Interpreting the Royal Thai Consulate Saigon website about non-O visa..

[DrJack54]

13 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

I did go to immigration and was told I cannot get the Covid extension but could get the 60 day extension without my wife being there. I hope he's right about that and another officer doesn't come in at the last minute and say no...

Take some supporting evidence.

Either statement from doctor/hospital. @Sheryl can advise.

Your only trying for 60 day extension to visit wife.

In another post think you mentioned that you only needed another 3 or so months then leaving Thailand?

If that the case just obtain the 60 and hopefully an easy border bounce may be possible by then. 

 

With that gives 30 + 30 with visa exempt entry and extension.

4 months in total. 

Edited May 5, 2022 by DrJack54

[bamboozled]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Take some supporting evidence.

Either statement from doctor/hospital. @Sheryl can advise.

Your only trying for 60 day extension to visit wife.

In another post think you mentioned that you only needed another 3 or so months then leaving Thailand?

If that the case just obtain the 60 and hopefully an easy border bounce may be possible.

With that gives 30 + 30 with visa exempt entry and extension.

4 months in total. 

Good points! Or a single entry at Phnom Penh if I feel like making that trip. I don't think my transfers are going to cut it so I might have to bite the bullet and deposit the 400k. A bit Ouch but sometimes we have to swallow the bitter pill.

[DrJack54]

14 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

Good points! Or a single entry at Phnom Penh if I feel like making that trip. I don't think my transfers are going to cut it so I might have to bite the bullet and deposit the 400k. A bit Ouch but sometimes we have to swallow the bitter pill.

Not sure I follow.

The 60 to visit wife should be a go with some supporting evidence.

 

As for the rest.... I was referring to land border exit reenter. 

No visa just return visa exempt.

Your in Chiang Mai so should by then have an option. 

 

After the 2 months to visit wife the insurance and Thai Pass could/should be history. 

 

Note: just realized that if you exit Thailand and reenter visa exempt you can obtain another 60 day extension to visit wife 

 

Edited May 5, 2022 by DrJack54

[bamboozled]

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Not sure I follow.

The 60 to visit wife should be a go with some supporting evidence.

 

As for the rest.... I was referring to land border exit reenter. 

No visa just return visa exempt.

Your in Chiang Mai so should by then have an option. 

 

After the 2 months to visit wife the insurance and Thai Pass could/should be history. 

Yes, you're probably right that the borders will be open. But then again, they might not plus is immigration going to like the looks of all my stamps? They might not want to give me a border bounce visa exempt. Hard to know if that will be on the table or not. If I get the 3 months in Phnom Phen I have the certainty of 3 months and still the extension to visit wife if I need it. And you know, I've never been to Ankor Wat.... How far in advance of my visa expiring can I get the 60 day extension to visit wife and will it begin on the day my current visa expires, do you know?

 

Thanks Jack!

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

I've never been to Ankor Wat.... How far in advance of my visa expiring can I get the 60 day extension to visit wife and will it begin on the day my current visa expires, do you know?

The 60 day extension would start at end of current permission of stay. You may be able to obtain the extension some weeks prior.

Most common is couple of weeks. 

Land borders should not be an issue with visa exempt entry.

Maximum 2 per calendar year.

 

Yes Siem Reap is very nice however if your obtaining a visa you will deal with PP. 

[bamboozled]

24 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

The 60 day extension would start at end of current permission of stay. You may be able to obtain the extension some weeks prior.

Most common is couple of weeks. 

Land borders should not be an issue with visa exempt entry.

Maximum 2 per calendar year.

 

Yes Siem Reap is very nice however if your obtaining a visa you will deal with PP. 

True, PP but who's to say I can't make a pit stop to Ankor Wat? Also, as mentioned in one of the posts, maybe I can get the online O-visa while in Cambodia. Do you know the regulations for that? Do I have to be in the US (my passport issuing country)? This would, however, be my second one in a row which might not be something they smile upon.

Edited May 5, 2022 by bamboozled

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Take some supporting evidence.

Either statement from doctor/hospital. @Sheryl can advise.

