2 Year “o A” Multi Entry Visa.

[bdenner]

I applied for mine today and it was a breeze, some hints.

1. The Thai consulate office has moved again, now located on Level 8, 14 – 16 Victoria Ave. Perth up near Royal Perth Hospital opposite the Cathedral. Still open 09:00 to Midday, Tuesday and Thursday. Most Visas take a few days to process.

2. AUD$225.00 and 3 passport photos.

3. Get a medical certificate completed by a local medical practitioner costs about $45, Aussies will get a $32.80 rebate from Medicare. The official proforma can be downloaded from the Thai Consulate Sydney web site. If your doctor has a sense of humor the whole process will take 5 minutes unless you obviously have Leprosy and or Elephantitus with a mixture of 3rd degree Syphilis.

4. Take a bank statement certified by your bank showing at least AUD $28,000 (800K Baht) in deposits or a portion with a certified income make up. – Same Same as the ‘OA’ visa extension in Thailand.

5. The Police Clearance Certificate. Now this is the tricky one. If your going to be in Australia for 10 days or less it is not required. The applications can ONLY be lodged at a Post Office at a cost of $44.50. Forget the 3 to 5 working days for processing as advised on the application allow at least 12 working days. I had to get the WA Ombudsman involved to get some action out of them.

I hope this information helps someone and thanks to forum member ‘jackspratt’ for his advice to me on the subject.

[george]

Are you saying this was a 2 Year multiple entry visa, as in the topic title?

[bdenner]

Are you saying this was a 2 Year multiple entry visa, as in the topic title?

Yes, there are a number of threads on the subject here. It is not a widely reccognised visa format but it will run for two years.

[lopburi3]

As far as I know there is no such visa. A one year OA is all that can be issued. If multi entry then it can be used for almost a two year stay but no exit of Thailand can be made during the second year without a re-entry permit.

In para 5 are you saying an applicant would be approved without a police clearance by saying they were only going to be there for less than 10 days? I would find that hard to believe.

[bdenner]

....................

In para 5 are you saying an applicant would be approved without a police clearance by saying they were only going to be there for less than 10 days? I would find that hard to believe.

Straight from the horses mouth, so to speak, after I explained the trouble I had getting mine. The rational being if your only in the country for 10 days it is not likley that you will get into trouble.

[bdenner]

As far as I know there is no such visa. A one year OA is all that can be issued. If multi entry then it can be used for almost a two year stay but no exit of Thailand can be made during the second year without a re-entry permit.

..............

I believe that is correct but unlike a normal multi entry non "O" you are not limited to the 90 day continuous stay. When one enters the country I believe the visa is issued up till the 2 year expiry. I'll get jackspratt to confirm it.

[lopburi3]

The police report is your history from birth - it has nothing to do with your current stay. I do not believe an OA visa is going to be issued without such a report. You are a resident or citizen of Oz are you not? Have never heard of an OA visa being issued to a non citizen visitor.

The visa should be valid for one year only - from date of issue. The magic is that each entry on the visa allows a one year stay. So if you exit and re-enter just before the visa expiration date you will still get a one year permitted to stay stamp. The catch is that you will need a re-entry permit during that second year for any travel as your visa has expired.

[bdenner]

The police report is your history from birth - it has nothing to do with your current stay. I do not believe an OA visa is going to be issued without such a report. You are a resident or citizen of Oz are you not? Have never heard of an OA visa being issued to a non citizen visitor.

...............

I started this thread to relay EXACTLY what happened through my application process. I don't intend to speculate whether what I was told is right or wrong it is the way they do it in Perth.

AND - The submissable Police Certificate only covers the time from the end of the "SPENT" (quashed by time) Convictions period. Convictions noted in the "Spent" period come on a seperate Certificate and are not even submissable in a court of law under most circumstances and cannot be used by anyone for any reason as outlined on 2 pages of conditions that accompany it.

I agree it would be highly unlikely that a non citizen would or could apply for such a visa outside their home country.

A positive side of this my money stays here earning up to 7% (look at any Aussie banks web site) and not idle in some Thai bank.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

As far as I know there is no such visa. A one year OA is all that can be issued. If multi entry then it can be used for almost a two year stay but no exit of Thailand can be made during the second year without a re-entry permit.

