Visa Information Seriously Out Of Date

[wowpow]

Sirs, I have been an admirer of the site for a long time and frequently refer people here for information. It has become seriously outdated now for some time with Visa fees and new rules not included.

I also find that as my knowledge of Thai Immigration rules there are many important requirements that are not covered and the complexity of things like different rules at different offices makes it a very complex subject.

I don't know how far time has been made to get the info current and I would hope sort of 'idiot proof' with checklist or similar. I do hope it is well on the way as I think that this service is one of the major serious aspects of the site.

I found the following useful when I was applying.

"I just completed my extension using retirement income of over 800,000 baht as the qualifying factor. My first one year extension expired on July 10. I made application on July 2nd (Friday) and picked up the passport with new extension the following week - now extended until July 10, 2005).

The documents required by Thai Immigration at Soi 8 were (Note: each photocopy needs your original signature:

1. Application - 2 originals (completed front and back)

2. Photographs - 2 (obtained from shop next to Immigration Office)

3. Medical Certificate - original & 1 photocopy (can be obtained at most medical clinics or hosptials)

4. Letter from Thai Bank certifying account and current balance - original & 1 photocopy (although I was using certification of income, the Immigration Officer required I have the letter from the bank - the bank should have the form)

5. Thai Bank Passbook - 2 photocopies of name page AND 2 photocopies of last page showing balance

6. Embassy Letter certifying income - 2 photocopies [NOTE: have original for Immigration officer to see - he told me to keep the original as I can use it again next year for renewal - so that will save me another trip to Bangkok and $30 fee charged by US Embassy - the Embassy has a form letter to be used for this purpose]

7. Passport - 2 photocopies of name/picture page, 2 photocopies of pages with Thai Immigration Stamps (I included original type "O" visa, the previous one year extension, and the last entry stamp at Bangkok airport)

8. TM Departure Card - 2 photocopies of the front (completed and (usually) stapled into your passport by Thai Immigration when you arrived).

I spent about a half hour on the Friday visit, which included the first Immigration Officer at the "Retirement" desk looking over documents and taking the 1,900 baht fee.

There was a short wait and then a visit to the Thai Captain (lady) at the nearby desk to enter info on to Thai form in her computer - she asked me a few questions - how long I had lived at my present address, my current telephone number there, whether I lived alone and if not who with and for how long. She may ask you for 500 baht (not required, up to you, but remember TIT).

On Monday, it was a few minutes while they located my passport and handed it to me (give the claim check they give you on first visit to the same Thai Captain).

Overall, a very simple and painless procedure.

Additionally, I asked the Captain about my extension for next year since my passport will expire in early 2006. She said they would extend my stay until my passport expiration date. Prior to the expiration date, I would need to bring in my new passport and they would enter the appropriate information in the new passport and extend my stay (I should have, but didn't ask if I had to do a new application and it would extend my stay another 12 months OR if they just continued the extension in the new passport to complete the remainder of the 12 month period - I'll get that clarified when I renew next year)

the author, 2lz2p, has given me permission to post it elsewhere

[george]

We might have missed updating a few pages. Could you please give me URLs to any pages with outdatwed info.

[Axel]

Additionally, I asked the Captain about my extension for next year since my passport will expire in early 2006. She said they would extend my stay until my passport expiration date. Prior to the expiration date, I would need to bring in my new passport and they would enter the appropriate information in the new passport and extend my stay (I should have, but didn't ask if I had to do a new application and it would extend my stay another 12 months OR if they just continued the extension in the new passport to complete the remainder of the 12 month period - I'll get that clarified when I renew next year)

Just a reply to your last point, which I had very often when extenting non-imm B.

Although your permission will be valid for 1 year from the previous one, they do stamp only until expiration of p/port and mark accordingly.

With the new p/port in hand the permission will be transferred and extented to the full length of validity.

In BKK, at least, this always was done without problems and without forms.

[wowpow]

Current Info:

TOURIST VISA EXEMPTION

- According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements dated 6 February B.E.2538 (1995) and 8 December B.E. 2541 (1998), and updated December 2002, passport holders from some countries do not require a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes if their stay in the Kingdom does not exceed 30 days.

- The applicant must possess instrument of means of living expenses 10,000 per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly.

- Please also be advised that passport holders from some countries who intend to engage in certain activities are requested to apply for a visa before entering the Kingdom.

Those who come in without visa can extend the stay for additional 10 days.

Change of visa status to Non-Immigrant visa can not be done..

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This must be one of the most hit on pages and yet it does not:

The list of legal requirements is fine but

1) There is no mention of an onward/return ticket being required by some airlines and very occasionally Immigration.

2) There is no information regarding the frequency of availability i.e. back to back after going abroad for an hour or so. - a link to Visa runs?

3) Overstay - a warning and link to the page on that would be very useful due ti the amount of mis-info out there.

4) There is no note that your passport must be valid for 6 months from the day you arrive.

5) It would be handy if the rules could be stated and then usual practise mentioned e.g. they never seem to ask for proof of the "means of living expences requirement".

6) It would seem sensible to have all the Visa info emanating from one button "Visas" and then progressing by a menu. At the very least the Visa related buttons could be adjacent.

7) It would be nice to have some info or link on how to extend your Visa by 10 days or is it 15 now. Newbies know nothing of Immigration Police offices.

Surfing around - back soon.