Where can I switch my passports the fastest? (Dual Citizenship)

[kdrayong]

Having a dual citizenship I need to renew my Caribbean passport this year.

 

I'm living in Thailand on an EoS (retirement) based on a Non-Imm-O Visa which is in the Caribbean passport.

Since this passport has to 'travel' for maybe more than 60 days for renewal, I would like to switch to my European passport first and apply for a Non-Imm-O Visa at one of the Thai embassies or consulates in the neighboring countries.
I meet the requirements for a Non-Imm-O Visa and an Extension of Stay.

 

Some time ago I was able to complete this process within two days, but I'm aware that the rules have changed.

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[zzzzz]

u need fly out on the passport u entered on
fly back on ur other one, ( if u can show 800,000 in a thai account get ur single entry non o in Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Malaysia (anywhere) 
Via an agent in Phnom Pehn (Call kim or Cina travel ) takes 3-4 business days 

or direct at embassy
https://phnompenh.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-o-visa-retirement?page=5d73b14415e39c46f40076a1&menu=5d73b14415e39c46f40076a2

BUT why switch?
as long as the new passport is back before ur next 90 day is due.....

[steve187]

seems a lot of running  around just to renew a passport

[kdrayong]

23 hours ago, zzzzz said:

BUT why switch?
as long as the new passport is back before ur next 90 day is due.....

 

I don't feel comfortable staying in Thailand without a valid passport with an allowance of stay.

[zzzzz]

2 hours ago, kdrayong said:

 

I don't feel comfortable staying in Thailand without a valid passport with an allowance of stay.

i renewed my us passport last year
Had to  send  current one to Bangkok, an it took 42 days till new one arrived
whats ur concern?
carry a copy of front page and visa
worst case scenario is it takes more than 90 days and u'll be hit with a 1,000-2,000 baht fine

 

But up to u
 

[richard_smith237]

11 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

whats ur concern?

 

He was quite clear: Not having current valid passport.... 

 

I will not be anywhere (unless unavoidable) without a current passport...   there are too many possible scenarios where I need to travel immediately... 

 

... Imagine family member (parents etc) become quite unwell and we can't travel to see them...  

 

 

 

 

[kdrayong]

So I understand that the embassy in Phnom Pehn is the fastest, processing a Non-Imm-O Visa.

Are there any other positive recent reports from neighboring countries?

[OJAS]

18 hours ago, kdrayong said:

So I understand that the embassy in Phnom Pehn is the fastest, processing a Non-Imm-O Visa.

Are there any other positive recent reports from neighboring countries?

 

Strikes me that the best course of action in your case would be to do a border run, exiting on your Caribbean passport and then re-entering visa-exempt on your European one, which you could then convert to a non-O visa at your local immigration office before then resuming annual retirement extensions.

 

How you go about seeking a non-O conversion for retirement is set out in the following link:

 

https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/9.FOR-RETIREMENT-PURPOSES-50-YEARS-OLD-NON-O.pdf

 

This is how a number of retirees went about dumping their original non-OA visas for replacement non-O visas in order to avoid the mandatory health insurance requirement, so it is a path reasonably well-trodden in fairly recent times.

 

Incidentally, would I be correct in inferring from your username that your local immigration office is Rayong?

 

[kdrayong]

39 minutes ago, OJAS said:

Incidentally, would I be correct in inferring from your username that your local immigration office is Rayong?

 12 years ago. Now it is Jomtien.

[OJAS]

1 hour ago, kdrayong said:

 12 years ago. Now it is Jomtien.

 

In that case, one thing you may need to bear in mind in connection with Clause 5 of my attachment is that Jomtien require the 800k to be seasoned for 2 months, as for retirement extensions (officially no seasoning is needed for non-O conversions, so this is a local rule which Jomtien have dreamt up). But, seeing as you have stated that you are already compliant for extension of stay purposes, this presumably won't be an issue for you in any event.

 

Or maybe you could go down the monthly income route instead, assuming that your European country's embassy in Bangkok is one of those which still issues income confirmation letters or affidavits?

 

[kdrayong]

Thank you @OJAS for your very appreciated information.

 

I have been switching the passports in the past when this could be done at Vientiane within just two business days.

At Jomtien I always have been using the 800k option without having any problems.

 

A for me very interesting idea is to enter the Kingdom on a visa exempt and apply here for a Non-O conversion.

 

Do you happen to know if Jomtien is eligible again to do the conversion?
I remember many years ago just the immigrations at Chang Wattana and Hat Yai were.

 

[steve187]

4 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

Strikes me that the best course of action in your case would be to do a border run, exiting on your Caribbean passport and then re-entering visa-exempt on your European one, which you could then convert to a non-O visa at your local immigration office before then resuming annual retirement extensions.

 

How you go about seeking a non-O conversion for retirement is set out in the following link:

 

https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/9.FOR-RETIREMENT-PURPOSES-50-YEARS-OLD-NON-O.pdf

 

This is how a number of retirees went about dumping their original non-OA visas for replacement non-O visas in order to avoid the mandatory health insurance requirement, so it is a path reasonably well-trodden in fairly recent times.

 

Incidentally, would I be correct in inferring from your username that your local immigration office is Rayong?

 

changing passports can only be done via airport, not land crossings

[OJAS]

2 hours ago, kdrayong said:

Do you happen to know if Jomtien is eligible again to do the conversion?

 

Yes, they are.

[OJAS]

11 minutes ago, steve187 said:

changing passports can only be done via airport, not land crossings

 

On that basis, cancelling non-OA visas (so as to avoid the mandatory health insurance requirement) can likewise only be done via airport, not land crossings, presumably. In that case how come all the reports on here of non-OA cancellations being achieved through surface border runs?

 

[BrandonJT]

26 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

On that basis, cancelling non-OA visas (so as to avoid the mandatory health insurance requirement) can likewise only be done via airport, not land crossings, presumably. In that case how come all the reports on here of non-OA cancellations being achieved through surface border runs?

 

Getting rid of your non-OA can be done anywhere because it does not involve changing passports. It just involves leaving without a re-entry permit and losing the entry stamp.