Bonzie

A while ago I saw a reply from Sunbelt about opening a bank account. They posted a letter ( I think) That someone could take to the bank and open an account without a work permit. I don't have a problem in this area, but a friend of mine does.. The first thing the bank ask is for a WP, which he doesn't have. Any advice would be great. Thanks

We used to introduce people to the Bank of Ayudyah where they could open a savings account without a work permit. This changed around the first of the year when the banks were very tough with foreigners opening savings accounts.

Its potluck, some banks will do it and others will not. Just go from branch to branch till you find one that will.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Thanks for the advice...

A while ago I saw a reply from Sunbelt about opening a bank account. They posted a letter ( I think) That someone could take to the bank and open an account without a work permit. I don't have a problem in this area, but a friend of mine does.. The first thing the bank ask is for a WP, which he doesn't have. Any advice would be great. Thanks

I have to go do my non-b in Hanoi next week.

The Thai Embassy is located at 63-65 Hoang Dieu Street, Hanoi

Does anyone know of any hotels near to this address?

Is it near the "old quarter"?

I checked several maps but cant find Hoang Dieu Street on any of them.,

http://www.hoteltravel.com/vietnam/hanoi/old_quarter_map.htm

I stayed at the lucky star hotel in the old quarter the last 2 times I've been there. It's in the old quarter and about 10 mins on a motorbike taxi from the Thai Embassy. The hotel was basic but clean and secure. Tv, mini bar, safe in room and breakfast inc. The cost was about USD17-19, motorbike to embassy $2 return from the hotel, and taxi to airport $10 (1 way) both through the hotel. I found them to be very strict at the embassy, even wanted to see onward ticket from Thailand for a tourist visa. If going for non-b them make sure you have ALL documents, I guess they will require the WP3 to issue the visa. Hope this helps.

4x6cm and believe two may be required (not more than that).

Thanks for that, Cheers

Can anyone pls advise as to what size and how many photos I need to obtain a re-entry permit at the new airport.

Cheers

<font color='#000000'>Seville,  To obtain a work permit you need to either buy a Ltd Company with an investment of 2 million baht and submit accounts every year just like in your home country OR you need a sponser ( Bar Owner ) who will guarantee you employment and to obtain this work permit for you he needs proof of an investment of 2 million baht into his Company, the is the legal way to obtain one.

There are other ways but to break the law in a foriegn country like Thailand, well that's upto you.

Regards

Sev

:cool:</font>

The comany can have only 1 million baht in capital to get a work permit for a Farang, but the Farang must be marrid to a Thai. I have just got my WP and this is how I got round the 2 million baht hurdle.

Maybe of use to those doing the Savannakhet run. Instead of messing aroud on the International bus from Mukdaharn to Savannakhet, why not try the boat ? If it is still running. I was there 4 or 5 months ago and had been many times. I used to take the boat over the Mekong. From the bus station only 30 or 40 baht in a tuk tuk/samlor.

The boat ticket is 50 baht, and the journey takes about 10 mins. The first boat leaves at 8;30 or 9am. From the other side it's a 5 min walk to the Embassy. Going back the 4pm boat was good to take, collect visa and get straight on it.

I always remember same day issuance of visas there, things must have changed.

Ahhhh, empanadas Argentinas, sopa Paraguaya. Los extraño mucho.

The consulates around Asia are now requiring checks for all falangs who apply for teacher related Non Bs. And it can only be done at Patumwan. Beats the hel_l outta me why any police station is not good enough. Unless they are worried about corruption locally. No! Not in Thailand.

Suerte!

Can this be confirmed ? Does this only apply to teachers seeking Non-b visas ?

Thanks , hopefully I should be ok .

So, as I am not applying for a WP as a teacher ( I am an Engineer). Am I to assume that this letter of conduct does not apply to me? Confirmation would be welcomed....

In the Bangkok Post letters section yesterday, there was a letter from a guy who had difficulty in getting a Non-B from a Thai consulate in the region. He had the WP3 and relevant paperwork, but was told he needed a letter of clean conduct from the Royal Thai Police to say that he isn't a terrorist or a paedophille. He stated this was a new law/policy that came into effect last wednesday. Can Sunbelt or anyone shed some light on this ?

