2 questions arising from my soon-to-expire Non-O from Lao

[paddlinsteve]

First, last July I was given a Non-O visa (marriage) at the Consulate in Savannakhet. Do I understand rightly that if I depart the country before that visa expires in a few weeks and then return while it is still valid that I’ll be granted a further stay of 90 days? If so, does it matter whether that return is done by land or by air?

Second question: when my 5-year driving licence was due to expire, I went to my local IO to get a certificate of residence. However, this was refused as, the agent explained, my visa allowed me to stay only 90 days at a time in Thailand. Is there any other route to obtain a residence doc so I can renew the licence?

[expat_4_life]

11 minutes ago, paddlinsteve said:

First, last July I was given a Non-O visa (marriage) at the Consulate in Savannakhet. Do I understand rightly that if I depart the country before that visa expires in a few weeks and then return while it is still valid that I’ll be granted a further stay of 90 days? If so, does it matter whether that return is done by land or by air?

 

Second question: when my 5-year driving licence was due to expire, I went to my local IO to get a certificate of residence. However, this was refused as, the agent explained, my visa allowed me to stay only 90 days at a time in Thailand. Is there any other route to obtain a residence doc so I can renew the licence?

 

 

1) As long as you have a NON-O that remains valid, you will receive 90 days by air or land.
2) No current experience, but several years ago I attended Immigration for a Residence letter for drivers license too.  At the time it was totally backlogged, they told me to come back in 3 weeks.  So, I visited my Embassy (US) and obtained a letter there that was accepted to renew my license.  I suspect another poster will have more recent experience.

 

Good Luck ....

Edited June 11 by expat_4_life

[DrJack54]

OP, yes exit and reenter prior to expiry of your non O ME visa and you will be stamped in for 90 days.

 

Re certificate of residence....seems you are dealing with CW immigration as that office requires you to have done a TM47 (90 day report) in order to obtain a COR. 

Passport country? Most embassies issue an address confirmation which is accepted as alternative to COR.

Also depends on which transport office you deal with for license. 

[Liquorice]

56 minutes ago, paddlinsteve said:

First, last July I was given a Non-O visa (marriage) at the Consulate in Savannakhet. Do I understand rightly that if I depart the country before that visa expires in a few weeks and then return while it is still valid that I’ll be granted a further stay of 90 days? If so, does it matter whether that return is done by land or by air?

Either type of entry and you will be granted a further stay of 90 days.
You can also apply for a 60 day extension to that 90 days.

[NicoBKK]

For the residence, try with your Embassy if you are registered there at current address and/or as expat living in the Kingdom.

[paddlinsteve]

2 hours ago, NicoBKK said:

For the residence, try with your Embassy if you are registered there at current address and/or as expat living in the Kingdom.

I tried contacting American Citizen Services at the U.S. Embassy and they were kind    enough to reply promptly but unhelpfully:

        

          Thank you for contacting ACS Bangkok,

Unfortunately, ACS doesn’t provide certificate of residence.

Regards,

American Citizens Services Unit
U.S. Embassy Bangkok
(PP)

[Rob Browder]

Given the US Embassy turned you down on a residency letter, you could check with agents in your area to see if they can get your CoR for a "fee."  No guarantee - but can't hurt to ask around.  

At some immigration offices, a no-receipt "fee" changes the time it takes to get a CoR from weeks to a day.  The policy at your immigration office may have been created as a similar "fee" generation roadblock. 

[AgMech Cowboy]

4 hours ago, paddlinsteve said:

I tried contacting American Citizen Services at the U.S. Embassy and they were kind

Yes, I wanted to comment on this position taken by the embassy. I've been in the same boat as you for the past year. I'm applying a retirement extension next week, which will finally get me on the right track to getting my license renewed.

Good Luck to you with the Agent route.

[Mutt Daeng]

21 hours ago, paddlinsteve said:

First, last July I was given a Non-O visa (marriage) at the Consulate in Savannakhet. Do I understand rightly that if I depart the country before that visa expires in a few weeks and then return while it is still valid that I’ll be granted a further stay of 90 days? If so, does it matter whether that return is done by land or by air?

 

Second question: when my 5-year driving licence was due to expire, I went to my local IO to get a certificate of residence. However, this was refused as, the agent explained, my visa allowed me to stay only 90 days at a time in Thailand. Is there any other route to obtain a residence doc so I can renew the licence?

 

My local DLT (Buriram Province) will accept a letter from the local police station in lieu of a CoR to confirm your address when applying/renewing your license. You could try that approach.

[DrJack54]

22 hours ago, paddlinsteve said:

. However, this was refused as, the agent explained, my visa allowed me to stay only 90 days at a time in Thailand

Which immigration office? 

[paddlinsteve]

Nonthaburi.

[paddlinsteve]

I went to our local police office here in Bang Yai (Nonthaburi) a couple of days ago and they brushed me off, saying that they don't issue certificates of residence for the purpose of driving licence renewal. It seems that either getting a "normal" Non-O or paying an agent are the only avenues open for me now.

[Liquorice]

On 6/11/2024 at 8:14 AM, paddlinsteve said:

I went to my local IO to get a certificate of residence. However, this was refused as, the agent explained, my visa allowed me to stay only 90 days at a time in Thailand.

Confused, did you attend in person or was it an agent.

 

Once you file a TM30 registering your residential address, there shouldn't be a problem requesting a certificate of residence as proof of your address.

I entered on a single entry Non O, filed a TM30 the following morning, then when they issued the receipt, I requested 3 certificates of residence, one to purchase a motorcycle, one to obtain a Thai driving licence and the third to open a bank account.

Your Non Imm O ME may only permit stays of 90 days (same as a Non Imm O SE) but it's valid for 1 year. 
You have Non Immigrant status and not a Tourist.

I'd be taking the issue up with the senior IO at Nonthaburi.

[paddlinsteve]

Your concern is appreciated. However, five years ago when I converted my two-year licence to a five-year one, I was told by my local Immigration Office to get a letter from my local police station and bring it to them to issue a certificate of residence. This time, due to the nature of the Non-O visa, I'm not considered a long-term resident of the country. Thus, they won't issue a TM.30 or a CoR. I'll wait a few more days and hope that when I go again I'll be talking to a different officer who will listen to reason.

[MangoKorat]

On 6/11/2024 at 2:14 AM, paddlinsteve said:

Second question: when my 5-year driving licence was due to expire, I went to my local IO to get a certificate of residence. However, this was refused as, the agent explained, my visa allowed me to stay only 90 days at a time in Thailand. Is there any other route to obtain a residence doc so I can renew the licence?

That must just be a 'rule' at the office you deal with.  I've obtained several letters over the years confirming my residence from Korat immigration whilst on a multi non o.  They were just that though, a letter rather than any official certificate (500baht, no receipt).

 

As there is no real benefit from obtaining a multi now - i.e. you now need to show 400k in the bank for a multi, if possible you might as well go for a 12 month extension when your multi expires.

Edited June 17 by MangoKorat