Second Non O Advise Needed

[atwr]

Hello,

I have a Non Immigrant O visa expiring soon. I am from the US and not of retirement age. I came to Thailand twice this year with a tourist visa (leaving from US both times), and was granted the O in Singapore on the last run because I am married to Thai national and we have a child. I actually went for a tourist but was told to apply for the O by the woman at the counter.

I've spent about eight to ten thousand US in Thailand this year but I use credit cards whenever possible so I can use most of the cash I have coming in from my small business back home to pay those bills. For cash I use ATMs so I have no transfers to a bank account to show immigration. I hadn't realized you could pool income with your spouse to show the income requirement or I might have decided to transfer cash rather than withdrawing direct from ATMs. But I know for next time at least.

I have a few questions if anyone can help.

Is it advised not to go back to Singapore to apply for another single entry visa?

It would appear based on what I've read that a multiple entry is out of the question. I may end up going to Penang this time, will they let me apply for a multiple, if I do apply for a multiple and it's turned down will I be considered for a single or will I need to reapply? If so, is there any limit to the number of times one can apply in a number of days?

Edited November 8, 2007 by atwr

[Maestro]

...I hadn't realized you could pool income with your spouse to show the income requirement or I might have decided to transfer cash rather than withdrawing direct from ATMs...

Please note that for the foreign income part of the pooled income you will need a certified letter from your embassy for the application for extension of stay. Evidence of transfers to Thailand is not sufficient by itself.

--

Maestro

[lopburi3]

If you can show a bank account somewhere that has 400k or more in it you would likely be able to obtain a multi entry non immigrant O visa from Singapore - without the money probably only a single entry using the marriage certificate/copy of wife id card and birth certificate. In Penang you may be able to obtain the multi entry without a bank account if not a single entry for sure.

The multi entry is the best visa at it provides unlimited number of entries for up to 90 days for a one year period. As said to extend on a yearly basis at Immigration will require proof of 40k family income and for your outside of Thailand income that would require a letter from Embassy. This should probably be in your long term plans.

[torrenova]

Or he could get his wife to pay tax on 40k and get an extension based on that. According to 2 posters, there is no need for her to really have a job but merely to pay the tax. This worked out something less than Bt3000 for the year and thus is by far the cheapest way to remain here.

[atwr]

Thanks for the replies. I will shoot for a multi in Penang this time and settle for a single. I'm guessing maybe they will tell me when I hand in the application if they don't think I'm eligible for the multi.

As for paying tax on the 40k per month, I'll do some more investigating and keep an eye on the forum for topics related to that. I wouldn't want to get into trouble with the authorities and screw up my future chances.

Not important anymore but it got me wondering about if the paying the tax thing as income proof would have worked for us a few years ago, probably not, but just thinking. A few years ago before my wife and I were married she applied for a scholarship at a school close to where I lived and she won it two years in a row. She was turned down for a US visa both times based on what she made per year, it didn't matter that she had a sponsor with excellent income and status. It took some effort contacting them, but I questioned the reviewer, she said something to the effect of "why would she go back to a job afterwards where she is only making $" It didn't make a lot of sense to me, her pay was a fair Thai wage, but the percentage of her living expenses were a fraction of what they would be in the US. i.e. why would someone go to America to work if they end up with a smaller spending account after basic living expenses. They talked to her really nasty at the interview too. I could apply for a k3 now, but we really are in no hurry to deal with the system again.