JimGant

DSW,

I've been waiting for someone in the know to answer your Houston question-------. Anyway, I'm not in the know, but Dr.PP sure is about many things, including "easy" consulates to obtain 'O' visas from. And the 'O' visa is certainly far superior to any other type you could get, and certainly worth a try with Houston.

Houston's Web page indicates that you should be in Texas to apply to them (or Dallas or El Paso consulates). But I really can't imagine them sending your passport back without action just because the return address is in California, especially if their workload is low that day. Even if you called Houston and they said their policy was Texas only, I bet it would come down to who opened your letter and what their disposition and workload was that day. I don't think Thai immigration has any policy in concrete, as becomes obvious the more you read immigration info on this forum. Anyway, what's to lose by trying, except maybe time?

It's interesting that LA's website states pretty emphatically that "studying" is not a valid reason for an 'O' visa. However, Chicago's website says "study and observation" is a valid reason. So, again, an example of no concrete policy for 'O' issuances. Obviously Houston subscribes to the Chicago way of thinking, according to Dr.PP, even tho' they don't have a definitive website of their own stating such (they defer to LA's website). So, give a shot, and let us know what happens.

Good luck.

Jim Gant

It's interesting to search the Web pages of individual Thai embassies and consulates in the attempt to glean immigration facts. No two seem to read from the same sheet of music, and, in fact, there seem to be completely different song books circulating. And the Hull consulate's Web page adds yet another twist in addition to one-year tourist visas (at least I'd never seen this option before anywhere, including this forum). I'm talking about the following:

http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/Bvisas.htm

WRITTEN GUARANTEE:-

Persons requiring Non-Immigrant Visas who are not able to provide a letter of employment or appointment or marriage certificate are required to provide a letter of guarantee from someone who is prepared to meet any costs incurred by the applicant which they cannot pay themselves including the cost of repatriation if necessary.

The wording of such a letter to be as follows:-

Name of guarantor

Address of guarantor

Date

I (name of guarantor) have known (name of applicant) for ___ years and understand him/her to have sufficient funds to meet any reasonable costs which may be incurred during their stay in Thailand including the cost of returning to the UK. However, in the event of it being necessary I (name of guarantor) hereby undertake to meet any expenses which may be incurred by (name of visitor) including the cost of repatriation.

Signature of guarantor

Wow! A Nonimmigrant 'O' visa seems a much better visa than the Tourist example of this thread if one wants to spend a year (in this case, 15 months) in Thailand. I'm not sure what the 'gotcha' is, if any. Maybe you can't get the multiple entry variety(?). And some individuals might be hard pressed to find a guarantor. Anyway, even if this is creative visa interpretation by Hull, once you get the multiple entry Nonim 'O' stamp in your passport, you're good-to-go for 15 months, whether or not Hull was correct in issuing you one.

Has anyone else seen anything about a 'guarantor' for Nonim 'O' visas? Or is this strictly Hull?

If immigration knows you meet the income requirements for retirement visa they seem to prefer to issue that (perhaps because they don't have to check home life).  

Lop, your "check home life" has gotten my curiosity up again about opting for "marriage" or "retirement" extension on my "O" visa. (If there's a nice FAQ page somewhere comparing the two, please just point me in that direction -- I know a lot on this forum is repetitive rehash.)

First, I've been married to my Thai wife for 27 years, so I think it might last. But I also have the resources and age to qualify for the "retirement" extension. And I don't plan to work in Thailand. So, either extension avenue is an option.

Thus, the only difference that lead me to the "marriage" option was that I didn't need to get a medical certificate (which wouldn't be a problem, only an added irritant), and I wouldn't need a police report, which also wouldn't be a problem, but it is something I don't quite understand how to go about(?). (Does the US Embassy fill out a form saying I'm not currently on the 10-most-wanted-list, or what?) And "checking home life," as I understand it, shouldn't involve more than a photo of us at home, marriage certificate, plus I've got a 30-year lease on my wife's property here. Anything I'm missing?

The only other thing I can think of that could make the "retirement" option more viable up front is if my wife should die before I do. Since I'm not supporting any other family member over here, I guess this would put me in the same situation as "divorced," meaning I'd have to switch to the "retirement" option upon her death.

Any and all thoughts appreciated. Thanks.