I am Due to go to Singapore early January to get a Non-B, with all correct paperwork and the WP3 and don't want to be in the same position. Cheers

Should cost 1,000 baht for the trip.

You're dreaming. But a viable alternative is to make the trip on a train, do the overnight or the hard way, for half the price.

Bangkok to Ko Samui

Fares

Combined

train+ferry fare...

1st class sleeper 1,379 (£20)

a/c express train

2nd class sleeper 948 (£14)

a/c express train

2nd class seat 678 (£10)

a/c fast railcar

2nd class seat 568 (£8.25)

ordinary train

3rd class seat 427 (£6.25)

Or even the "Air Asia option" to Surat and then the "Air Asia" boat from Don Sak (I think) to Nathorn.... Haven't done it, but have seen it advertised in the Bkk Post) for about 4000 baht or so.

Yes it's extremely frustrating, I guess they simply have never done it so they just don't bother finding out about it....does you wife have any pointers?

As for the run - I know I have to take the receipt but I think they have moved the goal posts on exactly what docos I have to take as proof that the job offer is a bona-fide one.

what's the best way to fly to Penang...is there an airport there?

Yep you can fly to Penang. Air Asia fly there, maybe some of the other budget airlines too. From the airport to the district you need to go is about 35 or 40 mins in a taxi. Cost about 400 baht if i can remember. I went there in December last year.

Plenty of hotels and restuarants. They have visa agents, I use them when I go there. They charge a small fee, I guess 100 or 200 baht. That was for tourist visas mind. Many shops offer the service and are easy to find. Or maybe better to do it yourself, not sure.

My wife reckons to take more documents than required to make sure you have anything they ask for. hope the person preparing these for you knows what you need. But company reg, list of shareholders, tax receipt for company, accounts, paid up capital, Thai to Farang ratio, all to be signed by director/owner or equal and maybe copy off their id card ( I was told this in Hanoi, I got a Knock back there as I couldn't get the Id card or signature of the owner,)

She also says to ask the person who deals with the W/P at your present and new company to contact the Labour dept, where you collect the W/P from and they should guide them through the process. They will need to work together on it. As she says" It Can be done"

Hope this helps.

I'm changing jobs and my new employer wants me to do a visa run to get a new non-immigrant "B" visa.

I currently hold a non immigrant "B" and a work permit, but they tell me they can't transfer the permits. I don't really want to argue the toss on that issue.

I have a very short gap between jobs and both companies are quite large businesses employing large numbers of foreigners. So it is a regular occurrence for them.

So....where should I go?

Do I have to send documents out in advance?

I take it that I don't need a multiple entry visa so I should be able to go to Penang or Singapore?

OR...is there now somewhere in immigration in Bangkok that issues Non Immigrant "B" visas?

In the light of the recent changes in visa rules what would you recommend?

Not to sure on the best place to get the non-b. I heard a while ago (before the changes) that Penang asked for a receipt from the labour dept to say that work permit forms had been submitted. You may need to submit them before you go to get the non-b and take the receipt with you. Worth checking this out first, could save you time and money.

Shame they can't/won't or don't know how to transfer the W/P to your new company. My wife deals with this at her work. To my knowledge she has transfered 6 or 7W/P's , thus saving the people having to leave and get new visas. I guess she has a good lawyer to help her.

In my govt. career, I was in management three times. We're dealing here with govt. agencies, the MFA and the Immigration police. Each boss has limited control below him, and has limited resources such as personnel, computer systems, money, etc. He wants to get the job done easily, which means less work on the same budget.

The honorary consuls, however, are independent contractors, making a profit off of large volume. But, since they're honorary and subject to losing their status, they may over-react to what they perceive as a serious clampdown. Better to scare away a few customers, than to lose the contract.

In a time of uncertainty, such as this, the officials (govt. or honorary) are running scared.

Some of us at ThaiVisa are accused of being Chicken Littles, over-reacting and saying the sky was falling. I think some of us were largely correct about visa runs.

