Refused Recognition Of Lost Non-b

[PeaceBlondie]

My worst fears from August have been realized today. I arrived back in Thailand at Don Muang, and the immigration lady would only give me a 30 day tourist visa.

I am an American citizen, living here over two years on B visas.

April, 2005: a Thai consulate issued me a 12-month non-immigrant B visa, multiple entry.

I entered and reentered Thailand in May, 2005 and July, 2005.

Reported the passport LOST (true, at time) at American Embassy, BKK, middle of August.

Issued new 10-year passport on 2 September, went directly to Immigration at Suan Phlu (sp) with letter from embassy explaining the loss and the issuance of new visa.

Nice lady at Suan Phlu put stamp in new passport saying I had a non-immigrant B. But she entered dates that said, "entered 22 July 2005, until 19 Oct 2005." And she said, "mai bpen rai, okay, okay." Lie.

Before leaving for holiday on 8 september, I found the old passport with visa behind the wardrobe. No time to go to BKK embassy or Suan Phlu, so I just threw it in my bag and took 27 day holiday.

Today, returned to BKK. Lady saw both my passports, and pronounced that the old visa in the old passport is also cancelled. Gave me 30 day tourist visa.

I smiled and was nice, but I complained about what problems it causes. Lady smiled and didn't really care.

So, I am now a tourist, with a 6-month lease in Hua Hin after two years of teaching in Thailand. And since Austrian Airlines couldn't transfer my one piece of luggage during 6 hours in Vienna, my baggage won't be here till tomorrow.

So I have a bacpack and a tourist visa for 30 days. Phuk it, Phuket, shall I just crash at some hippie pad in Khao Sahrn Road and be a real backpacker? Maybe I can get some beggar to twist my pony tail into dreadlocks, and get me some great tatoos and body piercings. Like wow, man.

Seriously, I have two plans and would like your advice.

A. Go to Suan Phlu tomorrow, since I'm in town anyway, and beg them.

B. Go to American Embassy and start certification for a retirement visa. I qualify both by income and assets, though the money's in the USA.

My final word to the smiling immigration lady was, "Thailand is very nice country. Thai people are very friendly. Thai immigraton law is very strict, more strict than developed countries. Thailand says it wants English teachers. But the Thai GOVERNMENT does not want farangs!"

[kenkannif]

We had a chap stamped in with only 30 days the other day instead of 90 days. He went to Immigration and got the extra 60 days, no problemo at all.

But that's a different kettle of fish to yours, although I'd still have a try mate.

Alternatively do a border run and show both on entry.

[kenkannif]

Although it might be worth going for the retirement mate, at least then you can relax somewhat.

[chuchok]

If a Thai consulate issued you with the Visa, then it would come under the Ministry of foreign Affairs and NOT Immigration.They might be able to help you, esp if you can also obtain a sympathic letter etc from your Embassy explaining the situation.

Edited October 3, 2005 by chuchok

[kenkannif]

^ But surely as he has the stamp from the Consulate, it's an Imm thing as they're not giving him the Visa stamp?

[lopburi3]

Begging is good.

But I would visit the US Embassy first to report your passport in your possession and have it cut - perhaps they can provide another letter to immigration to transfer your visa - but with your recent history would not count on much positive (but luck can change).

If you take the retirement route you will need some money here (which I assume you have) and the bank letter, the letter from Embassy of your retirement income, and the short medical form. Only have to remember to obtain re entry permit for any foreign travel after that.

((and the 90 day reports))

Edited October 3, 2005 by lopburi3

[Maestro]

My worst fears from August have been realized today.  I arrived back in Thailand Today, returned to BKK.  Lady saw both my passports, and pronounced that the old visa in the old passport is also cancelled.  Gave me 30 day tourist visa.

I don’t know what possessed you to show both passports at the immigration desk at Bangkok airport, but that was a big mistake.

You should have kept your old passport technically lost. If you wanted to return to using your old passport, you should have technically found it only after your re-entry and then report the find to your embassy and to the Immigration Office.

However, what’s done is done and I wish you the best of luck in getting things sorted out now.

P.S. And if one expects complications, at the airport one should queue at an immigration desk manned by an elderly man.

[PeaceBlondie]

My worst fears from August have been realized today.  I arrived back in Thailand Today, returned to BKK.  Lady saw both my passports, and pronounced that the old visa in the old passport is also cancelled.  Gave me 30 day tourist visa.

I don’t know what possessed you to show both passports at the immigration desk at Bangkok airport, but that was a big mistake.

You should have kept your old passport technically lost. If you wanted to return to using your old passport, you should have technically found it only after your re-entry and then report the find to your embassy and to the Immigration Office.

However, what’s done is done and I wish you the best of luck in getting things sorted out now.

P.S. And if one expects complications, at the airport one should queue at an immigration desk manned by an elderly man.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maestro, I only showed the original passport after the new passport wouldn't work, and I clearly said, "This is the old passport that I lost, and then found, and it has the one-year visa in it."

