Mason45

Is it possible to use a non Thai VISA credit card in major shopping outlets such as BIG C, Tesco and Carrefour etc in Thailand, I've just moved into a new house and need some credit for a TV, stereo, fridge and washing machine etc while I'm waiting for a large term deposit to mature in my country. Thanks.

My wife of 6 years and I are thinking about returning to Australia to visit family and friends and do some sight seeing early next year. My wife has been to Australia with me before, once as my girl friend and again as my wife. It's 5 years now since her last visa, she has no permanent job or personal income so I'll be totally supporting her in her stay in Australia if a visa is granted. We plan to go for 3 months, so given the above information which visa application form is appropiate for her. Thanks.

Mason,

How many tourist visas has your wife been issued over the last few years, and how long has she spent in Australia (total time) on those visas.

Bridge, my wife has been to Australia 2 times, firstly on a 3 months visa and then a 6 months visa, she hasn't been back to Australia for several years. I understand the immigration department has the sole right to determine whether the applicant is genuine or not but to issue my wife with 2 visas and then refuse the third application seems rather strange to me and to send an official letter stating that because she didn't satisfy one or more terms relating to a 676 visa is really vague, couldn't they've given a specific reason/s as to their refusal so we have something to work on to sort this matter out. She could test the water and apply for a visa right now but I'm not going to keep on chasing good money after bad forfeiting application deposits unless I'm sure she has a realistic chance of obtaining a visa.

Thanks everyone for your views on this subject, I still can't come to terms with the the wide difference between the Aust Embassy in Bangkok and their counterparts in Kuala Lumpur, after all both Embassies are supposed to operate under the same guidelines. The letter my wife got when her application was refused was rather confusing even for me. It stated that she was classed as not being genuine because she didnt satisfy one or more rules set down for a 676 visa. The clauses were as follows : A. Personal, financial, employment or other commitments which may induce the applicant to return to there country of usual residence. B. Circumstances which may induce the applicant not to return to the country of their usual residence. ie. military service, unemployment, economic situation, civil disruption including war and political upheaval. C. The credibility of the applicant. D. The purpose of the applicants visit. E. Info in the application which may suggest the applicant wont abide by the visa conditions. F. Non compliance or breach/es of immigration laws by the applicant on previous visas.

I still own my own home in Australia so I wouldnt need to pay rent, I have a substantial sum in my superannuation, I draw AU$600 per week tax free. Ive always made it mandatory for my wife to have travel insurance on previous visas to Australia. My wife is debt free in Thailand and her 2 children are married. On previous visits to Australia my wife has never made any attempts to go to work and shes always returned to Thailand prior to the expiry date on her visa. They say that every application is treated on its merits, thats not correct as four Aussie friends who are legally married to Thai women the same as me were all told after the 2nd visa that it was a spouse visa or nothing but the difference with them was they decided to apply for a spouse visa and live in Australia whereas at this stage I prefer to live in Thailand. To be warned about the consequences in regards to something that may never happen doesnt really seem like every application being treated on its merits. Another point is which of the 676 visa clause/s deemed my wife not to be a genuine applicant, its really hard to rectify a problem when the official letter stated that it maybe one or more reasons why her visa was refused, previous enquiries have all received the same reply, insisting that my wife must apply for a spouse visa.

To be eligible for this visa you must have a genuine intention to visit Australia as a tourist, for recreation or to visit your family and/or friends.

This is the interesting part of the eligibilty criteria for the 676 visa.

I totally agree gburns but how genuine can she be. It stated in the unsuccesfull visa application that I was receiving a substantial amout of money every month via my superannuation, I own my own home in Australia. The letter she received stated several reasons why a visa maybe refused and it stated that my wifes application wasn't considered genuine because she didn't satisfy one or more of the conditions, that's rather vague to say the least. I've got 4 Aussie friends who were given the same ultimatum after the second visa, it's either a spouse visa or nothing, they chose the spouse visa because they wanted to live in Australia, whereas we don't. As for the reason my wife wanted a third tourist visa was of course to visit our family, friends, travel and take care of some personal business. It begs the question if my wifes situation is the same as when she received her first 2 visas then how was she considered genuine previously.

PS : Last night I sent an email to the Australian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, I received a reply this morning and it was personal not automated. It states that for flexibility sake it would be wise for my wife to apply for a spouse visa but considering that she won't be living Australia, she can apply for a tourist visa and there's no limit but if she were to live in Australia for more than 6 months in any one year then she would have to apply for a spouse visa or return to her own country. Do these 2 embassys work for the same government, as they seem to contradict each other.

