Non Immigrant Visa For Belgian?

[Bates]

Hi guys,

here's the deal... i'm planning to stop my career for about 1 year. My company and I have a deal that I can temporary pause my work. My plan is to go to Thailand for about 1 year (who knows maybe longer). I'm 24 and i'm going to meet my gf in Thailand. Been there 4 times now with tourist visa, but since i would like to enter the LOS for 1 year now I really don't know what to get of visa...

I will still be paid a bit by my company but ofcourse not my full amount of paycheck. What do you guys recomment to do? i know we have a Thai embassy here in Brussels but i would like to know what I have to ask them.

Is a 1 year visa an option? Or do I have to do some kind of visa runs like I heard before... remember I don't know anything about O or B or whatever so explain to me easy please.

Thanks a lot guys !

Bates

[lopburi3]

The most you would be able to enter for is 90 days; and that would be with a non immigrant visa with usually is not available without business or family reasons. These can sometimes be issued for multi entry up to one year so would cover the full time if you can obtain (only requiring exit/entry every 90 days). But usually they are only issued in single entry form these days.

Failing that the second best would be a 3 or 2 entry tourist visa which would cover most of your planned stay and you could cross border for 30 day stays after it was used.

As you have a company connection you might be able to obtain a business type visa if they are willing to support you with paperwork (such as investigation business prospects etc.). And if frequent travel was part of the business perhaps a multi entry could be obtained. But there are no guarantees.

[Bates]

The most you would be able to enter for is 90 days; and that would be with a non immigrant visa with usually is not available without business or family reasons.  These can sometimes be issued for multi entry up to one year so would cover the full time if you can obtain (only requiring exit/entry every 90 days).  But usually they are only issued in single entry form these days.

Failing that the second best would be a 3 or 2 entry tourist visa which would cover most of your planned stay and you could cross border for 30 day stays after it was used.

As you have a company connection you might be able to obtain a business type visa if they are willing to support you with paperwork (such as investigation business prospects etc.).  And if frequent travel was part of the business perhaps a multi entry could be obtained.  But there are no guarantees.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So what you're trying to say here is that there is no really visa for a person like me? I thought I would be able to do visa runs like most of the expats do Euhm.. well i thought that I would be able to get 90 days visa and every 3 months I just do border runs.. So according to you this is not an option??

Also can you explain more to me about the tourist visa? Should I ask for 3 month tourist visa at the embassy here in Belgium and then just do a border run and pay about 2000 bht to get a stamp and allowed back into the country? Or do you mean I would only be allowed 30 days eachtime wth a stamp?

[lopburi3]

As I said in para one if you can get the non immigrant visa you can do the visa runs but first you have to get it; and you do not have a valid reason with "girlfriend" and a year away from work. I would explore what I mentioned in para three.

All tourist visas are 60 days entry but can be extended to 90 days inside Thailand. If you went that route you would request 3 entries and if you got it would cover you up to 9 months and 90 day runs to activate the next entry. At the end you could use the 30 day border runs if you have not changed your mind or married by then.

[Bates]

As I said in para one if you can get the non immigrant visa you can do the visa runs but first you have to get it; and you do not have a valid reason with "girlfriend" and a year away from work.  I would explore what I mentioned in para three.

All tourist visas are 60 days entry but can be extended to 90 days inside Thailand.  If you went that route you would request 3 entries and if you got it would cover you up to 9 months and 90 day runs to activate the next entry.  At the end you could use the 30 day border runs if you have not changed your mind or married by then.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Aha, so if I try to get the non immigrant visa, what do you recomment me to use as a valid reason? Sorry to ask you all these questions, but i have never stayed in Thailand for more then 30 days...

Correct me if i'm wrong but for the tourist visa that would mean:

I get into Thailand with tourist visa 60 days. Extend it in Thailand to 90 days.

Do a border run and get into Thailand again for 60 days, extend it in Thailand to 90 days etc etc... for 3 borderruns, right? That would make 360 days valid

[lopburi3]

You would have to use a reason acceptable to the place of issue and as I have no knowledge of Belgium do not know what they might accept. Can only advise that most people seem to receive greater latitude from Honorary Consulates than from larger places.