The lines were almost an hour long this afternoon, and I got switched from one young girl to another. But the old lady was about as nice as most of the old men were. She got caught in a bureaucratic tangle, and I paid the price. She couldn't get past the computer, either, because apparently the old visa was digitally linked to a dead passport.

Thanks, y'all. I wonder how long the retirement visa will take, and whether this last descent to a mere tourist visa will put me in a bad light.

[lopburi3]

A suspect the light was dimming with the overstay but in any case you can not get there from here is probably your current situation.

To obtain a retirement visa requires a visa; which you no longer have. So, unless you can get immigration to accept that old B visa you will need to make a trip to obtain a visa prior to obtaining a retirement extension of stay.

A retirement extension only takes a few minutes to obtain when all the pieces fit and is issued on the spot.

[Sojourner]

The retirement visa won't take long at all assuming all the paperwork is there and in order. They will stamp you passport with a 30 day pending stamp if you don't get the one year extension right away. One thing not mentioned in this thread, but I'm sure you know already, with a one year extension based on retirement you won't be able to legally teach anymore.

[samran]

PB,

Mate, get those fisherman pants, chang beer singlet and flip flops on. Head down to Hua Hin and become 'one with the Thai people' by eating Pat Thai every day with chopsticks. Carry a guitar around and never wash your arm pits.

Then on day 29, catch the overnight train down to Penang, and go apply for that Retirement visa you so thouroughly deserve.

[ovenman]

My final word to the smiling immigration lady was, "Thailand is very nice country.  Thai people are very friendly.  Thai immigraton law is very strict, more strict than developed countries.  Thailand says it wants English teachers.  But the Thai GOVERNMENT does not want farangs!"

Shoulda taken the opportunity to ask if she has heard any news through the grapevine about those soon-to-be-hired 10000 teachers.

[PeaceBlondie]

A suspect the light was dimming with the overstay but in any case you can not get there from here is probably your current situation. 

To obtain a retirement visa requires a visa; which you no longer have.  So, unless you can get immigration to accept that old B visa you will need to make a trip to obtain a visa prior to obtaining a retirement extension of stay.

A retirement extension only takes a few minutes to obtain when all the pieces fit and is issued on the spot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks, as always, lopburi3. No, no light was dimming on the overstay, except that the Immigration Police sometimes are very black hearted when they see a Thai doctor's statement, in Thai, and charge the overstay anyway.

I thought she said she was giving me a tourist visa for 30 days. Anyway, I'll go to Sua Phlun this morning and see if they can accept the old B visa.

[PeaceBlondie]

lopburi3, you were correct. In spite of what I was told at the US Embassy, Suan Phlu refuses to honor my old one-year visa, and now that I'm just a tourist, I'll have to leave the country to get another visa.

Where you y'all recommend? Penang? let's say i forget the B and just go for an O retirement visa. Please don't say places that require 40,000 baht just for airfare. Thanks.

[lopburi3]

Sorry no joy. I would as always recommend Penang. You could also, from recent accounts, obtain a non immigrant O multi entry from them if you have 200k in a Thai bank account if over age 50. You should be able to obtain a single entry to allow retirement extension without much of a problem but would try to take whatever finance proof you may have just in case. But your luck has got to be due to change. The overnight train to Butterworth is not a bad trip if you want to do now - believe you can do bus from Phuket.

[sabaijai]

PeaceBlondie, now you have me worried that the same thing may happen to me.

My passport was stolen, along with my work permit, last week. My embassy in BKK issued an emergency temporary passport, and I'm now awaiting my regular 10-year passport, to arrive around 25 Sep.

I haven't bothered going to ask for a replacement visa/permit to stay and work permit at the One-Stop centre yet, as I thought it better to have the 10-year passport in hand first. Otherwise I'd have to transfer the visa twice in one year, a hassle.

I do have a Thai police report detailing the loss of passport and work permit. But am I risking what happened to PeaceBlondie? I would hate to have to start over with a new visa as I'm working towards permanent residency (eligible at to apply the end of this year, unless losing the passport means I must start over again).

[lopburi3]

You were on an extension of stay - not a visa - so it should not be a problem (unless they get upset by your delay).

PB only had a multi entry visa so what got transferred was the current entry.

[PeaceBlondie]

Sorry no joy.  I would as always recommend Penang.  You could also, from recent accounts, obtain a non immigrant O multi entry from them if you have 200k in a Thai bank account if over age 50.  You should be able to obtain a single entry to allow retirement extension without much of a problem but would try to take whatever finance proof you may have just in case.  But your luck has got to be due to change.  The overnight train to Butterworth is not a bad trip if you want to do now - believe you can do bus from Phuket.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

200K, you say? I can do that about 9 days' time. But not 400K or 800K. Which O is that - retirement, but not the OA? And what links clearly explain how that applies to me?

