Non-Immigrant O Or Tourist Visa In Paris--Us Passport

[naugastyle]

I currently have a non-immigrant O visa and would like to get another. Not a rush, my visa runs out June 9th....just want to get some information early.

My family would like to take a trip to Europe next summer and I'd love to meet them, but they cannot schedule it for a return date before June 9th. They also aren't sure just how many days they want to spend in Paris before moving on to other places, but I could probably go a few days early if it will work out. So what's their average turnaround time for issuing visas?

As written in the subject heading, I have a US passport. In the US (at least, in New York), getting the non-immigrant O visa only required a letter from the organization I volunteer with, the application and application fee. They didn't even ask me anything, just skimmed the letter and said "no problem, we'll give you the volunteer visa, come back tomorrow." Is it stricter in Paris? (the "consular services" section of their embassy page is broken).

Also, the New York consulate (the only Thai consulate I have experience with) is really quiet... dropping off and picking up is no more than 10 minutes each time. Is the Paris consulate super-busy? I don't want to suck up too much of my family's vacation waiting for me to do this, if possible.

Even if I just take a tourist visa instead--what do I get for that? Is it multiple-entry or double-entry, and how long is it valid?

[Mario2008]

Can't answer about the Paris consulate. Normally in Europe a letter from the organisation you volunteer for would be enough.

If you go for the tourist visa, a single is good for 60 days and can be extended by another 30 days. A double entry would mean you can enter Thailand again and do the same, so you would have up to 180 days.

[SuperZozo]

Well, not sure I fully understand your questions and I am not a visa specialist.

Regarding the 'turnaround' time, I went to the Thai Embassy in Paris with all my documents on a Monday morning and got my visa (Non O) on the following Wednesday morning. Both days, I had to queue for about 1 hour. This was 4 years ago and that might be different now.

But, as you can guess while reading my English, I am French and I am not sure that a US citizen can obtain a visa in Paris if he is not a Permanent Resident in France. You should check this point before going to Paris.

And, instead of applying for a new visa in Paris, why don't you apply for a visa extension in Thailand (Extension of stay) ? You can do that up to 1 month before your visa expiry date. This is what I have been doing since I arrived in Thailand.

For your information, the Thai Consulate is within the Thai Embassy and near the Trocadero.

Have a good stay in Paris !

Pierre

[naugastyle]

Thanks for the info on location, Pierre. I don't know yet where we will be staying but I'm glad the embassy is near a Metro station!

Just want to be sure, when you say "the following Wednesday", you mean 2 days later, not a week and a half later, right?

Extension of stay is something I'm not familiar with, at least not in terms of re-entering after my visa has expired. I thought you could only extend WHILE you're still in the country (up to 30 days) OR get a re-entry permit if you've used up your entries but want to leave & come back before the visa expires.

If that's correct, then neither of these apply to me. My visa expires June 9th, but I am probably going on a trip and re-entering in March so I'll still have 90 valid days in the country. So there's no reason to extend before the trip to Europe in June. I extended for 30 days last year when I had a double-entry tourist visa, and I still couldn't use the second entry because I came back after the visa expired (but I don't think my extension had). And since the visa expires June 9th, I don't think I can get a re-entry permit letting me back in on June 24th (or whenever), right?

Mario2008, what I meant about the tourist visa is that the valid period and number of entries seems to differ depending on where you get it. The New York consulate gives a 90-day double-entry visa, each entry good for 60 days. But I met other Americans who had gotten 180-day multiple-entry visas (each entry still only 60 days) from other consulates within the US...seems there is no standard. So I was just curious what the embassy in Paris usually gives out! But I'd still rather get another non-immigrant O if possible.

[Mario2008]

What an embassy gives is normally 3 month validity for a single entry and 6 moths for a double entry, but indeed it varies per embassy/consulate.

The non-O is a posibility if you have a letter from the foundation, bus as said not sure about Paris.

For volunteering you need a work permit as well. If you are still volunteering for them with a work permit, you could get a 1 year extension of stay from immigation, together with a re-entry permit.

[SuperZozo]

Just want to be sure, when you say "the following Wednesday", you mean 2 days later, not a week and a half later, right?

It means 2 days later (coming Wednesday). Fortunately, not 1 week and a half.

Pierre

[naugastyle]

Thanks, Pierre!

Just want to make sure I'm getting this correct. Let's say my trip to Europe is June 15th - 30th. My visa expires June 9th, but my last entry stamp into Thailand gives me permission to stay until the trip begins.

I apply for a 1-year extension of stay and a re-entry permit before I leave for Europe. So I re-enter June 30th--21 days after my original visa expired--with this re-entry permit? And my extension of stay works exactly the same way as my original visa: multiple-entry for a year, 90 days' stay with each entry?

Is the extension still 1900 baht or is that only the price for the shorter extensions?

Sorry for repeatedly asking, it's just going against what I previously believed. i.e. that you only get a re-entry if your visa is still valid but you've run out of entries, or that extension of stay is only up to 30 days.

[lopburi3]

An extension of stay for one year does not allow any travel. Nor are you required to exit at any time. If you do exit you must obtain a re-entry permit first to allow you to return with the same permitted to stay until date. All extensions of stay are 1,900 baht and re-entry is 1,000 baht single or 3,800 multi.

[wayned]

The recent post that included the visa regulations from the consulate in Houston stated, IN BIG BOLD LETTERS, that they they would only issue a single entry Non-O for volunteer work and the request must be accompanied by a letter from the group that the applicant was volunteering for. Are there restrictions on extending this visa if the applicant intends to continue volunteer work or does he have to apply for a new visa with the supporting letter?