The tourist visa would last 90x3 or 270 days if you could use it all but the visa itself will probably be limited to six months so it would be a little less as you last entry would have to occur before that six months from issue date expired.

Yes you would get 60 days - pay 1,900 baht for another 30 days and exit. Do three times (the second stay a little less than 30 days due to the visa validity if six months).

[KM_FUBAR]

This is how I will proceed I am also from Belgium and more or less want to do the same as you, read the following tread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=42570 and you will understand more.....

I will try to stay one month in LOS one in Belgium therefor I will not need any kind of paperwork done my only concern is ofcourse the airfare back and forth to Belgium and this will be around 1000€ this will take out a big chunk of my budget as it totals up to 6000€ a year however I am looking into the possibility with turkish airlines who offer a yearly ticket that you can use multiple times and pricing is much lower then 6000, I don't have confirmation yet but I will post it here....

maybe this does not suit your needs or maybe it opens an other window of opertunity.... you can always send me PM

brgds

Kurt

[Bates]

This is how I will proceed I am also from Belgium and more or less want to do the same as you, read the following tread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=42570 and you will understand more.....

I will try to stay one month in LOS one in Belgium therefor I will not need any kind of paperwork done my only concern is ofcourse the airfare back and forth to Belgium and this will be around 1000€ this will take out a big chunk of my budget as it totals up to 6000€ a year however I am looking into the possibility with turkish airlines who offer a yearly ticket that you can use multiple times and pricing is much lower then 6000, I don't have confirmation yet but I will post it here....

maybe this does not suit your needs or maybe it opens an other window of opertunity.... you can always send me PM

brgds

Kurt

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Kurt,

great idea you have there but it's not my cup of tea. I would stay for 1 year in LOS and live there in Phuket with my gf. Maybe i'll just give it a try at the Thai embassy here and see if they grand me a non immigrant B visa. But then again I would have to find a nice reason for it. Anyway, i'm full of confident I can do it. But euhm.. what if her parents would invite me over to Thailand? Would that be a good reason?

[KM_FUBAR]

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

what if her parents would invite me over to Thailand? Would that be a good reason?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't know if the reason would be good, I few years back I dated a thai clerq working in the Belgian embassy and she told me the where very strict compared to the consulate in Germany she worked before, she also told me that if they turned you down once at the Brussels consulate they would not make an effort for you if you try again... I just want to say wathever you do with the Brussels Thai Consulate be very good prepaired, i would use the Indo-Siam group of Steve for help.

Good Luck

Kurt

[Bates]

Ok, just called to the Thai Embassy in Brussels and the first thing i've noticed, their are very rude !

I explained them my problem and they said it's only possible for 60 days tourist visa which can be renewed 1 time, so that means only 120 days to stay in Thailand

I asked about the non immigrant visa and even before I could finish my question they said "No sir !" Why are they being so hard?

Then I decided to call the consulate in Antwerp and they confirmed that i could get 2 times tourist visa with extension of 30 days for each touristvisa. (Which they didn't tell me at the Thai embassy). When I explained the thing that I didn't quit my job and I still have an income and this year would be only holiday purpose, she seemed to be confused and said the consulent was on holiday for the moment so I should try to call back in september to discuss my options with him...

One more thing.. when I explained about 3 times renewal of the tourist visa and eachtime extend it with 30 days, she answered me this was not a legal way

Please someone, give me some advice.. is it so hard then to get together as a couple??

Cheers

Bates

[Tokker]

Wouldn't it be possible to take the two 2+1 month tourist visa, spend 6 months in Thailand, after that have a holiday in Malaysia or Cambodia and in the meanwhile apply for the same thing all over again while there?

[Bates]

Wouldn't it be possible to take the two 2+1 month tourist visa, spend 6 months in Thailand, after that have a holiday in Malaysia or Cambodia and in the meanwhile apply for the same thing all over again while there?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmm.. this idea seems nice too, is this possible?

[lopburi3]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=42675

[jef]

That why so many people stick with monthly stamp-my-passport runs

I know more that a few who do this for many years now

[Tokker]

Bates, I called the Thai embassy in Brussels a few days ago. They now seem to have a native dutch speaking lady answering the phone. Could be helpful (if you speak dutch, that is). The Thai people there speak french besides english.

