My Turn - Savannakhet Non-O Thai Spouse

[waters]

My turn this time...

Going to Savannakhet on Thursday to apply for a 1 year multiple-entry Non-O Thai Spouse visa (my first Non-O application).

Will fly to Nakhon Phanom on Wednesday, travel down to Mukdahan and spend the night there before an early morning crossing over to Savannakhet to submit my documents to the consulate. Was planning on enjoying the scenery, food, generally exploring along the way.

Will take the following as per this post...

http://www.thaivisa....in-savannakhet/

Originals:

My passport

2 photos

Actual marriage certificate and Kor Ror 2 form

Copies:

Marriage certificate and Kor Ror 2 form

My and my wife’s passport name pages

Wife’s Thai ID card, front and back

Wife’s tabien baan book front page and her name page.

Was wondering if the visa application form can be found online anywhere? Wasn't able to find one here.. http://www.thaisavan...et/th/index.php

Any last words of advice before heading over? Have seen other posts reporting that 1 year multiple entry visas maybe getting harder to receive from consulates or embassies in the region.

Will post details of the trip and application process on return....

Edited February 9, 2013 by waters

[Nana Cowboy]

good luck

[espinoza]

No problem if you just hand over all this docs. I printed the application form from Vientiane and filled in everything in advance, but they did not accept that form. I had to fill in an local form with another heading. This is an consulate, in my mind thats an department of the embassy, but they needs different headings on their papers. This is like it is in Kongo, a third world country.

[Amusements]

RE: Was wondering if the visa application form can be found online anywhere? Wasn't able to find one here.. http://www.thaisavan...et/th/index.php

Just walk up to the front of the queue and ask the person at the window for a form. It is only one page.

Don't forget your pen, and good luck.

[waters]

Thanks Nana Cowboy, espinoza, and Amusements.

Will report back. :-)

[tig28]

RE: Was wondering if the visa application form can be found online anywhere? Wasn't able to find one here.. http://www.thaisavan...et/th/index.php

Here is the Savannakhet Visa application form:

form.pdf

[waters]

Awesome - thanks tig28.

[CHANGOVER]

Thanks Nana Cowboy, espinoza, and Amusements.

Will report back. :-)

I've used this form.

I am going tonight from Mochit arriving at Mukdahan around 6:30 am then to the Consulate and will be taking the same originals and copies as you and Gbob suggested, plus a note from my wife 'pleading to give me a visa'.

She is also coming with me.

Thai-Visa-Application-Form.pdf

[CHANGOVER]

Beaten to it by tig28!

[waters]

Good luck CHANGOVER! I may take along a note from my wife as well just in case ;-)

[MEL1]

Good luck CHANGOVER! I may take along a note from my wife as well just in case ;-)

Wouldn't it be simpler to get a work permit?

Just because one is married to a Thai does not make representation for any form of entitlement to stay.

I changed my Non-O Marriage visa to a Non-B 5 years ago, and it makes life a heck of a lot simpler year in year out - no questions asked, nor worries, nor need to show savings of any sort, etc etc......

-mel.

[lopburi3]

Actually it does allow application and issue of non immigrant O visas which is exactly what this thread is about.

[CHANGOVER]

Good luck CHANGOVER! I may take along a note from my wife as well just in case ;-)

Wouldn't it be simpler to get a work permit?

Just because one is married to a Thai does not make representation for any form of entitlement to stay.

I changed my Non-O Marriage visa to a Non-B 5 years ago, and it makes life a heck of a lot simpler year in year out - no questions asked, nor worries, nor need to show savings of any sort, etc etc......

-mel.

Why should I get a work permit when I have no intention of working?

[arminbkk]

Will be interesting to learn if OP will also be requested to show funds and if so how much.

[waters]

Will be interesting to learn if OP will also be requested to show funds and if so how much.

The OP is interested to learn this as well ;-)

[anto]

Will be interesting to learn if OP will also be requested to show funds and if so how much.

The OP is interested to learn this as well ;-)

Just returned from Savannket and used SavanaVegas .Now they look for Thai bank book with with B400,000 ,contary to what i was reading on this site .

[lopburi3]

Actually this seems to be reported by those using that service but not by those doing themselves (and we have reports within a week of not needing any financials). Perhaps it is a first time and not first time variation. Did you show? Were you asked by Consulate to show? Or did you receive single entry without?

[waters]

Will be interesting to learn if OP will also be requested to show funds and if so how much.

The OP is interested to learn this as well ;-)

Just returned from Savannket and used SavanaVegas .Now they look for Thai bank book with with B400,000 ,contary to what i was reading on this site .

Yikes - would be really interested to know if this is specific to the SavanaVegas service or not. I do NOT have B400,000 'seasoned' money in my bank account (at least I wasn't planning on putting it there).

Edited February 11, 2013 by waters

[lopburi3]

If you have 400k seasoned it would make more sense for most to obtain immigration extensions of stay for 1,900 baht rather than a visa for 5,000 baht that requires exit of the country every 90 days. If not seasoned a single entry O visa would be all that is required to provide the time.

[waters]

If you have 400k seasoned it would make more sense for most to obtain immigration extensions of stay for 1,900 baht rather than a visa for 5,000 baht that requires exit of the country every 90 days. If not seasoned a single entry O visa would be all that is required to provide the time.

Understood lopburi3 - and that makes sense. On the other hand, we travel regularly and so leaving the country every 90 days is not a problem.

I suppose at worst I'll come back with a single entry 90 day Non-O and then will have to apply for the extension.

[anto]

Will be interesting to learn if OP will also be requested to show funds and if so how much.

