Getting My ‘o’ Visa Extension

[bdenner]

Banking:- Getting the Bank Certificate --- I was told by two farang and an official in the Ban Dung branch of the bank I deal with that I could not open an account at their branch until closing the Din Daeng account first. That was rot and it cost me a day and 4000 Baht in flight and travel to find out.

Walking into the Nong Khai Immigration office with Bank Certificate and documentation a month too early:- I obviously did not understand all I was reading on this forum and planned my application date around the use by date on the Non Imm. ‘O’ visa --- wrong --- Visa expiry is the date on the last entry stamp. My 4200 Baht Bank Certificate was filed in the bin.

In the period between visits to the Immigration Office I opened an account at the Udon Thani Branch with 1000 Baht --- no problems. I completed a 400K Baht eInternet transfer from Din Daeng to Udon --- no problems.

The day of application I was on the door step of the bank at 08:30. I was in the Immigration Office in Nong Khai with Bank Certificate at 09:45. There was only one couple being processed before us and we were not out until 11:45, this lines up with an earlier post by Derek from Khon Kaen. With the AEK office now closed be early as the que was quite extensive by the time we finished.

Only give them the information they ask for but have it with you anyway:- On advice from this forum I prepared two folios of documentation. Complete copies of all my banking transactions, motor vehicle registration, original and translated certificates related to previous marriage (Item 8 on the information sheet they gave me) and other information related to my and TWs relationship were discarded and this took him a long time to sort out.

He did keep 2 copies of:-

Hand written application

Passport front page and visa page with TM card number.

Bank Certificate

Bank book front page and last transaction page showing the 400K.

Marriage Certificate

TWs ID card (both sides)

TWs family book front page and her entry.

TW was interviewed in my presence but I wasn’t. He did phone the Ban Dung Police (in our presence) and asked them to do spot checks on me over the next few months. On 4 occasions he insisted I should apply for an ‘O A’ Retirement visa and indicated this process could take 5 months. That is not the direction I want to follow so we’ll wait and see as Derek indicated his longest was 3.

I hope this helps someone.

[lopburi3]

I hope that "4200 baht bank certificate" was a mistype as 200 baht is the normal charge for that letter.

During the last 30 day of your current entry is what they want.

The retirement option is easier as they do not have to verify home life and such so they do seem to steer in that direction if you have the money.

Believe the long delay (5 months) would occur most likely when police reports are slow to arrive or when they check bank account it is below 400k. Expect it will probably be 3 but not too worry if a little longer. Next year the visit will probably be shorter now that they have a case file on record and it only needs to be updated.

Am sure your report will help others and thanks for sharing with us.

[bdenner]

I hope that "4200 baht bank certificate" was a mistype as 200 baht is the normal charge for that letter.

During the last 30 day of your current entry is what they want.

The retirement option is easier as they do not have to verify home life and such so they do seem to steer in that direction if you have the money.

Believe the long delay (5 months) would occur most likely when police reports are slow to arrive or when they check bank account it is below 400k.  Expect it will probably be 3 but not too worry if a little longer.  Next year the visit will probably be shorter now that they have a case file on record and it only needs to be updated.

Am sure your report will help others and thanks for sharing with us.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

4000 of the 4200 Baht was the unwarrented trip to BKK

[pichai]

As I will be retiring to Thailand soon I would like to know, to secure a non immigrant "O" visa the minimum sum in the bank should it be 400K or 800K? I am a little confused.

[lopburi3]

As I will be retiring to Thailand soon I would like to know, to secure a non immigrant "O" visa the minimum sum in the bank should it be 400K or 800K? I am a little confused.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

800k for retirement. He is supporting a Thai wife and that is 400k. Also with both versions you can have verified income/pension to offset a lower bank balance if required.

[aletta]

Every year when i go to Nong Khai immigration there are slight variations on what needs to be copied depending on who processes the documents.

Last time as well as two copies of Passport front page and visa page with TM card number,they asked for copies of every confirmation pending stamp.

I think they must have shares in the photo copying place out the back.

[lopburi3]

Every year when i go to Nong Khai immigration there are slight variations on what needs to be copied depending on who processes the documents.

Last time as well as two copies of Passport front page and visa page with TM card number,they asked for copies of every confirmation pending stamp.

I think they must have shares in the photo copying place out the back.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Copies of any new stamps/pages are normally required so if those stamps were after you last submitted passport copies they would be required. As this all has to be sent on to Bangkok for review it would be best to err on the side of overkill in any case. Don't believe the copy price is going to put any of us into the poor house (unless it is a lot higher up there than in Bangkok).

[aletta]

Don't believe the copy price is going to put any of us into the poor house

I am naturally mean so the sixty odd baht was ten times local amphur copying price.

Those new to Nong Khai immigration might like to know that they do not take kindly to raised voices and demands from farang who walk in.Every time i go there is someone going nuts and last time a guy from London was shouting"Do you know how much property i have in London,do you?"Well they said his application would be done by the end of the day and this was early morning.Also there was a German demanding to see their superiors and he also was told no one was available until the afternoon.He wanted a signature to say he was seen to be alive for his insurance policy.

If you feel a little stressed there is a nice garden and pool out the front in the shade of trees so take a deep breath and pop outside.

Edited June 17, 2005 by aletta