Worry-Free Non-O-Visa Savannakhet

[ubonjoe]

Stupid question:

The earliest date to apply for a new non-o visa in Savannakhet is 30 days before the old one ends, right?!?

Have to make a 90 day run on the 5th of April, but would then apply directly for a new one, due to my actual non O ends on 30th of April.

There is no 30 days before your visa ends to apply for a new one.

The enter before date on your visa is just that. You can make an entry on or before that date and get another 90 day entry.

You could do a border run on the 5th to get 90 days and then another one or before the 30th of May to get your last 90 day entry.

You could also apply for a 60 day extension to visit your wife at immigration prior to the April 5th and then do your last entry by the 30th of May.

[JJBloke]

Tourist Map and tips For an Enjoyable Stay in Savannakhet

(Posted this on another thread but this is the main one on-going about Sav, so...)

Hopefully attached below is the best tourist map available, it could do a with enlarging a bit, but can be read fairly easily. It shows the "Historic Walk" near to the old Consulate, the river, and Cafe Boon (which on the map is a grey block in the little square where it says Old Market at the left hand end of Senna Rd, near the tour route and Catholic church etc)

The 2 day system now in place is actually a bit more fun and relaxing than the 1 day.

Hotels: Tripadvisor is full of plaintive customers who booked though Agoda etc and were horrified to find sub-standard hotels with unattentive staff, who also took up to an hour to verify the existence of an online booking, if there were any staff there!. The prices seem to have been much higher online than walk-in, which added to people's disappointment, and then they're stuck with their choice. The ones on the map all still exist....Leena is there, but it's not especially rated on tripadvisor, but I guess the good reports are from having English speaking staff. The best thing to do is have a rough look at where they all are on the map and go in person....The Sala Savan near the Catholic church looks interesting and comfy.

Often there will be no one at the desk and just a number to summon staff.... it's all like southern France 40 years ago.

Get yourself a bicycle asap that has no flat tyres etc, and that is perfect for getting around...... Cafe Boon is well-known and a great hang-out..... Also Linn's Cafe, on the tour route, is really nice frenchy-farang place. If you go along the riverfront, the best place with proper cold beers and food and a toilet and proper building is Sala Beer, where you can look over to Muk.... so cheep it's almost free!

Tuk-tuks: Here's a good tip to minimise the annoying advances from tuk-tuk drivers, who will lurk around for hours if they think you will be a fare.... The Muk-Sav international bus goes to the Savannakhet Bus Station, from where you can easily walk to the Consulate (which isn't on this map, but you can see it on the bus ride in) And don't forget that after you come out with your visa, all those tuk-tuk drivers are only going to take you to the bridge to meet the bus, so why not walk back round to the bus station and get onto it at source?

Savannakhet can be fun and relaxing..... helps if you speak Thai, or even French maybe.

Just a different perspective after so many posts about how boring it is, including from me.

Here's the map, hopefully: Maybe someone might like to crop and resize. The owner of my hotel (Souanavong GH, Senna Rd) liked it and made himself a copy!

Edited March 17, 2015 by JJBloke

[thesquillo]

Hey all, just picked up my multi entry non o from savannakhet. Honestly could not believe how easy and quick it was. Yesterday dropped off my passport, copy marriage cert (australian) copies of wifes id and blue book and copy of my passport + 5000 baht. Took less than 5 mins, picked up just now, again less than 5 mins.

Am staying at the savan vegas casino, its pretty good. They have free transport for guests and he rooms are fairly nice. Breakfast buffet nothing to rave about, but a decent variety and enough for you to fill up on.

[Ian1980]

Friend of mine need to go there after tomorrow for a single Non O:following documents are right and complete,and the fees are 1900 baht?

- visa application (see Application.jpg)
- 2 pictures attached to the application
- original marriage certificate
- 1 copy of marriage certificate, i.e. front and back page copied back to back on a single sheet with no date and signature on it (see Marriage Certificate Front and Back Page.jpg)
- 1 copy of my passport front page dated 15.01.2013 and signed by me
- 1 copy of my wife’s ID card, front and back page copied on a single front sheet, dated 15.1.2013 and signed by my wife only
- 1 copy of my wife’s Blue Book (Tabian Ban) copied on a single front sheet dated 15.01.2013 and signed by my wife only
- 1900 Baht visa fee

[ubonjoe]

The fee for a multiple entry visa is 5000 baht. The 1900 baht number is for an extension of stay at immigration.

The remainder is correct.

[Ian1980]

And for one entry,how much is the fee?

[ubonjoe]

It is 2000 baht for a single entry.

[Ian1980]

Few last issue: start from Pattaya and back i will say 1500 baht for the bus.Going into Laos 1500 baht.Non O visa 2000.Will say 5000 baht.Will this enough?

Going tomorrow evening,apply on Wendsday morning,i will get the visa back on the same day?

[ubonjoe]

Few last issue: start from Pattaya and back i will say 1500 baht for the bus.Going into Laos 1500 baht.Non O visa 2000.Will say 5000 baht.Will this enough?

Going tomorrow evening,apply on Wendsday morning,i will get the visa back on the same day?

It is has been next afternoon service at Savannakhet since the 1st of February.

You need to add some in for one night in a hotel plus some for food and transport.

[wildpikey]

Hi all,

good to see this visa still seems to be available at this location. one question I cannot seem to find the answer to is:

I am at present on a 30 day visa excemption in Thailand, My aim is to go to Savannakhet to apply for the 1 year multi O visa based on marriage to a Thai. Is this ok? or is there a rule that a proper visa has to be obtained before hand???

