Vientiane Denying Tourist Visas Now?

[devaram]

If you only have the one visa expect you will not have a problem, although Penang was kicking back anyone with extension of stay at times. If in real doubt just go somewhere that you can fly back from if a visa is not issued and get the normal 30 day visa exempt entry (if eligible).

Just got back from Penang, forget it, they aint giving visas to anyone who has 3 within a year.

What about KL?

[waynester]

I was denied a tourist visa yesterday in Vientiane. I made a mistake of having pages added to my passport rather than getting a new one.

If you bargain with the front desk guy you can get a 1 entry tourist visa...

But he might deny if you really have too many already.

I confirm that they give you TR again if you go with a new passport...

[Tod Daniels]

Why do all the hassle when they are giving out 2x Tourist VIsa from Cambodia so easy now ! .,

Poipet 2h from BKK then let the agent take the passport then w8 2 night at the casino Hotel then done ! . ,

How do you know who to trust your passport with in that town?

Im seriously interested but who do you trust?

Do they send the passport to pnomphen?

With more and more reports on the T/V forum about the thai embassy in Vientiane cracking down on issuing visas to ‘perpetual-tourists’; there are more than a few visa run services which do this type of ‘run’ to Cambodia now.

You take a mini-van (or bus depending on the number of foreigners) to Poipet, stay at the casino hotel two nights, your passports are couriered to Phnom Penh where they get the visa and are then brought back to you. Transportation, meal vouchers, rooms, Cambodian visa, etc, all included for a single price.

They seem to be doing it without a hitch, as I know a few people who’ve used them and it works.

It could be a good option. Dunno really.

Then again as this thread is titled "Vientiane Denying Tourist Visas Now?", my post is more than a little off topic. Still I hope you find it of interest.

[waynester]

The reason they give for denying multiple back to back tourist visas is that foreigners are" hiding the true purpose of their stay in Thailand", to work. This is preposterous. I stay in Thailand not to work but to live with my Thai girlfriend and support her two children, who are not supported by their Thai father. I don't feel I am abusing the system. I doubt there are many farangs steeling Thai jobs. Most of those who work here teach. I don't see how a bunch of rogue english teachers could cause such concern. Clearly there is more going on here. Money, anti falang sentiments, and jealousy are involved.

Seems that the good times are over for the abusers of the system. iis called a tourist visa for a reason. The belly aching when they dropped the 30 days for a land crossing was unbelievable, this has not gotten that bad.

Good luck to you all as you scam the system and complain about Thai corruption.

thats very impolite to call everyone who need a 4th 5th or 6th ... tourist visa an abuser of the system.

i am 39, dont want to study or work or marry, have enough money. i am here on holiday, traveling, swimming, enjoy the heat and the food.

please explain how i abuse the system. seems u r a bit narrow minded, hm?

Well apparently he may not be the only one that feels the situation is getting abused or they wouldn't be limiting the number of visas they are issuing would they.

they're not 'limiting' them though. they're just forcing people to use an external agent so that the consulate's staff receive some additional income. at such time as thailand lifts the free tourist visa offer it will revert to business as normal.

[Maestro]

...I stay in Thailand not to work but to live with my Thai girlfriend and support her two children, who are not supported by their Thai father...

The problem is that the consul cannot possibly know this unless you tell him with a letter accompanying your visa application, giving whatever details you consider suitable to show that your are not working illegally in Thailand.

[tombkk]

Seems that the good times are over for the abusers of the system. iis called a tourist visa for a reason. The belly aching when they dropped the 30 days for a land crossing was unbelievable, this has not gotten that bad.

Good luck to you all as you scam the system and complain about Thai corruption.

thats very impolite to call everyone who need a 4th 5th or 6th ... tourist visa an abuser of the system.

i am 39, dont want to study or work or marry, have enough money. i am here on holiday, traveling, swimming, enjoy the heat and the food.

please explain how i abuse the system. seems u r a bit narrow minded, hm?

There are rules in Thailand as to what length of stay constitute tourism. Many other countries (including Western countries and like the country that issued your passport) see it the same way. If that's narrow-minded, please talk to your own government first before asking Thailand to change their laws or regulations.

