Some advice on converting a visa to 90 days non-O in Phuket

[Agusts]

So I read about this a  lot and try to keep up-to-date but perhaps I post my plan and seek any advice or comments you guys have  (I have UK passport):

 

1- I will go to Phuket on either 30 days exemption or SEVT. I can get SEVT but when entering from KUL by Air Asia on one way ticket (which I do again this time) I have never been asked about return ticket and if all the same I rather not make two trips to Thai embassy in London (although I will be in London so can do it if it is better for my next step of converting to 90 days non-O, perhaps it maybe better as I will have 60 days to do it rather than 30).

 

2- I am going to send my income docs (basically work payslips, does last tax year P60 annual income form also useful/required !? or any other doc !?) to UK embassy to get  it certified/signed/stamped/whatever they call it etc. as soon as I arrive, I read it takes 10 days or so for this to return. My monthly income far exceeds the requirement, but I probably put some money in my Thai bank book and take that along too. Does this letter from UK embassy enough !? Does it need to be MFA-certified/stamped or something (that I read on other posts)....!? 

 

3- Go to immigration office to register residence/accommodation etc. , I have done this in May for bike purchase and will rent the same condo, but I remember the imm. officer said if you leave Thailand and back again, need to renew it. Is it needed for conversion to 90 days non-O !? (I assume it is, I guess can do it with 4 below too !?)

 

4- Once the docs back from UK embassy Then go to Phuket immigration to convert to 90 days non-O visa/extension/or whatever you call it. I read I have to do this 15 days before any other visa expires, so maybe 30 days exempt option will be a bit tight.

 

5- Before 90 days non-O is up, go and get the 1 year extension (would I need income docs sent to UK embassy again... !?)

 

 

So do I need any other docs (assuming I have the forms, photos, passport and copies of all that...), as far as I know there is no need for police and medical reports...

 

Cheers,

 

A.

 

 

[Agusts]

One other small question, on UK embassy form should I use GBP currency or convert to THB... !?

[BritTim]

1. A tourist visa is preferable, but visa exempt entry should be OK, bearing in mind that a 30-day extension is possible if necessary.

2. Pretty much any documentation that does not look fake, and clearly shows your income is fine.

3. It seems the policy in Phuket is that a TM30 notification is necessary any time you leave and reenter Thailand.

4. Yes, you need at least 15 days left on your current permission to stay when applying for the conversion. As I mention above, you do have the option of a 30-day extension of stay before applying for the conversion should that be necessary. A tourist visa giving a 60-day entry is preferable for independent reasons though.

5. This is a question for the local immigration office. I suspect they may want another original, but they may accept a copy of your original income letter.

 

4 hours ago, Agusts said:

One other small question, on UK embassy form should I use GBP currency or convert to THB... !?

Use GBP. Immigration will convert the figure to THB at the point you do the applications there.

[Agusts]

Thanks for your reply, I think I get the SETV to be on the safe side and less hassle,  it's good to know the plan is generally doable and they do this conversion in Phuket Immigration Office, cheers....

 

[Suradit69]

On November 2, 2560 BE at 10:03 PM, Agusts said:

would I need income docs sent to UK embassy again... !?)

 

Bring along the original income verification and a copy. They may accept the copy for the conversion. Then you can use the original for the extension, for which it will be required.

[sandyf]

On 11/2/2017 at 10:40 PM, Agusts said:

One other small question, on UK embassy form should I use GBP currency or convert to THB... !?

You can send the docs to UK embassy by email, my letter was back in 3 days. You need to pay by credit card if you want to use this method.

You have to use the application form downloaded from the embassy website and it shows quite clearly how to enter income details. It is all in GBP and the letter will state your income in GBP.

 

You can get a visa from the Embassy in London by post. I did it in July, posted on Monday morning but think it can be up to 3pm, and it was back on Wednesday, they use Royal mail special delivery, very efficient.

[Agusts]

Another question perhaps not quite related to the thread topic but I am sure you guys know.

 

Although my passport is valid till 2021, it is running out of pages (yes, I know, a lot of travelling last few years... !), so assuming I get this one year permit and  with re-entry permit go back to UK and get a new passport, would I be able to come back to Thailand showing my old and new passport... !? Do they/I have to transfer the one year thing into new passport (or can just leave it in the old until renewal) !?

 

 

[ubonjoe]

53 minutes ago, Agusts said:

Although my passport is valid till 2021, it is running out of pages (yes, I know, a lot of travelling last few years... !), so assuming I get this one year permit and  with re-entry permit go back to UK and get a new passport, would I be able to come back to Thailand showing my old and new passport... !? Do they/I have to transfer the one year thing into new passport (or can just leave it in the old until renewal) !?

If you get a new passport while in the UK you will need to show both passports on entry to the country to use the re-entry permit in the old one to have the entry stamped in your new passport.

After entering the country you would need to go to immigration to have your stamps transferred to the new one.

[steve187]

Tourist visas are available from consulates as well as London,  single entry Non 'O' are also available but have to be approved by London.

it would be better to arrive on a non immigrant visa, do not know about Phuket but some local immigration offices will not do a conversion, from first hand knowledge Rayong is one of these.

 

Embassy proof of income is done by post, no personal attendance.