In para 5 are you saying an applicant would be approved without a police clearance by saying they were only going to be there for less than 10 days? I would find that hard to believe.

You are absolutely correct Lop. The documents require notorization as well. Perhaps the Consulate was having a 'blonde day '.

[bdenner]

You are absolutely correct Lop. The documents require notorization as well. Perhaps the Consulate was having a 'blonde day '.

In my case the Notorization consists of a dated 'Bank' stamp on the Statements (no signature), the Police Certificated accepted as provided and the medical Certificate accepted with the Doctors 'Provider Detail' rubber stamp on it. Not hard and definitely none of the crap we have come to expect from the Thai Immigration. In particular at Nong Khai. Edited February 27, 2008 by bdenner

[lopburi3]

You do not obtain an OA visa at Nong Khai either. Inside Thailand you obtain an extension of stay for one year. At Bangkok that is one TM.7 form with a 4x6cm current photo, copies of your passport/visa/departure card, letter from your Embassy of income (or bank letter/passbook/copies if using that method). Pay 1,900 baht and receive one year extension of stay. Nong Khai may have slightly modified requirement details but believe it is still very similar to Bangkok.

[tartempion]

I think what bdenner means about Nong Khai is that they do make you feel as if you were a crimimal wanting to stay in Thailand

At soi Suan Phlu immigration officers follow their rule book, Nong Khai officers add some "personnal rules" to this which by far outpost any (xxxxx fill in the gaps) crap. I for one would enjoy slapping the bottoms of all working there for their insulting behavior.

Therefore I avoid Nong Khai as having the pest.

[bdenner]

You do not obtain an OA visa at Nong Khai either. Inside Thailand you obtain an extension of stay for one year. At Bangkok that is one TM.7 form with a 4x6cm current photo, copies of your passport/visa/departure card, letter from your Embassy of income (or bank letter/passbook/copies if using that method). Pay 1,900 baht and receive one year extension of stay. Nong Khai may have slightly modified requirement details but believe it is still very similar to Bangkok.

I decided to go the route I did after 4 consecutive "O" class visa extensions with the Grandfathered options terminating last year. I could tollerate having the 400k Baht in the bank every year but when I was basically forced to "OA" I decided that I was better off with my 800K earning interest and doing it in my home country, for personal reasons I have to do at least one trip home a year so for a few extra dollars and not having to deal with Nong Khai it is well worth it. So I drag out this visa for 2 years it cost me AUD $112.5 per year (3200 baht) as against 1900 baht then there are no reentry (1000 baht) visas in the 1st year. Not much cost difference easly made up by not having my money doing nothing.

[JimGant]

Interesting that Perth -- an honorary Thai Consulate -- is issuing O-A visas. The honoraries in England no longer issue them, as is the case with several honoraries in the States (although some still do). Just what kind of guidance was issued, closing the door on O-As in many places, would be interesting to eyeball, particularly (as in the States) this guidance was interpreted differently.

Does anyone know if all the honorary Thai Consulates in Australia issue O-A visas?

And the fact that Perth waived the notarization requirement is not too surprising, as honoraries (run by fellow countrymen and not Thai bureaucrats) are well known to be very helpful.

[jackspratt]

As far as I know there is no such visa. A one year OA is all that can be issued. If multi entry then it can be used for almost a two year stay but no exit of Thailand can be made during the second year without a re-entry permit.

..............

I believe that is correct but unlike a normal multi entry non "O" you are not limited to the 90 day continuous stay. When one enters the country I believe the visa is issued up till the 2 year expiry. I'll get jackspratt to confirm it.

The thread title is perhaps a little misleading BD.

As I explained at the time (I think it was after we had consumed 20 or 30 Leos/Tigers):

- the visa is for 12 months (multiple entry)

- each trip outside Thailand within the 12 months will get you a further 12 months entry stamp when you get back to Thailand

- if you re-enter Thailand just prior to the expiry date of the original visa, you will get a further 12 months - effectively making the original visa a 2 year visa.

However, during the 2nd year you will need a re-entry visa each time you come back.

That is precisely what I am doing at the moment - sitting in Melbourne, due to come back to LOS shortly, when I will get my 2nd 12 months.