Thailand does offer long-stay visas. Please follow one of the many commercial links on ThaiVisa offering this. Especially if you have "enough money".

[tombkk]

For 2000 bt to an agent outside you would of got your TV and been happily on your way.

Not in Vientiane/Laos anymore.

Not it Laos anymore, I offered the guy outside money, he looked at my passport and said no way you will get a tourist visa.

He was right..

Good to hear that the embassy in Laos does not issue visas for bribes (any more?).

I hear they just got a new ambassador recentlly. I don't think that's related, though.

[Jimbo]

Seems that the good times are over for the abusers of the system. iis called a tourist visa for a reason. The belly aching when they dropped the 30 days for a land crossing was unbelievable, this has not gotten that bad.

Good luck to you all as you scam the system and complain about Thai corruption.

thats very impolite to call everyone who need a 4th 5th or 6th ... tourist visa an abuser of the system.

i am 39, dont want to study or work or marry, have enough money. i am here on holiday, traveling, swimming, enjoy the heat and the food.

please explain how i abuse the system. seems u r a bit narrow minded, hm?

There are rules in Thailand as to what length of stay constitute tourism. Many other countries (including Western countries and like the country that issued your passport) see it the same way. If that's narrow-minded, please talk to your own government first before asking Thailand to change their laws or regulations.

Thailand does offer long-stay visas. Please follow one of the many commercial links on ThaiVisa offering this. Especially if you have "enough money".

If you want to take the discussion this direction then lets compare between what rights I have here and what rights my wife has in my home country in Europe.

My wife is able to travel freely among any of the Schengen states, she can work legally whatever job she may want to do, easily get a loan, doesn't get dual priced, can purchase land in her name, she could get financial welfare, health insurance, state pension, she has an indefinite permit to stay in my country (doesn't need to report every 90 days, apply for visas outside of the country, show money in bank, show pension etc) and she could easily get a passport if she wants to.

So Tom, how many of those things can I get here as being the foreign husband of a Thai national? I think that Thailand should "change their laws or regulations" to give more privileges / rights to the foreign wives and husbands of Thai citizens, similar to what those Thai people get in the country of their foreign spouse.

Edited January 8, 2011 by Jimbo

[BruceMangosteen]

Stupid question...the free Tourist VISA's, first of March start charging or free until the end of March?

The proof of intention to leave, air ticket etc., a moot issue these days? for Tourist VISA's?

Phnom Penh is giving Tourist VISA's to qualified tourists. Some 60day, some 90day, not read/heard of double entry there. Using an agent same day service.

[Maestro]

I was denied a tourist visa yesterday in Vientiane...

Did you apply for single or double entry? I know it makes no difference in the context of this topic but I would like to link to your post under the correct heading in the list of "Latest Reports Of Getting A Visa In The Region", where I now also include visa refusals.

[beechguy]

Seems that the good times are over for the abusers of the system. iis called a tourist visa for a reason. The belly aching when they dropped the 30 days for a land crossing was unbelievable, this has not gotten that bad.

Good luck to you all as you scam the system and complain about Thai corruption.

thats very impolite to call everyone who need a 4th 5th or 6th ... tourist visa an abuser of the system.

i am 39, dont want to study or work or marry, have enough money. i am here on holiday, traveling, swimming, enjoy the heat and the food.

please explain how i abuse the system. seems u r a bit narrow minded, hm?

There are rules in Thailand as to what length of stay constitute tourism. Many other countries (including Western countries and like the country that issued your passport) see it the same way. If that's narrow-minded, please talk to your own government first before asking Thailand to change their laws or regulations.

Thailand does offer long-stay visas. Please follow one of the many commercial links on ThaiVisa offering this. Especially if you have "enough money".

If you want to take the discussion this direction then lets compare between what rights I have here and what rights my wife has in my home country in Europe.

My wife is able to travel freely among any of the Schengen states, she can work legally whatever job she may want to do, easily get a loan, doesn't get dual priced, can purchase land in her name, she could get financial welfare, health insurance, state pension, she has an indefinite permit to stay in my country (doesn't need to report every 90 days, apply for visas outside of the country, show money in bank, show pension etc) and she could easily get a passport if she wants to.

