What are my options?

[Caldera]

  On 11/6/2024 at 5:59 AM, daeumtnaot said:

So if they exit Thailand by land on Cambodian passport, enter Laos on US passport, will that work?  Then they can re-enter by land on their US passport.  

 

That would depend on whether Laos would accept them to switch passports at the land border.  

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You cannot switch passports at a land border. 

[zzzzz]

  On 11/6/2024 at 5:59 AM, daeumtnaot said:

So if they exit Thailand by land on Cambodian passport, enter Laos on US passport, will that work?  Then they can re-enter by land on their US passport.  

 

That would depend on whether Laos would accept them to switch passports at the land border.  

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NOOOOOO
they need fly out on the passport they entered on , THAN can enter on US
If they go overland MUST use passport they entered Thailand on

[daeumtnaot]

  On 11/6/2024 at 6:32 AM, zzzzz said:

NOOOOOO
they need fly out on the passport they entered on , THAN can enter on US
If they go overland MUST use passport they entered Thailand on

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Can they go overland to Laos, use the passport they entered Thailand on (Cambodian), and then fly back into Thailand on the different passport?

[Caldera]

  On 11/6/2024 at 6:49 AM, daeumtnaot said:

Can they go overland to Laos, use the passport they entered Thailand on (Cambodian), and then fly back into Thailand on the different passport?

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Yes.

[daeumtnaot]

  On 11/6/2024 at 6:00 AM, DrJack54 said:

You need a Thai bank account in your name only with 800k in account on day of application for non O.

For those with visa exempt entry in order to open a bank account consider  use of an agent.

 

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Thank you for all your help.  So does my having a retirement visa affect my wife and children or do they have to have a separate means and rationale to have a visa?

 

 

 

[DrJack54]

  On 11/7/2024 at 4:49 AM, daeumtnaot said:

Thank you for all your help.  So does my having a retirement visa affect my wife and children or do they have to have a separate means and rationale to have a visa?

 

 

 

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Your wife can piggyback on your extension based on retirement.

She needs to enter Thailand with a non O. 

This thread has advice posted by ubonjoe.

 

Another thread here

https://aseannow.com/topic/1306327-dependenttrailing-spouse-visa-questions/

[Rob Browder]

  On 11/6/2024 at 3:07 AM, daeumtnaot said:

I am over 50 but my wife is not.  Can you get a retirement visa and then renounce it later?  It seems like something I'd want to save for later in case I want to use that option later in life.

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You can get a retirement-based extension, and then your wife/family can get visas to stay with you, based on your having it.  

If you found a job in Thailand, you would need to change to a different reason than retirement - "Non-B" being used for those working here, who are not married to a Thai national.
When that job ends, you can go back to retirement-extensions, again.

[daeumtnaot]

  On 11/6/2024 at 5:39 AM, JimTripper said:

Move to Siem Reap Cambodia and apply for a Thai digital nomad visa.

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Is that difficult or how long does it take?

[daeumtnaot]

  On 11/7/2024 at 6:06 AM, DrJack54 said:

Your wife can piggyback on your extension based on retirement.

She needs to enter Thailand with a non O. 

This thread has advice posted by ubonjoe.

 

Another thread here

https://aseannow.com/topic/1306327-dependenttrailing-spouse-visa-questions/

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All right so it sounds like the best option is for my wife and kids to depart and re-enter on a visa exempt since their extension will expire fairly soon.

 

Meanwhile, I get a bank account and apply at immigration to convert to a non-O retirement visa.  

 

Based on those links it sounds like it is quite complicated for the spouse to get an attached dependent visa for on the non-O retirement.

 

Is the non-O retirement visa multi entry or single entry?

[JimTripper]

  On 11/8/2024 at 9:11 AM, daeumtnaot said:

Is that difficult or how long does it take?

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It can be if you're walking. Could take days or weeks.

[DrJack54]

  On 11/8/2024 at 9:46 AM, daeumtnaot said:

Is the non-O retirement visa multi entry or single entry?

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Single entry.

You obtain the subsequent 12 month extension and buy a multi reentry permit to allow travel in and out of Thailand for the extension period.

Each year you then can obtain ongoing extensions. 

I just did my 12th one this week.

Some guys have done many many more.

For the wife to piggyback on your non O retirement she would need to enter Thailand on a non O not visa exempt. 

 

[daeumtnaot]

  On 11/8/2024 at 9:48 AM, JimTripper said:

It can be if you're walking. Could take days or weeks.

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My question meant: are the authorities difficult about issuing this type of visa?  Does it take them a long time to process it?

[daeumtnaot]

  On 11/8/2024 at 9:53 AM, DrJack54 said:

Single entry.

You obtain the subsequent 12 month extension and buy a multi reentry permit to allow travel in and out of Thailand for the extension period.

Each year you then can obtain ongoing extensions. 

I just did my 12th one this week.

Some guys have done many many more.

For the wife to piggyback on your non O retirement she would need to enter Thailand on a non O not visa exempt. 

 

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I've used three visa exemptions so far this year.  One was a brief entry just to make a connecting flight.  Second was when we came in August.  Used abut 5 weeks then had to exit.  Came back again on my third visa exempt early October.

 

Is it definitely true that I'm likely to encounter difficulty if I try to re-enter on another visa exemption?

[DrJack54]

  On 11/8/2024 at 10:02 AM, daeumtnaot said:

Is it definitely true that I'm likely to encounter difficulty if I try to re-enter on another visa exemption?

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This question comes up almost daily.

