Visa Run To Lao 31/08/2010

[pazza]

Hi Guys,

I am going to Laos at the end of this month (31/08/2010) to get a non immigration O visa.

I am currently in Udon Thani, in between Nong Prajak Park and the airport, I have room in my truck for three interested people, Please PM me if interested.

(I am leaving Udon Thani 7 am (approx).

(I am leaving my truck on the Thai side of the bridge).

I also have a few questions about the visa form I downloaded if anyone can help ?

(I always find these forms to be a little ambiguous in there layout and wording).

First column on the form

1) Current address --- is this my hotel address in Laos or Thailand ?

2) Permanent address --- again Laos or Thailand ??

3) Date of arrival in Thailand ------ is this the date of my last border run (90 days ago) or when I want the visa to start ??

4) Duration of stay ------- where ?? Thailand or Laos ??

5) Purpose of visit -----Do I say OTHER because I want to use the visa to get extensions based on retirement (if I state retirement do I need to take any supporting documents).

6) Am I best stating purpose as tourism ??

Column two

1) Address (Local guarantor) ------- Do I need one (other than my ATM card) ??

2) Address (guarantor Thailand) ------ same question as above (1) ??

Thanks for all your help (past, present and future)

Steve

[Maestro]

I doubt that you can get a non-immigrant visa in Laos for the purpose of starting retirement extensions in Thailand, but you can ask at the consulate. Such visa is usually applied for in one's home country, stating that one would like to investigate the possibility of retirement in Thailand. As you are already living in Thailand, this can obviously not be your purpose. You may have to get a tourist visa instead and then in Thailand convert this to a non-O visa at your local immigration office and subsequently get your annual extensions of stay.

Regarding your question for filling out the application form:

Current address: your address in Laos

Permanent address: your address in your home country

Date of arrival in Thailand: arrival with the new visa you're applying for

Duration of stay: in Thailand, 90 days

Purpose of visit: if applying for non-O: investigate possibility of retirement; if applying for tourist visa: tourism

Local guarantor: leave blank or write "self"

Guarantor Thailand: leave blank or write "self"

[pazza]

Hi Maestro, Thanks for the help with the form

I was advised in an earlier post

lopburi3

Posted 2010-07-09 18:04

The previous published requirement was 21 days raminging on permitted to stay but recently they have been allowing less and perhaps as little as 7 days. You might find it better to obtain another single entry non immigrant O visa rather than making two trips and the extra conversion step.

And this

Mario2008

Posted 2010-07-09 19:17

The suggestion is to just apply for a non-O visa in Vientianne and return with that one to Thailand. That will give you enough time and no need to convert.

So I think you are saying not to apply for imm o retirement but to apply for imm o tourism.

Thanks for clearing up my form filling questions.

Steve

I doubt that you can get a non-immigrant visa in Laos for the purpose of starting retirement extensions in Thailand, but you can ask at the consulate. Such visa is usually applied for in one's home country, stating that one would like to investigate the possibility of retirement in Thailand. As you are already living in Thailand, this can obviously not be your purpose. You may have to get a tourist visa instead and then in Thailand convert this to a non-O visa at your local immigration office and subsequently get your annual extensions of stay.

Regarding your question for filling out the application form:

Current address: your address in Laos

Permanent address: your address in your home country

Date of arrival in Thailand: arrival with the new visa you're applying for

Duration of stay: in Thailand, 90 days

Purpose of visit: if applying for non-O: investigate possibility of retirement; if applying for tourist visa: tourism

Local guarantor: leave blank or write "self"

Guarantor Thailand: leave blank or write "self"

[lopburi3]

I suspect Vientiane will issue a single entry non immigrant O visa if you are over age 50 and planning to extend for retirement. Most consulates will as a non immigrant visa entry is a requirement for obtaining extension of stay and the ability to change inside Thailand is a relatively new provision and previously was the normal method when you asked inside Thailand - go outside to obtain a non immigrant O visa entry. You have never been required to go to home country for such a visa.

In the event a non immigrant can not be issued you now have the option to obtain a tourist visa and convert so that is the fallback. But try for non immigrant.

[pazza]

I suspect Vientiane will issue a single entry non immigrant O visa if you are over age 50 and planning to extend for retirement. Most consulates will as a non immigrant visa entry is a requirement for obtaining extension of stay and the ability to change inside Thailand is a relatively new provision and previously was the normal method when you asked inside Thailand - go outside to obtain a non immigrant O visa entry. You have never been required to go to home country for such a visa.

In the event a non immigrant can not be issued you now have the option to obtain a tourist visa and convert so that is the fallback. But try for non immigrant.

Thanks Lopburi3, I will write out two forms one for the immigration O and one for tourist visa, I was also going to take my (all with copies) bank book with 800,000+, my yellow book, my passport and anything else I can think of between now and the 31st .

Thanks again Lopburi and all.