Questions about new Non 'O' application in UK

[HashBrownHarry]

Looking for some advice / answers pls.

 

I currently have a 1 year extension based on marriage good until mid Dec 2021 and a single entry re-entry permit. I'm heading back to the uk within a week and would like to apply for a new 1 year Non O based on marraige, my questions are:

 

- is this all done online now?

- how long does this process currently take, passport door to door and what is the cost?

- will a new non O get denied due to my still valid one year extension and re-entry permit?

- what docs are required for this?

 

Thanks.

[ubonjoe]

You cannot apply for a multiple entry non-o visa in the UK. The e visa site does not allow them. It has been that way since that started using the e visa site 2 years ago.

[HashBrownHarry]

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You cannot apply for a multiple entry non-o visa in the UK. The e visa site does not allow them. It has been that way since that started using the e visa site 2 years ago.

So how does one obtain?

[ubonjoe]

You can only get a single entry non-o visa in the UK.

To get one you would have to be able to travel to a country that issues them. But any nearby embassy or consulate that issued them are not allowing entries to most people.

A this time a multiple entry non-o visa is about worthless since you cannot just leave and reenter the country for a new 90 day entry.

[HashBrownHarry]

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You can only get a single entry non-o visa in the UK.

To get one you would have to be able to travel to a country that issues them. But any nearby embassy or consulate that issued them are not allowing entries to most people.

A this time a multiple entry non-o visa is about worthless since you cannot just leave and reenter the country for a new 90 day entry.

So what are my options when the extension is due for renewal, it took 6 weeks to process last time, can i leave the country while it's being processed? 

 

So long as you go through the quarantine procedure there it's very possible to just leave and re-enter the country.

 

Thanks.

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

So what are my options when the extension is due for renewal, it took 6 weeks to process last time, can i leave the country while it's being processed? 

You can get a re-entry permit for the under consideration period after you apply for the extension. You would have to enter the country before the report back date.

 

7 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

So long as you go through the quarantine procedure there it's very possible to just leave and re-enter the country.

But where would you go to and how long would you have to wait to get a COE to return to Thailand. Plus a covid 19 test prior to entry.

[HashBrownHarry]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

You can get a re-entry permit for the under consideration period after you apply for the extension. You would have to enter the country before the report back date.

 

But where would you go to and how long would you have to wait to get a COE to return to Thailand. Plus a covid 19 test prior to entry.

So they don't retain passport when during the 'under consideration' period?

 

Yeah, not sure where offers the non 'O', obviosuly it'd need to been convienient ie close to somewhere i work, CoE is not that timely a process now, once i have the visa ( and all other docs ) you can apply from where you're gonna be leaving from and not necessarily where you are at the time.

 

Is there any issues with entering with VE back to back to back to back?

 

 

[ubonjoe]

25 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

So they don't retain passport when during the 'under consideration' period?

Immigration never keeps a passport other than overnight at a few odd offices.

 

28 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Yeah, not sure where offers the non 'O', obviosuly it'd need to been convienient ie close to somewhere i work, CoE is not that timely a process now, once i have the visa ( and all other docs ) you can apply from where you're gonna be leaving from and not necessarily where you are at the time.

The problem you can have at many embassies is that they only issue visas to citizens or legal residents of the country where they are located.

 

29 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Is there any issues with entering with VE back to back to back to back?

Not at this time.

[HashBrownHarry]

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Immigration never keeps a passport other than overnight at a few odd offices.

 

The problem you can have at many embassies is that they only issue visas to citizens or legal residents of the country where they are located.

 

Not at this time.

Thanks.

[Tuvoc]

On 6/29/2021 at 5:07 AM, ubonjoe said:

The problem you can have at many embassies is that they only issue visas to citizens or legal residents of the country where they are located.

 

 

Yes, I got my 90 day Non-O from the London embassy last year in my UK passport, because that's where my home was at the time and where I had been living for many years.  I'd rather have got it in my New Zealand passport and that may have been possible, but I needed the Visa quickly and didn't want any complications. I'll investigate if it might be possible to switch in future without having to travel to NZ to get it done. ("switch" = letting the old permission to stay expire and starting again). I have a feeling that the London embassy will do it, a quick email to them would confirm or not.

[KhaoYai]

On 6/29/2021 at 4:35 AM, HashBrownHarry said:

Yeah, not sure where offers the non 'O', obviosuly it'd need to been convienient ie close to somewhere i work,

Your post raises an issue which I have written about several times.

 

Most people who use a Multi Non O to enter Thailand obtain it from either Laos or Vietnam but as Ubonjoe says, most people cannot enter those countries right now.  Embassies and consulates in many other countries (and all those on E-Visa) only issue Multi Non O's to either citizens of that country or those who are legally resident there.

