of visa is only valid until the expiration date of the visa from what I was told today.

-redwood