desmond

Thanks, what is TV search by the way ?

A TV-search is to click 'Search' in the menubar, appearing on top of every page in the ThaiVisa forums, and enter one or more keywords in the searchfield of the page that appears - 'permanent residency' is a good suggestion.

However, I think you'll find that the needle eye is so small, that quotas aren't much of an issue. I also think you'll find that you'll either have to forget about PR or figure out a way to become a substantial taxpayer.

Thanks for the info about the tv search

You said I have to forget about PR or find a way to become a substantial taxpayer ? Why is this so ? Do you mean I must have a job in order to become a PR ? I am on non-immigrant 'O', married to a Thai. Do you mean that I must have a job to entitle for PR ? Anyone , please shed some light here. I was shocked to hear that. But it is not as bad as I have about a year or more to prepare if this were really the case

The safest is do not work if you know you are not allowed to. It is better to be safe than to be sorry.

Even PR status is not allowed to work without a WP

If you need to work, then get a WP, don't take chances, it is not worth

The officer concentrated on my bank book and the banker's guarantor, after that, she stamped on my passport and everything is done !

suprising is having it approved without the 'under consideration...' stamp first.

She did tell me however, that I am not allowed to withdraw the funds in my account for the entire year.

this is not true, your funds are proof of support of a thai and certainly can be spent...and then topped off next year.

I also thought the same initially but she really said that. So to play safe, I will not touch it in case next year they give me problem

She did tell me however, that I am not allowed to withdraw the funds in my account for the entire year. But this is not a problem for me. So I am through now.

Yet another confused Immigration official? Was this at the Phuket office, by any chance??

No, it is at Bangkok

Just waiting for one more year to go and I can apply for PR

I hope you have a good job and are paying oodles of tax........

No, I do not have a job and I do not work. So I need not pay tax. I am not too worry about the 400k in the bank as I have other bank accounts amounting to about 5 million baht.

This makes me wonder - or rather worry. Since that officer obviously was totally confused with respect to the very nature of the 400,000 - they're supposed to be the means to support your wife during the year - maybe she's also confused with respect of the very procedure.

How can we be sure, that she wasn't supposed to actually have things approved by Bangkok? And - if that's the case - how can we be sure of the legal validity of the extension stamp?

Sorry, if I hereby give unnecessary worries to the OP, but I'd wish some capable person, would check up on wether procedures actually have changed. (Certainly, a local office cannot on itself decide to leave Bangkok out without the consent of Bangkok, right?)

The woman officer who stamped and signed on my passport is of a senior rank and she is sitting right at the back. So I supposed she knows what she is doing and has to power to approve. Why would the stamp be invalid ? It is endorsed by the immigration in Bangkok

I went to the immigration today (valentine's day) to extend my visa for the second year

My wife and myself expected another interview like the one we did on the first year. To our surprise, there was none.

The officer concentrated on my bank book and the banker's guarantor, after that, she stamped on my passport and everything is done !

Are you quite sure that stamp doesn’t say that your application is under consideration and that you must report back on a specified date?

---------------

Maestro

No, I am very sure about it, there is no "consideration". For my first year, yes, there were a few stamps , all saying "under consideration" so I know what you are refering to.

I guess (I might be wrong) I got the immediate extension as it was the second year and this time I showed them 2 bank books and 2 bankers guarantee. The first book has 1 million and the second one has about close to 4 million baht.

She said "do not withdraw" from the first book.

I am not sure if this was the reason or not.

Anyone has similar experience ?

I am planning to apply for my PR next year

I understand there is a quota system.

May I know, what are the chances of getting a PR ? Is it difficult and is the quota always full each year ?

How long does the process take ?

How much is the total fees involved ?

Any help is very much appreciated

Thanks

Desmond, this is a much discussed topic here on TV. There are some very good recent threads. Do a TV search for "permanent residency" Heaps of good info.

Also, I beleive there are some people waiting for your response in regards to your 10 min non-imm extension post. Especially in regards to your extension status.

Its always a good idea to see a thread through to its conclusion.

Thanks, what is TV search by the way ?

I did not see anyone asking anything on that thread about the 10 min extension. So I did not post anything further

I am planning to apply for my PR next year

I understand there is a quota system.

May I know, what are the chances of getting a PR ? Is it difficult and is the quota always full each year ?

How long does the process take ?

How much is the total fees involved ?

Any help is very much appreciated

Thanks

If you are already in Thailand and did not get your non-immigrant visa before you enter into thailand, you may have to exit Thailand to get your non-immigrant visa and then re-enter into Thailand again

Although my visa expires next month, I went to the immigration today (valentine's day) with all the paper work plus the banker's guarantee and my bank book.