 

 

If she were hospitalized then I would expect a  letter from the hospital explaining her inability to attend would be accepted, but if not, even if under a doctor's care (which it is nto clear that she is) I am doubtful.

 

Telling immigration your wife is not mentally fit to attend may just raise doubts that work against you i.e. raise suspicions that she does not back your application (which sounds like may in fact be the case?).

 

Try the 60 days as suggested. If that fails contact an agent to see if they can get you a COVID extension, originally none were being given for non-O entries but recent posts suggest this has changed in at least some places. Ask agent, telling  them where in Thailand you are/which Imm office.

[bamboozled]

20 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

If she were hospitalized then I would expect a  letter from the hospital explaining her inability to attend would be accepted, but if not, even if under a doctor's care (which it is nto clear that she is) I am doubtful.

 

Telling immigration your wife is not mentally fit to attend may just raise doubts that work against you i.e. raise suspicions that she does not back your application (which sounds like may in fact be the case?).

 

Try the 60 days as suggested. If that fails contact an agent to see if they can get you a COVID extension, originally none were being given for non-O entries but recent posts suggest this has changed in at least some places. Ask agent, telling  them where in Thailand you are/which Imm office.

Hi Sheryl,

 

A letter from the doctor would be accepted in regard to what, getting the Non-O?

 

The immigration officer said she doesn't have to be there but I would need a family member to attend and vouch for her and our relationship, I guess. She is hospitalized and I'm sure I can get a letter from the doctor. It's just a bit hard to see the doctor as he has limited hours of availability and I probably have to pay 1000 baht just to see him. Maybe my wife can get the letter as she meets with him, though I can't meet with her. It's not the case that she doesn't support the application just that she is not available for an unknown number of days...perhaps just a week more but it's still unclear. I'm not trying to be obscure about her condition but trying to respect her privacy and I guess mine, too.

 

The agent said my wife DID NOT have to accompany me to get the 60 day extension nor was a doctor's letter required to explain her absence. This goes against what other folks on here have said so I'm a bit dubious. And as we all know, rules can change on a whim. I will try and get the doctor's letter just the same, needed or not.

 

Thanks Sheryl. I'll let you all know what happens.

 

 

[Sheryl]

30 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

Hi Sheryl,

 

A letter from the doctor would be accepted in regard to what, getting the Non-O?

 

The immigration officer said she doesn't have to be there but I would need a family member to attend and vouch for her and our relationship, I guess. She is hospitalized and I'm sure I can get a letter from the doctor. It's just a bit hard to see the doctor as he has limited hours of availability and I probably have to pay 1000 baht just to see him. Maybe my wife can get the letter as she meets with him, though I can't meet with her. It's not the case that she doesn't support the application just that she is not available for an unknown number of days...perhaps just a week more but it's still unclear. I'm not trying to be obscure about her condition but trying to respect her privacy and I guess mine, too.

 

The agent said my wife DID NOT have to accompany me to get the 60 day extension nor was a doctor's letter required to explain her absence. This goes against what other folks on here have said so I'm a bit dubious. And as we all know, rules can change on a whim. I will try and get the doctor's letter just the same, needed or not.

 

Thanks Sheryl. I'll let you all know what happens.

 

 

I was  referring to getting an extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai. You already have a visa as I understand it.

 

Normally your wife would have to come with you to get the 60 day extension to the original 90 days.  If she is hospitalized and unable to attend immigration for that reason, a letter to that effect from the hospital should certainly suffice. Though they might ask for other things like a relative to come with you.

 

I would try this first and without an agent.

 

 

[bamboozled]

13 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

I was  referring to getting an extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai. You already have a visa as I understand it.

 

Normally your wife would have to come with you to get the 60 day extension to the original 90 days.  If she is hospitalized and unable to attend immigration for that reason, a letter to that effect from the hospital should certainly suffice. Though they might ask for other things like a relative to come with you.

 

I would try this first and without an agent.

