Non O (Multi Entry) no longer issued at Royal Thai Embassy in London - new financial requirements for Single Entry Tourist Visas (SETV)

[Tmoney]

On 6/20/2019 at 6:58 AM, ubonjoe said:

No

They can still get a single entry non-o visa and apply an extension of stay based upon their spouses extension or OA visa entry.

Joe, sorry if this has been covered before but as an old and confused retiree I would be grateful if you would clarify some things for me.

I have currently a multi non 'O' (not O-A) based on marriage which expires Jan. 16th 2020.

If I have 400,000 baht in my bank, seasoned for at least 2 months prior to the date of my application, am I able to get a 12 month extension of this non 'O' visa at my local IO and continue to extend on an annual basis?

What documents would I need apart from passport, marriage certificate and presumably proof of the 400,00 in the bank?

Bearing in mind the expiry date of the visa, when is the best time to apply for the extension (1 week, one month before)?

Am I able to leave Thailand and return more than once on this extension if granted?

Alternatively, if the above is not possible then my only alternative is an O-A visa?

Thanks in anticipation.

 

Edited August 26, 2019 by Tmoney

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, Tmoney said:

Joe, sorry if this has been covered before but as an old and confused retiree I would be grateful if you would clarify some things for me.

I have currently a multi non 'O' (not O-A) based on marriage which expires Jan. 16th 2020.

If I have 400,000 baht in my bank, seasoned for at least 2 months prior to the date of my application, am I able to get a 12 month extension of this non 'O' visa at my local IO and continue to extend on an annual basis?

What documents would I need apart from passport, marriage certificate and presumably proof of the 400,00 in the bank?

Bearing in mind the expiry date of the visa, when is the best time to apply for the extension (1 week, one month before)?

Am I able to leave Thailand and return more than once on this extension if granted?

Thanks in anticipation.

 

You can apply for a one year extension of stay based upon marriage during the last 30 days of any of the 90 day entries from your visa. You do not have to wait for your visa to expire.

Best to apply for the extension at least 2 weeks before the 90 days ends.

Once you have the extension you can apply for a new extension every year.

After getting the extension you will need to get a re-entry permit to keep it valid if want to travel. The fee for single re-entry permit is 1000 and a multiple is 3800 baht.

Here is my general list of required documents for the extension application. Marriage Extension Requirements 2.pdf

 

 

 

[garyk]

Got to love the LOS's, great times while it lasted.

[garyk]

I swear looking at all the changes in Thai immigration is like talking to my GF.

 

GF:

I want a new Truck, are you going to buy me a new truck.  NO

I want some land to build a house on, are you going to buy me the land and build me a house. NO

No boom boom for you...

 

Thai government:

Are you going to put 800K in a Thai bank. NO

No boom boom for you....

 

Haha, I swear it is the same thing...

[Tmoney]

22 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You can apply for a one year extension of stay based upon marriage during the last 30 days of any of the 90 day entries from your visa. You do not have to wait for your visa to expire.

Best to apply for the extension at least 2 weeks before the 90 days ends.

Once you have the extension you can apply for a new extension every year.

After getting the extension you will need to get a re-entry permit to keep it valid if want to travel. The fee for single re-entry permit is 1000 and a multiple is 3800 baht.

Here is my general list of required documents for the extension application. Marriage Extension Requirements 2.pdf

 

 

 

Looks like I still have some bridges to cross before applying for an extension but your info is clear. concise and of great help.

Thank you very much

[Jumbo1968]

If you use an Agent to acquire the Extension of Stay/Retirement Visa say at Jomtien where I believe they ask you too report back in 90 Days proving you still have the the 800k Bank.

After using an Agent what would you do if you have to do a a 90 Day Report or need a Re Entry Permit, would you have to use an Agent for those as surely Jomtien would ask you for proof of the money in the Bank ?

[jacko45k]

@Jumbo1968 A couple of examples I know of.... they have not been asked to return to show the 800k after 3 months. 

Many get a re-entry permit at the same time as the extension through the agent, a package deal!

I don't believe doing the regular 90 day reports is an issue but agents will offer to take care of it, of course. 

