KamnanT

Thank you for your replies! ive forward the information on to my dad. any information on a working visa??

There is no "working visa" per se - permission for a non-Thai citizen to work in Thailand comes in the form of a work permit issued by the Department of Labour. Normally, work permits are not issued to foreigners in Thailand on an Non-Immigrant "O-A" visa or on an extension of stay based on retirement (one aspect of having somewhat easier rules for retirees is that they are not working). If your father wants to work, he will need to start with a Non-Immigrant "B" or Non-Immigrant "O" visa and then find an employer to sponsor a work permit application. Unless he really, really wants or needs to work, the O-A route will be quite a bit easier.

Because that's the law. It's no more irrational than some of the laws that pertain in your home country.

Can anyone tell me please.I have a air asia ticket N.Z.-K.L.-B.K.K.,but no onward ticket.Will I be allowed into the L.O.S.for a visa on arrival?Thai embassy's visa info says no.Air asia says they will not let me board @K.L.

Can anyone give me correct advice please?Thanks.

Probably should be in a new thread but as it's here now:

If you are travelling on an NZ passport, I assume you are talking about a visa exempt entry, not a visa on arrival - these are different. New Zealanders are not eligible for a visa on arrival.

Depends on the airline but if they are paying attention at the check-in, they will realise that in order to qualify for visa exempt entry into Thailand, you need to be in possession of a confirmed and issued onward ticket for within 30 days of your arrival date. If you do not have one, they can refuse to allow you to board your flight. Air Asia is one of the airlines that appears to pay attention, particularly in KL.

It's not that different from other countries - look at the US, for example. A Thai can obtain a B1/B2 Non-Immigrant Visa that is valid for 10 years, but only for a maximum stay of 180 days on each entry. Theoretically, one could leave the US on the 180th day, go to Canada and then return the following day and get another 180 day entry. In practice, however, your friendly US CBP agent is going to have a LOT of questions for a B1/B2 visa holder who is attempting to re-enter after such a short period outside the country. Why? Because a Non-Immigrant Visa alone is permission to visit, not permission to reside.

Cool - I didn't know about the regional courier options. One learns something new every day.

Unfortunately, VFS, the visa documentation processing agent for the Australian Embassy, has only one office - in Thai CC Tower, 889 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok. There are no upcountry branches. If travel to Bangkok is problematic, be aware that applicants for Tourist Visas are not required to attend in person but can have someone else lodge their application on their behalf.

In this case the child has Thai and British nationality becuase of the parents.

The child is Thai only if 1) the mother or father is Thai, or 2) both mother and father have permanent resident status at the time of the child's birth. The OP doesn't actually state the nationality of the mother.

On the baby's first departure from Thailand, make sure you have the Thai birth certificate with you and give yourself a few extra minutes at Immigration on the way out. Nothing difficult just a bit of fiddling to create a record in the immigration computer so that the baby can depart. With your Non-Immigrant "B" visas, you can apply for a Non-Immigrant "O" for the baby while you are overseas if you wish, which can subsequently be extended in Thailand to the same date as your current permission to stay (assuming you and your wife are on annual Extensions). But as mentioned above, as there are no overstay fines for children, the baby could enter on a visa exemption each time and simply overstay.

The TLSContact website says 6-10 working days, which is 8 to 14 calendar days assuming no statuatory holidays. But 3 weeks does seem well beyond their stated service level target. Any other members had recent experience and what was the turnaround time received?

Voting was made compulsory in Thailand by the 1997 Constitution but not voting is not a criminal offence. The penalty for not voting is essentially a loss of political rights until after the next election (for example, if you did not vote in the last election, you cannot run as a candidate in this election). Voter turnout in general elections varies year-by-year, but rarely tops 75%, so your GF would certainly not be the only person in the country who did not vote.

German Embassy staff would have no way of knowing if your girlfriend did or did not vote and even if they did, it would not be relevant to any past or future decision about visa eligibility for Germany.

Kamnan: There is something I do not understand , the fee is paid once the dossier is accepted, therefore how can the applicant gave any money before the dossier was taken under consideration by the staff in charge ?

Apparently at TLS the first thing you do upon arrival is pay the fees (Schengen visa fee & TLS processing fee). You then proceed to have your application assessed by a TLS staff member. If they conclude that your application is incomplete, then you have three options:

1. Proceed with the application and bring any additional documents to include with your application before 2pm the same day, or

2. Proceed with your application "as is", or

3. Do not proceed with your application.

if you opt for #3, they will refund the visa fee but not the TLS processing fee. Nice little earner, that.

I'm not sure how vigorously they check at the borders but as you have to supply details of your journey and accomodation when applying, if somebody applied at the Danish Consulate when it's obvious the main destination is Germany then they could possibly be refused.

