Mae Sai Re-Entry Visa - How Many Days Will I Get?

[M71]

Hi - just got refused a 60 day extension on my 1 year non immigrant O Thai marriage visa at Chiang Mai immigration today and told to leave the country immediately.

How many days will they stamp me back into Thailand for at Mai Sai at the moment? Have not been there for 10 years now - are they open everyday of the week? Need to go tomorrow Saturday.

Cheers

[Semper]

15 days.

[onthedarkside]

Yes, 15 days for a border crossing ....

[dunrudin]

Yes, 15 days for a border crossing ....

...and can you go again in 15 days?

[Semper]

Yes, 15 days for a border crossing ....

...and can you go again in 15 days?

Yes, as many times you like. Would recommend a Tourist Visa though.

[Gonzo the Face]

I would give some thought as to the reason you were refused and just make sure that when you exit at MS that you can get back into Thailand. If it was something like no longer having a Thai wife, that is one thing, but if it was something that may consider you becoming PNG , thats another. The computer thing is pretty up to date now.

Just saying just don't find yourself in Tachalek and not able to return....

Best of luck to you

G

[hellodolly]

Not sure but the travel agent here in my residence just said Masai was closed now some thing to do with elections.

Just some thing I heard you might want to check around a bit more than on this Forum. Unless some one knows for sure what is happening now. Lots of past experience but what you need is today experiance.

[dunrudin]

Yes, 15 days for a border crossing ....

...and can you go again in 15 days?

Yes, as many times you like. Would recommend a Tourist Visa though.

Thanks. I'm in a similar position. Non B expires with the contract on the 8th and I'm booked to fly on the 29th. Looks like two runs.

[Semper]

Not sure but the travel agent here in my residence just said Masai was closed now some thing to do with elections.

Just some thing I heard you might want to check around a bit more than on this Forum. Unless some one knows for sure what is happening now. Lots of past experience but what you need is today experiance.

Indeed. Call the Immigration at Mae Sai 0-5373-1008-9

[Gonzo the Face]

Just for what its worth, as I just found out within the past 2 months, when you apply for an ordinary Thai visa, the applicant must have at least 6 months life remaining in their passport. But when you are applying for a Non Imm visa, you now need 18 months left on your passport life. This forced me to get a 1 month extension and get a new passport from the consulate. .....and for the record, at the US Consulate, I set appointment for a Tuesday and went in and paid, and 3 days later on the Friday, I got the email saying that my new passport was there and to come in and get it..... next citizen services day of course.

Gonzo

[bobl]

Did anyone find out if the Mae Sai border is open tomorrow? I need to do a run tomorrow and just noticed this thread. Been trying to call the number Semper gave without success.

Anyone been to Mae Sot since it reopened? Is it a good alternative if Mae Sai's closed?

[M71]

I would give some thought as to the reason you were refused and just make sure that when you exit at MS that you can get back into Thailand. If it was something like no longer having a Thai wife, that is one thing, but if it was something that may consider you becoming PNG , thats another. The computer thing is pretty up to date now.

Just saying just don't find yourself in Tachalek and not able to return....

Best of luck to you

G

Thanks all - they gave me no reason at all as to why they refused to let me have a 60 day extension - I'm still married, son etc no problems whatsoever - they just said if you came in applying for a 1 year visa extension with 400K in the bank you'd have be fine - but we won't give you a 60 day extension?? Anyone else been down this road with Chiang Mai immigration?

It was my understanding from posts in here that a 60 day extension on my Non O Immigrant visa was not a problem for someone in my situation - got me stumped.

[onthedarkside]

Thanks all - they gave me no reason at all as to why they refused to let me have a 60 day extension - I'm still married, son etc no problems whatsoever - they just said if you came in applying for a 1 year visa extension with 400K in the bank you'd have be fine - but we won't give you a 60 day extension?? Anyone else been down this road with Chiang Mai immigration?

It was my understanding from posts in here that a 60 day extension on my Non O Immigrant visa was not a problem for someone in my situation - got me stumped.

Individual officer discretion. I have no idea how you presented your application. If you knew that you needed the 400K and made no reason why you did not have the 400K (not have is not good enough) then not surprising you were not offered extra time to provide the necessary evidence of finance.

[el jefe]

Did anyone find out if the Mae Sai border is open tomorrow? I need to do a run tomorrow and just noticed this thread. Been trying to call the number Semper gave without success.

Anyone been to Mae Sot since it reopened? Is it a good alternative if Mae Sai's closed?

If the Mai sai crossing is closed for an election in Myanmar, wouldn't the Mae Sot border be closed too??

There is a pinned thread on the Mae Sai - Tachilek crossing in the Chiang Rai forum. Better info to be found there.

[bobl]

Did anyone find out if the Mae Sai border is open tomorrow? I need to do a run tomorrow and just noticed this thread. Been trying to call the number Semper gave without success.

Anyone been to Mae Sot since it reopened? Is it a good alternative if Mae Sai's closed?

If the Mai sai crossing is closed for an election in Myanmar, wouldn't the Mae Sot border be closed too??

There is a pinned thread on the Mae Sai - Tachilek crossing in the Chiang Rai forum. Better info to be found there.

Well duh. I was thinking local elections on the Thailand side. Didn't even occur to me the election might be on the Myanmar side. Thanks I'll check that thread...