Edited September 2, 2019 by jacko45k

[Jumbo1968]

4 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

@Jumbo1968 A couple of examples I know of.... they have not been asked to return to show the 800k after 3 months. 

Many get a re-entry permit at the same time as the extension through the agent, a package deal!

I don't believe doing the regular 90 day reports is an issue but agents will offer to take care of it, of course. 

I reason I ask is a colleague had the funds when he did his Extension and was given a paper to report back at Jomtien to show he still had the funds in the Bank.

[Tanoshi]

10 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

If you use an Agent to acquire the Extension of Stay/Retirement Visa say at Jomtien where I believe they ask you too report back in 90 Days proving you still have the the 800k Bank.

After using an Agent what would you do if you have to do a a 90 Day Report or need a Re Entry Permit, would you have to use an Agent for those as surely Jomtien would ask you for proof of the money in the Bank ?

Just make sure the agent is obtaining the extension from the office where your registered address is.

Some obtain them from other IO's in different Provinces.

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, Jumbo1968 said:

I reason I ask is a colleague had the funds when he did his Extension and was given a paper to report back at Jomtien to show he still had the funds in the Bank.

Yes people doing it without the assistance of an agent are being asked to return and show they still have the funds. Possibly those using agents simply to do the legwork too. 

[kimamey]

On 6/20/2019 at 8:21 AM, wildpikey said:

For accompanying a Thai spouse : A copy of marriage certificate, a copy of Thai passport/a copy of Thai ID of spouse, and (3 months bank statement showing monthly income of more than £1,500.)

 

So are we back to the "you have to be in full time employment" to get a Visa. If you have large lumpsum that is not good enough? Or is there a grey area that has to be confirmed by Thai Visa members actually going through the motions and reporting back. Why can they never make these requirements clear.

And what has your wifes Thai passport got to do with it anyway!

I think it's a coy of I'D or passport. 

[stament]

Is London Embassy the only place where you can get a non Immigrant multi visa based on marriage? I understand Hull is only issuing 3month single entries.

[Tanoshi]

2 hours ago, stament said:

Is London Embassy the only place where you can get a non Immigrant multi visa based on marriage? I understand Hull is only issuing 3month single entries.

You can no longer obtain the Non Imm O multi entry Visa from the UK, France or China.

It's been discontinued.

 

The MFA plan to roll out the new E-Visa application service to every Country in the next 3 years, so the Non Imm O ME won't be available anywhere then.

The writings on the wall to put 400K in a Thai bank and get annual extensions.

[UKresonant]

 

57 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

The writings on the wall to put 400K in a Thai bank and get annual extensions.

That would work with a multi re-entry permit, but they apparently they probably would not process them in less than 90 days, and it's termed an extension of stay, rather than being plainly a permission for access. Then you would have to be there at time of renewal and as many have noted this overrunning 30 days by perhaps another month. Also it may use up my wife's valuable time (every year). Hardly a replacement for the non-O Multi Entry Visa ????.

 

[edgarfriendly]

e-visa application in london this week.

 

after submitting all documents online, copies of all documents were then required to be posted in with passport.

 

50 GBP visa price as displayed on website, charged 60 pounds by website.

 

then they sent a non-replyable msg that 10 extra pounds needed to be sent (in cash) to return the passport..

 

sent - still waiting for confirmation/explanation.

 

 

 

 

[Tanoshi]

8 hours ago, edgarfriendly said:

50 GBP visa price as displayed on website, charged 60 pounds by website.

 

then they sent a non-replyable msg that 10 extra pounds needed to be sent (in cash) to return the passport..

No idea which website you were reading;

4. Non-Immigrant (3 month validity / single entry / stay up to 90 days)

60

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84398-Visa-fee.html

 

- Fee for return post of £10 in cash (only Bank of England bank notes are accepted) and the return address, or enclose stamped and addressed envelope

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84397-How-to-apply-visa-by-post.html

[Tanoshi]

11 hours ago, UKresonant said:

Hardly a replacement for the non-O Multi Entry Visa ????.

Maybe it's another case of those abusing the Visa, that spoils it for the genuine one's.

