Fedxing Visa To Home Country Legal?

[boone57]

Hello. I am 55 and American. Last year, after expiring two one-year non immagrant O visas, I decided to go for the retirement visa. Which I got and soon lost by leaving the country and not filling out a return-of-entry form.

Question: I have talked to my consulate in the US via telephone and she is game for me to FEDX my visa home to get the all coveted one-year non immagrant O stamp. Is this legal? Being that I will not pass through the airport, where will I get the all-important white immagration card?

I went to Laos and they seemed to convey that all I am elligable for long a long term stay is the retirement visa. Like my statis has perminently changed or something.

But my consulate back home says she has no problem selling me another non immagrant O, but she also said back in 2010 that I could only go for a year once. However she sold me another one in 2011. She did not say anything about going again and I did not ask.

Needless to say I am pretty confused and scared. I have spent most of my money making an electronic racing toy that I am selling online with my Thai girlfriend. I would be all set if not for this visa thing.

Thank you

[lopburi3]

You are aware working in Thailand requires a work permit I hope.

You seem to be saying you can not qualify for a retirement extension of stay from here or home country anymore (800k/'65k financials) so you must stay on some other visa. If you go to the US or somewhere else such a visa might be issued and accepted but any issue of such a visa while you are in Thailand should not be accepted for use.

[wayned]

If you were to send your passport to the US and have a visa issued and then have it sent back to you in Thailand, it wouldn't be any good! You would not have an arrival/ departure card or a permission to stay stamp in the passport, both which you would get when you physically entered Thailand. You would have nothing but a passport with a visa that for all purposes was never used!

A long time ago you could have an agency do it for you. They would physically send a courrier with your passport to , say Penang. The courrier would go through immigration and get the proper stamps both ways and also get the correct visa from the consulate in Penang, but things have tightened up and that service is no longer available. I know somone that has 5 visas that were obtained this way. If you can't qualify for an extension your best bet is to get a double entry tourist visa or an ED visa in a neighbring country..

[noob7]

If you have two passports: Good thing to do!

If you don't have 2 Passports, the chance, a immigration officer will see, that you have been in Thailand, during your Passport has been in the USA, is given (some of 'em not only browsing, some of 'em actually looking)

In case, you have 2 Passports:

You would need to leave Thailand, anyway, to change the Visa But doing this by plane to Singapore, arriving/leaving in Singapore with the new one, you could come back on the new passport. (And for the disbeliever: I've done that, a couple of times this way, in the past)

But i do not know, how easy you can get a second passport as US-Citizen! For everyone, else, the USA is the reason, for getting one easy: Tell the passport office, you have to go to IRAN in some month, before that, you have to fly to Israel, after that to New York.

You can believe me, they will issue a second valid Passport!

[ubonjoe]

When you went to Laos did you try to get a multiple entry visa? If yes that is the reason for denial because they only issue single entry non-o visas for being over 50.

You could get a single entry visa and then extend it at immigration if you can show 800K baht in the bank for 60 days or prove income of 65K baht or a combination of the two.

You cannot legally send your passport out of the country to get a new visa.

[boone57]

You are aware working in Thailand requires a work permit I hope.

You seem to be saying you can not qualify for a retirement extension of stay from here or home country anymore (800k/'65k financials) so you must stay on some other visa. If you go to the US or somewhere else such a visa might be issued and accepted but any issue of such a visa while you are in Thailand should not be accepted for use.

Work permit? I can't wait to see what that intails.

I probably could get the 800K but it was just a lot easier to pay for the non immigrant O. $175 and it is done for a year and I could come and go as I please. Problem is that I was just in the states and do not want to return already, especially in the winter.. Not just the Air fair, hotel and travel costs either, its the commute! Brutal.

[noob7]

You are aware working in Thailand requires a work permit I hope.

You seem to be saying you can not qualify for a retirement extension of stay from here or home country anymore (800k/'65k financials) so you must stay on some other visa. If you go to the US or somewhere else such a visa might be issued and accepted but any issue of such a visa while you are in Thailand should not be accepted for use.

Work permit? I can't wait to see what that intails.

I probably could get the 800K but it was just a lot easier to pay for the non immigrant O. $175 and it is done for a year and I could come and go as I please. Problem is that I was just in the states and do not want to return already, especially in the winter.. Not just the Air fair, hotel and travel costs either, its the commute! Brutal.

How about Hongkong consulate! Check and mail, if not clear. http://www.thai-cons...3015.php?s=4049

They are still very western!

Or try Perth http://www.embassypa...s/embassy17081/

[ignis]

Or try Perth http://www.embassypa...s/embassy17081/

Perth closed mid October 2010

[Langsuan Man]

You are aware working in Thailand requires a work permit I hope.