So Tom, how many of those things can I get here as being the foreign husband of a Thai national? I think that Thailand should "change their laws or regulations" to give more privileges / rights to the foreign wives and husbands of Thai citizens, similar to what those Thai people get in the country of their foreign spouse.

The subject is Tourist Visas, does your wife have all of those priveleges in the EU based on a Tourist Visa? It's up to the discretion of the consulates to issue visas, if a tourist then get a Tourist Visa, if people want to reside in a country they should apply for the proper visa that applies to their situation.

[Jimbo]

The subject is Tourist Visas, does your wife have all of those priveleges in the EU based on a Tourist Visa? It's up to the discretion of the consulates to issue visas, if a tourist then get a Tourist Visa, if people want to reside in a country they should apply for the proper visa that applies to their situation.

Ok fair point. But before we got married she did have 3 years worth of consecutive tourist visas for my home country. It was never a problem.

Personally I have my Thai visa sorted out. But I do have friends here in Thailand who have a very difficult time getting the "proper visa" and tourist visas are the only way how they can live here. i.e A 33 year old German friend of mine, single, 30 year lease on house, has monthly income from abroad so that he can live here comfortably. So what are his visa options? (there are no language schools with the ED visa option near where we live). Fact is that there are a lot of guys out there who simply don't fall into the right bracket for any visa so they are forced to get the tourist visas. And then I have to read all these condescending remarks on TV about them as if they are all illegal workers or cheaters somehow.

Edited January 9, 2011 by Jimbo

[MacWalen]

What about educational visas? My passport is packed with tourist exempt stamps,ED visas and extensions but not a single Tourist Visa. Could I be denied a tourist visa?

I cannot be absolutely sure but I think if you did not have any tourist visas you would get one. The problem seems to be with people on tourist visas.

Walen School - Learn Thai and no visa problems

www.thaiwalen.com

[beechguy]

The subject is Tourist Visas, does your wife have all of those priveleges in the EU based on a Tourist Visa? It's up to the discretion of the consulates to issue visas, if a tourist then get a Tourist Visa, if people want to reside in a country they should apply for the proper visa that applies to their situation.

Ok fair point. But before we got married she did have 3 years worth of consecutive tourist visas for my home country. It was never a problem.

Personally I have my Thai visa sorted out. But I do have friends here in Thailand who have a very difficult time getting the "proper visa" and tourist visas are the only way how they can live here. i.e A 33 year old German friend of mine, single, 30 year lease on house, has monthly income from abroad so that he can live here comfortably. So what are his visa options? (there are no language schools with the ED visa option near where we live). Fact is that there are a lot of guys out there who simply don't fall into the right bracket for any visa so they are forced to get the tourist visas. And then I have to read all these condescending remarks on TV about them as if they are all illegal workers or cheaters somehow.

Not condescending, just the facts, if they are trying to live here they should take the visa requirements into consideration before making that decision. You guys keep saying they don't have options, the fact is they do, marriage, investment, business, employment, education, etc. They just chose not to make the effort, why should that be Thai's problem?

Most of the restrictive attitude seems to be the consulates within the region, there is no reason they can't apply at a Consulate or Honorary Consulate with a less restrictive attitude, their home countries may be a good place to start, or if from the U.K. or a European country, try the Honorary Consulate at Hull, U.K.

Edited January 9, 2011 by beechguy

[MacWalen]

There have been a number of such reports - but the exact details do not seem to be the same in each case and others seem to get with even more. But the trend is closer checking and refusal without prior warning if they feel justified in so doing.

I can confirm there are many cases like that. We have a lot of customers coming to us with exactly the same problem. After we have prepared all the paperwork for them they were able to obtain ED visas from the same consulate without any problems. We are also able to do it very fast. So even if you only got 2 weeks it is not problem for us. We need about 10-12 days to do express work on your application. We have processed several thousands cases so there is no other school with our expertise in this matter.