Jim Gant

Kathe,

If you have your old Thai residency card, or an expired Thai passport (you apparently had to turn in your latest Thai passport to Austrian authorities), this should be all you need to get a one year, multiple entry visa from Thai immigration. At least this was the case with my Thai wife, who entered Thailand with a 30 day visa obtained at the airport (US passport), then went to immigration in Chiang Mai and got the one-year visa applicable to Thai nationals with non Thai passports. The cost (then) was no more than 2000 baht.

I would think any sort of proof that you're a Thai national (birth certificate, school diploma, whatever) would suffice. And Thai immigration certainly doesn't care that you now carry an Austrian passport -- you're a Thai national forever (but stay tuned. there may be a price tag on this distinction one of these days).

Good luck.

Jim Gant

Only had one experience with Thai immigration. That was when I got a visa for my Thai wife

Curveblade, If you're still married to your Thai wife, getting your NonImmigrant "O" before heading to Thailand should just require showing your marriage certificate. Also, as I understand it (Dr P or Lop please jump in), the requirement for getting one year extensions on your visa is much easier going the "married" route vs. "retirement" route, i.e., money requirement is less, no medical, police reports required.

Jim Gant

Lopburi3,

Thanks for clarifying some of my confusion. But one more quick question:

I've got the NonImmigrant "O" visa courtesy of being married to a Thai. This will expire soon as it (like everyone's, I assume) is issued for only one year. When I obtain the one year extension of stay by showing support, 400k, etc, can I do this indefinitely without ever leaving the country again? In other words, even tho' the NonIm "O" visa expires, the extensionj of stay essentially breathes new life into this visa. And thus there is no requirement to leave Thailand ever again to obtain a new NonIm "O" visa as long as I can get annual extensions of stay. Am I interpreting this correctly?

Many thanks for your time.

Jim Gant

You won't have to leave the country every 90 days with a marriage visa; and as pointed out, 400k of baht in the bank, but only once a year when you trot down to Immigration to renew your visa, is all you need. There is some kind of requirement to report your presence to Immigration every 90 days, but there's a form for this, and it can be done by mail or messenger. Also, I'm told, the account with the 400k in it can be joint with your wife -- immigration just wants a letter from the bank confirming this sum. So, if necessary, once a year borrow enought to reach 400k in your account, go see Immigration with your bank letter, extend your visa for another year, then the next day pay back the borrowed 400k.

I haven't done any of the above yet, but will soon. So, obviously someone out there correct me if I'm wrong. All I know is what I've gleaned on this forum; but sometimes my memory ain't what it used to be.

Jim Gant

Many thanks for the info.

Jim

Thanks for the response. Is Chiang Mai Ram a hospital?

Jim Gant

How does one go about finding reputable medical doctors and dentists in Chiang Mai? I need some dental work done soon; and I also would like to have an extensive medical physical accomplished (something I've put off now for too long). But I haven't the foggiest how to differentiate quacks from others; or whether a hospital or independent doctor's office is the way to go. In the States, you don't go to a hospital for a physical. But maybe in Thailand.......?  Anyway, probably asking my Thai friends for recommendations is the way to go. But if anyone here, familiar with Chiang Mai, could offer their advice and experience, I'd be appeciate it. Thanks.

Jim Gant

Lopburi3, many thanks for your info.

Yes, I've gotten 'retirement' and 'marriage' visas confused, being eligible for both. I had just assumed the only difference was 800,000 baht vs. 250,000 baht bank acct requirement. As you point out, there is a considerable difference in paperwork requirements between the two, with 'marriage' visa looking the less onerous (unless translating the marriage certificate, if required,  is more than the minimum effort it seems(?)).

Before the law was changed to allow wife to keep her Thai surnmame, I had considered going the 'retirement' visa route to preclude any fuss over her having kept her name 25 years ago when we married in the States. But that's no longer a factor --- so the 'marriage' visa looks the way to go -- unless someone reading this sees a quirk I don't (and it seems 'quirk' defines Thai immigration law interpretation

Thanks again for your time, Lopburi3.

Jim Gant

[i'm a US citizen, age 59, married to a Thai national]

"Today I went out to Chiang Mai Immigration with all my paperwork."

