Non-Immigrant Type “O” Visiting family changed?

[mania]

Just wondering if anyone has info on this

We always visit our home in Thailand for 3 months a year

My wife is Thai & I always get the Non-Imm Type O visiting family 90 day visa

 

It has always been these requirements listed below

For the purpose of visiting family (Type “O”)
       - When submitting application  include:

       - Your actual passport - valid for at least six more months (18 more months if applying for multiple-entry visa) and passport must have some blank visa pages - include a copy of the "picture/information" page of the passport
       - Two recent passport-type photos
       - Copy U.S. Permanent Resident card or long-term U.S. Visa (does not apply to U.S. passport holders)
       - Completed visa application [download]
       - Recent bank statement showing at least $700 US
       - Copy of airline tickets or e-ticket and...

       To visit as a spouse of a Thai nationality, Fiance and Fiancee are not eligible for this category.
       - A copy of a valid and effective marriage certificate.
       - A copy of Thai passport /or Thai I.D. of the spouse.
       - A letter from the spouse verifying that the applicant and the spouse are still married and the purpose to visit Thailand.

 

But today as I get ready for our yearly trip & visit the US LA site I see the requirements have changed & quite a bit

But what is odd is if your visiting a Non Thai Family show $1000 but if visiting Thai family show $15,000 ?

Non-Immigrant Type “O” Visiting family - (thaiembassy.org)

 

Required documents to upload in the system (Large and clear JPEG or PDF format) to stay with non-Thai family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days): 

Passport Biodata Page or Travel Document (Must be valid within 6 months from travel date)

Photograph of the applicant, taken within the past six months

Document indicating current location (driving license, bank statement, or proof of stay)

A copy of a recent saving or checking bank statement with an ending balance of no less than $1,000 per person or 2,000 per family that shows the applicant's name and date. In case of submitting a family bank statement, proof of relationship (i.e. birth certificate, marriage certificate) must be provided

Personal details of a family in Thailand, e.g. valid government-issued ID card, Passport and Thai visa page, work permit or stay permit in Thailand

Proof of relationship to a family in Thailand (immediate family only), e.g. A copy of marriage certificate/birth certificate/certificate of adoption

 

 

Required documents to upload in the system (Large and clear JPEG or PDF format) to stay with Thai family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days): 

Passport Biodata Page or Travel Document (Must be valid within 6 months from travel date)

Photograph of the applicant, taken within the past six months

Document indicating current location (driving license, bank statement, or proof of stay)

Recent bank statement showing the applicant's name and ending balance of no less than $15,000 or proof of monthly income of not less than $1,500/month) along with the current bank statement showing incoming income

Personal details of a family in Thailand, e.g. valid Thai ID card or Thai Passport

Proof of relationship to a family in Thailand (immediate family only), e.g. A copy of marriage certificate / birth certificate / certificate of adoption

 

Anyone recently get a 90 day visa based on Married to a Thai know anything about this?

Also does it matter which I choose since in reality we stay with each other in our home not family Thai or non-Thai

 

Lastly I am wondering if it is all just better these days to go Tourist visa 60 days then extend? I have always done Non-Imm Type O as it was better for banking etc

Any Help Appreciated

[ChaiyaTH]

Seems it is slowly a standard now everywhere to ask this insane requirement of money sum even people just obtain a single entry child or marriage visa.

 

I still cant believe this is really true too, i even considered before moving back to europe for a few years due to business and then just obtaining these visa’s hassle free: would make zero sense to then need and deposit or show 400k baht or similar at all.

 

it is easier to just come as a tourist at this point….

[mania]

After further investigation........

 

Actually going to the Thai E visa site  where we got last years visa from...

Official Website of Thailand Electronic Visa (thaievisa.go.th)

 

It shows that while it is still way more expensive to choose visiting/staying with Thai family vs non Thai it is still quite different

It seems like they have confused visiting a Thai Family with the requirements for yearly extension based on marriage?

I will have to try contacting on a working day.

 

To stay with non-Thai family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days)

Financial evidence: amount of no less than 30,000 THB, e.g. bank statements, sponsorship letter

 

To stay with Thai family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days)

Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 40,000 THB or having the current balance of 400,000 THB, e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings

 

 

 

 

 

[mania]

5 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Seems it is slowly a standard now everywhere to ask this insane requirement of money sum even people just obtain a single entry child or marriage visa.

 

I still cant believe this is really true too, i even considered before moving back to europe for a few years due to business and then just obtaining these visa’s hassle free: would make zero sense to then need and deposit or show 400k baht or similar at all.