Walen School - here to help you.

www.thaiwalen.com

[zappalot]

if a tourist then get a Tourist Visa,

i am a tourist. i do everything what an ordinary tourist do. i have all residential papers from my home country stating that i reside in germany. i can proof more then one million baht if necessary in bank accounts. because i am a tourist i dont want to work, start any business or marry a girl. i can provide income from overseas. i take care my things in germany several weeks a year

It seems u r very smart and can tell me how to proceed without doing what i dont want?

ah, i am 39...

but anyway, i think cheapest way is to marry here and put 400.000 baht on a bankaccount. At the age of 50 then i can change to a retirement visa. but honestly: the thai government fear that people with tourist visas do some work or start some business. how do they rule out that a retired or married farang start to work or start a business? its impossible, no matter what new ideas they have... smart people always know how to cheat a system. just see all these Arabs in germany. they deal with drugs and they drive by Ferrari and Porsche to pick up the monthly welfare provided by the government. and for sure there are foreigners in thailand as well who have and will ever have a similar behavior, no matter how they change the rules and laws for them. they dont affect the real criminals but the ones who always followed and follow the law.

and to others who compare the rights between farangs in thailand and thais in farangland: where do i have the same rights then if i marry?

[beechguy]

if a tourist then get a Tourist Visa,

i am a tourist. i do everything what an ordinary tourist do. i have all residential papers from my home country stating that i reside in germany. i can proof more then one million baht if necessary in bank accounts. because i am a tourist i dont want to work, start any business or marry a girl. i can provide income from overseas. i take care my things in germany several weeks a year

It seems u r very smart and can tell me how to proceed without doing what i dont want?

ah, i am 39...

but anyway, i think cheapest way is to marry here and put 400.000 baht on a bankaccount. At the age of 50 then i can change to a retirement visa. but honestly: the thai government fear that people with tourist visas do some work or start some business. how do they rule out that a retired or married farang start to work or start a business? its impossible, no matter what new ideas they have... smart people always know how to cheat a system. just see all these Arabs in germany. they deal with drugs and they drive by Ferrari and Porsche to pick up the monthly welfare provided by the government. and for sure there are foreigners in thailand as well who have and will ever have a similar behavior, no matter how they change the rules and laws for them. they dont affect the real criminals but the ones who always followed and follow the law.

and to others who compare the rights between farangs in thailand and thais in farangland: where do i have the same rights then if i marry?

I just gave some suggestions, one would be to apply at a Consulate with a less restrictive attitude.

[zappalot]

I just gave some suggestions, one would be to apply at a Consulate with a less restrictive attitude.

did u follow the discussion on hull? also they are more restrictive now.

the consulate i always picked up my visa in germany was very easy within the last years to get a triple entry. go there, fill out the form, get the visastamp and that was it.

2010 in august they wanted to see lots of papers providing this and that, stating that u booked a hotel outside of thailand to prove that u will leave the country from time to time. its an consulate the consul by himself do the job when the people coming in. i better dont repeat his words about all these new rules.

but sure, people who love and are used to bureaucracy dont criticize the new rules out there...

[beechguy]

I just gave some suggestions, one would be to apply at a Consulate with a less restrictive attitude.

did u follow the discussion on hull? also they are more restrictive now.

the consulate i always picked up my visa in germany was very easy within the last years to get a triple entry. go there, fill out the form, get the visastamp and that was it.

2010 in august they wanted to see lots of papers providing this and that, stating that u booked a hotel outside of thailand to prove that u will leave the country from time to time. its an consulate the consul by himself do the job when the people coming in. i better dont repeat his words about all these new rules.

but sure, people who love and are used to bureaucracy dont criticize the new rules out there...

Yes, Ive noticed this thread, look at post number 28 and 30, they were successful in getting a visa.

http://www.thaivisa....as/page__st__25

And, for a tourist I don't see that a double or triple entry Tourist Visa is unreasonable, that's about 6-9 months with extensions. That's not even mentioning the 30 day visa exempt entries that are available to many.

Edited January 9, 2011 by beechguy

[tropo]

There are rules in Thailand as to what length of stay constitute tourism.