My wife and I expected an interview but to my surprise, there was none. I got the extension within 10 minutes !

Hi Desmond

Thats great news for you, and I am sure you are very happy

Its very intresting that no "UNDER CONSIDERATION" stamp was given this time.

Things seem to be getting better / easier in this area

Thanks daddy57, I am very happy indeed.

The 1st year was tough but I guess extensions are easier for subsequent years as they already have all the bio data in their computers

I went to the immigration today (valentine's day) to extend my visa for the second year

My wife and myself expected another interview like the one we did on the first year. To our surprise, there was none.

The officer concentrated on my bank book and the banker's guarantor, after that, she stamped on my passport and everything is done !

She did tell me however, that I am not allowed to withdraw the funds in my account for the entire year. But this is not a problem for me. So I am through now.

Just waiting for one more year to go and I can apply for PR

Although my visa expires next month, I went to the immigration today (valentine's day) with all the paper work plus the banker's guarantee and my bank book.

My wife and I expected an interview but to my surprise, there was none. I got the extension within 10 minutes !

They are very strict with the 400,000 requirement. I don't think there will be any exception. If you are planning to get your PR, you need to have the extension for 3 years consecutively and this cannot be "broken", otherwise you need to start all over again.

After three full years (applications are in December). But it is best to talk with those at immigration before spending the money as they will have the current information and be able to provide some estimate of your chance. They may suggest a year or two wait. But always a good idea to ask.

Thanks

I always show my KFC Chicky Club Card.

What has the KFC card got to do with the police ? I don't get you.

By the way, I was stopped once for beating the red light. I paid 100 bht and the guy in brown saluted me and waved me off. No need to argue with them if just 100 or 200 bht can solve the problem. Our time is worth more than that

When you visit immigration for your extension of stay request they provide a letter confirming your address. You can also obtain from your Embassy but that will likely cost you. Believe you are supposed to use the motor vehicle department when you live and with a licence you will probably only need color test or something like that (my licence was issued in 1970 so not up to date on requirements).

Thanks a lot, I will ask the immigration for the letter confirming my address instead of going to the embassy

I am going through the same process in about 2 weeks. What I did last week was go to the immigration dept in Phibun Mangsahan (my local Immigration office) and asked them what I needed to bring with me. I showed them the stat decs and certificates etc that I used last time. They told me no problems at all with using them. Sounds like it will be a more simpler process this time.

Let us know how you get on.

Mine will be on March, ie : Next month. Looks like you will have yours first.

Please let us know after your interview. I will update you as well. Thanks

Interviews? You both will normally sit in front of a desk and present your documents. They will check your file and fill out papers then they may ask you or wife to confirm answers are right and then you get your under review stamp. If there are changes planned they may have you sign a paper explaining what they are and such. The first time all the bio data had to be entered so there were more questions. This time it will be mostly copy and confirm. Should only take a few minutes.

Thanks a lot lopburi3, you are right about what you mentioned here. I experienced this last year.

Well, sounds good that the process will be much simpler

After this round, I will have one more year to go and after which I will be able to apply for my PR. Am I right about it, lopburi3 ?

I am really looking forward to it.

A friend opened an account yesterday at Siam Commercial He's on a 30 tourist visa and only deposited 1,000bht.

This is what I like about Thailand. You can get things done one way or the other. Unlike other countries, there is always a way out here.

I have seen many threads on this subject and a lot of them say that you can have 400,000 baht in a thai bank or 40,000baht a month income. You have to get your employer to give you a letter of proof or the embassy if its a pension. I dont understand why the immigration dont know there own rules as that is what it says for being married and supporting a thai wife on there web site.

Don't get mixed up, it is as follows :

1. To support thai spouse , you need 400,000 Baht, no bargain, no exception

2. To apply for Work Permit , you need a monthly income of at least 40,000 Baht

Perhaps another way is to borrow the difference from your friends , relatives or family members. Since you will soon have the money the moment you retire, I am sure they will help you

That's right ; I have 2 bank accounts and 2 cards visa electron , and I don't have a W.P.

I think that the banks whould go against own interests if they would refused the foreigners' money.

Maybe without W.P. you cannot have the cheques , ad credits cards.

Ps. My previous post are wrong, I not yet gotten confidence with the tools of this forum.

When I opened my account at the local Bangkok Bank branch, I was told I could only get a savings account (no chequing, no credit card and no internet access unless I had a work permit). As the savings account was all I wanted, no problem. Had my bank book, ATM card and SWIFT code in about 15 minutes.