I just sent the Australian Embassy an email outlining the circumstances about my wifes visa refusal, I don't know why I bothered, all I got in return was an automated email informing me how extensive their website was and I was given the wrong number for telephone communication with an official. I finally found the right number and a Thai woman answered the phone, I asked her several times did she understand me, she assured me she did. I get the feeling she didn't and she was only saving face. Three times she told me I'm sorry sir but I can't answer your question, surely my wife isn't the only one in this situation and the official should've been able to put some light on the subject, all she could suggest was to see an immigration officer and he's open for questions in the Australian Embassy every Tuesday and Thursday from 2pm till 4.30pm. I suppose next thing I'll go to the Embassy and the immigration officer will be on long service leave without a replacement. I laugh when I read adverse reports about the Thai Immigration, believe me after 8 Non Imigration visas I'd rather deal with the Thai Immigration anyday, if you play their games eventually you'll get what you want, whereas Australia will just let you play the red tape merry go round.

If your wife does not intend to live in Australia permanently why would she need a spouse visa?

It would appear that this "embassy official" most likely a Thai employee of DIAC has overstepped their authority.

It would pay to contact a senior Australian migration officer at the Embassy and get the matter

clarified.

I have found out that Thai staff of DIAC do not like their authority questioned.You just

tell them that you will take the matter up at a higher level and be polite about it.

It would not have happened if you were applying for a 676 extension in Australia,you would have had an Australian processing you wifes application, that is the difference.

Your thinking logically david, why would my wife need a spouse visa if we plan to spend the rest of our days in Thailand. They never really gave any specifics in the letter, the letter stated that going on the given facts my wife wasnt granted a tourist visa. There was a list of reasons but it appeared to be a standard letter sent to all unsucessfull applicants and it stated that my wife comes under one or more of the following categories which would make her application unsuccesfull. I might add that the letter was signed by an Australian senior immigration official. My details havent changed since her first 2 applications were granted, the only thing thats changed is Im a few years older.

If you get a refusal of a 676 visa or any other visa for that matter the applicant will receive

a formal letter in English from DIAC at the Australian Embassy stating the reason for the refusal. It is this you should refer to.

In plain language refusals can be given for a 676 visa on the grounds of:

Insufficent funds for travel and support,

Health problems.

Non genuine application, applicant may work or overstay.

Non compliance with the visa requirements of another country

etc, etc.

What was the reason for the refusal in the letter?

DIAC can give you advice, such as "You should consider obtaining a spouse visa as

you cannot continue to travel to Australia on a 676 visas as you may be stopped and questioned at a point of entry to Australia" They may give you this advice when you are applying for a visa. This is often given when applying for visa extensions in Australia that may extend upto 1 year. Just advice that is all.

Ok bear with me and I'll explain the best I can, my wife has been to Australia 2 times for 3 months and then 6 months, on receiving the 6 months visa she was told by an embassy official not to apply for any more tourist visas as from now on it was spouse visa or nothing. A year after her return I thought I'd give it a try for another holiday visa and she got a reply that she was unsuccesfull and its really her fault because she didnt heed her previous warning. She received an envelope with a 3 page letter with all the governments usual razzamatazz, it then states the requirements she didnt meet. Genuine visits are based on the following:

a. the level of personal, financial, employment and other commitments may induce the applicant to return to his or her country of usual residence.

b. circumstances may induce the applicant not to return to their country of usual residence.

c. the credibilityof the applicant in terms of character and conduct.

It goes on and on and concludes with in your situation I am not satisified that from the purpose of your stay in Australia and you have been informed by the officer from your last application that you would apply for the appropiate visa. A visitor visa is not appropiate for your case. Therfore I am not satisfied that youre expressed intention only to visit Australia is genuine.

Signed by the Senior Migration Officer.

The irony of all of this is how did she get the original 2 tourist visas in the first place. Shes never breached Australia immigration laws and Im cashed up and still own my own home in Australia. The above letter has been shortened for obvious reasons.

The reason she doesnt apply for a spouse visa is because we dont wish to live in Australia but surely I can take her to my country for a holiday every year or 2, thats the what I dont understand. By the way shes 53 yo so she wont be chasing a career path in The Cross or St Kilda if thats what the Australian immigration thinks.

Do I understand correctly? The OP’s wife was refused a tourist visa recently.

I agree it’s a pain in the proverbial having to apply for a tourist visa every year or so but living with your wife overseas there doesn’t seem to be any other choice. The closest option seems to be a family visit visa which needs an Australian resident as sponsor.

I have a few friends in the same boat but their wives haven’t been knocked back on a tourist visa yet although it does seem to vary yearly as to whether their wives receive a 1 year multi entry visa or a single entry visa.

Apart from my wife’s (then fiancé) initial tourist visa being a single entry visa the rest have all been 1 year multi entry visas including one issued in Bangkok this week.

