6 Month Multiple Entry Tourist Visa: Confused...

[RonD]

Hello,

I've purchased a ticket to come to Thailand to visit my family (one who is resident there, and two retired relatives who are spending the winter months in Thailand), and my girlfriend (Thai national) for a longer period of time. It's a return ticket going out mid December and coming back end of March. I plan to visit friends and other family in Singapore in January/February.

So, I thought I could go to the Royal Thai Embassy in London, and apply for a Multiple (2) Entry Tourist visa, fill out the form, show my passport, (show bankstatements?, employers letter?), pay the fee and get the visa after 2 days (need to collect in person or not?).

However, upon reading material on the web - It states sometimes that the original ticket cannot be more than 3 months at a time? Even if I have a return ticket Singapore in January/February? Is this true? Or is it ok, what I'm planning to do at the current time?

Any advice helpful!

Cheers,

J

[RonD]

Ok, so have been trying to dig around (as a newbie as you can clearly see :-) ), and am now wondering what chances do I have to get an O visa from my family in Thailand? And what type of supporting documents do I need? I'm a Swedish citizen, with permanent residence in the UK, under 50 years of age.

And I think I simply need to buy an e-ticket showing that I will be leaving Thailand within 30 days of my original entry, (travelling overland to another country will not work).

I wanted to visit the Thai embassy in London tomorrow, and sort this out, so still hope this is possible with either an O or a tourist visa.

Hello,

I've purchased a ticket to come to Thailand to visit my family (one who is resident there, and two retired relatives who are spending the winter months in Thailand), and my girlfriend (Thai national) for a longer period of time. It's a return ticket going out mid December and coming back end of March. I plan to visit friends and other family in Singapore in January/February.

So, I thought I could go to the Royal Thai Embassy in London, and apply for a Multiple (2) Entry Tourist visa, fill out the form, show my passport, (show bankstatements?, employers letter?), pay the fee and get the visa after 2 days (need to collect in person or not?).

However, upon reading material on the web - It states sometimes that the original ticket cannot be more than 3 months at a time? Even if I have a return ticket Singapore in January/February? Is this true? Or is it ok, what I'm planning to do at the current time?

Any advice helpful!

Cheers,

J

[Mahout Angrit]

You shouldn't need a ticket to apply for a visa and with a visa you will not be asked to show a ticket on arrival in Thailand. Your double entry tourist visa seems to fit what you require, should you want to leave Thailand more than once while there you can apply at the local immigration office for a re-entry permit which will keep the current entry on your tourist visa alive allowing you to return on the same entry until the original 'leave by' date.

If you are applying in Sweden it may be difficult to get a Non Imm visa as "visiting friends" is not a reason to be given one.

A tourist visa will give you 2 months to stay in Thailand each visit and can be extended in country by 30 days each entry if required.

EDIT: Sorry just read you are in London, If you wanted to try for a Non Imm O you could try the consulate in Hull who are more likely to issue than London, you can apply there by post if easier but really a Tourist visa meets your needs.

Edited November 29, 2007 by Mahout Angrit

[menorah]

Hello,

I've purchased a ticket to come to Thailand to visit my family (one who is resident there, and two retired relatives who are spending the winter months in Thailand), and my girlfriend (Thai national) for a longer period of time. It's a return ticket going out mid December and coming back end of March. I plan to visit friends and other family in Singapore in January/February.

So, I thought I could go to the Royal Thai Embassy in London, and apply for a Multiple (2) Entry Tourist visa, fill out the form, show my passport, (show bankstatements?, employers letter?), pay the fee and get the visa after 2 days (need to collect in person or not?).

However, upon reading material on the web - It states sometimes that the original ticket cannot be more than 3 months at a time? Even if I have a return ticket Singapore in January/February? Is this true? Or is it ok, what I'm planning to do at the current time?

Any advice helpful!

Cheers,

J

Log onto the Thai Consul in Hull web page. select visa information. Download Visa application form and follow instructions.

Multi entry visa costs £100 for year. You need to go to border office approx every 85 - 88 days to renew visa for following 90 day stay period.

Regarding plane tickets. You can enter with a one way ticket as long as your visa is valid beyond or up until the ticket return date.

Recommend emailing the Hull Consul, they will answer you within a day or so with best advice. You can obtain your visa by post using their service and they are far more efficient than going to Embassy in Gloucester Rd, London.

NB. even when you're legally married to Thai national you do not enjoy the same status afforded by western governements to legally resident foreign nationals.

Even if you can guarantee £600 per month income (pension..whatever) permanent indefinite leave to stay in Thailand is unlikely, unless you have vast financial reserves and a skill or something else the Thais desire!

Advice: Get yourself a Nationwide Flex account and Debit card. You can use the card in any ATM, there's no commission charges by N/wide or the Thai banks and when you get home your statementshows each detail regarding exchange rate and where the transaction was made. Been using it for 4 years and very secure and reliable. As ever, never divulge PIN, not even to your 'Thai family'.

[RonD]

Ok, so a tourist visa it is. Thanks!. I will travel into the embassy in London tomorrow, unless giving it a thought to travel up to Hull in person to get a Non Imm O :-). Cheers.

You shouldn't need a ticket to apply for a visa and with a visa you will not be asked to show a ticket on arrival in Thailand. Your double entry tourist visa seems to fit what you require, should you want to leave Thailand more than once while there you can apply at the local immigration office for a re-entry permit which will keep the current entry on your tourist visa alive allowing you to return on the same entry until the original 'leave by' date.

