Inaccurate Retirement Visa Info On U.s. Consulate-bkk Web Site?

[jfchandler]

FYI, I got a nice acknowledgment email from a press attache at the Embassy today saying they'd received my email, understood the problem, and would be forwarding it to the ACS unit for them to update their web page...

What Bangkok ACS does with it, and how soon, will be interesting to see.

[SurfRider]

Here is a new ThaiVisa link that explains the process of converting a 30 day tourist Visa to a Retirement Visa

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Retirement-V...09#entry2968509

.

[Lite Beer]

There is no such thing as a 30 Day Tourist Visa or a Retirement Visa.

Sorry for keep banging on about this but it is very confusing for new members when the wrong terms are used.

An O-A Visa available only in the country you reside is for retirement purposes, but cannot be obtained in Thailand.

A Visa on arrival is only available for certain nationalities, usually costs 1,000 Baht and does give 15 days.

A Visa exempt stamp is available for most nationalities and is free. 30 days by air, 15 days by land. It is not a Visa.

It is a 12 month extension of your permission to stay based on retirement. Not a Visa.

[ubonjoe]

Small typo in LB's post. A visa on arrival is only for 15 days.

[Lite Beer]

Small typo in LB's post. A visa on arrival is only for 15 days.

Corrected Joe . Trying to type it quick while rushing to cut the grass before it chucked it down with rain.

[SurfRider]

"There is no such thing as a 30 Day Tourist Visa or a Retirement Visa . . . it is very confusing for new members when the wrong terms are used"

Sorry, but these are terms that are used in every day conversation among many people who actually have these non-existent Retirement Visas and tourist visas.

I don't doubt that you're technically correct, but "confusing" is a relative term and I've never heard anyone using the lengthy descriptions that you use in general conversation.

Apologies if I wasn't technically correct by your standards, I was only trying to communicate basic descriptive information. I was not attempting to quote verbatim from the Thai Immigration field operations terminology manual . . .

.

[ubonjoe]

To show how confusing it can be. Try giving an answer to the following questions. Without asking a question first.

How do I extend a tourist visa?

How do I extend a retirement visa?

[thaiphoon]

"There is no such thing as a 30 Day Tourist Visa or a Retirement Visa . . . it is very confusing for new members when the wrong terms are used"

Sorry, but these are terms that are used in every day conversation among many people who actually have these non-existent Retirement Visas and 30 day tourist visas.

I don't doubt that you're technically correct, but "confusing" is a relative term and I've never heard anyone using the lengthy descriptions that you use in general conversation.

Apologies if I wasn't technically correct by your standards, I was only trying to communicate basic descriptive information. I was not attempting to quote verbatim from the Thai Immigration field operations terminology manual . . .

.

The link in post #32 above goes to my posting which you have misquoted, which is not good practice and for which I am not grateful. My terminology in my posting is correct. And LB's terminology is his more recent posting is correct too. The whole area of visas and extensions is complicated and confusing for new members, so please can you use the correct terminology in this forum. And when quoting can you use the "quote" button and edit out what is not required so people can follow the conversation source more easily. Thank you.

[Lite Beer]

We spend half our time on here trying to work out what questions new posters are actually asking.

As Joe said above.

Another example. "How do I renew my Marriage Visa" This could mean anything.

It is very important to try and get it right.

[JimGant]

We spend half our time on here trying to work out what questions new posters are actually asking.

The pinned "Read Before Posting" needs to be updated, to include correct terminology, as well as an explanation of common, but technically incorrect, terminology.

The pinned, but somewhat hidden, "nomenclature" article, with a little scrubbing, would suffice -- but needs to be included with the "Read Before Posting" so that new posters can be chastised if they ignore this step.

Who's in charge around here?

[Maestro]

It would be rather difficult to write a definitive glossary of terminology when even the Immigration Bureau, on its website, uses “visa extension” when they mean “extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom”, for short “extension of stay”.

Personally, I think that we should not reply to an ambiguous question with something like “if…then…else...” but ask a question back to try and find out what exactly the poster means, for example with multiple choice questions, and in the process members will gradually learn the correct terminology. For example:

1. With marriage visa, do you mean

a. a nonimmigrant visa type "O" for which you apply at a Thai embassy for the purpose of travelling to Thailand to visit your wife?

b. an annual extension of stay from your local immigration office for the reason of living with your Thai wife in Thailand?

2. With retirement visa, do you mean

a. a nonimmigrant visa type "OA" for which you apply at a Thai embassy for the purpose of retiring in Thailand?

b. an annual extension of stay from your local immigration office for the reason of retirement?

3. With visa run, do you mean a trip from Thailand to another country and return

a. without a visa (visa-exempt entry)?

b. to activate a new entry of a multiple-entry non-immigrant visa or of a tourist visa valid for more than one entry?

c. to get a new visa from a Thai consulate?

4. With visa renewal, do you mean

a. getting a new visa from a Thai consulate (ie outside Thailand)?

b. getting a new annual extension of stay (ie from your local immigration office in Thailand)?

--

Maestro

[JimGant]

It would be rather difficult to write a definitive glossary of terminology when even the Immigration Bureau, on its website, uses "visa extension" when they mean "extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom", for short "extension of stay".

Well, the pinned 'Nomenclature' article (in 'Useful Immigration Information.....') is pretty definitive -- but it *is* tucked away from anyone who might take the time to read "PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE POSTING!! As said, it needs a little scrubbing (it, too, uses the inaccurate phrase 'This visa can also be extended..). So, if it could be revised -- and included in the '...READ THIS...' entry, you just might get fewer confusing newbie questions.

And, protect your regulars from carpal tunnel syndrome ........