[elaxjt]

I am married to a Thai national but work in the Oil and Gas industry, so I am home for 5 weeks (give or take a few days) and then go back on work on a Seismic vessel for roughly the same period of time (again it depends on the vessels location).

 

Before I used to get a Non-O ME as I always have one way tickets into Thailand, just wondering what my options are now that the government have removed the ME Non-O.

 

 

[Tanoshi]

6 minutes ago, elaxjt said:

I am married to a Thai national but work in the Oil and Gas industry, so I am home for 5 weeks (give or take a few days) and then go back on work on a Seismic vessel for roughly the same period of time (again it depends on the vessels location).

 

Before I used to get a Non-O ME as I always have one way tickets into Thailand, just wondering what my options are now that the government have removed the ME Non-O.

 

 

You can still obtain the Non Imm O ME from other Thai Embassies/Consulates other than the UK.

Savannakhet or HCMC are the most common, with no proof of funds required.

 

[elaxjt]

2 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

You can still obtain the Non Imm O ME from other Thai Embassies/Consulates other than the UK.

Savannakhet or HCMC are the most common, with no proof of funds required.

 

OK, thanks for that info

[sumrit]

52 minutes ago, elaxjt said:

Before I used to get a Non-O ME as I always have one way tickets into Thailand, just wondering what my options are now that the government have removed the ME Non-O.

What's wrong with getting a marriage extension and multi re-entry permit.

[Tanoshi]

35 minutes ago, sumrit said:

What's wrong with getting a marriage extension and multi re-entry permit.

Because oil workers are not in Thailand long enough to process marriage extensions.

 

They could apply for extensions based on retirement, but would still need a Non O Visa initially, but again there is no guarantee they would be in Thailand to process the extension, it depends on their work rota's.

Edited September 7, 2019 by Tanoshi

[lkv]

If you want multiple the only option is METV. The London website states it can be used for visiting relatives etc. It does cost as much as the multi non O, but valid for half the time, and with permissions of stay of 60 days.

 

Their logic probably was, it's good enough to "visit the wife", which is what the multi non O was for anyways, not to live in Thailand.

 

That would cover the oil workers.

 

Of course, for usage similar to stretching the multi non O's, holders may be advised that in fact they are living in Thailand, and not really visiting, where a more appropriate scheme is single non O + extension.

Edited September 7, 2019 by lkv

[CaptainNemo]

On 6/20/2019 at 1:53 PM, BoBoTheClown said:

Way too many people have taken advantage of this visa and now the party is over. You are not supposed to live in Thailand on that visa. And, why would anyone apply for an extension of stay, which is the correct thing to do to live in Thailand, if you are allowed to get a Non O based on marriage that is good for one year without the hassle?  Doesn't make sense so they fixed it. 

 

 

It doesn't make sense that visa policy isn't reciprocated. Why shouldn't visa arrangements be reciprocal?

My country gave my wife a spouse visa without any need for anything like a multi-entry non-immigrant visa and let my wife work 20 hours a week and not have to do any 90-day reporting, and after 3 years she was able to get citizenship without having to submit any intention of getting rid of her original citizenship. One of the principles of international treaties is reciprocity, and asking for equal treatment is not "taking advantage", it's a disadvantage. There is no reasonable or sensible reason for not issuing multi-entry visas.

[CaptainNemo]

On 9/7/2019 at 11:55 AM, Tanoshi said:

Because oil workers are not in Thailand long enough to process marriage extensions.

 

They could apply for extensions based on retirement, but would still need a Non O Visa initially, but again there is no guarantee they would be in Thailand to process the extension, it depends on their work rota's.

plus, the arbitrary 400,000THB rule... British offshore workers can't get a 40,000/month statement from the embassy, so what do they do? live apart from their family? force their Thai wife to live apart from her family and country? it smacks of breaching human rights to a family life. Britain doesn't ask Thais to do this to be in the UK. Even if the rules are tighter in the UK than they used to be, they are not prohibitive. The Thai gf or spouse can apply for a visa themselves and does not have to show an arbitrary lump of capital or income, but just show ties to their country and enough resources to cover their stay, or in the case of a spouse visa, the spouse does. My Thai wife could satisfy UK style rules if they existed in Thailand to bring me in, and many families could do this. Not every Thai spouse of a foreign national is poor and unemployed.

