Tourist Visa Or Non-immigrant Visa Category O?

[pinksprinkles]

I have a bit of a problem that I am hoping someone could be so kind as to assist me with. I have read all the stickies, the various FAQs, and went back seven pages to see if anything close to my situation had been discussed, but no luck.

I am a citizen of the USA, but I live in Japan (these are both true of my son and husband as well). We have lived in Thailand before so I am slightly knowledgeable about the various visas but I find myself in a bit of a pickle as to what may be the best option for my particular situation this time around.

I am currently pregnant and am going to Bangkok to give birth to my second son (long story, but suffice to say I know what I am doing, this is what is best for my family, and we have been to the hospital I plan on giving birth to in the past for medical treatment). 

I will need to be in Thailand for at least 55 days due to the flight restrictions (I can fly as late as week 34). This means it would be best to get a Non-Immigrant Visa in the O Category ("to receive medical treatment in Thailand") for 60 days. 

The hospital is ready to fax a letter of invitation for me and my family to the consulate (as is required to receive the visa), and I am ready and able to supply a passport (with validity not less then 6 months), a filled out visa application, two passport sized photos, and a copy of my bank statement with appropriate funds. All of which are required.

Here is my problem: the Thai consulate in Osaka.

The first issue is that the consulate has absolutely no information for the Non-Immigrant Visa in the O Category on their site. Because of this I have to piece together their specific requirements via the information provided for the other visa types.

This leads to the second issue, what I can gather is that no matter what visa type they allow, the Osaka consulate demands that you must have:

a. A guarantee letter.

With this, it is a tit-for-tat. In Japan to get most visas you need a letter from a Japanese citizen or company which says they will take responsibility for any actions, debts, and law breaking you may do in the country. The Thai embassy is requesting that a Japanese person do the same (re: be responsible for any improper behaviors you commit while in Thailand) for anyone who wants to apply for a visa to get into Thailand (regardless of if they are Japanese or not). While extremely annoying, we do not have a single Japanese person who would do this. Not one. Sure, we know Japanese people, but this is akin to asking someone to give you their first born. Reputation is everything here.

So, as you can see, I am stuck in a catch-22. If I was in the USA I could just apply and pick up my visa and it would be all taken care of. But in Japan I have to provide them with something I cannot so I cannot get the visa (plus my husband would have to take two days off of work as we live no where near Osaka and would have to make a day trip there and back. And because "paternity leave" is a dirty term in Japan, and he is taking it, he is already on thin ice with his job so taking off more time could result in him being fired. Talk about stress!).

My thinking is this, I forgo the Non-Immigrant Visa O and just go into Thailand under the USA-Thai agreement. Then we go to the Bangkok immigration office and either apply for an extension or apply for the Non-Immigrant Visa.

My questions are:

1. Do you think this is wise to just punt with the consulate and try Bangkok immigration, or should I try to wrestle with the Osaka consulate and perhaps get turned down for the visa-- wasting time, the visa fee, $250 in tolls, a night in a hotel, still having no visa, and possibly having my husband unemployed?

2. How difficult, in your opinion, do you think it would be to get a visa extension or Non-Immigrant Visa O in my circumstance (with a letter form the hospital) in Bangkok after arriving? 

3. Should I bother with the Non-Immigrant or just stick to the tourist? (I know there is the possibility of something going wrong with the birth, g-d forbid, and plan on staying three weeks after the birth but if something did go wrong I would have to extend any visa and hope it would not be an issue with immigration, or would it?)

4. How soon can I go to immigration to get this worked out? I was thinking of going the day after I landed in Bangkok.

Thank you to anyone who took the time to read all of this and can help me out with their ideas and suggestions, I truly appreciate it.

[Texpat]

Why do you need a non-immigrant visa?

You'll be here fewer than 90 days, right?

I'd look into a deal with the hospital where they could extend your tourist "visa" without making you do a border run.

[pinksprinkles]

Why do you need a non-immigrant visa?

You'll be here fewer than 90 days, right?

I'd look into a deal with the hospital where they could extend your tourist "visa" without making you do a border run.