I've never seen any evidence of these rules. Each consulate seems to have their own policies. Can you please be more specific about these rules.

[SanukJoeII]

There are rules in Thailand as to what length of stay constitute tourism.

I've never seen any evidence of these rules. Each consulate seems to have their own policies. Can you please be more specific about these rules.

Tropo, many people like tombkk seem to never understand the system, and it's so easy:

Fact 1: Tourists can stay to a maximum of 90 days

Fact 2: After those 90 days they MUST LEAVE the country.

By leaving the country their departure card is taken in and that means the end of the legal period of tourism. END OF STORY.

Tourists can come back, of course, after some time, and the time is not regulated in any law or system.

So any tourist going back with a new visa starts a new period of tourism, max. 90 days, simple as that.

Flying to Hull and back to get a non imm visa is a costly (100K min.) and silly recommendation.

Joe

PS If you want to break your brains think of this: many farang work illegally as English teachers, they can be found with Tourist visas, Retirement visas, Married visas, ED visas and Visiting friends visas. Oh and on overstay of course.

[beechguy]

It may not seem silly to go to Hull if you can't ge a Tourist Visa or one Year Non-immigrant "O" within the region, especially if wishing to stay long term and don't qualify for an extension of stay.

Edited January 10, 2011 by Maestro
Deleted three nested quotes. Impossible to figure out what part of any of them this poster is replying to.

[tropo]

Tropo, many people like tombkk seem to never understand the system, and it's so easy:...

You clearly don't understand the system yourself.

A double entry tourist visa allows 6 months in the country and only requires an exit of less than an hour to activate the second entry. A triple entry tourist visa allows 9 months with 2 quick exits. These are ligitimate tourist visas and available from most consulates if required. The process of activating a subsequent entry on a tourist visa has always been an acceptable practice.

Many regional consulates and others are happy to issue a new tourist visa once the first double entry has expired, thereby allowing a full year of tourism.

To make it clear:

1. There has never been any fixed policy (or rule or law) dictating how many back-to-back tourist visas will be issued.

2. There is no fixed amount of time outside of Thailand required before a new tourist visa will be issued.

Vientiane is only refusing applications where the applicant has too many (more than two or three) tourist visas already in their passports. There is no exact rule or law governing this and one person may be issued a 3rd whereas another applicant may be refused. Some people are being refused even if they have only had one tourist visa in a year if they have too many stickers in their passports. They don't seem to be interested in checking how long the duration has been between visas. Bascially they are just doing a quick sticker count and making an assessment on that. They also take nationality into consideration.

The Thai Consulate in Phnom Penh is offering back-to-back double entry tourist visas to applicants through agents.

If you believe Thailand has rules governing length of stay as a tourist, please show them and explain why most consulates don't adhere to these rules.

Edited January 10, 2011 by Maestro
Reduced quoted text. No need to quote multiple nested posts.

[tropo]

It may not seem silly to go to Hull...

.

Flying to England to get a non-immigrant O visa makes good sense if the person has family to visit in England. One visa gives the applicant 15 months. I don't know why it would cost a minimum of 100K (according to SanukJoell) to make a trip to England.

Edited January 10, 2011 by Maestro
Reduced quoted text. No need to quote multiple nested posts.

[tombkk]

Tropo, many people like tombkk seem to never understand the system, and it's so easy:...

You clearly don't understand the system yourself.

A double entry tourist visa allows 6 months in the country and only requires an exit of less than an hour to activate the second entry. A triple entry tourist visa allows 9 months with 2 quick exits. These are ligitimate tourist visas and available from most consulates if required. The process of activating a subsequent entry on a tourist visa has always been an acceptable practice.

Many regional consulates and others are happy to issue a new tourist visa once the first double entry has expired, thereby allowing a full year of tourism.

