Is My Thai Attorney Correct Or Crazy

[bunta71]

Hello folks... Small challenge for the masses

Myself,an American with my 4 year old American daughter and her Philippina mother/my wife have been in Chiang Mai for 18 days (as of today...Sept.25,2007) and we have just 30 day "permission to stay" entry stamps which expire Oct 7,2007.

What we are inching forward to accomplish is my "retirement visa" and whatever else we end up with for the wife and child. That is just for insight for the wisened sages that this forum certainly produces. Please be patient as my actual story/question/confusion will appear soon.

Before arriving I hired an attorney here in Chiang Mai to facilitate a six month / renewal option lease on the house we are now residing. I met with him yesterday and he explained that in order for me to "convert" my 30 day permission to stay to the retirement visa I must have at least 30 days remaining on a non-immigrant "O" in order to "getter done" (not the attorneys exact term). That I follow. What he said I must do is go to Che-san, Loas and do my application for the 3 month validity, single entry at the consulate there. The problem is THIS:

Attempting to research the place I cannot find ANY mention of this place and the only consulate in Laos that I can find is in Vientenne. So.....who's crazy? My thought was to get an extention...15 days for my initial stay and then try processing everything here at immigration. Tomorrow I will just go to immigration and get it straight from the horses mouth but in the meantime, love to hear from the wise sages....Thanks ..

[lopburi3]

You require 21 days remaining on a 30 day entry to convert it to a non immigrant visa so you are too late on this entry to convert at Immigration. You will need to exit and it is best to obtain non immigrant O visas as then a conversion will not be required. Am not sure if Consulate will issue such a visa to wife or child prior to you obtaining retirement extension status so if not they can obtain tourist visas.

There are two Consulates in Laos. Vientiane (at Embassy) and Savannakhet. Believe Vientiane should be used for your visa.

If you fail to convince them to issue the non immigrant O visa just getting a tourist visa will open the door for conversion later - just be sure to do it when you have about 30 days remaining on your permitted to stay stamp.

Perhaps he is trying to say Issan (North-East Thailand) when he says "Che-san"? You would cross to both from Issan

[lopburi3]

Just a reminder if you have not read in the forum about the change that happened for two weeks in Bangkok and may effect you if your wife is below age 50 or can not meet retirement financial options. At present it is not being enforced and hopefully will not be - but I would be careful of any long term commitments until the dust settles a bit.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=142378

[bunta71]

Just a reminder if you have not read in the forum about the change that happened for two weeks in Bangkok and may effect you if your wife is below age 50 or can not meet retirement financial options. At present it is not being enforced and hopefully will not be - but I would be careful of any long term commitments until the dust settles a bit.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=142378

Thanks...yes I'm aware of the forementioned craziness with the retirement/wife thing. What you said about the isaan thing makes sense and is probably the answer on that. I've been following this forum for the last six months or so before arriving. I've been in S.E. Asia for the last ten years or so and I'm aware of the idea of """no long term plans " or all my eggs in one basket theory. Most time in the P.I. and yes I have a few stories first hand and more. Sorry about the E-mail thing...

[lopburi3]

Have been reminded there is a Chieng Khong crossing into Laos but that would only yield a 30 day visa exempt entry so not sure if that was the suggestion or not. Check with Immigration as some of there guidelines seem to be a little different that other places and you need to do what they accept.

[bunta71]

Have been reminded there is a Chieng Khong crossing into Laos but that would only yield a 30 day visa exempt entry so not sure if that was the suggestion or not. Check with Immigration as some of there guidelines seem to be a little different that other places and you need to do what they accept.

Looking on the map I see a Chiang Saen a little NE of Chiang Rai and that seems to match the mileage and time estimates the attorney gave. What do you mean by visa exempt entry? Same as the normal 30 day permission to stay?

[lopburi3]

Correct the normal entry without visa. It would not be a normal entry to proceed to Vientiane for a visa but perhaps the lawyer does not know that.

[john_bkk919]

Don't know about Chiang Mai but in Bangkok they will often do the conversion with less than 21 days remaining.

I have gotten it done with just a couple days left, as have others.

Again, I don't know about CM immigration, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

Good to leave as much time as possible in case you have to chase down additional docs.

Do let us know how it goes.

Edited September 26, 2007 by john_bkk919

[stickyb]

Read this thrad also

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=84738

[lopburi3]

Don't know about Chiang Mai but in Bangkok they will often do the conversion with less than 21 days remaining.

I have gotten it done with just a couple days left, as have others.

Again, I don't know about CM immigration, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

Good to leave as much time as possible in case you have to chase down additional docs.

Do let us know how it goes.

They were doing this after the law change (and many needed to convert) but do not believe they are at present. Believe it is 21 days now.