When I first contacted the hospital months ago I was working with a lovely lady, but she has since left and there is a new person working with me. The new individual really doesn't seem to know anything about visas and just keeps telling me to get a "medical visa" (which there is no specific "medical visa" and I have pointed this out only to be told to get whatever one is closest to it as they do not know much about visas) and is not much help beyond that. I can always talk to the hospital staff inperson when I arrive though and see if they will do that (re: help me extend the visa), as I am sure they would.

I originally wanted to get the Non-Immigrant or tourist before leaving as it would be for 60 days and I only plan on being in Thailand for 55 (or so says the plane ticket I purchased). I mistakenly thought it would be less hassel. 

Plus, being in Thailand under a Non-Immigrant specifically for medical tourism would make it far easier to extend the visa should anything go wrong medically and I be required to stay longer. Or so this is how the first lady explained it to me.

[QED]

A 60 day tourist visa is extendable at any immigration office for a further 30 days for 1,900 baht.

You will not be able to get any visa inside Thailand, I would go for the tourist visa and extend as necessary.

[pinksprinkles]

A 60 day tourist visa is extendable at any immigration office for a further 30 days for 1,900 baht.

You will not be able to get any visa inside Thailand, I would go for the tourist visa and extend as necessary.

Applying for the tourist visa at the Osaka consulate still requires the guarantee letter-- which I cannot provide and is not a requirement when applying in any other country I have lived in (or according to the official Thai immigration site). Guess I am just screwed. 

[QED]

A 60 day tourist visa is extendable at any immigration office for a further 30 days for 1,900 baht.

You will not be able to get any visa inside Thailand, I would go for the tourist visa and extend as necessary.

Applying for the tourist visa at the Osaka consulate still requires the guarantee letter-- which I cannot provide and is not a requirement when applying in any other country I have lived in (or according to the official Thai immigration site). Guess I am just screwed.

Sounds like you will need to stop in a neighbouring country on the way, or come here first and go out again to get your TV. Good luck

[Texpat]

A garden-variety tourist visa requires a guarantor?

Sounds odd but looking at the Thai Embassy-Tokyo website, here it is: http://www.thaiembassy.jp/rte2/content/view/93/147/

1. Company employee must prepare company work certificate (Business card is not acceptable)

2. Self-employed applicant must prepare business registration/license and bank statement.

3. Student must prepare guarantee letter from university or student card.

4. Pensioner must prepare bank statement or pension fund

5. House wife must prepare husband's passport copy.

Very odd indeed. I'd offer your husband's passport (#5) and see what they say.

They'll likely say these rules only apply to Japanese tourists. If that's the case, tell them you're not Japanese and Americans aren't required to provide such documentation -- we're not.

They also won't allow you to come with an open ticket -- so any complications would jam up your return.

I wonder why Japanese tourist visas are more restrictive than many of the less civilized barbarians that crawl through these sois?

[pinksprinkles]

A garden-variety tourist visa requires a guarantor?

Sounds like BS to me. Do Japanese tourists require this letter too?

Even the visa fee has been waived.

Look here:

Yes, a basic tourist visa and all Japanese applying for a visa require this "guarantee letter".  

From the Thai consulate site in Osaka for just a basic tourist visa:

"One application form completely filled out

Passport with validity not less than 6 months(original and copy) Copies of Alien Registration card (front and back)

One photo (size 4.5 x 4 cm) taken within the past 6 months 

Airline ticket or flight confirmation sheet with name, flight no.,date of entry/exit

- Open ticket is not acceptable -

Bank Statement of Applicant’s account (issued by a bank in Japan) : original in English(a copy of Bank Book is not acceptable)

①Employee of Company : Certificate of employment (original in Englishl) signed and sealed by employer.

②Owner of Company: Business registration

③Student: Certificate of enrolment ( original in English) signed and sealed by principle of school.

④Preschool Child: Copies of parents’ passport and an original of family register.

⑤Other types of applicant: - Bank Statement of Applicant’s account(issued by banks in Japan), - Guarantee Letter(download from this website), - Copy of passport(or driver’s license) of a guarantor with his/her original signature. (A guarantor must be an adult who remains in Japan. An alien without the permission of permanent residence in Japan cannot be a guarantor. If a guarantor is a family member of the applicant, please prepare original of family register, too.)