 

As I have rattled on about many times, this can be a problem for those who use a Multi Non O in the way it was intended and its a problem that is very likely to get worse.  Given the investment made, It would seem reasonable to expect all Thai embassies and consulates to move over to the E-Visa system at some point in the near future which will end the possibility of obtaining a Multi Non O from them.

 

I am not sure if the omission of the Multi Non O from the E-Visa system is intentional or a mistake.  It could very well be a mistake because if the Thai authorities simply wished to stop issuing Multi Non O visas they could easily do so - they don't need to wait until E-Visa is introduced. I have written to the Thai Ambassador in London on this subject and failed to get a reply. 

 

I work in Europe, mainly the UK but my wife and indeed my home are in Thailand. In normal times I work for 8 weeks and go home for 2 weeks - constantly rotating.  In the past I have been pulled by immigration at Suvarnabhumi and told that visiting my wife is not considered tourism and warned that I would not be allowed to enter again without the correct visa - a Non O based on marriage. Several friends have also had the same issue.  I therefore returned to using a Non O and intend to do so again when things are back to normal (for now I am not able to comply with quarantine requirements and therefore I'm not visiting). When it was no longer possible to obtain a 12 Month Multi Entry from the Thai embassy in London, I obtained one from Ho Chi Minh but if they go over to E-Visa that avenue will close. I will have to apply to London and accept a single entry Non O.

 

Apart from being much more expensive, having to apply for a new visa every 90 days is a pain in the proverbial and can cause me problems if I have to travel and my passport is away.

 

As I say, I think this may be a mistake on the part of the Thai authorities and I would like to find out if that is the case.  I was not surprised that my letter to the ambassador in London was ignored - its normal but I would be very grateful if anyone could suggest a way of contacting someone in Thai immigration who is likely to actually consider my query.

 

I am aware that an alternative would be to obtain an extension of stay every 12 months but making an application for an extension simply doesn't work for me and others in the same position as we do not stay in the country long enough to do so.

[HashBrownHarry]

22 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Your post raises an issue which I have written about several times.

 

Most people who use a Multi Non O to enter Thailand obtain it from either Laos or Vietnam but as Ubonjoe says, most people cannot enter those countries right now.  Embassies and consulates in many other countries (and all those on E-Visa) only issue Multi Non O's to either citizens of that country or those who are legally resident there.

 

As I have rattled on about many times, this can be a problem for those who use a Multi Non O in the way it was intended and its a problem that is very likely to get worse.  Given the investment made, It would seem reasonable to expect all Thai embassies and consulates to move over to the E-Visa system at some point in the near future which will end the possibility of obtaining a Multi Non O from them.

 

I am not sure if the omission of the Multi Non O from the E-Visa system is intentional or a mistake.  It could very well be a mistake because if the Thai authorities simply wished to stop issuing Multi Non O visas they could easily do so - they don't need to wait until E-Visa is introduced. I have written to the Thai Ambassador in London on this subject and failed to get a reply. 

 

I work in Europe, mainly the UK but my wife and indeed my home are in Thailand. In normal times I work for 8 weeks and go home for 2 weeks - constantly rotating.  In the past I have been pulled by immigration at Suvarnabhumi and told that visiting my wife is not considered tourism and warned that I would not be allowed to enter again without the correct visa - a Non O based on marriage. Several friends have also had the same issue.  I therefore returned to using a Non O and intend to do so again when things are back to normal (for now I am not able to comply with quarantine requirements and therefore I'm not visiting). When it was no longer possible to obtain a 12 Month Multi Entry from the Thai embassy in London, I obtained one from Ho Chi Minh but if they go over to E-Visa that avenue will close. I will have to apply to London and accept a single entry Non O.

 

Apart from being much more expensive, having to apply for a new visa every 90 days is a pain in the proverbial and can cause me problems if I have to travel and my passport is away.

 

As I say, I think this may be a mistake on the part of the Thai authorities and I would like to find out if that is the case.  I was not surprised that my letter to the ambassador in London was ignored - its normal but I would be very grateful if anyone could suggest a way of contacting someone in Thai immigration who is likely to actually consider my query.

 

I am aware that an alternative would be to obtain an extension of stay every 12 months but making an application for an extension simply doesn't work for me and others in the same position as we do not stay in the country long enough to do so.

I don't think they'll be as strict on the amount of times you can enter on VE in the coming months / years, they'd be silly to turn people away......

[KhaoYai]

11 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

I don't think they'll be as strict on the amount of times you can enter on VE in the coming months / years, they'd be silly to turn people away......

I agree short term but once tourism returns to where it was - expect the Tourist Prevention Authority to resume its previous duties. Remember, these are people who think tourists are going to accept a tracking device.

[HashBrownHarry]

1 hour ago, KhaoYai said:

I agree short term but once tourism returns to where it was - expect the Tourist Prevention Authority to resume its previous duties. Remember, these are people who think tourists are going to accept a tracking device.

I hope it goes back to like the good old days where you could come and go ( with a British passport anyway ) as much as you liked, no visa required.