I wonder if the OP’s submitted paperwork was lacking in some way.

The scenario which I'm led to believe is as follows, the first visa is for 3 months, the next for 6 months then after that it's a spouse visa or nothing. I've got several friends who've been issued the same ultimatum from immigration. One year ago my wife applied for a tourist visa, 4-6 weeks would've been sufficient for business and to visit family, friends etc, she was told in no uncertain manner that she never heeded her previous warning and the rules haven't changed its either a spouse visa or nothing, of course her deposit was refunded, I don't think so. The irony of all of this is that my wifes cousins son is a ladyboy and he's been to Sydney on a 3 months tourist visa and we ridicule Thai laws.

Time has come for another Non O extension based on marriage. What is this new document that people are talking about?

Khor Dor 2? What is it and how do I get it?

Married overseas and had my marriage certificate translated and they gave us a Khor Ror 22. Is that the equivalent document of the Khor Dor 2? Do I need to update my old Khor Ror 22 to prove we are still married?

I have been busy and have not had a chance to go in one month ahead of time. Have less than a week to go before my visa runs out. Please help.

On top of that, what kind of pictures do they want now?

You only need the Kor Ror 22. The Kor Ror 2 is only needed if you had gotten married here.

I was married in Bangkok 7 years ago and I was given a coloured wedding certificate and a paper which is printed on both sides which my wife and myself signed, is that our Kor Dor 2.

I am dumbfounded. I had not looked into the 'Thai lady visa to Australia' situation as yet. I was hoping to in the future but as my name says - I still solo. I would try asking them for a written statement of reasons for the refusal. I assume that you are still an Australian, so why not then make representation to a federal minister? Don't give up

Good point soloman, the Australian Minister for Immigration is Senator Chris Evans, email : [email protected].

At times I think some of these rules are made up by the big fish in a little pond in the Sth Sathorn Rd area of Bangkok.

I can never understand the Australian immgrations stance on Aussies who have a Thai wife and are refused a holiday visa after 2 succesfull visa applications. My wife has been to Australia 2 times firstly as my girlfriend and then as my wife. After the last succesfull application 5 years ago we were told for her to go to Australia again she would need a spouse visa, I tried to explain that we don't want to live in Australia, we're both happy together here, surely I can take my legally married wife back to the country I was born in without all this red tape garbage. The weird part of this is I can take my wife to any country in the World for a hoilday except my own. I just want to do some business and visit family and friends, maybe 4-6 weeks every year or two.

Bangkok is asking 2 months for first time applications and 3 for all the others.

I can confirm that Samut Prakan office also asking for 2 months for first time applications and 3 for all the others.

Thanks guys so now it begs the next question, what is the minimum time required between the date of my next visa application and the expiry date of my current visa and do I need a current certification of marriage from my amphur, in previous years I've just submitted copies of the documentation I received on the day were were married and in previous visa application these were accepted as proof of our marriage.

Bangkok is asking 2 months for first time applications and 3 for all the others.

Wouldn't you think it would be 3 months for the first application and 2 months for all subsequent applications, after 6 applications they would know all about my movements and my banking transactions, so I can't see their point.

I applied for my current Non Imm O visa on Dec 5 last year, I was specifically told in English that the money should be in my bank account for 3 months but when I apply for my next visa on Dec this year then 2 months is ok. It appears to me that we should never take any notice of anyone at immigration offices unless they're conducting the interview for your visa because when the time comes to renew all the officers seem to make up their own rules as they go along. Wouldnt it be good if there were guidelines set and upgraded from time to time so we know where we stand instead of fronting up to an immigration office and being made to look like a real <deleted>.

The Rule says 2 months , but a lot of offices have been insisting on 3 months. Only one way to find out. Ask them or let us know what office you deal with and hopefully someone would have been there and knows.

Thanks for your reply lite beer, I live in outer east Bangkok and my immigration office is Suan Plu, just one other question is a police check required this time around and if so where do I obtain it.

Im due for my visa renewal shortly, even though this will be my seventh application, every year different rules seem to surface without warning. On my last application I was told that the 400,000 baht in a Thai bank account has been changed from 3 months to 2 months, which wouldnt apply until the application Im about to make. Talking to expats and others it seem many are of the opinion that the money should be in the account for a minimum of 3 months, has anyone made a recent visa application and knows what this situation really is. Thanks.

The centrelink page given by Beano has not been updated since the budget.

This page: http://www.budget.gov.au/2009-10/content/g...overview_08.htm confirms that the age requirement is increasing.

It will start phasing in in 2017. Over a six year period the age requirement will gradually creep up a few months at a time, until 2023 when the new age will be 67.

