IO @ HKT: "Next time you need long stay visa"

[Sandboxer]

I'm 49, EU passport holder, and spent the better part of 2020 in Thailand initially on a 60 day TR, extended by 30 and then on Coof extensions till the end of the year. Then spent most of the next year in my country of residence (Japan). 

 

Rinse & repeat for Dec 2021 until Sept 2022.

 

Flew into HKT last night on a new 60 day e-tv and the IO gave me the 3rd degree and asked why I spent so much time in T (no problem, I realize it's her job). Told her my dad lives here on retirement extensions (true) and that he's old (true) and I like to spend as much time with him as possible (true) and that since I'm early retired I have the time and money to do it.  Also own my condo.

 

Told that her since I'm not quite 50 yet (birthday this April), I plan to stay until the end of March (after doing a 30 day extension once the 60 day tv nears expiration) and then get a retirement/OA from the T embassy in my country of residence (quite true - planning on doing this via an agent here if possible to come back in on a 30 day exempt, see below for more detail).

Also showed her my return ticket as well as my dad's passport copy with relevant OA visa/extension stamps (also had a boatload of US$ cash on me just in case but wasn't asked to show it), and condo chanote. This satisfied her and she stamped me in normally, without any other weird remarks on the stamp.

 

Here's my issue/question - the last thing she said was "next time you have to come with long stay visa" to which I just politely nodded and went my way.

 

Again, I have no problems with her doing her job. My ACTUAL plan was to leave T for a few days BEFORE my 50th bday (which coincides wit the expiration of my current validity of stay after I've done an extension) and come back in on a 30 day exempt a few days AFTER my 50th and then just immediately get the retirement visa here via an agent.

 

Now, my passport stamp is normal BUT do IO's have the option to add some remarks into their system that would show up for the next IO if I come in on an exempt the next time and result in automatic rejected entry, or was she just "bluffing" (for lack of a better word) in that respect and simply warning me and letting me know that I should really adopt a different visitor "profile"?

 

 

800k is already in the bank, so no dodgy agency (just using them for added convenience) workaround business in that respect. 

Edited December 27, 2022 by Sandboxer

[DrJack54]

It was a standard line that the io was using.

For your entry when you plan to use agent for the non O retirement and subsequent extension you could consider obtaining a tourist visa. 

That would also give agent more time. 

[Mad God]

Just want to tell you in case no one has your a very handsome man ????

 

Wife's cousin works at immigration on the counters, 

 

Yes they can make notes on the computer system.

 

But you are very legit, "IF" next time they bugged you just complain and show all the same paperwork.

 

You can never have too much paperwork in Thailand

 

But you should also have a long term visa strategy ASAP IMHO

 

I've had issues by the way with immigration, I accidently checked out of the country before getting a new exit permit, destroying my new marriage visa (for that year)

 

I turned around, went back to immigration (was at swampy) and said, "Yes, my fault, BUT your immigration guy could have helped and reminded me I was leaving without an exit permit"

 

First guy said too bad, your own fault (yes I know)

 

But I asked to see his boss and I refused to go anywhere, 

 

Eventually bigger boss came, said let the guy go get an exit permit, off I went, got my exit permit. Note You need that on return so I didn't need to cancel my exit of the country

 

Point being, if you get a tough person, very politely ask to go higher and as they know, you aren't going away easily once your in the country,

 

I've never paid a bribe either, always found the right person to do the right thing, 

 

Never had to call my wife's cousin either THOUGH I have bought the <deleted> Beer Laos on the way back through the bridge hahahaha

 

 

 

 

[FritsSikkink]

Why don't you get a retirement visa at the Thai embassy in your country?

[Srikcir]

Judging by your travel needs and cited finances, you may qualify for a 10-year Long Term Resident Visa based on retirement (Wealthy Pensioner). No re-entry permit required vs non O-A. Elite airport entry immigration check-in. Report Thai residence annually vs every 90-days for non O-A. Can obtain from Thailand foreign embassy.

https://ltr.boi.go.th/page/ltr-brochure.html

 

[tomazbodner]

7 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Why don't you get a retirement visa at the Thai embassy in your country?

Because he's not 50 yet?

[tomazbodner]

8 hours ago, Sandboxer said:

Flew into HKT last night on a new 60 day e-tv and the IO gave me the 3rd degree and asked why I spent so much time in T (no problem, I realize it's her job). Told her my dad lives here on retirement extensions (true) and that he's old (true) and I like to spend as much time with him as possible (true)

Darn! You must be the first visitor to tell the truth to IO! Can tell you lived in Japan too long ????

[Brick Top]

8 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Why don't you get a retirement visa at the Thai embassy in your country?