My understanding is that any interest earned is paid out twice a year (June and December), and is a very low rate. I don't worry about it as I wasn't planning on living off interest income anyways (not likely that I'll ever have that much money in the bank !)

For me, it was a little strange when I tired to open an account with the Bangkok Bank. At first they said I must have work permit to do so. I told the officer that I do not have a WP. She then consulted the manager who in turn asked me how much I would deposit.

I told her 1 million baht. She immediately invited me to her room and service me personally. I got the bank book, debit card within 15 minutes.

So I am not sure actually if a WP is really needed or not.

Can someone shine on that ?

Thanks

Next month I will be attending the interview for my second year Non-Imm 'O' visa extension. (Married to a Thai)

We went through an interview with the immigration officer last year. I still could recall that we were asked questions separately. It was actually quite fun in a week as it could test how well we understand and know each other.

This year, we are going to have the interview again. But this time, I wonder what questions they will ask. I doubt they will be the same questions.

Has anyone gone through this stage ?

Any tips and advices ?

Thanks

You would not receive a new 90 day stamp and unless you had a re entry permit your visa/extension would be history. Before your current extension of stay expires you need to make a new application with your wife at immigration.

You need a Thai drivers licence.

Thanks for the info.

As for the drivers license, I understand I need an address ? My wife and I have a house but my name cannot be registered into the house registration book. So how can I give them the address ?

Also, where to apply for the Thai drivers license ?

Do I need to sit for the driving test/exam ?

What other documents are needed ?

Thanks a lot

What exactly do you have? There is no non immigrant visa that provides a 60 day stay stamp.

Are you on a one year extension of stay from Immigration? Or are you hare on 90 day stay using a multi entry non immigrant O visa?

In other words do you have to leave the country every 90 days or not?

Sorry for the confusion.

I am on a 1 year Non-Immigration Cat 'O' extension. This is the second year already and it is due for extension in March.

I have the 400K cash in my bank. I am just curious if I can actually get another 90 days of extension simply by leaving Thailand and then re-etnering ?

Another questions :

Is it necessary to have a Thai Driving License if I am already having a Singapore Driving License ?

Thanks

I am a male Singaporean, married to a Thai National for 3 years. We are staying in Singapore currently (she is a Singapore Permanent Resident).

Recently I got a job offer from a Thai Registered Company in Thailand.

My fellow Singapore friend,

Since you are going to work in a thai company, very obviously they will have to apply work permit for you.Just get a Class B visa will do.Without a Class B visa, you will have to make another trip out of Thailand again.So class B visa is important for your case.

BTW, I'm from singapore also.

Cheers!!

Thank you very much guys for your valuable information

If you are going to Penang with the wife do obtain a multi entry O visa like geovalin has as they will allow you 90 day stays for almost 15 months. All you have to do is cross a border/enter another country/and return to obtain a new 90 day entry stamp. The cost is not that much and is much better than using 30 day border crossings. If you can meet the requirements for extension of stay you can use the last 30 days of any entry to request it. The multi entry non Immigrant O visa is what you should have if you are not sure you can meet requirements within the first 90 day entry.

Geovelin: you must exit the country each 90 days and return for the new 90 day stamp.

Hi Lopburi3,

I am on 'O' visa for one year and it is due to expire this March. If I were to exit Thailand and come back on the same day (cross border), will I be issued with another 60 days extension ? Do I need to apply for a re-entry permit first ?

I plan to obtain a PR, may I know what is the procedure and cost involved ? Thank you for your advice

Hi lopburi3,

Thank you for your reply.

I just received a reply from a company in Bangkok asking me to come over for an interview.

Should I apply for a NON 'O' visa and then fly over for the interview ? If I cannot get any jobs, will it be a problem if I were to apply for anther 'O' after it expires ?

If I get the job , how do I go about applying for the work permit and visa extension ? I heard there are lots of complicated documents to be filled up ? Do I need a lawyer to do it or can I do it myself ?

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the reply.

My current situation is this.

I would like to work in Thailand. The question is , should I apply for 'O' visa in my consulate and then proceed to Thailand to look for a job or should I just look for a job in Thailand using a normal tourist visa ?

If I go on a tourist visa, once I get an offer from a company, I then return to my country to apply for non B visa and then go back to Thailand to apply for work permit.

Or if I use cat O, I can apply for Work Permit without going back and forth.

Which is the best ?

Sorry, I am very confused.

Hope you can help

Thanks