 

it is easier to just come as a tourist at this point….

 

I know right?

Look at what I just posted I am really even more confused than ever hehehe 😉 

[ChaiyaTH]

3 minutes ago, mania said:

 

I know right?

Look at what I just posted it is really even more confused than ever hehehe 😉 

Meanwhile she (the miss), can get a 6 months and then 5 year visa for entire europe, based on the chavez agreement (cant split parents from children).

 

no money proof, no complicated nothing. After 2 times she even be resident / passport holder.

[ChaiyaTH]

5 minutes ago, mania said:

After further investigation........

 

Actually going to the Thai E visa site  where we got last years visa from...

Official Website of Thailand Electronic Visa (thaievisa.go.th)

 

It shows that while it is still way more expensive to choose visiting/staying with Thai family vs non Thai it is still quite different

It seems like they have confused visiting a Thai Family with the requirements for yearly extension based on marriage?

I will have to try contacting on a working day.

 

To stay with non-Thai family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days)

Financial evidence: amount of no less than 30,000 THB, e.g. bank statements, sponsorship letter

 

To stay with Thai family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days)

Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 40,000 THB or having the current balance of 400,000 THB, e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings

 

 

 

 

 

I dont even get this logic as a non-o by default is 90 days, and they mention 60 days or less while one could then get a tourist visa hassle free….. they lost it!

[mania]

3 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Meanwhile she (the miss), can get a 6 and then 5 year visa for entire europe, based on the chavez agreement (cant split parents from children).

 

no money proof, no complicated nothing. After 2 times she even be resident / passport holder.

Same as my wife...came to USA in 2007 allowed 6 months same as you said no cash etc etc

Then got two year visa... after that a 10 year perm residence visa ...one year into that she took test for citizenship & got her US Passport/citizenship Social Security etc etc

 

Wish it was reciprocated in Thailand

[ChaiyaTH]

8 minutes ago, mania said:

Same as my wife...came to USA in 2007 allowed 6 months same as you said no cash etc etc

Then got two year visa... after that a 10 year perm residence visa ...one year into that she took test for citizenship & got her US Passport/citizenship Social Security etc etc

 

Wish it was reciprocated in Thailand

Is just insane to then not be able and get a 90 day visa hassle free, while various nationalities even get that on arrival for tourism. 
 

Im not even joking, at this point doing the tourist visa and arrivals is even easier for long stayers almost.

 

It makes me especially sick for those with child visa’s, as of literally taking care of a Thai minor. 

[Caldera]

5 hours ago, mania said:

It seems like they have confused visiting a Thai Family with the requirements for yearly extension based on marriage?

 

I don't think that they're confusing the requirements, but that nowadays the view seems to be that such a Non-O visa is primarily issued to people who will use it to apply for an extension. Their conclusion is that the requirements for the extension - except for the money seasoning - need to be met for the visa application already.

 

That's quite insane, but embassies and consulates closer to Thailand (e.g. Savannakhet, Vientiane and Phnom Penh) have applied that "logic" since quite a while already.

 

So yes, for a family visit, nowadays a tourist visa seems to be the way to go.

[TroubleandGrumpy]

Come as a tourist and then extend.  Check again next time to see if it has changed back.

When dealing with Thailand always tak the simpler/easier method - never look for logic or reason (it will drive you insane).

[mania]

19 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Come as a tourist and then extend.  Check again next time to see if it has changed back.

When dealing with Thailand always tak the simpler/easier method - never look for logic or reason (it will drive you insane).

 

Well yes that is one option...whether or not it is easier is debatable ..Having lived in Thailand for many years ...now that we don't we prefer to not step foot in Immigration if at all possible 😉 

 

That aside we also have plans to do some banking things that do not go easy on a tourist visa if at all.

 

Sent an email to them will see how they respond on Monday

 

[TroubleandGrumpy]

2 minutes ago, mania said:

Well yes that is one option...whether or not it is easier is debatable ..Having lived in Thailand for many years ...now that we don't we prefer to not step foot in Immigration if at all possible 😉 

That aside we also have plans to do some banking things that do not go easy on a tourist visa if at all.

For those living in Thailand, I agree it is best to avoid Immigration as much as possible. The OP visits Thailand for 3 months every year - he is better off (now) getting a 60 day Tourist Visa from home and then one Extension when here. 

[mania]

33 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

For those living in Thailand, I agree it is best to avoid Immigration as much as possible. The OP visits Thailand for 3 months every year - he is better off (now) getting a 60 day Tourist Visa from home and then one Extension when here. 