I am relieved now I don't think I will make it that long

Is this announcement really relevant to us Aussie expats who decide where we want to live after out retirement only to be deprived of the age pension by these cretins including the Howard government who say they govern for everyone but never deliver the goods especially for minority groups such as us. I like most of you lived, worked and paid big taxes in Australia for 60 years and only recently Ive lived in Thailand for the past 5 years, so for 92% of my life I lived in Australia, worked for the Department of Defence where I had a very responsible job where certain activities I performed were top security and now I find to qualify for the aged pension I must return to Australia for 2 years. As Ive stated several times in other forums, Australia is still the lucky country, that is if you migrate to Australia from a foreign country, you're under 50 yo's of age and you're not a male at least not an Aussie born male, the males in our age group get treated like sh!t from both sides of politics who swear they do everything to make our retirement days pleasureable ... utter bull sh!t.

You are correct. The Ozzie govt has always been good at stealing from the rich and giving to those too lazy to get up and have a go or at least put in some effort.

You seem to come down very hard on the Howard govt, yet you fail to notice how much the elma fudd sorry, RUDD govt is stuffing things up over there?

I wouldnt get too worked up regarding the lifting of the retirement age in Oz, I'd say taxes will be the least of your worries by 2023, at which case none of it will even apply to you (based on assumption regarding your age).

neverdie, I think you got me wrong I was coming down on the current labour government and previous governments from both sides over the years. Australians are supposed to be lazy and non productive so we're told, if this is so then any wonder the way people are treated when they just want to live out the final quarter of their lives with just a little reward for the services that we as a working group provided the nation with through out our working lives. If I was a federal politician and got hammered in the members bar and fell off my push bike returning to my home and had a few scratches then I'd probablly get a $50,000 pay out for the stress I endured caused by this horrific self inflicted ordeal.

The centrelink page given by Beano has not been updated since the budget.

This page: http://www.budget.gov.au/2009-10/content/g...overview_08.htm confirms that the age requirement is increasing.

It will start phasing in in 2017. Over a six year period the age requirement will gradually creep up a few months at a time, until 2023 when the new age will be 67.

I am relieved now I don't think I will make it that long

Is this announcement really relevant to us Aussie expats who decide where we want to live after out retirement only to be deprived of the age pension by these cretins including the Howard government who say they govern for everyone but never deliver the goods especially for minority groups such as us. I like most of you lived, worked and paid big taxes in Australia for 60 years and only recently Ive lived in Thailand for the past 5 years, so for 92% of my life I lived in Australia, worked for the Department of Defence where I had a very responsible job where certain activities I performed were top security and now I find to qualify for the aged pension I must return to Australia for 2 years. As Ive stated several times in other forums, Australia is still the lucky country, that is if you migrate to Australia from a foreign country, you're under 50 yo's of age and you're not a male at least not an Aussie born male, the males in our age group get treated like sh!t from both sides of politics who swear they do everything to make our retirement days pleasureable ... utter bull sh!t.

Apart from the obvious drugs, weapons etc is there an official site that instructs people what's allowed/disallowed when passing through customs on arrival at Bangkok. I'm in Australia now, I've just purchased a NEW lap top would this come under scrutiny from customs officials on my return.

should have instructions on 'aiming'...that was the thing I first had problems with.

The instructions could be as follows : It's our aim to keep these toilets clean, your aim will most definitely help.

Here's a sign I saw on the underside of a toilet seat in Big C Pattaya the other day.

Is this the sort of thing you meant, Reimar?

There should also be an accompanying sign : There's no use standing on the seat because the crabs in here can jump 6 feet.

Yes you can do your 90 day report at Samut Prakarn immigration if you reside in Samut Prakarn provence. This is where your 90 day report from Bangkok ends up anyway.

Just go to the Amphurs Office in Pakenum and if you are faceing the river the immigration office is 250 meteres to your right on the river with a large concrete car park in front of it. If you have any trouble ask for the Post Office its beside it.

Thanks Aussie I live in Nong Chok on the outskirts of Bangkok does that mean I'll still have to go to Suan Plu because I live in the province of Bangkok.

I live 50 kms east of Bangkok and making the trip to Suan Plu and return beit by car or public transport is a real hassle. My question is can do my 90 day report at the immigration office in Samut Prakan and if so where is it and how do I get there.

Thanks.

Gold in Bangkok was 7,000 baht mid 2000 when I first met my wife to be and over that time it's gone up 100% + but not even a whimper from the Jews of Asia until now, as soon as the price of gold starts fluctuating they can't shut up shop quick enough.

in 1992 it was 4300 ThB!

In 1992 EVERYTHING was cheaper by the amount that inflation has increased during the last 17 years

Point taken gwynt but an crease of nearly 250% over the last 16 years suggests that inflation has been averaging 15.625% someone has been lining their pockets with gold...please excuse the pun.