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Blue Warning Stamp From Saigon -- Now Where To Get Another Tourist Visa?

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sorry if this has been addressed before but I've scoured the internet and there seems to be very little about it, I've heard about Vientiane's red stamps all over the place, but I got a similar stamp in blue ink from the Ho Chi Minh City Thai consulate with a similar message -- applicant has traveled to Thailand many times on a tourist visa and something about maybe being suspected of working in the kingdom, may not be awarded the visa in the future...

But it's in blue ink. ?

Either way, I haven't heard any reports of visa runs from people after they've already got the stamp? I know I'm pushing my luck here but I've been in and out of LOS for like 4 years, with long stays in between in Bali, Malaysia, Vietnam, and back home in the USA. Just love it here, and I'm self employed with business in the US, so I'm certainly not working with any thai companies or anything here locally... much prefer to earn dollars and euros online and spend them here!

Anyways, I'm curious for visa run reports from anyone who has this stamp... the red stamp... or have you even seen this blue stamp from Saigon/HCMC?

And if I get it where can I go to have the best odds of squeeze out one last tourist visa? Are there particular embassies in the region that are most forgiving on this? I am hopign to maybe make a trip to Yangon ideally, otherwise PP, Banana in Penang, etc?? I'll go anywhere... just not as far as AUS. I only want another 3 months here, then we're off to Europe for a long-term stay there to fight the visa fight there too!

Alternately, I've heard from a few people that you can easily submit your own Non-immigrant B visa application with a specific letter written on your own company letterhead... there's an example script here (haha ok ThaiVisa won't even let me post a liink to ThaiVisa since I am new -- you can search for "Example letter non-immigrant "B" visa")

But I'm curious for more details, has anybody done this self-employed/with their own company? Is it really just as simple as going in with a letter to any embassy and asking for a non-B? Would this be better odds than trying to apply for the tourist visa again? I'm happy to pay what I have to pay and I try to follow the rules, but so far haven't really found any options for someone like me who doesn't want a job employed by a Thai company here, and doesn't wanna get married...

Thanks for any help or any other threads you can point me to, much appreicated.

I'm sure others will reply with more detailed information, but technically Without a work permit specific to the company you are working for, it is illegal to work in Thailand.

In practice, people do their own internet business or freelancing all the time. There are even English teaching and other employment opportunities that are done with real thai schools or employers but without work permits. Again, technically illegal, but its just a matter of risk vs paperwork for the company. A small school in a small town probably be overlooked. If you work for a larger company in a competitive industry, a snitch from one of your competitors could sell you or the company out to the labour dept.

With that said, the problem is not so much proving that you are not working in thailand. The problem is how you went about getting a new visa so carelessly. Too many back-to-back tourist visas could send red flags depending on the consulate. A tourist visa is designed for casual travel, not longer term stays. A more appropriate visa would be a non-immigrant [whatever category you can qualify for] for longer term stay.

But I'm curious for more details, has anybody done this self-employed/with their own company? Is it really just as simple as going in with a letter to any embassy and asking for a non-B? Would this be better odds than trying to apply for the tourist visa again? I'm happy to pay what I have to pay and I try to follow the rules, but so far haven't really found any options for someone like me who doesn't want a job employed by a Thai company here, and doesn't wanna get married...

Remember, as I understand the rules - that you need a letter from a Thai company as well (inviting you). So two letters: One from the relevant business connection(employer/your own company) overseas and one from the relevant "customer" here in Thailand + 5k baht for the 1 year non-b visa.

Anyone please correct me if i'm wrong....

You will likely be issued a tourist visa if you apply and point out you have not been in Thailand for an extended period of time - it is continuous stays they are concerned about and the stamps (in any color) is to alert the next viewer to check. Do not believe you have any chance of a non immigrant B visa from local Consulates on basis of your own letter.

Off-topic posts removed - poster is only interested in staying 3 months so a simple visa should be all he requires.

I would just get a new passport $110 US

If you have a legal registered company in the US you could possibly get a non-b multiple entry visa with a letter stating you will be traveling to Thailand for business and/or investment. If you have a company setup you would probably have another officer of the company who could sign letter instead of yourself. Your best choice would be to make the application at an honorary consulate.

Contact info for those in US: http://thaiembdc.us/wordpress1/

There are honorary consulates in the Europe that might also be able to help you (IE Hull in UK).

ED-VISA no more visa-runs :)

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