You seem to be saying you can not qualify for a retirement extension of stay from here or home country anymore (800k/'65k financials) so you must stay on some other visa. If you go to the US or somewhere else such a visa might be issued and accepted but any issue of such a visa while you are in Thailand should not be accepted for use.

Work permit? I can't wait to see what that intails.

I probably could get the 800K but it was just a lot easier to pay for the non immigrant O. $175 and it is done for a year and I could come and go as I please. Problem is that I was just in the states and do not want to return already, especially in the winter.. Not just the Air fair, hotel and travel costs either, its the commute! Brutal.

It is now $200

[noob7]

Or try Perth http://www.embassypa...s/embassy17081/

Perth closed mid October 2010

oops. Sorry to hear that. It was a very nice consulate

[ubonjoe]

You could check with the consulate in Brisbane Australia to see if they would issue you a multiple entry visa.

You can also combine income with money in the bank to reach 800K mark for an extension and there is no need to have it in the bank for any amount of time.

[Dork]

Take a weeks holiday in a neighbouring country and courier your passport to the US from there.

[Langsuan Man]

Take a weeks holiday in a neighbouring country and courier your passport to the US from there.

Are people really that stupid that they would be without an accepted identity document while they waited for their passport to be courined home, especially in a country where they are just on a "holiday". There are too many legitimate ways to stay in Thailand to play with fire

[moe666]

Stop being lazy it is either back to the states for a visa or take what you can get next door. You will wind up in trouble sooner or later without getting proper visas.

[BWPattaya]

It is illegal to be in Thailand without your passport so semding your passport back to your home country for a new visa is asking for all sorts of trouble. You will also have problems later when you attend any immigration office or exit point at a border or airport as you will not have an entry stamp that corresponds with your visa.

I guess that you know all this though as you wouldn't be asking for advice about the legality of such an action.

[notmyself]

Take a weeks holiday in a neighbouring country and courier your passport to the US from there.

Are people really that stupid that they would be without an accepted identity document while they waited for their passport to be courined home, especially in a country where they are just on a "holiday". There are too many legitimate ways to stay in Thailand to play with fire

I wouldn't take the risk but lots of people do, not heard of a failure as yet.

[islandguy]

There are many comments on Thai Visa forums about using FedEx in Thailand for more usual purposes. You might want to take a look through some of them.

[Langsuan Man]

Take a weeks holiday in a neighbouring country and courier your passport to the US from there.

Are people really that stupid that they would be without an accepted identity document while they waited for their passport to be courined home, especially in a country where they are just on a "holiday". There are too many legitimate ways to stay in Thailand to play with fire

I wouldn't take the risk but lots of people do, not heard of a failure as yet.

And just how many people do you expect to admit to a failure as of yet ?

[notmyself]

Take a weeks holiday in a neighbouring country and courier your passport to the US from there.

Are people really that stupid that they would be without an accepted identity document while they waited for their passport to be courined home, especially in a country where they are just on a "holiday". There are too many legitimate ways to stay in Thailand to play with fire

I wouldn't take the risk but lots of people do, not heard of a failure as yet.

And just how many people do you expect to admit to a failure as of yet ?

They have all returned and not had to suddenly return home in a couple of weeks. Do you think these people just return and say 'yep, it worked' or do they just happen to have their passport on them which they push into your face saying 'look at thaaaaaaat'?

[noob7]

It works excellent, with having two passports. Plus changing them via Air trip to S-Pore or KL.

One immigration officer, not only browsing but looking, at the exit, may see, that the new visa, already in the passport, was given during the last stay in Thailand.

It may work in the consulate, in case they accept 'no exit stamp'.

[Dork]

Take a weeks holiday in a neighbouring country and courier your passport to the US from there.

Are people really that stupid that they would be without an accepted identity document while they waited for their passport to be courined home, especially in a country where they are just on a "holiday". There are too many legitimate ways to stay in Thailand to play with fire

I wouldn't take the risk but lots of people do, not heard of a failure as yet.

And just how many people do you expect to admit to a failure as of yet ?

Since you feel strongly enough to suggest that doing this is "stupid", would you mind elaborating on precisely where you think the risk lies? Because I can't see it.

[4evermaat]

Take a weeks holiday in a neighbouring country and courier your passport to the US from there.

Dork is correct. To execute the OPs proposed strategy, you must get an exit stamp first by leaving thailand, then go to a neighboring country. Malaysia would probably be a better choice in terms of cost vs infrastructure. Use FedEx or other private carrier (do not use EMS). Do not send passport to get a new thai visa while you are still stamped into thailand.

Once you get your passport with new visa returned to you, then you stamp back into thailand on the new visa.

Obviously getting a visa from a local thai consulate would be much quicker and easier if you meet the requirements of that local thai consulate.

OP: look out for a PM.

Are people really that stupid that they would be without an accepted identity document while they waited for their passport to be courined home, especially in a country where they are just on a "holiday". There are too many legitimate ways to stay in Thailand to play with fire

I wouldn't take the risk but lots of people do, not heard of a failure as yet.