Thanks but I am the OP & have to disagree 😉

 

We are on vacation to our home where we go every year for three months & would not consider a trip to Imm part of any vacation

 

Also as I mentioned a few times already we do some banking  with Thai mortgages etc & a tourist visa does not fly in banks when doing that type of paper works as a foreigner. I need a valid Non Imm visa in my PP when doing paper work

 

Last but not least it is also a hassle explaining to many airlines leaving the USA if your return trip date is after your visa expiration so again not easier having a 60 day visa & a 75+ day return date. Some understand some do not

 

But thanks for the input. If it all gets to be too much of a hassle we will skip this year no problem as we have other options too.

 

But really I think Imm has a error on their website & will find out on Monday when they open

 

The requirements for Type O Non Imm to visit family is exactly right when visiting Non Thai family but obviously confused when visiting Thai family. I think they have confused it with 1 year extension because those requirements listed are exactly that as I had to comply with those for many years....ie: 400k THB in bank or 40k per month income

 

[TroubleandGrumpy]

1 hour ago, mania said:

Thanks but I am the OP & have to disagree 😉

 

We are on vacation to our home where we go every year for three months & would not consider a trip to Imm part of any vacation

 

Also as I mentioned a few times already we do some banking  with Thai mortgages etc & a tourist visa does not fly in banks when doing that type of paper works as a foreigner. I need a valid Non Imm visa in my PP when doing paper work

 

Last but not least it is also a hassle explaining to many airlines leaving the USA if your return trip date is after your visa expiration so again not easier having a 60 day visa & a 75+ day return date. Some understand some do not

 

But thanks for the input. If it all gets to be too much of a hassle we will skip this year no problem as we have other options too.

 

But really I think Imm has a error on their website & will find out on Monday when they open

 

The requirements for Type O Non Imm to visit family is exactly right when visiting Non Thai family but obviously confused when visiting Thai family. I think they have confused it with 1 year extension because those requirements listed are exactly that as I had to comply with those for many years....ie: 400k THB in bank or 40k per month income

 

I hear you - my bad. When you said you lived in Thailand for years I assumed you were not the person who visits for 3 mths a year.

 

It does not look to be a mistake by LA - I just visited the Thai Evisa website we use in Aust - see below:

That is done by the Dept Foreign Affairs in Thailand - so if there is a mistake it came from them.

Official Website of Thailand Electronic Visa (thaievisa.go.th)

 

 

[Upnotover]

1 hour ago, mania said:

But really I think Imm has a error on their website & will find out on Monday when they open

 

I've read several accounts recently of 400k being required for a single non-O (family).  I myself needed to show 800k for a single non-O (retirement) from London in February.

[soi3eddie]

FWIW and may or not work for the OP, a good friend of mine in the UK needed a Visa for Thailand to stay 90 days. He's married to a Thai lady. He, at 76yrs, was totally flumoxed by the e-visa website. I agreed to help him and he emailed me pictures of all the documents (passports, statements etc.). The main thing that wasn't clear was the financial requirements. It appeared that the amounts were applicable to 1 year visa or extension of stay amount (£10,000GBP) but he wanted only 90 days. I went ahead and filled out the visa application for him and uploaded all the documents (even though his income and bank balance was much lower than specified). Within 3 days he was granted the 90 day marriage e-visa and entered Thailand with no trouble a few weeks later. I beleive the website to be misleading and confusing.

 

[ChaiyaTH]

2 hours ago, mania said:

 

But really I think Imm has a error on their website & will find out on Monday when they open

 

The requirements for Type O Non Imm to visit family is exactly right when visiting Non Thai family but obviously confused when visiting Thai family. I think they have confused it with 1 year extension because those requirements listed are exactly that as I had to comply with those for many years....ie: 400k THB in bank or 40k per month income

 

Doubt they confuse anything, it is the latest to ask 400K baht when applying for the non-o visa's at many places.

[Liquorice]

10 hours ago, mania said:

Actually going to the Thai E visa site  where we got last years visa from...

Official Website of Thailand Electronic Visa (thaievisa.go.th)

 

It shows that while it is still way more expensive to choose visiting/staying with Thai family vs non Thai it is still quite different

It seems like they have confused visiting a Thai Family with the requirements for yearly extension based on marriage?

I will have to try contacting on a working day.