Too true PeaceBlondie!!!!! I totally agree with you. The tide is turning here. A lot of people here believe that it will always be easy to "Blag living here" Things change...... Like now.......Not too often, but they do.

>>>>>belies the notion of two-visas-per-year-per-location

Is it by location? I mean could you get a Tourist visa in Singapore and then the next in KL

and the next in Penang and the next in HK and you will be able to stay for a whole year?

thanks

nam

I was told yesterday in Savannakhet , Laos that was the case there. ONLY 2 per year from that Consulate. As it was to be my 2nd he said" after this one come back in a year.

At this point, I didn't ask anymore questions as I hadn't been granted the visa yet, I just handed in the forms and didn't want to anoy him with questions. He may have got the hump and said "visa denied"

As it turned out I got the visa, but CAN'T go there for 1 YEAR. So not sure if it applies to other consulates as well. I am trying to find out if this actually means ONLY 2 in total per year regardless of where they are from.

One thing I did notice was the vastly reduced number of people getting visas. Normally queues around the corner (approx 70-100 in the past)...... Yesterday I only saw 6 other people.

New visa rules confirmed

PHUKET: -- New rules limiting stays in Thailand on “visas on arrival” to 90 days over any six month period were confirmed at a September 15 meeting of Immigration Department Chiefs in Bangkok. The new policy will go into effect on October 1.

In a related development, the Royal Thai Consulate in Penang, Malaysia, has stopped issuing double-entry tourist visas.

Pol Lt Col Pipat Pongpan, an Inspector at Phuket Immigration Office, told the Gazette, “Anyone who has already stayed 90 days on visa-on-arrival permits does not need to worry. We will start counting the days from October 1.

“[Foreigners from countries qualifying for visas on arrival] can come in and out of the country as many times as they like with a visa on arrival, but can stay for a maximum of 90 days in any six month period. If they stay 90 days then they must leave for 90 days before they are entitled to another visa on arrival. They can, however, go and request a tourist visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad and come back into the country,” he said.

“Extensions above the 90-day limit may be granted in exceptional cases, such as if the tourist is suffering from an illness or involved in a lawsuit,” he added.

“No new investment visas will be issued after October 1. However, existing visas in this category may be extended if the holder still has funds of 3 million baht and is still doing business in Thailand,” Col Pipat said.

Tourist visas are still available, for a fee, at Thai embassies and consulates in neighboring countries. The Royal Thai Consulate in Penang, however, will now issue only single-entry 60-day tourist visas. An official at the consulate said that an order had been sent down from Consul Pramote Pramoonsab to cease issuance of double-entry tourist visas, which allow a total stay of up to 120 days.

Double-entry tourist visas are at present still available in the Thai Consulate in Kota Bharu and Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, however.

A source in the Visa and Travel Document Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), said that the move by the consulate in Penang is not due to any sweeping changes in MFA policy.

The decision whether or not to issue double-entry tourist visas rests solely at the discretion of each diplomatic mission, the source explained.

--Phuket Gazette 2006-09-21

How many tourist visas will they issue back to back though ?

Just got back from Laos and was told only 2 per year from there(Savannakhet). Or is this only 2 per year in total ?

The new rules are a maximum of 2 entries for tourist visa's. I am seeking clarification about the one year side of things.

Thanks for that. I have been following the situation but didn't read any mention of this anywhere.

I thought that they were stearing people towards Tourist Visas so they can run checks on them and keep out those on blacklists.

I have just returned from a visa run (for tourist visa) from Savannaket in Laos. Maybe not a well known crossing point (from Mukdaharn) but they issue visas the same day. Turn it in in the morning and collect the same day at 3pm. I have done this run about 6 0r 7 times in the last 5 years, along with various other places, Penang, Singapore and Hanoi. In the past all was good, no probs.

This time I was informed that only 2 Tourist Visas will be issed in a year from this Consulate.

As my previous one was from there (obtained in July 2006), the man politally said" come back in a year"

Does anyone know if this is happening at other Consulates/Embassies in the region ?

Has anyone else been told this ?

Also, any news on Non-b 12 month multiple enty visas from the UK ? Are they still issuing them ?

This may have to be my next choice !!!! Not looking forward to my next run in January !!!!!