[kenkannif]

Why not come here on a single or whatever you can get max, and then get a triple tourist (or double) from Penang (yes it's possible) when you need to........ tobasically echo Tokker's post!

[Bates]

Why not come here on a single or whatever you can get max, and then get a triple tourist (or double) from Penang (yes it's possible) when you need to........ tobasically echo Tokker's post!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've heard different options now which i have to think about.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies guys !

Cheers

Bates

[dr_Pat_Pong]

You might just snag a multiple entry non-immigrant O class visa at the Thai Consulate at Liege ( 32 4 ) 252 2163 or 254 4860. Give it a try. Good luck

[Bates]

You might just snag a multiple entry non-immigrant O class visa at the Thai Consulate at Liege ( 32 4 ) 252 2163 or  254 4860. Give it a try.  Good luck

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you think it might be easier to get it at Liege??

Also is the problem the B type of visa? because i don't want to work for the moment in Thailand, I just want to go for holiday 1 year. So do you think O visa would be easy for me to obtain? Or would it be B type?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I have no direct experience with Liege but I hear that the office is reasonable. You'd want a Non-Immigrant O visa wirg multiple entries. Good luck.

[Bates]

Hi guys,

some more info I aquired... I called the Thai embassy in Brussels in August and I must say they were very strict and very unpolite ! To every question I asked she just answered : 'NO Sir'

OMg....

Anyway, i didn't give up the hope and called the Thai consulate in Antwerp.. Very very veeery nice dutch speaking man I got on the phone and he completely understood my situation. Unfortunately I would not be able to get a non immigrant B visa, but he could give me a 1 year visa if I deposit about 700.000 baht on a thai bank account and a letter that proved that i'm still working in Belgium.

Euhm... for christ sake i'm only 24, where do I get the 700.000 baht !

Anyway, he told me to stop by at his office some day so that we could discuss it. What do you guys think about this? Do you guys think there will be an option he'd give me a Non Immigrant O visa?

I accidently came across this post:

"As previously suggested, apply to Hull for a multi-entry non-o based on visiting friends and family.

You will need a letter of guarantee from someone (they don't need to be Thai or in Thailand) saying that they will bail you out to fly home if you run out of cash.

You get a 90 day stamp every time you enter using this visa.

This visa will get you up to 15 months in Thailand if you time the visa runs correctly.

"

Does this mean i can get this O visa also? If so, what do I have to tell them or ask them?

Just checking my options here...

Greetz

Bates

[Darknight]

Ok, just called to the Thai Embassy in Brussels and the first thing i've noticed, their are very rude !

I explained them my problem and they said it's only possible for 60 days tourist visa which can be renewed 1 time, so that means only 120 days to stay in Thailand   

I asked about the non immigrant visa and even before I could finish my question they said "No sir !"    Why are they being so hard?

Then I decided to call the consulate in Antwerp and they confirmed that i could get 2 times tourist visa with extension of 30 days for each touristvisa. (Which they didn't tell me at the Thai embassy). When I explained the thing that I didn't quit my job and I still have an income and this year would be only holiday purpose, she seemed to be confused and said the consulent was on holiday for the moment so I should try to call back in september to discuss my options with him...

One more thing.. when I explained about 3 times renewal of the tourist visa and eachtime extend it with 30 days, she answered me this was not a legal way 

Please someone, give me some advice.. is it so hard then to get together as a couple?? 

Cheers

Bates

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry in dutch

Der naar toe gaan als tourist en er mee trouwen is een oplossing

enkel non O voor familieleden van thai onderdanen (getrouwde belgen bv) , non B enkel via invitatie firma + aanvaarding werk.

Voor de rest is het tourist visa + maandelijkse border run tot je deruit geschopt wordt misschien.

De ambassade hier is altijd correct EN vriendelijk!! zal wel van je eigen manier van handelen afgehangen hebben. Je bent met Thais bezig niet met belgen!

[Bates]

De ambassade hier is altijd correct EN vriendelijk!! zal wel van je eigen manier van handelen afgehangen hebben. Je bent met Thais bezig niet met belgen!