To make it clear:

1. There has never been any fixed policy (or rule or law) dictating how many back-to-back tourist visas will be issued.

2. There is no fixed amount of time outside of Thailand required before a new tourist visa will be issued.

Vientiane is only refusing applications where the applicant has too many (more than two or three) tourist visas already in their passports. There is no exact rule or law governing this and one person may be issued a 3rd whereas another applicant may be refused. Some people are being refused even if they have only had one tourist visa in a year if they have too many stickers in their passports. They don't seem to be interested in checking how long the duration has been between visas. Bascially they are just doing a quick sticker count and making an assessment on that. They also take nationality into consideration.

The Thai Consulate in Phnom Penh is offering back-to-back double entry tourist visas to applicants through agents.

If you believe Thailand has rules governing length of stay as a tourist, please show them and explain why most consulates don't adhere to these rules.

There is no clear rule any more, granted. There used to be a rule that you cannot be a tourist in Thailand for more than 180 days in a one-year period.

The purpose was to get rid of all those foreigners who work here, be it as bar owners or language techers, who do the visa run to a neighbouring country on a regular basis. These people, who work without a work permit and without paying taxes, have spoiled the climate for those who really stay on Thailand's beautiful beaches for a long time and just spend money.

[tropo]

There is no clear rule any more, granted. There used to be a rule that you cannot be a tourist in Thailand for more than 180 days in a one-year period.

The purpose was to get rid of all those foreigners who work here, be it as bar owners or language techers, who do the visa run to a neighbouring country on a regular basis. These people, who work without a work permit and without paying taxes, have spoiled the climate for those who really stay on Thailand's beautiful beaches for a long time and just spend money.

Are you talking about the visa exempt entry limit that was in place from 2007 - 2008? That didn't affect tourist visa entries. I was doing back-to-back tourist visas back then without a problem.

[SanukJoeII]

Tropo, many people like tombkk seem to never understand the system, and it's so easy:...

You clearly don't understand the system yourself.

A double entry tourist visa allows 6 months in the country and only requires an exit of less than an hour to activate the second entry. A triple entry tourist visa allows 9 months with 2 quick exits. These are ligitimate tourist visas and available from most consulates if required. The process of activating a subsequent entry on a tourist visa has always been an acceptable practice.

Many regional consulates and others are happy to issue a new tourist visa once the first double entry has expired, thereby allowing a full year of tourism.

To make it clear:

1. There has never been any fixed policy (or rule or law) dictating how many back-to-back tourist visas will be issued.

2. There is no fixed amount of time outside of Thailand required before a new tourist visa will be issued.

Vientiane is only refusing applications where the applicant has too many (more than two or three) tourist visas already in their passports. There is no exact rule or law governing this and one person may be issued a 3rd whereas another applicant may be refused. Some people are being refused even if they have only had one tourist visa in a year if they have too many stickers in their passports. They don't seem to be interested in checking how long the duration has been between visas. Bascially they are just doing a quick sticker count and making an assessment on that. They also take nationality into consideration.

The Thai Consulate in Phnom Penh is offering back-to-back double entry tourist visas to applicants through agents.

If you believe Thailand has rules governing length of stay as a tourist, please show them and explain why most consulates don't adhere to these rules.

Funny that you say the same as I did but telling me I don't understand the system.

I said you MUST LEAVE the country after 60/90 days, you say stay twice that long with a "quick exit". Don't you think "quick exit" means LEAVE the country?

I said one can come back after some time, the "some time" is not regulated. You say quick exit and come back after one hour. Isn't that what I said?

So we agree: one has to leave the country after 60 or 90 days and can come back with a new "permit to stay" from Immigration officer, as that is important, the visa is only to get into LOS, the new period being again 60 or 90 days.

Double or triple entries only mean you have already acquired two or three permits to enter, between those enterings one needs to leave the country, hence maximum stay 60/90 days!

Your assumption that most consulates don't adhere to the rules is false, consulates stick to the rules and on top have some own "interpretations".

I agree with you that there is no word written about how many tourist visas one can obtain, still some consulates make their rules (Vientiane, Penang)

FYI In the Royal Thai Police Order of 2006 is described what permits to stay there are and for what period of time, also the extensions are mentioned, as are the 30 day/15 day Visa on arrival for some nationalities.

On top every visa mentions the maximum period of stay (TV 60 days, Non Imm 90 days). The number of entries is an addition, not related to or changing the max. period of stay.