[M71]

Did anyone find out if the Mae Sai border is open tomorrow? I need to do a run tomorrow and just noticed this thread. Been trying to call the number Semper gave without success.

Anyone been to Mae Sot since it reopened? Is it a good alternative if Mae Sai's closed?

If the Mai sai crossing is closed for an election in Myanmar, wouldn't the Mae Sot border be closed too??

There is a pinned thread on the Mae Sai - Tachilek crossing in the Chiang Rai forum. Better info to be found there.

Well duh. I was thinking local elections on the Thailand side. Didn't even occur to me the election might be on the Myanmar side. Thanks I'll check that thread...

Still can't confirm if the Mai Sai border crossing is open today 7 Jan 2012 - did anyone find any info ?

Cheers

[bobl]

@M71 Me neither, and I'm leaving in 5 minutes...

Guess I'll just have to take my chances. What's the worst that can happen... a wasted day and a 500 bhat fine for being a day late crossing another border... No biggie...

[M71]

See you up there today :-)

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Thanks all - they gave me no reason at all as to why they refused to let me have a 60 day extension - I'm still married, son etc no problems whatsoever - they just said if you came in applying for a 1 year visa extension with 400K in the bank you'd have be fine - but we won't give you a 60 day extension?? Anyone else been down this road with Chiang Mai immigration?

It was my understanding from posts in here that a 60 day extension on my Non O Immigrant visa was not a problem for someone in my situation - got me stumped.

Individual officer discretion. I have no idea how you presented your application. If you knew that you needed the 400K and made no reason why you did not have the 400K (not have is not good enough) then not surprising you were not offered extra time to provide the necessary evidence of finance.

Furthermore, if he's living in Thailand, but is still unable to understand the rationale and discuss the best course of action at an immigration office then it's probably better to leave. Especially when below 400K in the bank.

[Saan]

A friend did a visa run yesterday to Mae Sai - no problems at the border.

[bobl]

fwiw its open. Bit late posting but had trouble getting tv on my bb.

[M71]

Thanks all - they gave me no reason at all as to why they refused to let me have a 60 day extension - I'm still married, son etc no problems whatsoever - they just said if you came in applying for a 1 year visa extension with 400K in the bank you'd have be fine - but we won't give you a 60 day extension?? Anyone else been down this road with Chiang Mai immigration?

It was my understanding from posts in here that a 60 day extension on my Non O Immigrant visa was not a problem for someone in my situation - got me stumped.

Individual officer discretion. I have no idea how you presented your application. If you knew that you needed the 400K and made no reason why you did not have the 400K (not have is not good enough) then not surprising you were not offered extra time to provide the necessary evidence of finance.

Thanks for your input appreciated - looks like I need to attend immigration 101 school to brush up on all of this stuff - can you suggest a link?

After reading the advice below in the forums I've been mistaken in thinking that this is what will happen obviously. Spoke to my lawyer regarding this and he said yes that's the immigration police order but this is Thailand.

So seems the 60 marriage extension is for special circumstances only - you cannot go there and expect to get an extension unless there is a very valid reason for it - being married is not enough.

To start with you can get 60 days extension based on marriage without showing anything else than marriage certificate.

From Police order 777/2551

2.24 In the case of an alien visiting a Thai spouse or child:

Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 60 days at a time.

(1) Proof of relationship.

(2) In the case of a spouse, their marital relationship shall be de jure (legitimate) and de facto.

[bobl]

To start with you can get 60 days extension based on marriage without showing anything else than marriage certificate.

From Police order 777/2551

2.24 In the case of an alien visiting a Thai spouse or child:

Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 60 days at a time.

(1) Proof of relationship.

(2) In the case of a spouse, their marital relationship shall be de jure (legitimate) and de facto.

Icbw but doesn't that only apply to a tourist visa?

I thought you could enter on a tv, get married, get a 60 day extension from the marriage - and have that time to sort out your 400k and get a 1 year non immigrant O. Once you got the 1 year non immigrant O (which sounds like your case), the only option at the end of the year is to renew it - with the appropriate paperwork and 400k...

I stand to be corrected...

[onthedarkside]

To start with you can get 60 days extension based on marriage without showing anything else than marriage certificate.

From Police order 777/2551

2.24 In the case of an alien visiting a Thai spouse or child:

Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 60 days at a time.

(1) Proof of relationship.

(2) In the case of a spouse, their marital relationship shall be de jure (legitimate) and de facto.

Icbw but doesn't that only apply to a tourist visa?

I thought you could enter on a tv, get married, get a 60 day extension from the marriage - and have that time to sort out your 400k and get a 1 year non immigrant O. Once you got the 1 year non immigrant O (which sounds like your case), the only option at the end of the year is to renew it - with the appropriate paperwork and 400k...

I stand to be corrected...

Yes, I think that the Police Order quoted was intended for 'visitors'. Once the one year extension has been issued then that rule does not directly apply on the next year's application.

I have applied for the marriage extension these past many years and on a couple of occasions I had prepared the financial requirements as per the previous year, but on application discovered the rules had been altered. On these occasions the officer issued a 60 day extension to me, giving me time to meet the rule change. I assume that sort of officer discretion was made as I had made the effort the comply with the requirements. Doubt this sort of discretion would be granted if no financial preparations had been made, you just can't go in and say the money is 'on the way'.