Euh excuseer?? Ik was super beleefd !! Ik ben van natuur niet aggressief of grof opgevoed. Met onbeleefd bedoelde ik dat ik amper de kans had om een vraag te stellen of mijn vraag te beëindigen. Het antwoord was telkens 'NO' zelfs al was ik niet klaar met praten.

Ik heb persoonlijk veel meer vertrouwen gekregen in het consulaat in Antwerpen.

Mvg

Bates

[kriswillems]

In de Thaise ambassade in Brussel worden ze het soms ook beu dat toeristen altijd maar aandringen om een visa te krijgen waar ze geen recht op hebben. Vandaar waarschijnlijk het nogal korte antwoord.

Op de Belgische ambassade in Bangkok wordt je trouwens net op dezelfde manier behandeld, zoniet nog slechter.

Als je naar de ambassade gaat en je ziet twee meisjes, kan je best met de wat oudere dame praten, die is vriendelijker.

Ik denk dat dit iets typisch is voor ambassades, het nogal kortaf zijn.

Het beste visum voor jou is een toeristen visum van 60 dagen met zoveel entries als je maar kan krijgen. Ik kreeg destijds 3 entries. En ik heb 2 entries van 60 dagen in Bangkok met 30 dagen verlengd. Maar tegenwoordig zijn die verlengingen nogal duur, dus kan je misschien beter een nieuw entry gebruiken (hiervoor moet je naar de grens).

Als je visum afloopt ga je naar Penang (maleisie) en daar kan je een nieuw visum kopen. Als dat niet zou lukken kan je nog iedere 30 dagen naar de grens.

Dit lijkt misschien allemaal moeilijk maar een Thai heeft ook niet zomaar het recht om een jaar als toerist naar Belgie te komen.

[Darknight]

In de Thaise ambassade in Brussel worden ze het soms ook beu dat toeristen altijd maar aandringen om een visa te krijgen waar ze geen recht op hebben. Vandaar waarschijnlijk het nogal korte antwoord.

Op de Belgische ambassade in Bangkok wordt je trouwens net op dezelfde manier behandeld, zoniet nog slechter.

Als je naar de ambassade gaat en je ziet twee meisjes, kan je best met de wat oudere dame praten, die is vriendelijker.

Ik denk dat dit iets typisch is voor ambassades, het nogal kortaf zijn.

Het beste visum voor jou is een toeristen visum van 60 dagen met zoveel entries als je maar kan krijgen. Ik kreeg destijds 3 entries. En ik heb 2 entries van 60 dagen in Bangkok met 30 dagen verlengd. Maar tegenwoordig zijn die verlengingen nogal duur, dus kan je misschien beter een nieuw entry gebruiken (hiervoor moet je naar de grens).

Als je visum afloopt ga je naar Penang (maleisie) en daar kan je een nieuw visum kopen. Als dat niet zou lukken kan je nog iedere 30 dagen naar de grens.

Dit lijkt misschien allemaal moeilijk maar een Thai heeft ook niet zomaar het recht om een jaar als toerist naar Belgie te komen.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep inderdaad,

Vergeet trouwens niet dat als je ooit je vriendin naar belgie wilt halen , je vele male met de ambassade in contact zal komen. Het consulaat in antwerpen kan maar de helft van wat brussel kan!

Beter om ze niet tegen je te keren, saving face is zeer belangrijk in thailand.

En inderdaad klinkt je hele verontwaardigd verhaal zoals de zoveelste newbie backpacker die naar thailand wil. Das hebben ze inderdaad tot in de treure gehoord.

Vraag zoals kris zegt een tourist visa en doe een paar visa runs.

And as this is an english board we'll continue in english again

tourist visa + visa runs, budget about 3000 bath per visa run. it might be less expensive depending on where you are.

[2 satang]

Bates,

Some good advise here in both languages

Get yourself a 60 day visa and extent locally.

Every 3 month fly out to Sillypore, KL or HGK to get a new one.

Buy the local newspaper and look for 2 or 3 day package deals.

Or just plain border runs....

The local Belgian Embassy in BKK is not relevant, you have no need to contact them at all.

But later, if you want to "import" your GF to Belgium, contact the Belgian visa officer directly, check the website of the embassy.