Edited October 4, 2005 by PeaceBlondie

[lopburi3]

That would be a "plain Jane" multi entry O visa as many of those married to Thai have. You would have to make 90 day border runs for new entry stamp but not have to do 90 day reporting. It has nothing to do with the retirement extension of stay at 800k issued inside Thailand or O-A type issued in home country.

The 800k or pension verification of 65k per month from Embassy is they way to go if you do not want to travel and have the money. Only a short process each year to renew at immigration.

[sabaijai]

(unless they get upset by your delay).

Wondering about the chances of that. The embassy will issue a letter saying the passport was issued to replace a lost/stolen passport and it will be stamped with the date of issue of the passport. Of course the police report will be dated nearly three weeks earlier. In all it takes about two weeks for the 10-yr passport to be issued, so that's a delay of about a week.

I realise they're only copying over the extension of stay but Thai immigration calls this procedure ohn visa - transfer [of] visa - all the same.

[PeaceBlondie]

That would be a "plain Jane" multi entry O visa as many of those married to Thai have.  You would have to make 90 day border runs for new entry stamp but not have to do 90 day reporting.  It has nothing to do with the retirement extension of stay at 800k issued inside Thailand or O-A type issued in home country.

The 800k or pension verification of 65k per month from Embassy is they way to go if you do not want to travel and have the money.  Only a short process each year to renew at immigration.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lopburi3, I could verify 65K pension income per month through the American embassy in BKK, but maybe I'll just go to Penang first, and try to get the retirement thing done in the first 90 days of the O visa. Am I right to suspect that even with a letter from my embassy, Penang might not be eager to issue me a retirement visa?

[lopburi3]

Do not believe any Consulate outside your country of residence would issue an O-A type retirement visa. You do need some kind of a visa to apply for retirement here in Thailand so I would go to Penang and get a single entry O visa and when down to 30 days or less get the Embassy letter, medical certificate, bank letter/passbook and visit immigration. And don't ride motorcycles during that time period.

[mijan24]

It seems strange that your Embassy aren't able to fix this dilemma, can't they cross reference your old (now dead) passport to your new one.

For example old passport washed new passport issued (this made my old passport defunct) went to Nong Khai for 90 day border run - Immigration ushered me into the office about 1 hour later they had completed all thier requirements and the cross reference now appears in their computer system and also is stamped on the first pages in my new passport - hence I now show both passports until I obtain another visa next year.

A different scenario "lost" & "washed" the similarity to me is the visa being in the old passport- just my 2 bahts worth.

[PeaceBlondie]

It seems strange that your Embassy aren't able to fix this dilemma, can't they cross reference your old (now dead) passport to your new one.

For example old passport washed new passport issued (this made my old passport defunct) went to Nong Khai for  90 day border run - Immigration ushered me into the office about 1 hour later they had completed all thier requirements and the cross reference now appears in their computer system and also is stamped on the first pages in my new passport - hence I now show both passports until I obtain another visa next year.

A different scenario "lost" & "washed" the similarity to me is the visa being in the old passport- just my 2 bahts worth. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mijan24, I'm not sure what you're saying. MY embassy only issued me a new passport and sent a nice letter to Thai Immigration asking them to do something nice. The Thai Immigration wasn't nice, three times in a row. Farang embassies don't tell Thai agencies how to do their job.

[mijan24]

It seems strange that your Embassy aren't able to fix this dilemma, can't they cross reference your old (now dead) passport to your new one.

For example old passport washed new passport issued (this made my old passport defunct) went to Nong Khai for  90 day border run - Immigration ushered me into the office about 1 hour later they had completed all thier requirements and the cross reference now appears in their computer system and also is stamped on the first pages in my new passport - hence I now show both passports until I obtain another visa next year.

A different scenario "lost" & "washed" the similarity to me is the visa being in the old passport- just my 2 bahts worth. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mijan24, I'm not sure what you're saying. MY embassy only issued me a new passport and sent a nice letter to Thai Immigration asking them to do something nice. The Thai Immigration wasn't nice, three times in a row. Farang embassies don't tell Thai agencies how to do their job.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Old passport washed most of it unreadable went to Aust embassy applied for new passport - when it was issue the Aust embassy cancelled the original which I retained because it (the old washed one) contained my visa & entry/exit by stamps.

When I fronted to Thai immg at Nonkai - Thai immg ushered me into the office they completed an array of forms I assume they said "old passport cancelled new one issued visa is in old cancelled passport.

They entered it into their data base stamped the front page of my new passport recording the transactions date etc.

Off I went to Lao in/out back into Thailand new entry/exit date entered into "new Passport" still carry my old one as it contains the visa which does not expire until Jan06.

Embassy did not tell Thai Immg what to do thay just followed what I thought was a normal procedure - A Lost passport may be different ?? sorry if I confused the issue.