Problem is no real clearly defined rule.

Some factors come into play such as time spent OUT of Thailand in between stays IN Thailand.

Entries via air have much bigger consequences if refused entry.

Most likely you would be given a warning. A sentence along lines of "next time get tourist visa" 

[daeumtnaot]

  On 11/8/2024 at 10:09 AM, DrJack54 said:

This question comes up almost daily.

Problem is no real clearly defined rule.

Some factors come into play such as time spent OUT of Thailand in between stays IN Thailand.

Entries via air have much bigger consequences if refused entry.

Most likely you would be given a warning. A sentence along lines of "next time get tourist visa" 

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But my wife and kids, having used only one visa exemption so far since 2023, are unlikely to encounter any difficulty?

 

 

[DrJack54]

  On 11/8/2024 at 10:27 AM, daeumtnaot said:

But my wife and kids, having used only one visa exemption so far since 2023, are unlikely to encounter any difficulty?

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None

[daeumtnaot]

  On 11/8/2024 at 10:32 AM, DrJack54 said:

None

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OK, great, thanks for sharing your information.

 

So then there is the issue of which passport to use- Cambodian vs.  US.  Do you think there is any advantage to using the US vs. the Cambodian passport?  At this time they both get a 60 day visa exemption.  I remember in the past Cambodians only got 14 days vs. 30 days for the US.  This seems to indicate a preference for the wealthier countries?  

[DrJack54]

  On 11/9/2024 at 3:25 AM, daeumtnaot said:

So then there is the issue of which passport to use- Cambodian vs.  US.  Do you think there is any advantage to using the US vs. the Cambodian passport? 

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Which passport was used to enter Thailand 

[daeumtnaot]

  On 11/9/2024 at 3:32 AM, DrJack54 said:

Which passport was used to enter Thailand 

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They were in Cambodia on the Cambodian passport, as it didn't require a visa (much easier).  When we entered Thailand we thought they would be able to switch to the US passport.  But we didn't know that is  not allowed at land border crossings.  So now they are in Thailand on the Cambodian passport.

 

But according to the discussion with Caldera, above, if they fly back in to Thailand they could switch passports.  

[daeumtnaot]

  On 11/8/2024 at 10:09 AM, DrJack54 said:

This question comes up almost daily.

Problem is no real clearly defined rule.

Some factors come into play such as time spent OUT of Thailand in between stays IN Thailand.

Entries via air have much bigger consequences if refused entry.

Most likely you would be given a warning. A sentence along lines of "next time get tourist visa" 

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So I'm getting down to a last few weeks on my visa exemption and need to make a decision.

 

Am just wondering if getting a tourist visa is an option for me?  Would having used several visa exemptions reduce my chances of getting a tourist visa?

 

The disadvantage of the Non-O retirement is of course that you have to plunk 800k in the bank.

[DrJack54]

  On 12/6/2024 at 11:12 AM, daeumtnaot said:

So I'm getting down to a last few weeks on my visa exemption and need to make a decision.

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Can't recall your current situation.

So you have couple of weeks left on stamp. Why not a border run with agent for another exempt entry.

  On 12/6/2024 at 11:12 AM, daeumtnaot said:

Am just wondering if getting a tourist visa is an option for me? 

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That needs to be obtained outside of Thailand. Don't see advantage in obtaining a SETV.

 

  On 12/6/2024 at 11:12 AM, daeumtnaot said:

The disadvantage of the Non-O retirement is of course that you have to plunk 800k in the bank.

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If not planning on the 12 month extension the 800k only needs to be in bank on day of application.

The non O only requires the 800k on day of application. 

[daeumtnaot]

  On 12/6/2024 at 11:26 AM, DrJack54 said:

Can't recall your current situation.

So you have couple of weeks left on stamp. Why not a border run with agent for another exempt entry.

That needs to be obtained outside of Thailand. Don't see advantage in obtaining a SETV.

 

If not planning on the 12 month extension the 800k only needs to be in bank on day of application.

The non O only requires the 800k on day of application. 

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H, thanks for your reply and sorry for the delay in replying.  

 

So if I do a visa run with the agent, does that pretty much guarantee a re-entry?  Because I've heard form various sources that it gets harder and harder to get in on a visa exemption.  I'm on my third visa exemption (although the first one was just for a few hours), so it seems impossible if I try to do it as normal.

 

So you don't see the benefit of a SETV because it's not really any different than the visa exemption?

 

Alternatively if you get the non-O retirement you get three months.  You can with draw the 800k if you don't intend to apply for the 12 month extension.  But if you want the 12 month extension, you need to keep the full amount in the bank?  

[DrJack54]

  On 12/7/2024 at 1:25 PM, daeumtnaot said:

Alternatively if you get the non-O retirement you get three months.  You can with draw the 800k if you don't intend to apply for the 12 month extension.  But if you want the 12 month extension, you need to keep the full amount in the bank?  

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Correct.

I'm not about to read all my previous posts.

If you are currently outside of Thailand and wish to enter visa exempt via airport then you can arrange safe entry with agent.

Current thread running..

If currently in Thailand then check with border bounce minivan company

[daeumtnaot]

  On 12/7/2024 at 1:36 PM, DrJack54 said:

Correct.

I'm not about to read all my previous posts.

If you are currently outside of Thailand and wish to enter visa exempt via airport then you can arrange safe entry with agent.

Current thread running..

If currently in Thailand then check with border bounce minivan company

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Hi, thanks!  I will check with a border bounce minivan company and then make a decision about which option to pursue.