Have fun.

just my 2 satang

[Bates]

Ok, thanks for the replies (even in dutch )

Euhm... i'm not really a backpacker... I just don't know where to go with my future. Should I go to Thailand (which her parents want and which would be the best for her degree), or should we go to Belgium (which would be better for my work but her parents wouldn't like it at all)...

Therefor i'm trying to see how life is in Thailand and how it is to live there, just for the first year.

Anyway, i'll try to get a multiple entry tourist visa then, but if you guys just could explain to me again how this is practically done...

I apply for a tourist visa to the Thai embassy in Brussels or the Thai consulate in Antwerp.... then i go to thailand, go to chiang mai or any other immigration office and ask for 30 day extention? So that's 90days first. Before expire of those 90 days I do a border run to Laos, Penang? I get 60 days tourist visa and extend it again at immigration office inside thailand to get 90 days.. So that means 180 days total stay... Then do this thing again and totally get 270 days, right? So before those 270 days expire how can I get additional 90 days? Is that the 3rd entry?

So correct me if i'm wrong:

Tourist visa from brussels: 60 days + 30 days extention : 90 days

Tourist visa after border run: 60 days + 30 days extention: 90 days

Tourist visa after border run: 60 days + 30 days extention: 90 days

But if i'm counting here, I already have 3 entries and only allowed 270 days...

Pfff.. sorry guys but this is very confusing for me.. sorry but i'm only 24 and this is actually the first time i need a visa ever in my life!

Bates

[globez]

Ok, just called to the Thai Embassy in Brussels and the first thing i've noticed, their are very rude !

I explained them my problem and they said it's only possible for 60 days tourist visa which can be renewed 1 time, so that means only 120 days to stay in Thailand   

I asked about the non immigrant visa and even before I could finish my question they said "No sir !"    Why are they being so hard?

Then I decided to call the consulate in Antwerp and they confirmed that i could get 2 times tourist visa with extension of 30 days for each touristvisa. (Which they didn't tell me at the Thai embassy). When I explained the thing that I didn't quit my job and I still have an income and this year would be only holiday purpose, she seemed to be confused and said the consulent was on holiday for the moment so I should try to call back in september to discuss my options with him...

One more thing.. when I explained about 3 times renewal of the tourist visa and eachtime extend it with 30 days, she answered me this was not a legal way 

Please someone, give me some advice.. is it so hard then to get together as a couple?? 

Cheers

Bates

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The only way is doing the visa run every month or find yourself a job in Thailand.

I have done the visa run for a year, easy, no questions asked. Now i have a job here so I have a workpermit.

Btw, I'm also from Belgium and I can tell you, the Thai embassy in Brussels is a pain in the ass, make sure you have all the needed papers to apply for a Non Immigrant

Goodluck

[monty]

Correct Bates,

But after the 270 days you can choose to continue doing border runs, which will give you another 30 days for each run...

Alternativeley (and in my opinion the best) is after the 270 days, fly down to Penang and get yourself a new tourist visa at the Thai embassy there. You'll get a single entry guaranteed, and if working through the visa agents you have a good chance of obtaining a double entry.

Cost is not that high when you book well in advance with Airasia, the local budget carrier. I flew there recently (for busineuss, not for visa reasons) and payed a little over 3000 Baht roundtrip, with the airport taxes included...

[richard10365]

This is how the tourist visa in Laos works.

You get a tourist visa valid for 90 days (thats all they will give you in Laos) with 1 entry (1000 baht).

60 days later you have to go to the border (cambodia myanmar or someplace like that), cross over and come back. To get in and out of the country where you do your border run cost money. How much depends on the country. Myanmar is only $5 or 200 baht. Cambodia is a 1000 baht (I think).

After you get your exit stamp from immagration of the country you entered, Thai immagration see their stamp (this is when you use your 1 re-entry) and will stamp your passport showing you re-entered the country and put an expiration date of 30 days from the day you re-entered. That will be a total of 90 days. Make sure you get the exit stamp from the other country. If you don't you will have a problem.

The re-entry into Thailand is free. After your 30 days are up, you have to leave the country, go to a Thai embassy, and get a new visa.

Or, you can get a 30 day extension for 1900 baht.