SETV at VIENTIANE Concern: Advice Needed

[WaveHunter]

I have a few concerns and wonder if some knowledgeable people (like @ubonjoe) could offer some advice.

 

1) First: I got some good advice a few months ago on my first concern but want a little more clarification since I think things have changed.  I currently have a "retirement" extension that will expire September 30.  I want to extend my stay in the Kingdom using an SETV that I plan to extend with 30 day extension, then leave to re-apply for another 60 day SETV, rinse & repeat x3 (I need to be in the Kingdom until Summer, 2020).  I was advised I could probably do this using at least 2 embassies (i.e.: first at Vientiane, then a couple of times at Savannakhet, then Vientiane again if necessary, for example). 

 

My concern is that I originally came to Thailand on a METV that I got at an embassy in the US, then when that expired, I got a Non-O and a "retirement" extension.  So...am I in danger of being denied a SETV considering that I have these previous visas already?

 

2) Second:  I've heard that Vientiane now requires an appointment (online application) but there's a question of how far in advance I should do this.  My present visa expires Sep 30, but I would like to get this all taken care of as far in advance of that date as possible.  Considering that a SETV has a 3 month window before you need to activate it, could I make an appointment right now, go to Vientiane and get the SETV, BUT still return to Thailand under my "retirement" extension until it runs out, AND THEN activate my new SETV.

 

I'm guessing that would mean leaving and re-entering again just prior to September 30, but I'd rather do that than run the risk of waiting until then to apply for the SETV and having something go wrong at the last minute.

 

I'd really appreciate some seasoned advice.  I tried to figure this out via Google but there's just so much conflicting and outdated information.

 

[Caine]

You can’t have 2 current visas in your passport at one time. When they issue your SETV. Your retirement visa will be void.

[WaveHunter]

1 hour ago, Caine said:

You can’t have 2 current visas in your passport at one time. When they issue your SETV. Your retirement visa will be void.

I was told BOTH could be in my passport and and the consulate would not void the retirement extension, and that I could cross the border back to Thailand on the retirement extension.  As long as I leave Thailand before expiration of retirement extension, I could come back and activate the SETV since there is a 3 month window to activate it.

[lkv]

3 hours ago, Caine said:

You can’t have 2 current visas in your passport at one time. When they issue your SETV. Your retirement visa will be void.

Not if it's an extension of stay with a re-entry permit issued by local Immigration, not sure an Embassy has the authority to void that. Only local Immigration could technically cancel those.

 

Not sure if they have the authority to void a visa issued by another Embassy either.

 

I believe in practice they would wait until past the expiry date of whatever it is (visa or extension of stay with reentry permit), to issue a new visa.

 

Therefore, I don't know which Embassy would issue a visa "in advance", for future use. I don't believe they would. But since they can't void the previous one either imo, here comes the catch 22.

[WaveHunter]

5 hours ago, lkv said:

Not if it's an extension of stay with a re-entry permit issued by local Immigration, not sure an Embassy has the authority to void that. Only local Immigration could technically cancel those.

 

Not sure if they have the authority to void a visa issued by another Embassy either.

 

I believe in practice they would wait until past the expiry date of whatever it is (visa or extension of stay with reentry permit), to issue a new visa.

 

Therefore, I don't know which Embassy would issue a visa "in advance", for future use. I don't believe they would. But since they can't void the previous one either imo, here comes the catch 22.

My understanding is that all SETV's are issued with a three month window before they need to be activated (see below)

 

...and I found a post by @ubonjoe where he addressed the following question which is pretty much the same as mine"

 

Question:  I'm just not sure if getting the SETV stamped in my passport would de-activate my "retirement visa" or cause confusion with IMM officials at the airport when I return to Thailand (even though I would have the re-entry permit for the retirement visa.) 

 

UbonJoe's reply:

Your extension would still be valid if you got a tourist visa.