An extension of stay for one year does not allow any travel. Nor are you required to exit at any time. If you do exit you must obtain a re-entry permit first to allow you to return with the same permitted to stay until date. All extensions of stay are 1,900 baht and re-entry is 1,000 baht single or 3,800 multi.

[lopburi3]

There is no problem extending if you qualify for extension of stay - even when they put the old "this visa can not be extended" stamp in your passport immigration can and does extend if you meet the normal requirements. (That stamp really means you can not get the extra 30 days that most people know a tourist visa allows). You only need a single entry visa if extending your stay (you have the required work permit) for volunteer so that is all they will provide would seem to be the meaning.

[naugastyle]

Thanks. It sounds like it might be easier (and cheaper, since I DO want multiple-entry) to just get a new visa in Paris! Gives me an excuse to have a least 2 extra days there.

However, I'm still a little worried. I found another embassy page that DOES work, maybe the other was old or unofficial. Doesn't this say that the volunteer visa is only single-entry for 90 days, and that you only get multiple-entry if you are applying for the visa due to having a Thai spouse? This is why I worry that there's no standard across Thai embassies.

http://www.thaiembassy.fr/fr/visa/visa-non-immigrant-%C2%AB-o-%C2%BB/

[wayned]

Lopburi 3,

Although in a different language, this says the same thing as the one from houston said. travailler pour association volontaire/ le travail bénévole (le visa est valable uniquement pour 1 entrée et 90 jours de séjour)

Thanks. It sounds like it might be easier (and cheaper, since I DO want multiple-entry) to just get a new visa in Paris! Gives me an excuse to have a least 2 extra days there.

However, I'm still a little worried. I found another embassy page that DOES work, maybe the other was old or unofficial. Doesn't this say that the volunteer visa is only single-entry for 90 days, and that you only get multiple-entry if you are applying for the visa due to having a Thai spouse? This is why I worry that there's no standard across Thai embassies.

http://www.thaiembas...C2%AB-o-%C2%BB/

[lopburi3]

Even for marriage a multi entry visa is starting to be less common and also suspect for other use (that requires a work permit) it may well not be available. But do not recall any first person accounts yet.

[naugastyle]

Hmm. OK. Strange--and bit frustrating-- that earlier this year (June) a 1-year multiple-entry non-immigrant O visa seemed standard at the particular consulate I was in. Well, I have time to figure it out, was just hoping to gather some options together before next June. Thanks again.

[naugastyle]

OK, I might as well ask this here rather than start a new thread...it's all still related.

I don't have a work permit. Yes, I know I'm supposed to, but it's hard to make it a priority when you're working for free and the organization can't afford it either.

So IF it turns out it's easier (but more expensive) to just get the work permit now, so I can obtain an extension and multiple re-entry permit rather than using vacation time trying to get a new visa in Paris and possibly only receiving a 90-day single entry for my efforts...then, I have new questions.

1) Will it be a problem that I've been here since June but am just applying for the work permit now? I've come and gone from the country multiple times already and am checked on the buses every time, but no one has ever mentioned anything about my having the O visa but no work permit. But now, will this make it more difficult for me to get a work permit?

2) I've seen that work permit fees range from 3100 - 5000. What is the reason? Naturally, I'm hoping it's 3100.

3) Work permit expires with the visa, right? So if I'm planning to stay until December 2012, I'll still need to get a new work permit in June?

4) How does one qualify for the 1-year extension? Just a letter from the organization confirming I'm still working there? Or is it more complex than that?

5) Can I do a 1-year extension at any regional office, or only in Bangkok? I know the 30-day and 7-day extensions can be done where I am (Mae Sot), just not sure if that includes 1-year.

6) Alternately...what if I put off the inevitable for now, get the 90-day single entry visa in Paris in June and wait to get a work permit when I return? Will the officials in Paris notice and wonder why I've already had a Non-Immigrant O visa, yet have no work permit, and refuse to give me another?

Thanks again...

[wayned]

In my opinion, and it's just my opioion, I would try to get legal now and not try to "dodge the bullet" until June 2012. I have absolutely no experience with volunteer work, only teaching, but the work permit would normally be issued to the expiration date on your contract. The cost of the work permit varies dependant on how long it is for. It used to be : 3 months, 750 baht, 6 months 1500 baht, 1 year 3000 baht. The extra 100 baht is the price of the application form, they will charge you for it even if you download it from the internet. I don't think that labor will care about your time in thailand without a work permit as long as you have a valid visa, the correct paperwork and the money, but, if for any reason, immigration catches you working without a work permit you could be in serious trouble. I've used Mae Sot for extensions in the past and they were friendly and efficient. I'll stop here and let someone else who has experience with volunteer work give you their comments.

[lopburi3]

1. "O" stand for "other reasons" and is not a work visa so many people have who are not working (spouse of Thai/retiree are two large groups). So that should not be an issue.

2. Answered above.

3. Not tied to visa - normally issue for a year or contract now I believe.

4. Paperwork from organization and payment of normal 1,900 baht fee.

5. Yes local office will process.

6. Crystal ball defective.

[naugastyle]

Thank you! Now I understand more about why I'm not questioned about my O visa, although I imagine lack of work permit or marriage license or whatever could still come up when trying to get a new one. Hopefully it will be possible to get the work permit through this organization. All of the people who work here (Burmese) have real work permits, but their "employers" are not this actual org, which is not an uncommon situation here...so I don't know what experience the org has other than footing the bill for the permits.