*For applicants ① and ②, Submission of Guarantee Letter(download from this website), Copy of passport(or driver’s license) of a guarantor with his/her original signature. (A guarantor must be an adult who remains in Japan. An alien without the permission of permanent residence in Japan cannot be a guarantor. If a guarantor is a family member of the applicant, please prepare original of family register, too.) is greatly preferable. 

*If you are visiting your family in Thailand:　a. Copy of passport of your family ( holder's date, visa in Thailand, Entery stamp )　b. Certificate to prove the relationship between him/her and applicant ( e.g. family registration )　c. Guarantee letter from Japanese resident over 20 years old and certificate proving the relationship between him/her and applicant."

And for my son they want a letter from his school (even though legally he doesn't have to attend school, although he does)!! 

I was quite happy to see the visa fee has been waived, now if I could work around this letter business. . . 

[pinksprinkles]

Sounds like you will need to stop in a neighbouring country on the way, or come here first and go out again to get your TV. Good luck

Thank you. I may have to just fly in and then go over to Cambodia to apply. Which will not be comfortable at as pregnant as I will be. Or maybe I can talk a consulate/embassy in the USA in having pity on me over the phone and allowing me to do this through them. . . 

[pinksprinkles]

Very odd indeed. I'd offer your husband's passport (#5) and see what they say.

They'll likely say these rules only apply to Japanese tourists. If that's the case, tell them you're not Japanese and Americans aren't required to provide such documentation -- we're not.

They also won't allow you to come with an open ticket -- so any complications would jam up your return.

I wonder why Japanese tourist visas are more restrictive than many of the less civilized barbarians that crawl through these sois?

It is very very odd!   I read it all thinking "this is obviously for a Japanese person" but they do have the part about "An alien without the permission of permanent residence in Japan cannot be a guarantor" so they may try to force me into it anyway? I guess I can only try the America-jin card and see if it gets me anywhere.

I think they do this as a tit-for-tat as Japan requires such a letter to get a visa for Japan (usually an Japanese in-law or Japanese company signs the letter for you). Maybe if I beg someone they'll just sign the letter for me. 

[welo]

Did you try to ring the embassy in Tokyo, maybe they are less strict. I see on their website they accept applications by mail.

And there is another consulate in Nagoya.

http://www.thaiembassy.jp/rte2/content/view/90/144/

welo

[pinksprinkles]

Did you try to ring the embassy in Tokyo, maybe they are less strict. I see on their website they accept applications by mail.

And there is another consulate in Nagoya.

http://www.thaiembassy.jp/rte2/content/view/90/144/

welo

Both locations are physically very far from me, but it does look like Tokyo's requirements are less strict? I am calling them tomorrow. Either they'll tell me to ignore everything the Osaka branch says or I am buying a ticket to South Korea. 

[lopburi3]

I do not believe Thai Consulates will issue visas except to Japanese or residents - so they probably require the residents to meet the same requirements as Japanese.

You may not be allowed on aircraft to Thailand without onward ticket within 30 days so you need to plan for that.

I would fly to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur from Japan and get my tourist visa there and then proceed to Bangkok. Cost should not be that much different.

[pinksprinkles]

I do not believe Thai Consulates will issue visas except to Japanese or residents - so they probably require the residents to meet the same requirements as Japanese.

You may not be allowed on aircraft to Thailand without onward ticket within 30 days so you need to plan for that.

I would fly to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur from Japan and get my tourist visa there and then proceed to Bangkok. Cost should not be that much different.

I am afraid you are quite right (regarding residents and citizens).  I am a resident, so I am thinking they'll put me to the same requirements as a citizen.

I have already purchased my ticket to Bangkok and cannot add a stop, unfortunately. I am probably just going to buy a ticket to South Korea and do everything there within the next few weeks so it is done before the trip to Bangkok. We have a vacation period coming up and I have wanted to go back to South Korea anyway. 

It shall all work out in the end. Or perhaps I am too optimistic. 

[lopburi3]

Just remember that you will have to enter/use the visa within 90 days from date issued. Can find no time-line to figure except you must be between first few weeks and 34 which is a long period.

[pinksprinkles]

Just remember that you will have to enter/use the visa within 90 days from date issued. Can find no time-line to figure except you must be between first few weeks and 34 which is a long period.

I should be ok, I will have it a few weeks before I leave for Bangkok, but thank you for the reminder!!