I was talking to someone from the UK on a visa run and she commented how difficult the thai visa process can be if you want to stay long term. I told her about a similar strategy the OP is asking about and she was frightened at the thought of letting their passport out of their sight. Well, what can I say? We can't always have it both ways. We are alive and we need to take some risks. But physically, the process is not difficult.

[noob7]

Actually, the FedEx thing, both ways, doesn't that cost almost the same or more, as a double entry tourist visa?

Plus the visa cost in the USA, wouldn't it be easier and more cost effective, to get two double entries in Laos, for now?

[notmyself]

Actually, the FedEx thing, both ways, doesn't that cost almost the same or more, as a double entry tourist visa?

Plus the visa cost in the USA, wouldn't it be easier and more cost effective, to get two double entries in Laos, for now?

Lower chance of getting a double entry in the region and a high chance of getting a red 'do not apply here again' stamp. Nothing is certain but it would appear that in the US, UK and Europe, Thai visas are valid for 6 months on a triple entry which allow around 9 months max stay in Thailand. Local issue visas allow around 3 months for a single and 6 for a double (if you can ge it).

If you have retired young such a I, not married, not working or have a business, do not have a child and not in education then there is no other option except an investment of 10 million Baht which in my personal opinion would be insane. Visa regulations were tightened (or rather implemented as they should have been) a couple of years back in an effort to hinder illegal workers but this also hindered people who are not illegal workes too which is a shame. I personally know a number of people who fall or have fallen into this catagory and some have up sticks and moved to Cambodia because they couldn't be bothered. I could and some say should do the same but I love Thailand despite its faults, I also love Samui despite its faults, therefore, I CAN be bothered.

One day something might happen which means I have to, or really need to get a visa within the region. Given I have never ever done so I would say my chances of getting one are as high as it can be. I consider this a safety net. Perhaps Mario or Lop would care to comment on this.

I'm not sure about law in Cambodia for example but I know that to send my passport to the UK for a Cambodian visa whilst in Thailand would be an illegal act. If given a choice between jumping through hoops or breaking the law, I would choose the former.

[Dork]

I'm not sure about law in Cambodia for example but I know that to send my passport to the UK for a Cambodian visa whilst in Thailand would be an illegal act. If given a choice between jumping through hoops or breaking the law, I would choose the former.

Which law in Thailand would make it illegal to send your passport abroad? It is commonly done all over the world when a visa is required for a country that has no consular services available in the country that the applicant is situated. And that would be even more applicable to countries neighbouring Thailand that have far fewer Diplomatic missions than Bangkok.

[noob7]

Which law in Thailand would make it illegal to send your passport abroad?

That you have to be able, to show your passport and the visa/stamp at all times, during your stay in Thailand?

(That's, why a 2. Passport is very handy!)

[Dork]

Which law in Thailand would make it illegal to send your passport abroad?

That you have to be able, to show your passport and the visa/stamp at all times, during your stay in Thailand?

(That's, why a 2. Passport is very handy!)

Can you point me to the specific rule or law that says that?

[notmyself]

Which law in Thailand would make it illegal to send your passport abroad?

That you have to be able, to show your passport and the visa/stamp at all times, during your stay in Thailand?

(That's, why a 2. Passport is very handy!)

I believe that in theory you should have your passport on you at all times.

[noob7]

Which law in Thailand would make it illegal to send your passport abroad?

That you have to be able, to show your passport and the visa/stamp at all times, during your stay in Thailand?

(That's, why a 2. Passport is very handy!)

I believe that in theory you should have your passport on you at all times.

Not in case you have a Thai driving license (weak but working), a Thai Id card or a Thai house book with you.

The Law requires Thai to carry ID card at all times.

What you think, has a 'non' Thai to carry, to verify his identity and (visa) status, in Thailand?

[4evermaat]

Which law in Thailand would make it illegal to send your passport abroad?

That you have to be able, to show your passport and the visa/stamp at all times, during your stay in Thailand?

(That's, why a 2. Passport is very handy!)

You make a copy of the information page and the visa page and keep one with you. Keep in mind that whenever you send your passport off to do something, it is temporary (such as to issue a visa). At most, you would be out of a passport for 5-10 days. The worst case scenario is that you lose your passport, in which case you must obtain a new passport. If you send it off in a logical fashion, this is rare.

If you have a second passport or can acquire one (either the same or different country), then fine. It does put you in a better position. But for the OP, for now, a single passport is all that is needed.

Actually, the FedEx thing, both ways, doesn't that cost almost the same or more, as a double entry tourist visa?

Plus the visa cost in the USA, wouldn't it be easier and more cost effective, to get two double entries in Laos, for now?

The strategy works best for a non-immigrant visa, but i suppose that tourist visas can be obtained also.