The OP is interested to learn this as well ;-)

Just returned from Savannket and used SavanaVegas .Now they look for Thai bank book with with B400,000 ,contary to what i was reading on this site .

Yikes - would be really interested to know if this is specific to the SavanaVegas service or not. I do NOT have B400,000 'seasoned' money in my bank account (at least I wasn't planning on putting it there).

Just in case i put B400,000 in a fixed term savings account just a few days before i went ,so it was not seasoned .The rep of SV asked for a copy of my Bank book which i gave ,and the next day they had my Passport with multiple 0 .

There was also a Canadian in the group who wanted a single entry O .He was also asked for a bank book by a rep of SV ,which he did not have .Anyway he still got his single O visa .

ps, Why was i doing a Visa run in the first place you may ask ? I had been staying in Chiang Mai on a retirement visa for 2 years .When i looked for a visa based on marriage to a Thai lady last month ,they said they could not do such a change one after the other at Chiang Mai immigration

[waters]

Hi anto - just to be clear, you were using the SavanaVegas service correct?

[anto]

Hi anto - just to be clear, you were using the SavanaVegas service correct?

Correct .They picked me up from my Hotel in Mukdahn at 7.30 am ,then collected more people at the bus station and brought us across the border to their Hotel /Casino .At the Casino we checked in and a Rep of Savana Vegas took our passports and paperwork .I never had to go myself to the Thai Consulate .I just collected my Passport with visa at the Hotel desk at 2.30 pm next day .I paid B1,500 for the hotel room ,and B1,500 at the border for the Lao visa .The multiple o cost B5,000 ,which i gave to the SV Rep .

[lopburi3]

ps, Why was i doing a Visa run in the first place you may ask ? I had been staying in Chiang Mai on a retirement visa for 2 years .When i looked for a visa based on marriage to a Thai lady last month ,they said they could not do such a change one after the other at Chiang Mai immigration

Suspect the meaning was they can not approve such an extension at Chiang Mai as they can for retirement. Were you looking for an extension or a visa? If still on retirement extension you should have been able to change to Thai wife on next application.

[anto]

ps, Why was i doing a Visa run in the first place you may ask ? I had been staying in Chiang Mai on a retirement visa for 2 years .When i looked for a visa based on marriage to a Thai lady last month ,they said they could not do such a change one after the other at Chiang Mai immigration

Suspect the meaning was they can not approve such an extension at Chiang Mai as they can for retirement. Were you looking for an extension or a visa? If still on retirement extension you should have been able to change to Thai wife on next application.

I went to them one week before the retireement visa ran out .This time i had just B400,000 seasoned as i was expecting to get the visa based on Marriage .When they said they could not give the visa based on marriage i asked for a two month extension which they also refused .They advised me to do a Mai Sai border run ,and get a 15 day stamp ,then go to Bangkok and get a one month visa ,and then afterwards come back to them for the one year visa based on Marriage .

Anyway i did the Mai Sai run and then followed up their second option they gave ,which was to go to Laos for a M-O .The m-O suits me fine as i now dont have to deal with the overcrowded offices at CME .Happy days .Having to to a border run every 3 months is ok for me as i can combine it with a little holiday /or Mai SAI shopping trip anyway .

[lopburi3]

Was this actually from the Immigration Officer? The visa in Bangkok would have been the same single entry 90 day you could get in Laos - not one month. Getting a multi entry means you will be making exits/return every 90 days instead of being on an extension of stay so less work for them (and they seem to be very busy). But a single entry was all you required, at Bangkok or Laos.

[anto]

>>Was this actually from the Immigration Officer?<<

Yes ,a lady officer at her desk who deals with visas based on Marriage .She defenitely mentioned about getting a one month ''thing'' at Bangkok .

Anyway its now sorted as far as i am concerned .It looks like i will be heading back to Ireland to live within a year ,later taking the wife and stepdaughter .I have a feeling that Thai visa are not totally out of my life yet ,as the plan is to return to Thailand in the future when finances are sorted .

[ubonjoe]

I suspect the on month thing would be the 30 day under consideration stamp you get when applying for an extension based upon marriage.

[ubonjoe]

ps, Why was i doing a Visa run in the first place you may ask ? I had been staying in Chiang Mai on a retirement visa for 2 years .When i looked for a visa based on marriage to a Thai lady last month ,they said they could not do such a change one after the other at Chiang Mai immigration

Suspect the meaning was they can not approve such an extension at Chiang Mai as they can for retirement. Were you looking for an extension or a visa? If still on retirement extension you should have been able to change to Thai wife on next application.

I went to them one week before the retireement visa ran out .This time i had just B400,000 seasoned as i was expecting to get the visa based on Marriage .When they said they could not give the visa based on marriage i asked for a two month extension which they also refused .They advised me to do a Mai Sai border run ,and get a 15 day stamp ,then go to Bangkok and get a one month visa ,and then afterwards come back to them for the one year visa based on Marriage .

Anyway i did the Mai Sai run and then followed up their second option they gave ,which was to go to Laos for a M-O .The m-O suits me fine as i now dont have to deal with the overcrowded offices at CME .Happy days .Having to to a border run every 3 months is ok for me as i can combine it with a little holiday /or Mai SAI shopping trip anyway .

I think they were giving you the run around to try and push you into doing a retirement extension again.

Their is absolutely no rule that you cannot change from an extension (not a visa) for retirement to one for marriage and not use the same visa entry you had before.

The same thing can be said for the refusal of the 60 day extension.

[anto]

I suspect the on month thing would be the 30 day under consideration stamp you get when applying for an extension based upon marriage.

Yes ,i think that is correct .