My friend has a bit of a predicament.

He's lived in LOS for 2 years and married to a Thai on a non O visa.

Unfortunately he had to return to the UK because his father had been killed in a car accident.

Needless to say he was distraught so when he left LOS (alone) he neglected to get a reentry permit. result. Cancelled non O visa.

He's contacted me to try and advise him because he wants to come back soon now the family affairs back home have been sorted out.

Would this be his best course of action?

Get a 2 month tourist visa in the UK. Come to LOS. Take his wife to a Thai consulate (his nearest one is Vientiene) with all the supporting paperwork for a non O (his wife meets the salary requirements for a non O- 40 k baht) and then come back to LOS with a non O and start extending after 3 months.

My question is this. Can a 2 month tourist visa be converted to a non O in country (for example at Nong Khai immigration) with all the supporting paperwork or does he have to leave the country to get a non O?

Thanks for any help folks. I really want to help him out if I can.

Why not get a non immigrant O visa in the UK before he returns. Am sure a Consulate would accept a fax copy of marriage certificate if need be. His passport already proves he is married from the current extension of stay so should be easy to obtain. He is not the first person to forget and have to start over.

Yes he could also change a tourist visa at immigration but there should not be any need for that if he obtains in UK.

I was just thinking wouldn't he have to show proof of income Lopburi? He was in under the grandfathered system of money in the bank but as soon as he leaves LOS and had a cancelled visa wouldn't he have to go through the whole rigmarole as if he was applying for the first time?

You do not have to show money to obtain a visa. The only exception I currently know of is Singapore, and then it is only if you want a multi entry visa. All he needs is a single entry non immigrant O visa and (assuming his family has 40k monthly income) he can then extend his stay again. He will not have the 400k bank deposit option anymore.

Thanks lopburi. That was quick work!

I truly appreciate your timely response.

I'll call my pal now.

Cheers to you.

I can only agree. I got a nonimmigrant o visa (multiple entries) from the Thai consulate in Hull without any problems. A self-declaration about having sufficient funds has to be signed, but no further supporting documents are necessary. This is NOT true for all consulates in the UK though! Stefan