Had word from an acquaintance living in France whose Thai GF went to TLS (processing agent for the French Embassy in Bangkok) on Friday, May 27th to apply for a Schengen. Their planned travel itinerary started in Paris, followed by Switzerland, Italy, south of France, Spain and then back to Paris. But because they were planning to spend more nights iItaly than in another other Schengen state, TLS advised her to apply at the Italian Embassy instead. Applicant had all the other required documentation and six previous Schengen visas from France, Italy and Switzerland. TLS said the choice was hers, but strongly implied that if she proceeded with the French application, she would be rejected. She wisely declined the proceed.

Interestingly, they returned her Schengen visa fee but retained the 1,200 baht TLS administration charge. That's going to be my next business - visa application processing center.

Your biggest challenge is going to be demonstrating that you will return to Thailand at the end of your visit. To be blunt, given that you are 17 years old, single, childless, have just finished school, have close relatives in the US including your father who has a Green Card...I would think that, fairly or unfairly, you would be considered by the US Embassy to be at very high risk of overstaying your visa. Try to think of what evidence you could offer with your application to convince the assessing officer that you will return to Thailand. Job? Any assets (land, house) in Thailand?

sorry yes gf is thia

A subtle point to consider when collecting evidence to demonstrate the genuine nature of your relationship would be to spell your girlfriend's nationality correctly. She's Thai, not Thia.

But seriously, you mention that this is your 2nd visit to Thailand. Can we conclude that you met your girlfriend on your 1st visit? How long have you known each other and of that time, how much have you spent together? If her stated purpose of travelling to the UK is to visit you, then one of the primary criteria in assessing the application will be whether or not your relationship is genuine. If your relationship is at an early stage (a few days/weeks together while you were on holiday), then it is more likely than not that her application will be declined.

If you have sufficient evidence to demonstrate that your relationship is genuine, then the other big hurdle is demonstrating that your girlfriend has sufficient reason to return to Thailand at the end of her visit to the UK. Family ties, immovable assets, employment, studies, an active business...all of these can help establish that she has reason to return and will not simply stay on the in UK.

As stated above, there is clearly a lot more to this than just filling out forms. At least there is if you desire a successful result - a completed application form with no evidence to support either the genuine nature of the relationship or a reasonable likelihood of her return to Thailand is bound to be rejected.

OK, can we start with basics like...a holiday visa to where ?

May I suggest to the FAA an urgent security audit of Qantas Airline before their africanization is complete.

On what grounds would the FAA, a US government agency, audit Qantas, an Australian-registered airline? The FAA would have jurisdiction to investigate an incident that took place in US-controlled airspace or on the ground in the US, but this incident appears to have taken place in Thai airspace. If there were more general safety concerns with the airline, they would be investigated by the issuer of their Air Operator's Certificate --- the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in Australia.

I too have always wondered about the purpose of this...wouldn't a photo out front of the house be sufficient...why the need for two interior shots?

With the interior shots they can assess the value of your stereo, flat screen and Blu-Ray player, just before they pass your address and the time of your next Immigration appointment off to their light-fingered cousin and his friend with big gambling debts.

Geez...maybe I've been here too long?

My understanding is that the US only issues tourist visas that are valid for 10 years. There are no shorter tourist visas. That is perhaps one reason they are a bit reluctant to hand them out. Whatever else changes during those 10 years the holder can still travel to the US.

10 years is the current standard validity period of a multi-entry B1/B2, but shorter durations are still issued where deemed prudent by the visa section. From late 2001 through 2005 (for obvious reasons), issuance of 10 year visas was severely restricted and many applicants for both business and tourism purposes received single entry visas valid only for their declared period of stay.

You are correct that having a current visa will allow the holder to travel to the US, but it is not a guarantee of admission upon arrival. If, upon questioning by ICE at the port ot entry, it appears that the applicant's circumstances have materially changed since the visa was granted, the traveller can be refused entry even though in possession of a valid visa.

Japan does allow holding dual nationality?

Technically no - Japanese citizens with dual nationality are supposed to make a "declaration of choice" after their 20th and before their 22nd birthday, chosing to retain either their Japanese citizenship or their foreign citizenship(s). If they acquire foreign nationality after turning 20, then they must make their election within 2 years.

If they elect to retain their Japanese citizenship, they must submit evidence that they have renounced their foreign citizenship. This can pose difficulties, as some countries either don't permit or have no process defined for renouncing citizenship.

Practically, I don't know if the Japanese authorities actively pursue the issue of dual nationality. It is certainly dealt with more directly in Japan's Nationality Law than it is in Thai law. The Ministry of Justice has some information in English on the web (http://www.moj.go.jp...on/tcon-01.html).

