B visas made by visa agencies in thailand

[Marie]

I had my 1 year non-immigrant B multiple entry visa made by an Agency specialised in visa in Thailand.(though I won t work for any company in Thailand).

I only enquired a visa to allow me to enter and exit Thailand an illimited number of times for about a year.

I gave them my passeport and was requested to stay in Thailand during the application process (about 2 weeks).

When I collected my passport, I noticed it was stamped out of Thailand, in Malaysia, out Malaysia and then in Thailand. The visa is officialy delivered by the Thai Consulate of TEXAS, and is dated prior to my first arrival in Thailand...

Well, I am not USA citizen and do not have any stamps of my supposed trip to USA. I left Thailand after collection of my passeport, and will be back to Bkk next week end. I was wondering if immigration officiers take this kind of visa for granted, or if they are suspicious and if so, what can happen to me.

I would also like to know if I am supposed to present a return air ticket with a non-immigrant B multiple entry visa?

Many thanks.

Marie

[fester]

I don't think you have to worry. Other members might have to coreect me here.

This might work perfectly, and it mostly does, it has been common practise in Thailand for more than 10 years to send passports over the border to obtain new entries, and it's done every day with hundreds of passports.

There are reports of crack downs when the Immigration has found out:

http://www.thaivisa.com/339.0.html

Warning over no-travel "visa-runs"

Apparently you could leave the country with this visa with no problems, so it's propably recorded in the Immigration computer system. You would be able to enter Thailand again and again on this visa, if the Immigration officer at arrival doesn't suspect anything dodgy.

But if you are catched in a special check-up for some reason, with a clever immigration officer (yes, they exists) looking at it, or you apply for an extension at the Immigration Bureau, you could be fined, jailed and deported for illegal entry.

But, in most cases, this non-travel visas will work out just fine.

The Immigration says that this visas are illegal, but I doubt it, but it has NOT been proved by a proper investigation before a Thai court that they really are illegal.

The reason for that is that the Thai immigration can use the weapon of Deportation for any foreigner they catch, for any suspected crime, and that hinders you to have the case proved by a court. It's very hard to contact a professional immigration laywer, and have the case proved, while in the Immigration Detention Center... You have NO rights as a foreigner in Thailand regarding Immigration.

TiT.

Some questions:

- What Thai consulate in Texas did issue the visa? There are several Thai consulates there!

- Did you used any reputable agency in Bangkok to obtain this?

- How much did you pay?

[Marie]

Thanks Fester for your reply.

My visa is officially delivered by the Royal Thai Consulate - General of Houston, Texas. Just let me describe how it goes:

I had a brand-new passport, just 2 stamps of Singapore Immigration and 1 stamp of entry in Thailand.

*The visa is done on the first page (left) of my passport. It is dated 6 January 2003.

*On the right page I have:

 -One entry thailand : 27 Jan 2003 - exit 28 jan

 -One entry malaysia: 28 jan - exit 11 feb

 -Subsequently: entry thailand 11 feb - exit 17 feb

It would be alright if... on the right page I did not have 2 stamps for Singapore:

Entry 31 dec - exit 27 jan... How could I get a visa from Houston, Texas while in Singapore, huh?

I have no idea if the agency I contacted is reputable or not. I think I had their contact through somebody's post on this forum (but not sure). (S&A visa).

They charged me Baht 12,500 and it took about 16 days.

[fester]

Technically you could have used a second passport for travelling to Texas, depending of your nationality...

This is the risk with these "postal order" visas if some official really start to ask questions, which they rarely does...

But the boys in Brown are getting smarter and tougher. You might want to lose that passport if you feel uncomfortable with it.

Have you spoked with the visa agent about this?

[Herbie]

Even an idiot (officer) can see that these date stamps doesn't match.

[george]

This visa should not be any problems at all, Marie!

Don't apply for any extensions or work permits with it, though.

A pitty that S&A did not informed you about what they was going to stamp in your passport.

Avoid these visa agents!

[fester]

I have sent an email to the agent S&A Visa asking for a comment to this thread, but no answer. I will remind them again today.

[Marie]

Thank you all for your posts and sorry for the late reply.

Fester:

following to these last posts on this forum, the agency who processed my visa directly contacted me by email for clarification.

They fully explained that the the non-matching date stamps on my passport were merely be due to human error at the Consulate in Houston. The Bangkok agency also reported me that they had checked with the police who replied there should be no problem as long as I was not in Thailand during the visa issuance (which confirms George's post).

Anyway, I was in Singapore/Indonesia these last 2 weeks, and I will be back to Thailand tomorrow night, so I will see how things are doing then ... (any generous offer to help collection of my luggage on the conveyor belt in case I am stuk at Bkk Immigration counter would be much appreciated ... just kidding... - well, I hope so .

Besides, the Agency also insists on its customer-satisfaction policy and could, upon request, arrange my passport to be sent back to US for correct the stamp date.

Ok, I hope this time things are clear. I also trust I should not have mentioned any Company name in my posts, and also believe that the agent is most sorry too for the unusual situation.

To revert to George's last comment, I also believe that it is always best if you can apply for your visas on your own without resorting to a third party.

But for my part, I have struggled for 2 years to get a regular situation in neighbouring countries (long story) with poor results. And for having checked with the relevant autorities in SEA, I could possibly not have handled this kind visa alone while staying in Asia.

So I was most glad to have it processed by an agent who best knows the 'tricks'.

My own view, though.

Best wishes to all of you... and enjoy your week end.