Joe

[SanukJoeII]

It may not seem silly to go to Hull...

.

Flying to England to get a non-immigrant O visa makes good sense if the person has family to visit in England. One visa gives the applicant 15 months. I don't know why it would cost a minimum of 100K (according to SanukJoell) to make a trip to England.

You give an example of a UK citizen with family in the UK, that is of course not relevant to the topic and to my post.

If you are not UK and have no family in the UK but you want to follow the silly recommendation to fly from LOS to Hull to get a one year Non Imm visa you will have to invest about 100K baht, to my opinion.

The flight would cost you about 50K return, you have to travel to Hull, stay couple of nights in a hotel, eat, drink, travel to and from the consulate and pay for the visa, I think 1,000 GBP is easily spent, that means nearly 50K baht, so together, to get a one year multiple entry Non Imm visa in Hull would cost you about 100K, quite expensive for a visa, ain't it? Hence my remark "silly recommendation".

Cheers

Joe

[beechguy]

It may not seem silly to go to Hull...

.

Flying to England to get a non-immigrant O visa makes good sense if the person has family to visit in England. One visa gives the applicant 15 months. I don't know why it would cost a minimum of 100K (according to SanukJoell) to make a trip to England.

You give an example of a UK citizen with family in the UK, that is of course not relevant to the topic and to my post.

If you are not UK and have no family in the UK but you want to follow the silly recommendation to fly from LOS to Hull to get a one year Non Imm visa you will have to invest about 100K baht, to my opinion.

The flight would cost you about 50K return, you have to travel to Hull, stay couple of nights in a hotel, eat, drink, travel to and from the consulate and pay for the visa, I think 1,000 GBP is easily spent, that means nearly 50K baht, so together, to get a one year multiple entry Non Imm visa in Hull would cost you about 100K, quite expensive for a visa, ain't it? Hence my remark "silly recommendation".

Cheers

Joe

I would be surprised if someone couldn't obtain a Tourist Visa somewhere in the region, even if being rejected at some other consulate. But, for some staying longer term, a one year Non-immi (O) would be far more difficult to obtain what would be their alternative? Up to this point, Hull has been helping other nationalities, not just U.K. citizens, so it could benefit anyone applying, especially from within the E.U.

And by the way, that Police Order you mentioned above is obsolete, it was replaced November, 2008.

Edited January 11, 2011 by beechguy

[SanukJoeII]

It may not seem silly to go to Hull...

.

Flying to England to get a non-immigrant O visa makes good sense if the person has family to visit in England. One visa gives the applicant 15 months. I don't know why it would cost a minimum of 100K (according to SanukJoell) to make a trip to England.

You give an example of a UK citizen with family in the UK, that is of course not relevant to the topic and to my post.

If you are not UK and have no family in the UK but you want to follow the silly recommendation to fly from LOS to Hull to get a one year Non Imm visa you will have to invest about 100K baht, to my opinion.

The flight would cost you about 50K return, you have to travel to Hull, stay couple of nights in a hotel, eat, drink, travel to and from the consulate and pay for the visa, I think 1,000 GBP is easily spent, that means nearly 50K baht, so together, to get a one year multiple entry Non Imm visa in Hull would cost you about 100K, quite expensive for a visa, ain't it? Hence my remark "silly recommendation".

Cheers

Joe

And again, if they can't get a one year visa, or even another Tourist Visa in the region, what would be their alternative? Up to this point, Hull has been helping other nationalities, not jus U.K. citizens, so it could benefit anyone applying, especially from within the E.U.

And by the way, that Police Order you mentioned is obsolete, it was replaced November, 2008.

I'm not against a visa from Hull, they do a nice job and by now the only consulate to accept the reason of "visiting friends" as Perth is closed.

I just mentioned it would cost 100K baht, so not a good recommendation. Better fly couple of times to Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, as the problem seems to be visas from neighbouring countries, not from further away.

Police order 2006 mentioned the visas and periods, question of a poster. you might be right about replacement, did they leave out that section about visas? Don't think so.

Joe