Just to clarify, a "10 year visa" is a B-1/B-2 non-immigrant visa that is valid for entry into the U.S. for 10 years from the date of issue. However, as pointed out by Naam, admission to the US and the permitted length of stay on each entry is entirely at the discretion of the immigration officer at the port of entry - the maximum length of stay that can be granted on a B-1/B-2 visa is 6 months. So, in theory, this would suit your plans as long as your GF will not be working in the US.

I don't think any application for a US visa can be termed a "slam dunk" - applications can be and are rejected for a number of reasons. Your GF's application will need to conclusively demonstrate both the means to support herself during her stay in the US and, most importantly, compelling reasons to return to Thailand at the end of the proposed visit. She has secure, long-term employment, yet I suspect she would be questioned about how she can get 3 months off work to visit the US with you. Most Thais are lucky to get 10 days of annual leave per year. If you can demonstrate a history of living and working in Thailand yourself and prove the length and nature of your relationship, that will help establish another reason to return - to be with you.

IMHO, I would start with an application based on a 3 month holiday visit and not mention any plans for annual 5 month stays in the US. She may get a 10 year B-1/B-2 on her first application. If she gets a visa of shorter duration, you can always apply again once the first visa has expired.

Thai law doesn't recognise the concept of a "notary public" as we understand it in Common Law jurisdictions. The Law Society of Thailand has tried to promote the concept and has certified some members as "Notarial Services Attorneys" (attend a training course, get a certificate) but this designation has no standing in Thai law. If you require signatures or documents "notarized" for use in an overseas common law jurisdiction, then in all likelihood your only alternative is that jurisdiction's embassy or consulate in Thailand, unless you can find someone locally who is registered as a notary public under that jurisdiction's laws. In the U.S. notaries are appointed by the individual states and, with some exceptions, have jurisdiction only within the state that appointed them. Some of the larger international law firms may have foreign notaries amongst their staff.

Beware local law firms that promote notarial services: documents notarized by them have no legal standing outside of Thailand and only limited value inside the country.

The suggestion to use a local (AT&T/Verizon/T-Mobile) SIM with a data package is a good one BUT remember that if you purchased your iPhone in Thailand through a Thai service provider (True, DTAC or AIS) you probably have a phone that is locked to that provider. My iPhone 3GS, purchased from True, will only work with a True SIM card in it. Of course, jailbreaking is always an option.

In that case the B-visa can wait until the end of the year.

Yes, but do be aware that there are some intricate timing manouvres required when setting up a company and then using that company to apply for your own Non-Immigrant "B" visa and work permit. For example, you may be a company shareholder without a work permit (that's "passive investment") but you cannot be a company signatory without one (signing is "work", ya know). Being a company director appears to be OK as long as your participation as a director is limited to attending director's meetings and doesn't involve any "work", i.e. signing documents on the company's behalf and certainly not directing staff to do anything. As a company requires a signatory in order to apply for a work permit, there's a bit of a Catch-22. Normally, a Thai director is required, at least temporarily, to get the work permit issued for a foreign director or manager.

Ummm, no offence to the OP intended, but what did your last slave die of? If you're asking other members for their experiences with obtaining Schengen visas through Chiang Mai consulates, that's fair enough, but your post makes it sound like you're asking others to do your research for you ("...only let me know when you are SURE that the 'post' can provide one.").

Google will get you phone numbers of Schengen Area consulates in Chiang Mai (here's a hint....Austria, France and Finland) and from there you can let your fingers do the walking.

Bellboy, the OP is Australian.

Although I am pretty sure that Australia allows dual citizenship (I know Thailand does) I am not sure of the procedure for obtaining an Australian passport for the child..

After registering the birth at the Australian Embassy (requires passport of Australian parent and suitable ID - passport or bàt bpràchaachon - from other parent, plus original Thai birth certificate), you will receive a certificate entitled "Extract of Register of Citizenship by Descent". This will be your child's proof of Australian citizenship and must be supplied when applying for an Australian passport. Australia does permit dual nationality.

Thai government savings bonds would be a good option. Interest rate is much better than bank term deposits (generally set at the government bond rate for the corresponding maturity plus 50-75 basis points) and while the term is fixed (discouraging the "frittering away" of capital), they can be redeemed if required. They are only issued once or twice a year and are always in high demand - line-ups at bank branches at 8am to subscribe. Only Thai nationals can apply, there is normally a limit on how much an individual can subscribe for and often they will give preference to seniors. Initial plans announced by the Finance Ministry in December were to raise THB 100 bln via government savings bonds in the first half of 2011, although I haven't seen any announcements since then.