 

To stay with non-Thai family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days)

Financial evidence: amount of no less than 30,000 THB, e.g. bank statements, sponsorship letter

 

To stay with Thai family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days)

Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 40,000 THB or having the current balance of 400,000 THB, e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings

The E-visa is a universal site, so whether applying in the USA or the UK, the requirements are the same.

 

The Thai Embassy, London also gives the same information.
https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/spouse-and-family-visa

 

To stay with non-Thai family residing in Thailand

4. Financial evidence: amount of no less than 30,000 THB (£700), e.g. bank statements, sponsorship letter
- Applicant’s recent official UK/Ireland bank statement shows your name, address (Screenshots are not accepted)

To stay with Thai family residing in Thailand

4. Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 40,000 THB (£1,000) or having the current balance of 400,000 THB (£10,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings

[Liquorice]

2 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

FWIW and may or not work for the OP, a good friend of mine in the UK needed a Visa for Thailand to stay 90 days. He's married to a Thai lady.

How long ago was that.
There have been recent changes to the financial requirements.

 

Too many runners with not enough funds to cover emergency medical bills?

[soi3eddie]

2 hours ago, Liquorice said:

How long ago was that.
There have been recent changes to the financial requirements.

 

Too many runners with not enough funds to cover emergency medical bills?

 

Mid february 2024

 

[mania]

Thanks everyone for the replies 🙏

 

On the one hand I guess it could be an error but on the other hearing reports of others not even using the e-visa system being asked for similar financials does make one wonder

 

I guess I should not be surprised that it is all clear as mud TIT after all 😉 

 

On the other hand I guess I could also see with recent events how they may try to screen those requesting 90 day visa's more closely & try to bypass the visa agent fake funds routs for those extending to one year

 

BUT.....the big but for me is why does the stay with non Thai family show rates that are basically as they always were? Albeit up to $1000 from $750 previously. I guess truth be told I could call my wife non-thai family also since she has dual US/Thai citizenship (hahaha kidding)

 

Anyway thanks for all the replies again & I will update when I hear back from Thai Imm

[mania]

Well I did get a reply in my email today from the Visa Department of the

Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles 😉 

 

This is after I detailed the problem & compared staying with a non Thai family for $1000 vs a Thai family for $15,000

Here is a copy & paste of their detailed full explanation..... Why am I not surprised? 🙄

BTW: Nothing has changed on the E-Visa site. It is still as above 1k vs 15k to visit

 

On 4/8/2024 7:25 AM, Royal Thai Consulate General Los Angeles (Visa Section) wrote:

 

Quote

 

VISA regulation has updated. Please check Thai E-VISA website regarding which type of VISA is best for your scenario.

 

 

 

Visa Department

Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles
611 N. Larchmont Blvd. 2nd Floor, Los Angeles CA 90004

Tel: 323-9629574  Email: visa(at)thaiconsulatela.org

 

 

 

 

[ChaiyaTH]

18 hours ago, mania said:

Well I did get a reply in my email today from the Visa Department of the

Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles 😉 

 

This is after I detailed the problem & compared staying with a non Thai family for $1000 vs a Thai family for $15,000

Here is a copy & paste of their detailed full explanation..... Why am I not surprised? 🙄

BTW: Nothing has changed on the E-Visa site. It is still as above 1k vs 15k to visit

 

On 4/8/2024 7:25 AM, Royal Thai Consulate General Los Angeles (Visa Section) wrote:

What a surprise, same I asked a question today at a counter, and she just gave me a zero relevant answer, as her superior was watching, I guess she just wanted to pretend she spoke fluent English to me, and as I walked away, that confirmed to her superior she spoke fluent English.... 

Standard replies, why, nobody with brains is looking at our emails or listens to what we say, it is always zombie sheeps who are taught to not question a single think, let alone to use their brains to their capacity (which still would be little but enough), to solve the issue or answer a simple question.

[mania]

This is so funny I had to post....

So as I said they answered my one email with that canned answer to which I replied....just wondering why the difference of 40k baht to stay with Non Thai vs 400,000 to stay with Thai...perhaps it is an error?

 

Their reply

 

Please stop spamming our email.

 

In this case I would suggest to apply for NON-O staying with Thai family which is YOUR WIFE family.

 

555 I ask one question of their canned answer & that is spamming hahahah Two emails total! Hahah

 

Then the answer is to just use the 400,000 baht visa to visit 90 days... PERIOD

Not the usual 40k baht (which BTW you can use to visit non Thai's???)  yeah I will jump right on that 😉 

 

Stick a fork in me..It'll come out clean... I'm done 🤣