The officer when enter the country may ask what you want to use when you enter the country. Be sure and put the re-entry permit number on the TM6 arrival card. The officer might want to use the tourist visa if the 60 days it allows is longer than what you would get from the re-entry permit.

 

So, it sounds like what I want to do which is to travel to a consulate outside of Thailand NOW to get the SETV which will replace my retirement extension when it expires September 30 should be possible.  That way, if there are any screw-ups with the consulate, I'll have time to fix them before my present visa expires.

 

Just as important, I have to sign a new condo lease in a few weeks and would like to have peace of mind that I won't get denied a SETV and thus loose my deposit.

 

Maybe I'm overly concerned and I can just wait until a few days before expiration of my retirement visa to get the SETV, but my experience with Thai Immigration is that "anything that can go wrong, will probably go wrong"

 

So, if anybody can give me some help on this, I'd sure appreciate it ????

 

 

[BritTim]

I do not think most consulates would want to issue you a tourist visa if it was clear you were still intending to enter Thailand on your previous permission to stay. I would not be dogmatic. Also, while an immigration official might allow you to choose between a visa and a re-entry permit, I do not think they are obliged to do so. They might well force you to use the visa as more recently issued.

 

On your larger question, do not rely on getting several visas in Laos. The situation there has changed dramatically there recently. I would suggest first tourist visa in Savannakhet, second in Vientiane and third in Yangon (planning to return by land to avoid potential trouble with immigration at airports). You have visa exempt entries by land as an emergency fallback should any visa applications fail.

[WaveHunter]

9 hours ago, BritTim said:

I do not think most consulates would want to issue you a tourist visa if it was clear you were still intending to enter Thailand on your previous permission to stay. I would not be dogmatic. Also, while an immigration official might allow you to choose between a visa and a re-entry permit, I do not think they are obliged to do so. They might well force you to use the visa as more recently issued.

 

On your larger question, do not rely on getting several visas in Laos. The situation there has changed dramatically there recently. I would suggest first tourist visa in Savannakhet, second in Vientiane and third in Yangon (planning to return by land to avoid potential trouble with immigration at airports). You have visa exempt entries by land as an emergency fallback should any visa applications fail.

Do you have any feedback on Kuala Lumpur as a possible first place for SETV?  I’ve been wanting to travel there anyway.

 

Thanks for mentioning the fallback to visa-exempt entry.  My main concern with waiting until my present visa is about to expire was a snag with the new SETV and being prevented re-entry.  Is the visa-exempt a pretty sure thing, in your opinion?

[Ebumbu]

Why not get another Type O visa for retirement. Good for 3 months and then you extend for a year? Why mess with SETV? 

 

You can get a multi entry permit with a Type O and come and go as you please. 

 

I've heard (but not sure) that there is no "seasoning" requirement in Savannakhet. But, in Vientiane, you'd need to show 3 months income in a Thai bank, or 800,000 baht in a Thai bank. That's good for 90 days, and you do need to show either income or deposit during that time to extend. 

 

I think getting a new Type O would be safer than raising suspicions with a tourist visa. It's been said that KL is playing hardball recently. 

[ubonjoe]

A post flaming a member has been removed.

[WaveHunter]

Thanks for all the good advice; I truly appreciate it <removed>

 

FYI, After considering all options, I decided to get an ED visa.  Only available in Chiang Mai, you can attend a "martial arts" school that is approved by Ministry of Education for ED Visas.

 

Contrary to what you might believe, this is a well-respected school that's run by a high-ranking Thai Police official, and they have a great track record with Thai IMM.  I know most people are probably just signing up for the visa, but I have a background in martial arts, and this really sounded appealing to me.

 

It's actually a great option for getting a long-stay visa.  It costs no more than if you were to attempt back to back SETV's, and with a lot less potential hassle.  The school handles all the paperwork and even attends 90 day IMM reporting with you.

 

So, if anyone else wants to check it out, it's called Hand-To-Hand Combat in Chinag Mai.