The New Thai Visa Process Has Flexibility.

[bdenner]

I know of 2 incidences where the new Thai Visa rules have been varied from the way I interpret them:-

Case #1 – January 2007, D##e (Under 50) is not married to his TGF but has a 2yo daughter to her. The child has a medical problem and has been receiving and still requires specialist hospital treatment. He intended to go to BNE to get a new 12mth Multi “O” visa but struck problems with flight connections and was running out of time.

They approached the Nong Khai Immigration with details of the failed attempts to get to BNE as well as the daughters medical records and was given a letter to present to the Thai Embassy in Vientiane. They provided the 12mth Multi “O”. D##e and TW were very happy with the service all round.

Case#2 – Last week, Tr##t’s (well over 50) 12mth Multi “O” had expired and he was on a 30 day tourist but eventually wants a 12 month “O” visa extension. He has a difficulty in understanding the visa system and his pension does not reach the 65K Baht lower limit to qualify for “OA”. He approached a Visa Help Company in BKK and the first thing they did was arrange all that was needed to get he and TGF legally married.

The company then applied for a 3mth Single Entry “O” visa (in BKK). He and new TW had to attend an interview at Immigration where he was asked a number of questions, most of which he failed eg. What’s your ‘mother in laws’ name? Wife’s birth date? Etc. He produced a Bank balance of approx. 200K and a letter stating 40K/mth from pensions. The Immigration did not accept that saying he had to have 400K. Next day he had it courtesy of a short term loan from the Visa Company.

Now he has the 3mth “O” visa and has been assured he will get the 12mth extn when applied for. He paid the Visa Company 35K for the service and COSTS!!!

I guess all is not set in stone, there is a little compassion and some things can still be bought.

[Maestro]

Case #1: Are you sure you got this one right? To the best of my knowledge an Immigration office does not issue a “12mth Multi “O”. It can issue an extension of stay:

7.24 In the case of medical treatment or convalescence or to look after a patient: Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 90 days at a time.

Source: National Police Order No. 606/2549

Case #2: Everything was in accordance with current rules and regulations.

Step 1: Change of visa status to non-O status at Immigration office. Fee: 2,000 Baht. Needed evidence of 400,000 Baht in the bank.

Step 2: Annual extension of stay to live with Thai wife. Fee: 1,900 Baht. Needed evidence of family income of not less than 40,000 Baht per month on average.

This left 31,100 Baht for the “Visa Company” as their professional fee, including VAT.

--

Maestro

[Sophon]

Case #1: Are you sure you got this one right? To the best of my knowledge an Immigration office does not issue a “12mth Multi “O”. It can issue an extension of stay:

As I read it, it wasn't the immigration office in Nong Khai who issued the visa but the embassy in Vientiane. The immigration office just facilitated the process by supplying a letter explaining the situation.

Sophon

[bdenner]

Case #1: Are you sure you got this one right? To the best of my knowledge an Immigration office does not issue a “12mth Multi “O”. It can issue an extension of stay:

As I read it, it wasn't the immigration office in Nong Khai who issued the visa but the embassy in Vientiane. The immigration office just facilitated the process by supplying a letter explaining the situation.

Sophon

Correct, I didn't think my explaination of the events was confusing.

Case#2:- This is where the Thai Immigration issued an Non Imm "O" be it a 3 month single entry. Which goes against the rules as I understand them.

[Sunbelt Asia]

Case#2:- This is where the Thai Immigration issued an Non Imm "O" be it a 3 month single entry. Which goes against the rules as I understand them.

The rules were all followed with no flexibility needed. What is confusing are the rules of change are different than the extension of stay rules. Rules of change requires 400,000 Baht in the bank( This can be in the bank for one day) or income of 40,000 Baht per month for a 90 day visa. Extension of stay permit based on living with a Thai wife rules, requires only 40,000 Baht income. ( After Oct 1st, 2006 for new applicants)

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[bdenner]

Case#2:- This is where the Thai Immigration issued an Non Imm "O" be it a 3 month single entry. Which goes against the rules as I understand them.

