Problem Getting An Extnesion To A Non Imm Visa

[WackyRacer]

I've got a problem with my Thai visa which is slightly unusual and I'd be grateful for any advice from the experts out there.

Before I started my job in Thailand my employer told me I needed to apply for a single non-immigrant visa type F. They provided the necessary paperwork and I applied for the visa in Kuala Lumpur, which was issued in late February 2007. I arrived in Thailand in early March 2007 and was stamped in until the end of May. My employer told me to hold off submitting the paperwork straight away as they had been advised by immigration that the rules for non-immigrant visas would be changed soon and it would be better to wait until after the changes to apply. I went to immigration in mid April as I needed to leave the country. I submitted the I can't find anything on the web suggestion what the rules are or on why the Immigration Officer may exercise his discrtion to not issue. I've tried asking at Suan Plu why I'm being given 90 days (or even 30 days) rather than one year but all I get is 'rules may be changing soon'. They don't seem to know what the old rule are let alone what the new rules are or when they may be introduced. The paperwork always seems to be in order, and they'd be telling me and refusing the visa if it wasn't. Previously all other non-immigrant F applications submitted by my employer have got one year extensions. However other people with non immigrant F visas employed by similar employers recently seem to be experiencing the same problem. They also report that people who are renewing one year F visas are getting another year but all new applications are only getting 90 (or 30) days.

As my contract specifies that I am responsible for securing a visa I am having to pay all the fees myself. In less than 9 months this has cost almost 12,000 baht plus hours upon hours spent at Suan Plu (and I really don't get paid enough to justify this kind of outlay on visa fees alone). As I'm getting nowhere with immigration I've told my employers than unless they start paying the visa fees I'm going to leave at the end of November.

Which leads me onto my next question - if i decide to quit my job will my previous immigration history cause me any problems if I want to come back into Thailand twice on 30 day visit visas? I've also been in Thailand previously on a non-imm O and various visit visas, but not in the past 6 month - and I've always complied with the rules and have never overstayed? I've got a few commitments here in December/January which I'd like to be around for and I'd also need to time to get my personal effects packed up and shipped to where ever I decide to go next. If I leave the country before the end of November and re-entered early December could I stay for 30 days visa free (I am a visa free national)? I'd be able to show a ticket to leave Thailand before the end of December but this is by boat - would that also cause me additional problems? I'd then be looking to re-enter in mid Jan and stay here for perhaps another two weeks, and again I would have a ticket to leave Thailand (but by plane this time).

Sorry that this has gone on so long, it is a bit of a saga. And as you can imagine I'm getting a bit frustrated, but if anyone has any suggestions then I'd love to hear them. Many thanks.

[lopburi3]

You do not say what your employment is so it is kind of hard to answer you but will guess that being "official" it is government sector and the below clause from Police Order 606/2006 would apply and limit any extension of stay to 90 days.

7.26 I case of entering for

engaging or working in any

mission for the government

sectors or any international

organization.

Each time of permission

shall be granted for a

period not exceeding 90

days.