Why give the guy the worst possible information ? , if when hes 50 and he obtained the Retirement Visa from.his own embassy he would be issued with a "Non OA" . Then he would be have yo obtain the ridiculous insurance every year , much better for him to obtain his retirement Visa in Thailand were he would then be in a "Non O"

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, Brick Top said:

Why give the guy the worst possible information ? , if when hes 50 and he obtained the Retirement Visa from.his own embassy he would be issued with a "Non OA" . Then he would be have yo obtain the ridiculous insurance every year , much better for him to obtain his retirement Visa in Thailand were he would then be in a "Non O"

Bit lost in translation.

You can obtain a non O retirement in own country (in the main) 

So he wasn't suggesting a non O-A necessarily. 

Having stated that many consulates issuing non O retirement were requiring 90 day insurance. 

[Scottie12]

On the same theme if I enter on a 90 day non o tourist visa (60 days plus 30 day extension) is there any way of extending it for a further 90 days ?

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, Scottie12 said:

On the same theme if I enter on a 90 day non o tourist visa (60 days plus 30 day extension) is there any way of extending it for a further 90 days ?

You entered on a tourist visa (60 days) and extended by 30 days. (not a non O)

Only one extension per entry is possible.

You need to do border run for a visa exempt entry or obtain another tourist visa at nearby consulate eg Laos, Cambodia etc

Edited December 27, 2022 by DrJack54

[Scott]

Inflammatory post reported and removed.

 

[FritsSikkink]

7 hours ago, Brick Top said:

Why give the guy the worst possible information ? , if when hes 50 and he obtained the Retirement Visa from.his own embassy he would be issued with a "Non OA" . Then he would be have yo obtain the ridiculous insurance every year , much better for him to obtain his retirement Visa in Thailand were he would then be in a "Non O"

"ridiculous insurance every year"

Of course it is better to start a who can fund me campaign.

[FritsSikkink]

9 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Because he's not 50 yet?

He wouldn't get one while in the country too.

[Salerno]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

"ridiculous insurance every year"

Of course it is better to start a who can fund me campaign.

There's a difference between idiots with no insurance (that don't have the means to really self insure) and those forced to buy ineffective Thai insurance on top of their existing insurance just because they started on a Non-OA.

Edited December 27, 2022 by Salerno
Typo

[problemfarang]

17 hours ago, Mad God said:

I turned around, went back to immigration (was at swampy) and said, "Yes, my fault, BUT your immigration guy could have helped and reminded me I was leaving without an exit permit"

you can ask them to cancel your cancel visa stamp. because you didnt cross any border yet. I did that at nong khai immigration. they have to do that if you ask it specifically. they didnt do because you didnt ask for it the way it should be and probably they were not in good mood. 

 

and yes when you are leaving the IO should warn you and ask you if you want to get a re-entry

 

so it is 60-40 it is your visa and its your responsibility to follow it and do the necessary things. 'i forgot' is really nonsense. its the most important thing. so you get 40. IO made a mistake about not warning you about the visa but actually and technically its not his duty. Also he failed about cancelling your cancelled stamp. As i said i did it. i went back to thai border and i told them i made a mistake and i need to come back at first he was like <deleted> you are talking about then i demand he cancel the cancel visa and let me in. after talking with his superviser he used a blue ink stamp on my exit stamp and saying CANCEL. so he canceled my exit stamp. and reuse my old stamp before exit. he write a note in blue to explain the situation under the stamp. all good. so IO get 60

[BritTim]

7 hours ago, problemfarang said:

you can ask them to cancel your cancel visa stamp. because you didnt cross any border yet. I did that at nong khai immigration. they have to do that if you ask it specifically. they didnt do because you didnt ask for it the way it should be and probably they were not in good mood. 

 

and yes when you are leaving the IO should warn you and ask you if you want to get a re-entry

 

so it is 60-40 it is your visa and its your responsibility to follow it and do the necessary things. 'i forgot' is really nonsense. its the most important thing. so you get 40. IO made a mistake about not warning you about the visa but actually and technically its not his duty. Also he failed about cancelling your cancelled stamp. As i said i did it. i went back to thai border and i told them i made a mistake and i need to come back at first he was like <deleted> you are talking about then i demand he cancel the cancel visa and let me in. after talking with his superviser he used a blue ink stamp on my exit stamp and saying CANCEL. so he canceled my exit stamp. and reuse my old stamp before exit. he write a note in blue to explain the situation under the stamp. all good. so IO get 60

If you already entered another country, the Thai exit stamp cannot legally be cancelled, unless you can get the other country to cancel both their entry and exit stamps (which is unlikely to happen). Anyway, cancelling the exit stamp is not usually necessary, unless you are unable to access the re-entry desk without being on the other side of immigration. If you identify your error after stamping out of Thailand, but before entering another country, it should still be possible to get a re-entry permit (and the visa stamp was prematurely marked cancelled).

[blackshadow]

17 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Because he's not 50 yet?

SOME people do not read what the poster wrote DO THEY???

[Brick Top]

19 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Bit lost in translation.

You can obtain a non O retirement in own country (in the main) 

So he wasn't suggesting a non O-A necessarily. 

Having stated that many consulates issuing non O retirement were requiring 90 day insurance.