My friend just phoned me from Savannakhet, Laos. He went there to apply for a 90 day Non Imm O visa. He had been reading on this Forum that the consulate at Savannakhet is lenient in issuing this type of visa. He is a native German, 59 years old, had his passport and paperwork in order along with a recent bank letter and updated copies of his passbook from BKK bank showing he had sufficient funds (800K baht) deposited in their bank. He met with two young thai "supervisors" at the consulate this morning to show them his paperwork. They flatly refused to issue him the Non Imm O visa. Their reason was that he needed to show proof of savings or a pension in Germany, on top of the bank balance in BKK Bank. Not only that, the proof of pension or savings needed to be notarized by the German Embassy in BKK!

Clearly this is either a change in the rules coming from the Foreign Ministry or these two young bureaucrats at the consulate were having fun flexing their "power" by denying my friend and other similarly qualified applicants. My friend had to settle for a double entry tourist visa. He is quite disappointed because this visa does not allow him to request a one year extension for retirement which was his purpose in traveling to Savannakhet to apply for the Non Imm O visa. Forum members should be advised of this change at this consulate.

Now my friend is requesting that i ask Forum members for advice about how he could secure a Non Imm O visa short of returning to Germany. He already has the necessary money being seasoned in a Bangkok bank. He just cannot show that the money came from overseas. Money exchange receipts are not enough proof according to Immigration. This has become a real problem for him. Anyone know a good law firm here who could help him? Other suggestions, please?

Was he trying to get a single or multiple entry. They will not do multiple entry visas for retirement. A single entry should of not been a problem.

He never had to leave to obtain a non immigrant visa for retirement extension of stay as it is directly available from immigration for 2,000 baht and proof of financials (as he has) so he can do anytime after his return on the tourist visa. The only requirement other than age 50 or more and having the financial proof is a tourist visa or visa exempt entry with at least 15 days remaining. If his local immigration is unable to do he can obtain from Bangkok immigration. 800k in bank will be fine for conversion to visa as there is no time in account requirement - but he should have proof that funds came from outside Thailand.

The guys at the consulate were wrong!

But that doesn't help your friend, so I will suggest he get a flight to a neighbouring country, just a turn-around. KL is good with many daily flights. When entering back into Thailand, he will get a visa-extemt stamp, which at his local immigration can be turned into a visa, which can be extended yearly. As he has the funds seasoned already, it should be a straight forward procedure.

He was applying only for single entry Non Imm O. Denied.

He already had gone to Chaeng Wattana before and requested the Non Imm O. The problem there was that he could not prove the money had come from outside Thailand. Immigration told him they need to see wire transfer receipts...money exchange receipts from within BKK was not sufficient.

There is no need for funds to be seasoned to obtain conversion inside Thailand - no need to visit any Consulate; anywhere.

There is no need for funds to be seasoned to obtain conversion inside Thailand - no need to visit any Consulate; anywhere.

This seems to be in reply to the post by soi41. The subsequent post by the OP shows that this person has already tried the conversion in Thailand and been rejected because he couldn't satisfactorily prove that the funds came from abroad.

Sophon

Had not seen as that 2nd post was not displayed when I was posting. Just viewing now.

There is no need for funds to be seasoned to obtain conversion inside Thailand - no need to visit any Consulate; anywhere.

This seems to be in reply to the post by soi41. The subsequent post by the OP shows that this person has already tried the conversion in Thailand and been rejected because he couldn't satisfactorily prove that the funds came from abroad.

Sophon

Wire funds outside, wire them back in to another account, keep records in a safe place.

Edited October 16, 201312 yr by paz

Tell me I'm reading this wrong.

You now have to show that the 800,000 has to come in from overseas every year.?????

Not every year. Only at the first application.

Tell me I'm reading this wrong.

You now have to show that the 800,000 has to come in from overseas every year.?????

Not every year. Only at the first application.

No, only when you do a conversion to a non-immigrant visa.

So,

You work over here for a few years, gather your cash, all earned in Thailand and tax paid etc etc. Then when you want a retirement visa/extension you have to prove that the 800,000 in the bank came in from overseas when you haven't been overseas for years.

NB.

Never had a full 3 years work to allow for applying for PR etc, ie contract work. Actually got 2 years and 7months one time and really thought I was going to make it.

The guys at the consulate were wrong!

But that doesn't help your friend, so I will suggest he get a flight to a neighbouring country, just a turn-around. KL is good with many daily flights. When entering back into Thailand, he will get a visa-extemt stamp, which at his local immigration can be turned into a visa, which can be extended yearly. As he has the funds seasoned already, it should be a straight forward procedure.

My friend had to settle for a double entry tourist visa

"When entering back into Thailand, he will get a visa-extemt stamp"

Since he received a tourist visa, what would be the point of flying out of the country and getting a visa exempt entry?

The usual Thai visa nightmare. That's why I refuse to settle down again in this country. Meanwhile I prefer to spend my money in South America, no problems with visa and all this nasty hassles. You come, you show your passport, 3 months stay, after that you go to a neighbouring country, there the same, and you come back, again 3 months.

Malaysia has much more friendly visa laws then Thailand. 3 months stay at arrival. Thai visa regulations are a big money-making business. Even husbands of Thai women need a visa... In comparison to all this, Western countries have very lenient regulations.

The usual Thai visa nightmare. That's why I refuse to settle down again in this country. Meanwhile I prefer to spend my money in South America, no problems with visa and all this nasty hassles. You come, you show your passport, 3 months stay, after that you go to a neighbouring country, there the same, and you come back, again 3 months.

Malaysia has much more friendly visa laws then Thailand. 3 months stay at arrival. Thai visa regulations are a big money-making business. Even husbands of Thai women need a visa... In comparison to all this, Western countries have very lenient regulations.

But South America is not fun. They are accepting to Westerners, one can understand and get understood in two or three human languages, their customs and attitudes are mostly derived straight for Europe.. they eat no strange stuff.. where's is the fun ?

Oh yes, when you feel the tip of cold barrel on the back of you neck two blocks away from a nice popular beach. Very funny.