If you are applying in Sweden it may be difficult to get a Non Imm visa as "visiting friends" is not a reason to be given one.

A tourist visa will give you 2 months to stay in Thailand each visit and can be extended in country by 30 days each entry if required.

EDIT: Sorry just read you are in London, If you wanted to try for a Non Imm O you could try the consulate in Hull who are more likely to issue than London, you can apply there by post if easier but really a Tourist visa meets your needs.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The Embassy in London will not give you a Non-Immigrant visa. You do not meet their strict criteria.

[ballbreaker]

Since you plan a trip to Singapore in January would it not be better to arrive Thailand in December using Visa Exempttion (good for 30 days). Leave for Singapore when that expires in January and while in Singapore apply for 60 day tourist visa for Thailand. You didn't post your intended travel dates but if they are flexible this should work.

[RonD]

That's an idea. The dates are arriving in Bangkok 17th December, which means I will have to leave to Singapore the 16th January, and then come back to Thailand so that the 60 days back to the UK doesn't get exceeded.

Would I be able to apply for Non Immigrant visa from Singapore as well? (or would I have to go back to the UK to apply for this?)

Since you plan a trip to Singapore in January would it not be better to arrive Thailand in December using Visa Exempttion (good for 30 days). Leave for Singapore when that expires in January and while in Singapore apply for 60 day tourist visa for Thailand. You didn't post your intended travel dates but if they are flexible this should work.

[Lite Beer]

That's an idea. The dates are arriving in Bangkok 17th December, which means I will have to leave to Singapore the 16th January, and then come back to Thailand so that the 60 days back to the UK doesn't get exceeded.

Would I be able to apply for Non Immigrant visa from Singapore as well? (or would I have to go back to the UK to apply for this?)

Since you plan a trip to Singapore in January would it not be better to arrive Thailand in December using Visa Exempttion (good for 30 days). Leave for Singapore when that expires in January and while in Singapore apply for 60 day tourist visa for Thailand. You didn't post your intended travel dates but if they are flexible this should work.

You will not get a Non Imm O Visa in singapore. Not that you need one, As M A said you can get a tourist visa

If you really want a Non Imm O you can get a Multi Entry from the consulate in Hull. Based on visiting family and friends. Apply by post, it will be returned within a week.

Cost 100 pound and is valied for 1 year. You can make as many entries as you want in that time.

[Mahout Angrit]

Since you plan a trip to Singapore in January would it not be better to arrive Thailand in December using Visa Exempttion (good for 30 days). Leave for Singapore when that expires in January and while in Singapore apply for 60 day tourist visa for Thailand. You didn't post your intended travel dates but if they are flexible this should work.

If you arrive in Thailand and expect a visa free entry you may well have to show an onward or return ticket within the 30 days, so if you choose this method you should purchase your ticket to Singapore before you leave UK. Only entry to Thailand with a visa will avoid the likelihood of having to show a ticket out on arrival.

From the Schedule you stated (return to UK end of March) depending how long you stayed out of the country you would also be short on your 60 days so you would have to extend in country by 30 days at further bother and expense but can be done.

Why do you feel a Non Imm visa is best for your needs when the tourist visa is screaming "Suitable" at you?

Edited November 30, 2007 by Mahout Angrit

[RonD]

Why do you feel a Non Imm visa is best for your needs when the tourist visa is screaming "Suitable" at you?

Ok Mahout, I can hear it screaming at me! :-) So have applied for the 2 entry tourist visa in London today, and will pick it up on Tuesday. If I have had some forethought, I'd send it off to Hull to save me the journey in to London, but since going soon didn't want to risk it.

Reason being, was that I'd love to get the opportunity in the future to stay and live longer term in Thailand, so there was cross/parallell thoughts with regards to this that went through my mind as well.

But I believe it's it's important to clarify my status one at a time - Should my situation change in the future, than I will simply have to leave Thailand to apply for the correct visa and the return, rather than to confuse things.

I was also concern about following all the right procedures correctly etc, and since I was going to visit gf/wife, my parents and my other relative I thought this could possibly be interpreted as "this is not holiday, it's holiday and family visit - hence you need a non immigrant visa".

[Mahout Angrit]

I was also concern about following all the right procedures correctly etc, and since I was going to visit gf/wife, my parents and my other relative I thought this could possibly be interpreted as "this is not holiday, it's holiday and family visit - hence you need a non immigrant visa".

Ron

Actually the reasons you have given are not reasons that you can generally use to get a Non Imm visa, you are still a tourist. If you had Thai family (not g/f) then that is a reason but as contributors have said the consulate in Hull is known to issue the Non Imm O for 'visiting friends" but few consulates do.

The fact that you qualify for a tourist now and later may qualify for a Non Imm should make no difference to any future application.

Good luck in your efforts to stay longer, keep an eye on this forum and you will know the best places to go should you need it.

[mas]

I was also concern about following all the right procedures correctly etc, and since I was going to visit gf/wife, my parents and my other relative I thought this could possibly be interpreted as "this is not holiday, it's holiday and family visit - hence you need a non immigrant visa".

Ron

Actually the reasons you have given are not reasons that you can generally use to get a Non Imm visa, you are still a tourist. If you had Thai family (not g/f) then that is a reason but as contributors have said the consulate in Hull is known to issue the Non Imm O for 'visiting friends" but few consulates do.

The fact that you qualify for a tourist now and later may qualify for a Non Imm should make no difference to any future application.

Good luck in your efforts to stay longer, keep an eye on this forum and you will know the best places to go should you need it.