[phuketrichard]

i have been told that phuket will NOT convert a visa exempt entry to a non o visa

Quote

....I can get SEVT but when entering from KUL

NO u cant, u can get a 30 day visa EXEMPT entry

 

If your in London, just apply for a single entry non o visa ( ur over 50 or married?)  quite easy

[BritTim]

22 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

If your in London, just apply for a single entry non o visa ( ur over 50 or married?)  quite easy

Actually, a Non O for being over 50 is not usually issued in London. They either want you to apply for a Non-OA, or be over 65 and in receipt of a state pension.

[Agusts]

14 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

i have been told that phuket will NOT convert a visa exempt entry to a non o visa

NO u cant, u can get a 30 day visa EXEMPT entry

 

If your in London, just apply for a single entry non o visa ( ur over 50 or married?)  quite easy

 

That's good to know about Phuket immigration office, I am going to get a SETV from London now and try it with that.

 

I am not married, over 50 and will be trying non-o with income confirmation etc. .

 

Don't want to try the non-O or non-OA (whatever is called) from London, too much hassle, cost and time it takes.

 

 

[phuketrichard]

if ur flying via KL;

why not stop for a few days and just apply for the non o  visa there at the Thai Embassy?

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

if ur flying via KL;

why not stop for a few days and just apply for the non o  visa there at the Thai Embassy?

Not unless he can meet the financial proof and etc shown on this checklist for one. http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/contents/files/services-20170329-105727-684437.pdf

[Agusts]

I think it will be easier at Phuket immigration, I get the UK embassy verify the income and send back to Thai address, hopefully can get away with no medical check/police record etc. (or get it easier/cheaper there).....

 

Plus have no interest in KL, even for a few days, in a muslim country, while I enjoy Phuket ! (this should have been put at the beginning I guess...). 

 

[JackThompson]

13 hours ago, Agusts said:

Plus have no interest in KL, even for a few days, in a muslim country, while I enjoy Phuket ! (this should have been put at the beginning I guess...). 

Your choice, of course - but Malaysia is ~40% Buddhist, and they only enforce Sharia-type laws on ethnic Malays - not on non-Malay residents or Tourists.  I am glad I stayed a few days in KL to experience it.  Penang is another option - a good place to visit.

[Agusts]

So I am here now on SETV valid till 18 Feb 2018, if I want to approve/certify my income for Jan 2018 with UK embassy it may be too late as I am told I need to apply for conversion to 90 days non-O with at least 15 days remaining on my current visa (in Phuket anyway), so might just go with Dec income (plus Nov, Oct of course), hope that is sufficient... !

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, Agusts said:

So I am here now on SETV valid till 18 Feb 2018, if I want to approve/certify my income for Jan 2018 with UK embassy it may be too late as I am told I need to apply for conversion to 90 days non-O with at least 15 days remaining on my current visa (in Phuket anyway), so might just go with Dec income (plus Nov, Oct of course), hope that is sufficient... !

You do not have to prove your income for the month you apply for the non immigrant visa or an extension of stay based upon retirement. When the income letter is done it will show both your monthly and annual income.

The income letter can be up to 6 months old on the date you apply for them.

Info for getting the income letter is here. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-obtain-a-pensionincome-letter-for-thai-immigration

[Agusts]

That's great thanks, I am surprised they are so relaxed about it considering they want the same day bank letter for the money in the bank.... 

[ubonjoe]

9 minutes ago, Agusts said:

That's great thanks, I am surprised they are so relaxed about it considering they want the same day bank letter for the money in the bank.... 

You cannot really compare the 2 of them since income normally does not change.

The bank letter confirms you have a valid bank account with X amount of baht in the account on the date it is written.

[Agusts]

Just a quick feed back about this, I got my 3-months non-O visa (conversion from SETV) last week, all went according to plan except a bit of timing issue which I got lucky, see below:

 

1- The UK embassy tells you they take 10 working days to send your income confirmation letter, but they do it in a few days, however, they don't email you or anything, my letter was in the post and not delivered, I emailed UK embassy to inquire and they send me a tracking number, then I found it , it was waiting for 3 days in the post office (useless postman didn't leave a card or tried to deliver).

 

2- Phuket Immigration office wants you to apply 21 days before current visa expiration, I nearly missed it thinking it was 15, luckily found my letter and went there and they accept it on just 20 days before (he was talking about having to pay and extend my tourist visa etc. - waste of 1900b).

 

3- If you registered your residence and still stay there, and have that receipt at the back of your passport, even left the country and back etc., not important, as long as you stay in the same place it's okay. They tell you all sorts in room 101, but skip that room altogether, go straight to room 103.

 

4- They took my original UK embassy letter and a copy, but he said for getting 1 year extension later they would accept a copy (I hope), so I took a copy before giving them the original (make sure you do that).

 

5- I did it with income but if you are doing it with 800k or money combination, make sure the dates are accurate, 2 months, 3 months etc. , the guy counts every single day and send back a farang with a few days short (I think he went under and back up with a few bahts and that invalidate it or something - they are very strict about the exact amount and dates - well, except I got lucky with 20 days - I smiled a lot and keep smiling LOS....lol).

 

Good luck.