 

 

Yes, I have a Non-O. The extension....it's not out of the realm of possibility. I'm still gathering the data on my transfers. ...Got my statement and the bank letter today, probably a week too early but anyway, I have to contact Deemoney, apparently, to get them verified as international. I'm not sure I can get the landlords house book/ID/etc without her help. I'll probably head back to immigration next week armed with whatever I can muster.

 

Thanks for your time!

[NanLaew]

Pre Covid, the websites for the Thai Consulates in Savanakhet and Saigon listed single entry and multiple entry Non-O visas for having a Thai spouse.

 

Post Covid, both websites only show the single-entry option.

 

Most other Thai embassy and consulates had been offering only the single-entry long before Covid came along and regular travelers and users of the multi-O from Savanakhet and HCMC were already accepting that it was only a matter of time. Covid simply accelerated the standardization.

Edited May 5, 2022 by NanLaew

[ubonjoe]

10 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Post Covid, both websites only show the single-entry option.

The consulate in HCMC does show it.

Source: https://hochiminh.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-o-accompanying-thai-spouse-and-family-members?page=5d80ab3315e39c2fe800a791

I am not sure that Savannakhet showed it before. The requirements posted here are dated September of 2019.

https://savannakhet.thaiembassy.org/th/page/cate-9736-types-of-visa?menu=5d84a44c15e39c26b400453f

[Sheryl]

14 hours ago, bamboozled said:

Yes, I have a Non-O. The extension....it's not out of the realm of possibility. I'm still gathering the data on my transfers. ...Got my statement and the bank letter today, probably a week too early but anyway, I have to contact Deemoney, apparently, to get them verified as international. I'm not sure I can get the landlords house book/ID/etc without her help. I'll probably head back to immigration next week armed with whatever I can muster.

 

Thanks for your time!

I don't think you need that documentation of 60 day extension? You would need it for 1 year extension.  How much longer do you need to stay in Thailand?

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

How much longer do you need to stay in Thailand?

Pretty sure in one post mentioned 3 or 4 months longer.

A 60 day extension to visit wife and in couple of months time hopefully by then could do border bounce then visa exempt entry + extension or another 60 to visit wife....... Thinking better option than flying to Saigon for another non O marriage and has already mentioned the 12 month extension from non O entry (currently) not high on list. 

[bamboozled]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

I don't think you need that documentation of 60 day extension? You would need it for 1 year extension.  How much longer do you need to stay in Thailand?

No, all those documents for the 1-year extension.

 

Best case scenario, I would get the 1 year Non-O extension based on marriage since Thailand is my home. The only reason I'm not shooting for that right now is because of the wife's condition which happened rather suddenly. To boot, my documents might not be up to snuff for various reasons. I had tentative plans to visit the US again this summer and if I'm going to have to do piecemeal visas it might make sense to travel there a bit earlier.  In that situation, I can get the 1-year, Non-O sometime after I come back and not use it up while I'm away.

[NanLaew]

8 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The consulate in HCMC does show it.

Source: https://hochiminh.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-o-accompanying-thai-spouse-and-family-members?page=5d80ab3315e39c2fe800a791

I am not sure that Savannakhet showed it before. The requirements posted here are dated September of 2019.

https://savannakhet.thaiembassy.org/th/page/cate-9736-types-of-visa?menu=5d84a44c15e39c26b400453f

When I checked that website early last month, the 'multiples' entry was definitely not listed so I assumed that the standardization I mentioned had prevailed. It still looks a bit ambiguous as it doesn't say the multi-entry validity is 1-year.

 

Item 6 still says

6. Validity of a Visa:

The validity of a Visa is 3 months

 

And Item 7 says

7. Period of Stay:

Holder of this type of visa is entitled to stay in Thailand for a maximum period of 90 days. He or she may apply for an extension of stay at the Office of the Immigration Bureau and may be granted such extension for a period of one year from the date of first entry into Thailand.

 

I will email and seek clarification since a 3-month multiple entry isn't what they provided before and isn't worth 200 bucks.

[bamboozled]

Exactly. I actually got an email back from them today but it didn't clarify anything new. Just gave the link for making an appointment and for downloading the form. I sent again the question about 1 year visas.