The rules were all followed with no flexibility needed. What is confusing are the rules of change are different than the extension of stay rules. Rules of change requires 400,000 Baht in the bank( This can be in the bank for one day) or income of 40,000 Baht per month for a 90 day visa. Extension of stay permit based on living with a Thai wife rules, requires only 40,000 Baht income. ( After Oct 1st, 2006 for new applicants)

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Thank you for this explaination but now I'm getting dizzy. This is from the ThaiVisa WEB Site.

Non Imm "0"

Thursday, 21 December 2006

Applying for an extension for aliens who support or are being supported by parents with Thai nationality or have residence in Thailand.

Initial place to contact: An alien must apply for non-immigrant visa "code O" at a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad before he/she enters the country.

Can you point me to a link to the rules that explaines the method your describing? This guy was on a basic tourist visa when he applied for and received his "O" and this statement says it has to come from "abroad"?

[astral]

Case No 1 does not surprise me at all.

Thais are very compassionate when it comes to children.

No 2, sounds like a classic marriage of convenience............................

but I have always said that marriage should be convenient.

PS I was never interviewed for my marriage visa or the extension, only my wife.

[bdenner]

No 2, sounds like a classic marriage of convenience............................

but I have always said that marriage should be convenient.

PS I was never interviewed for my marriage visa or the extension, only my wife.

I assure you he and the woman have been an item for many years. And yes, I have never been questioned about my relationship during the visa extension process. Why he was when applying for the Non Imm "O" is one of the strange observations made in the OP.

[Gaudente]

I guess all is not set in stone, there is a little compassion and some things can still be bought.

the above looked like more bribery then compassion to me

[Gaudente]

Now he has the 3mth “O” visa and has been assured he will get the 12mth extn when applied for. He paid the Visa Company 35K for the service and COSTS!!!

HE HAS BEEN ASSURED !!!! And for that "assurement" he has ALREADY PAID 35,000 THB !!!!

Well let me assure him then when his 3 months visa expires he will either:

1) be requested further money to get the 12 months extension

2) find out the visa company has moved elsewhere

[Gaudente]

He approached a Visa Help Company in BKK and the first thing they did was arrange all that was needed to get he and TGF legally married.

I had previously missed this part.....so he had 200,000 THB less 35,000 = 165,000 THB left, a thai wife on average wipes out such an amount in 3 weeks, so we can just imagine what will happen in a 3 months time span...what money is he going to show to immigration office to get the 1 year extension ? a 40,000 monthly income from his wife job ?

[Maestro]

Can you point me to a link to the rules that explaines the method your describing? This guy was on a basic tourist visa when he applied for and received his "O" and this statement says it has to come from "abroad"?

The procedure to apply for a change of visa status at an Immigration office has been discussed many times in this forum.

If you entered on a tourist visa or had a visa-exempt entry and if you meet the requirements for annual extension you can apply at an Immigration office for a change of visa status to non-immigrant status. After this change is made, you have a maximum of 90 days to apply for your annual extension.

The requirements are show on the website of the Immigration Bureau. Some links do not work in Firefox.

The company then applied for a 3mth Single Entry “O” visa (in BKK).

The company used form TM.86 “Application for change of visa” to apply for a change of visa status at the Immigration office.

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Maestro

[bdenner]

If you entered on a tourist visa or had a visa-exempt entry and if you meet the requirements for annual extension you can apply at an Immigration office for a change of visa status to non-immigrant status. After this change is made, you have a maximum of 90 days to apply for your annual extension.

OK. Thank you for that clarification, I live and learn! But it makes me wonder why more people have not followed this procedure. I for one have been here >6 years and this is the 1st example I have heard of.

As for "Gaudente", not worthy of comment -- Go and TROLL elsewhere