1 Year Multiple Entry O-visa

[Badtz]

Sawadee Kap,

I have researched this as much as I can through my group of friends in Thailand and don't have a clear cut answer on what my next step should be. I am a 39 year old American who has been living in Thailand for 2 years. I initially came on a triple entry tourist visa issued in Miami and then followed it up for the remainder of the year with Cambodia runs. I flew back to the States and received a 1 year multiple entry O-Visa through the Denver consulate in July of 2006. The Visa was issued for the STATED purpose of "extended travel in Asia" (not marriage or investment). The visa runs out in July of this year and with extensions I should be good till October. At that point I have a dilemma I believe.

It is my understanding that Denver and other Honorary Consulates in the US are no longing issuing 1 year multiple-O visas based on: (Extended travel, visiting friends, looking for investments, writing a book etc.. etc..)

In addition to the above I have been with my Thai girlfriend for about 22 months now. We are talking marriage but I really don't want to rush it because of Visa requirements. Kind of unromantic and I really want to get married properly when I do. Big Issan wedding and all that LOL.

I am American Passport Holder, 39 years old, Single, Able to meet any 400k or 800k Baht requirement. Have no pension and or "Income" other than bank transfers I make each month for my budget in Thailand.

1) Can I get a 1 Year Multiple-O Visa based on visiting friends, looking for investments (Anything NON-Marriage) at ANY US Consulate/Embassy ? Denver and Houston seems to be a no at this time.

2) Can I as an American get this Visa in Hull, England ?

3) Can I as an American get this Visa in Perth or Brisbane, Australia ?

4) If I can't get a Multiple 1 Year Visa again is my only option marriage ?

5) If I get married how can I show this 40,000 Baht a month income ? I don't have an income as I live off my Investments/Savings.

6) I can easily meet the 400,000 Baht a year needed previously for a marriage visa BUT I hear now you have to show it as Pension/Income.

7) What EXACTLY is thier definition of "Income" ? If I pay my self xxx K Baht a month through bank transfer is that considered Income ? I read that different Embassys have different takes on this. Anyone familiar with how the US Embassy deals with this ?

8) How will this "Income" determination affect me one year from now when it comes to an extension based on marriage to a Thai National ?

Sorry ahead of time that this is so convoluted. I want to do this properly but am very unclear as to what my options are as I am not married and not over 50 years of age. I don't want to pay a lawyer to start a shell company and go that route or any other route that skirts the spirit of the Thai immigration code.

[tijnebijn]

Wow,hard one!For what I know there are 2 things you can do.First is marrying,if you canoot show a combined income of 40k a month,you can get a multiple nonO.This means you have a one year vis ,but every 90 days you will have to leave the kingdom,(cambodia will do,with no hassles cause you have a visa) and if you leave before the date (1 day will suit)the visa is expired you can have another 3 months.It is how I do it for the last couple of years.The money you bring in is seen as savings not as income(money is allready earned).

If marrying is too much now(should take your time)the only option would be the tourist visa which you can appy for at many consulates around Thailand ,after that the 3 borderruns(but at the Cambodian border they ask you a flyticket out of Thailand in 30 days,but still not in some other border areas in the country),or you just go for a tourist visa all the time extend it for a month and get a new one.

the other options I am afraid are not possible anymore,so marrying will be the most comfortable one I guess.

I understand it is complicated for you,the immgration made the life of us farang soft said very complicated too cope,even when you have enough money to spend,but many people don't ,thats whu probarly they intende to do this.Good luck.

[LivinLOS]

2) Can I as an American get this Visa in Hull, England ?

I asked exactly this question last year or so to Alan Taylor.. The response I got was he was able to issue that visa to a non UK national who had a valid reason to apply for one in the uk.. That then gives the very grey area of what a valid reason to apply means !! He said if a non British national was living in the UK, had been there for extended time, this would not be any problem. However with your passport showing a large amount of time living in Thailand then a visa run simply to the uk would not look like a valid reason is my guess..

Perhaps a visa run AND a new passport ??