Visa For Religious Pursposes-application, Extention, Exceptional

[ai7559]

I am a Malaysian. My intention to Thailand is only to practice meditation since there are so many great masters still available in Thailand. However, the longest visa I could get is only a double-entry tourist visa. I am not working and I have no interest to work in Thailand. The kruba ajahns and the strong spiritual supports in the Kingdom are my only interest to go to Thailand.

1/ Pls advice if there is any way I could get a longer visa? To move around for visa renewal/extension are a waste of time, and at times very inconvenient (staying in the deep forest).

2/ Recently a notice was put up in Penang Thai Consulate, that a THB2000 is needed as requirement to enter to the Kingdom. Pls advice why is this needed, especially for someone like me without income, it is upsetting. Is it in cash form or just a bank account statement?

3/ Extention for visa is THB1900 for the 1st time for 30 days, and THB1900 for the 2nd time for 7 days. Then one will need to leave the Kingdom. I truly wish I could stay longer. Short period of stay is disadvantage for meditation practice. Is there any exception that I could get a longer extention? And for free?

4/ Anyway I could get exceptional for a longer tourist visa for free directly from Penang? Or to make in Thailand? Or if you could suggest me what to do to obtain a longer visa, for free, and to the most convenient.

5/ For the Sangha members (monks. [is white-cloth mea-chi recognised by the authority as sangha members too?]), is there any previleges for them comparing to condition I faced so far? (There are friends as sangha members and they are facing quite similar difficulties as me too) It is even more inconvenient for them to move around due to their Vinaya rules restriction.

6/ I could not find any websites with lastest and up-to-date information (eg. double entry visa, the

THB2000 to enter the Kingdom...). Or any emails for enquiries.

Appreciate your advice and kind consideration for topics brought up here.

Thank you.

[lopburi3]

1. You should obtain a non immigrant visa using an official letter from the Department of Religious Affairs or Department of Prime minister or Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University and an official letter from the abbot where you will study. That will allow a 90 day stay that can be extended inside Thailand for one year for 1,900 baht.

2. The requirement is 20,000 baht for entry into Thailand on a non immigrant visa - it is normally not checked but could be by either Consulate or Immigration at the border. It is to insure you can pay for your stay. There is nothing new about it.

3. Any extension of stay is 1,900 baht - that is why you should obtain the non immigrant visa which allows a one year extension of stay.

4. Visas are not free. You need to pay for the visa. But you should obtain paperwork so that they can issue you a non immigrant visa (as mentioned in one above).

If you do not have arrangements for study yet I would recommend a single entry tourist visa - once you do have the arrangements and can obtain the paperwork you can change visa to non immigrant for 2,000 baht as long as you have 21 days or more remaining on your permitted to stay stamp and then proceed with the one year extension of stay.

[ubonjoe]

You can get a non immigrant ED visa for religious study. To get it would require documentation from a temple or monestary. It would cost 2000 baht for a single entry visa.

Then you could get an extension of stay for 1 year at immigration (1900 baht).

Requirements from police order.

2.13 In the case of study of Buddhism or religious function:

Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 1 year at a time.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM);

(2) Confirmation has been issued by the National Buddhism Office or the National Buddhism Office of the Prime Minister’s Office or the Mahachulalongkorn University; and

(3)Confirmation has been issued by the abbot of the temple where the applicant is studying or performing the religious function.