The UK needs an FTA with Thailand and a treaty that makes the visa rules more equal and reciprocal.

[CaptainNemo]

On 9/7/2019 at 2:39 PM, lkv said:

If you want multiple the only option is METV. The London website states it can be used for visiting relatives etc. It does cost as much as the multi non O, but valid for half the time, and with permissions of stay of 60 days.

 

Their logic probably was, it's good enough to "visit the wife", which is what the multi non O was for anyways, not to live in Thailand.

 

That would cover the oil workers.

 

Of course, for usage similar to stretching the multi non O's, holders may be advised that in fact they are living in Thailand, and not really visiting, where a more appropriate scheme is single non O + extension.

You know the rules concerning residency are not simple. The UK now has a Statutory Residency Test, which simplifies what was a more nebulous, evasive, and case-based set of "rules".

 

You can find yourself in circumstances are sufficiently unusual that it's not obvious where you are resident of. You may find that applying the new SRT "algorithm", it essentially depends on what you do in the future, which is an unknown variable, so whilst in effect it looks like you live in country x, you are still legally resident of country y, despite being employed out of country z (that you've never been to), and within the tax regime of country y.

 

You might say this is personal choice, but it doesn't really work like that... after you've worked for a while and find you tend to be limited to jobs in a field you're specialised in, and can't really get a look in to start on the ground floor of another field that you could viably work in, you respond to opportunities and are compelled to select one because of your circumstances. Or (as in the news now), the oil price can suddenly change direction quickly and everything in your industry changes with it.

 

Similarly, when it comes to love and marriage, you might have absolutely no intention of settling down, and then one day turn round in a supermarket and be smiled at by a goddess and unexpectedly find yourself being tugged around mothercare a few months later, and you have to make the best decisions based on the situation you are in, it's not always really a "choice". I don't know why some on here are crowing the official line, I don't suppose they get any special treatment, but it's not much better than moaning about the rules. In principle, visa rules should be reciprocal between nations, it's just friendly.

[BritManToo]

On 9/7/2019 at 2:39 PM, lkv said:

If you want multiple the only option is METV. The London website states it can be used for visiting relatives etc. It does cost as much as the multi non O, but valid for half the time, and with permissions of stay of 60 days.

 

Their logic probably was, it's good enough to "visit the wife", which is what the multi non O was for anyways, not to live in Thailand.

 

That would cover the oil workers.

 

Of course, for usage similar to stretching the multi non O's, holders may be advised that in fact they are living in Thailand, and not really visiting, where a more appropriate scheme is single non O + extension.

Just stop off in HCMC and get your non 'o' multi.

Plenty of cheap flights from the UK, via China to HCMC, have a nice holiday there for 2 weeks on your waiver on entry, than 1500bht to fly to Thailand.

[UKresonant]

On ‎9‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 2:39 PM, lkv said:

Of course, for usage similar to stretching the multi non O's, holders may be advised that in fact they are living in Thailand, and not really visiting, where a more appropriate scheme is single non O + extension.

We'll if that was appropriate, and they could be sure of issuing an extension, in perhaps less than 67 days (current visit or living??? ). Then I could apply for an extension with a multi re-entry permit. 

(If there were reciprocal arrgts, I would just ask for a 10 year, 180day per entry, ME visa ???? !)

I was speaking to a consulate last week and they have been given the impression that you can apply for an extension with the multi- entry permit), but not in less than 90 days I commented...

[UKresonant]

17 minutes ago, CaptainNemo said:

you have to make the best decisions based on the situation you are in, it's not always really a "choice".

Totally agree with that statement!

[CaptainNemo]

On 9/7/2019 at 10:04 AM, Tanoshi said:

Maybe it's another case of those abusing the Visa, that spoils it for the genuine one's.

How would it be possible to abuse a Multi-entry visa? The first on I had, I only entered Thailand once, and left. The last one, I don't see how you do anything other than use it... it's not like back-to-back tourist visas, is it?

Edited September 16, 2019 by CaptainNemo