Could you (or anyone in the know) state exactly what "all my paperwork" consists of? I'll be doing the same in Chiang Mai soon, but I'm slightly confused about some stated requirements, like "A Personal Data Form."  Is this a fill-in-the-blanks form, or what? Easily filled out at time of application -- or should I obtain it (from where?) before I go to Immigration?

Another stated requirement is: "Verification stating that the applicant has no criminal record issued from the county of his/her nationality or residence (the verification shall be valid for no more than 3 months). "

What, how, and who satisfies this requirement?

Medical certificate. Do you just waltz into a clinic, get checked out for elephantitis, etc, and then exit with an official certificate?

Bank certificate. I've got the required 250,000 baht in a Thai bank - but it's in a joint account with my Thai wife. Do I need an individual account?

If I wanted to use monthly pension vice 250,000 in bank to meet requirement, would this pension have to be directly deposited to a Thai bank? Right now, my pension goes directly to a US bank. It's above 65,000/mo, and I can verify it with my US Air Force Pension statement. And part of it is wired periodically to Thailand. But will Immigration accept this?

Does marriage certificate have to be translated into Thai? I've seen 'yes,' 'no' and 'maybe' to this on this forum -- anybody have the latest, particularly with experience in Chiang Mai?

Anybody experience any surprise requirements when applying for a retirement visa?

What's the best FAQ link, if any, that addresses the above?

Thanks.

Jim Gant

My marriage to a Thai was in the States, so like Philip, my license was not issued in Thailand. But possibly unlike Philip, my wife kept her Thai surname, which is legal in the States and is thus duly reflected on the license. I've had no problems obtaining a non-immigrant O visa from the Thai embasssy in DC -- even tho Thai law says (said?) my wife was obligated to change her surname. I understand this law may have changed(?), but I'm not sure, having been back in the States several months now.

Anyway, as I rattle on, if the law has indeed been changed, forget all the following. But if not, my question is: Will an American marriage license override the Thai requirement to have the wife's surname changed? Hopefully so, since changing her name after 25 years of marriage is not an option. But I would hate to find out that 1) I have to register our marriage in Thailand in order to extend non-O/obtain retirement visa; and 2) by registering, she has to change her name. If so, I guess I would have to put 800,000 baht, not 250,000, in the bank, and then play single to get a retirement visa. Sigh.

Jim Gant

George,

(mmmmm. I'm finding some interesting stuff in the old threads)

I've held off getting a retirement visa since I'm over in Thailand in 70-80 day chunks; and I had thought the requirement to report every 90 days to immigration would require some surrogate to head there for me every 90 days when I'm out of the country, which would be inconvenient. But it sounds like, if I leave the country on day 89, immigration doesn't get a data alarm on day 90 that Jim Gant is now due to report. And that as long as I'm never in the country more than 89 days at a time, I'll never have to report! Is that correct?

If so, a retirement visa would then be easier to apply for than having to head to Wash DC every year for a new non-immigrant 'o' visa.

Jim Gant

Lopburi3,  

Is the "home register" requirement needed to obtain a Thai driving license? And if so, what do I need to take to Immigration to accomplish the required paperwork?

Oh, what else would I need this "home register" for?

Thanks,

JimGant

"You need to follow the same process for 3 consecutive years after which you should be permitted residence. With residence you may be entitled to have your name included on the house registration form. "

Is this 3 years until 'resident' situation only for someone under age 50? I'm married to a Thai, and meet all the retirement requirements, including over age 50. Will I be considered a 'resident' once I apply for and receive my retirement visa? Or will I too have to wait for 3 years of renewal?

Also, having not yet gotten my retirement visa (having only the non immigrant 90 day variety), will I have any problem getting my name on the house registration form? We built it 2 years ago, and it is now strictly registered in my wife's name.

And what is the advantage of having my name on that registration? Do I need that to get a Thai driving license? Or will a certificate of residence from the local authorities suffice?What else would that house registration do for me when retired in Thailand?

Thanks in advance (there are probably answers to this and many other questions I have in this forum-- but I haven't figured out how to search here, if that is possible(?).)

Jim Gant

Many thanks for the replies. Looks like I should get a Thai driving license -- which leads to another question:

One of the criteria in getting one is showing proof of medical soundness. Just how do I do this? Is there a specific form? And will just being sober, ambulatory, and heated up to only 98.6F qualify, or do I need a physical of some sort?

Thanks in advance.