I Need An Expert’s Advice In Regard To A Tourist Visa, Please.

[cecil2805]

Firstly, forgive me if I appear to be “long winded”, but I do NOT want to waste anybody’s time, and therefore am trying to give you all the details to avoid “coming backwards and forwards”.

I am a “farang” who lives in Chiang Mai, and I have a RETIREMENT VISA.

I have a Filipina girlfriend who will shortly be coming to live here in Thailand with me. She is coming to live here, as I have no desire to relocate to The Philippines.

She will arrive in BKK, “armed” with a RETURN TICKET to Manila, to ensure there is no problem for her to gain entry into Thailand. The return ticket will NOT be used. As I understand it, she will automatically have a 30 day VISA STAMP entered into her passport.

After staying in Thailand for say 29 days(to be safe), my understanding is that if she goes to Vientiane(Laos), she will be able to obtain a 2 ENTRY VISA. This will enable her to stay 60 days on the 1st entry, and can then get a 30 day extension in Chiang Mai. She would then need to go to Mesai(I suggest Mesai, as it is the closest to CM), and use the 2nd ENTRY to come back into Thailand, and obtain a 30 day extension after 60 days.

Please confirm:

1) am I correct in what I have stated?

2) assuming that I am correct, is this the best method to use?

3) is it OK to go to Vientiane by bus? Someone told me she might need to go by plane.

I thank you for taking the time to read my post.

[bkkbound04]

if your gf applied for the tourist visa at the thai embassy from point of origin it may give you more time to think things through and look for the best options, i'm assuming that there's no problems with the embassy in the phillipines? if so she could get a double entry there..arrive and activate the visa and with a 30 day extention giving her 3 moths before needing to do a border run..when she re-enters thailand she would then have another 3months( 60+30)

with that option you have potentially 6 months to plan the best embassy to visit outside of thailand and apply for another double tourist visa..i'm not sure if triple entry visa's are still being issued or are available in your gf's area..the only thing with the x3 is it's a matter of timing and you may need to use the 3rd entry before 6 months to get the full benefits(e.g you will lose a couple of days from the max stay) but it could be a cheaper option doing it this way

lol sorry if you've already considered this but other than that as long as the embassies that your gf is planning to visit issue tourist visas then you're set with your plans

all the best

ps i'm no expert but just from my own experience

[noise]

Firstly, forgive me if I appear to be "long winded", but I do NOT want to waste anybody's time, and therefore am trying to give you all the details to avoid "coming backwards and forwards".

As Bkkbound alluded to, maybe you didn't provide enough information. If she is coming to live here, why hasn't she investigated all the visas available to a Filipina? I did not see that info in your OP.

I got the impression you are only thinking about the normal 30 day visa that most tourists get upon arrival. Do Philippine citizens get treated differently, have different requirements?

RE MAE SAI: What is the current land border visa, 7 days or 15 days? I seem to remember that it is one of the two regardless of how many entries visa you have on a tourist visa. I have lost track because I don't need to know, but for someone who wants to live for ever in Thailand on a tourist visa........???? I do not think land crossing will give you much relief.

[Lite Beer]

Moved to Visa.

[PattayaParent]

When I tried to get a double entry tourist visa in the Thai Embassy in Manila they were refusing to issue them.

Maybe it's easier for a local to get one?

[Lite Beer]

Philipino's are entitled to a 30 day entry at the airport and 15 days by land.

They are also entitled to Free Tourist Visas even when the current promotion finishes providing the stay is not above 59 days. So whether She can get a double entry I do not know.

Best plan Visa wise would be to marry her. Then she could stay in Thailand by getting 12 monthly extensions as your dependant. Assuming you have a 12 month extension. Not a Retirement Visa.

[cecil2805]

I thank you guys for your input, much appreciated.

The reason I did not consider her trying to get a Visa in Manila, is because she has been told it is difficult, and time consuming.

I must say, I am now somewhat confused as to what to do now.

I had considered the marriage option, but thought that would be difficult to do, here in Thailand, as we are both foreigners.

Do you know whether I am able to marry her in Thailand?

In the meantime, she is booked to fly on here on the 3rd Sep, 2009, and so IF I have bungled it, it will cost money to fix. I guess I was foolish not to have visited this website sooner.

Is it at all possible for me to call one of you experts? The SPOKEN WORD is so much easier?

I look forward to talking to an expert/s on the phone.

Thank you so much for your time.

[lopburi3]

There is no need to change anyting - she can still come on a 30 day visa exempt entry - you can marry if you want - you both need a letter from your respective Embassy that you are single but with that, after translation/registration at Ministry of Foreign Affairs (translation service can do) you visit any District Office and register the marriage. Very easy process.

Once married, if you are on a retirement extension of stay from Immigration, she can visit a nearby Consulate to obtain a non immigrant O visa and then extend her stay to match yours as your dependent wife.

[cecil2805]

There is no need to change anyting - she can still come on a 30 day visa exempt entry - you can marry if you want - you both need a letter from your respective Embassy that you are single but with that, after translation/registration at Ministry of Foreign Affairs (translation service can do) you visit any District Office and register the marriage. Very easy process.

Once married, if you are on a retirement extension of stay from Immigration, she can visit a nearby Consulate to obtain a non immigrant O visa and then extend her stay to match yours as your dependent wife.

Lopburi, thank you so much for your concise response.

I have seen your posts many times, and I feel I would really like to phone you, as I am more comfortable with DIRECT COMMUNICATION.

Could you please allow me to phone you?

Thank you.

[Lite Beer]

Post containing a duplicate question already posted and answered earlier has been deleted.

[astral]

The difficulties at the Thai Embassy in Manila may only be for foreigners.

I suggest she tries there first.

Otherwise the 30 day stamp then a double Entry in Laos seems the way to go.

[thaiphoon]

... or try to apply for 12 month Non-O multiple entry visa from Manila on the basis of visiting friends. Many reports advise the embassy in Manila is not farang friendly, but the situation may be different for one of their own nationals. Otherwise it looks like 30 day visa exempt entry followed by a trip to Vientiane for a double entry tourist visa.

[lopburi3]

Dreamer. They give the same heartaches to everyone from the reports I have seen. No way is any Embassy going to issue a multi entry non immigrant O visa to visit friends.

[astral]

I don't recollect a report from a Phillipine national applying....................