Appreciate a quickish answer as I am planning my trip soonest.

Regards...

[ubonjoe]

Hi all,

good to see this visa still seems to be available at this location. one question I cannot seem to find the answer to is:

I am at present on a 30 day visa excemption in Thailand, My aim is to go to Savannakhet to apply for the 1 year multi O visa based on marriage to a Thai. Is this ok? or is there a rule that a proper visa has to be obtained before hand???

Appreciate a quickish answer as I am planning my trip soonest.

Regards...

The type of entry you have for Thailand now does not matter. It will be null and void as soon as leave the country.

[wildpikey]

Hi all,

good to see this visa still seems to be available at this location. one question I cannot seem to find the answer to is:

I am at present on a 30 day visa excemption in Thailand, My aim is to go to Savannakhet to apply for the 1 year multi O visa based on marriage to a Thai. Is this ok? or is there a rule that a proper visa has to be obtained before hand???

Appreciate a quickish answer as I am planning my trip soonest.

Regards...

The type of entry you have for Thailand now does not matter. It will be null and void as soon as leave the country.

Thanks so much for the prompt info. That;s great.

I have to admit that the thing that annoys me most about Thailand is the total lack of correct (or lasting) information that can be given by any authority.

We have to rely on other expat / traveller information that is updated as soon as Thai authority changes it on a whim!

Keep up the good work guys, it really is appreciated.....

[carlpipe]

Great post, thank you all.

I will soon go for the Non-O multi-entry from Savannakhet without financials.

Am I correct to understand that when it comes to year two, three, etc, I must then either:

a- apply for an extension inside Thailand with financials

b- repeat the Savannakhet process yearly, indefinitely, until such time as we either register a business here or I provide financials or I retire (for which I must also provide financials anyway)

Also, I work online for an Australian company. If I do choose to provide financials via a stat dec at the Australian embassy, won't this then raise questions about a work permit?

Also, we'll probably go with option b above... are there other places in the world that can do this as well as Savannakhet? If so, we'll just have to have an international holiday every year....

Edited May 27, 2015 by carlpipe

[ubonjoe]

Great post, thank you all.

I will soon go for the Non-O multi-entry from Savannakhet without financials.

Am I correct to understand that when it comes to year two, three, etc, I must then either:

a- apply for an extension inside Thailand with financials

b- repeat the Savannakhet process yearly, indefinitely, until such time as we either register a business here or I provide financials or I retire (for which I must also provide financials anyway)

Also, I work online for an Australian company. If I do choose to provide financials via a stat dec at the Australian embassy, won't this then raise questions about a work permit?

Also, we'll probably go with option b above... are there other places in the world that can do this as well as Savannakhet? If so, we'll just have to have an international holiday every year....

Any income is acceptable to immigration as long as it is not from working here without a work permit.

You don't have to show anything get the statutory declaration. If immigration asked for back up proof of you could show proof of your income from working in Australia. The best backup proof is a Thai bank book showing regular transfers into the country.

[carlpipe]

Thankyou so much Joe for your reply Joe, greatly appreciated

Sounds like in my case I may be unnecessarily concerned about the showing financials aspect. If I was to go with that option, I understand I do the stat dec in the Australian Embassy in Bangkok (which I could do together with the declaration of not being married previously).

Following that, I am then missing a piece of the puzzle. I assume therefore that with the financials I can get the one year non-o multi entry almost anywhere?

Would I be right to assume that the first one would be outside Thailand, then yearly extensions after that? I am on a Tourist Visa now and under the impression that I can't simply transfer over? Or can I?

Please help me clear up my last two assumptions

[ubonjoe]

Thankyou so much Joe for your reply Joe, greatly appreciated

Sounds like in my case I may be unnecessarily concerned about the showing financials aspect. If I was to go with that option, I understand I do the stat dec in the Australian Embassy in Bangkok (which I could do together with the declaration of not being married previously).

Following that, I am then missing a piece of the puzzle. I assume therefore that with the financials I can get the one year non-o multi entry almost anywhere?

Would I be right to assume that the first one would be outside Thailand, then yearly extensions after that? I am on a Tourist Visa now and under the impression that I can't simply transfer over? Or can I?

Please help me clear up my last two assumptions

You can get a single entry non-o visa and then apply for the one year extension based upon marriage by showing an income of at least 40k baht. There is no requirement to get a multiple entry visa first.

It is possible to apply for a change of visa status at Bangkok immigration to obtain a non immigrant visa entry but it requires 2 trips 15 days apart to get it. You would have to show all the same supporting documents needed for an extension of stay.

[carlpipe]

"You can get a single entry non-o visa and then apply for the one year extension based upon marriage by showing an income of at least 40k baht. There is no requirement to get a multiple entry visa first."

In the above scenario, the single entry is from basically anywhere outside Thailand though right? e.g. I could get the single from KL, then apply for one year extension after 89/90 days?

Thanks for the note re: Bangkok changeover as we'd prefer one trip, which I suspect you guessed.

Please forgive me if I am asking too much!

[ubonjoe]

I would suggest other places other than KL for the non-o visa. KL is not always friendly and not predictable as to what they will want. Penang, Vientiane or Savannakhet would be better.

You can apply for your extension during the last 30 days of the 90 entry from the visa. No need ot wait for the last days.

[carlpipe]

Champion, thanks so much!

Do you know if the stat dec re: income expires? Valid for a year I assume?

Edited May 27, 2015 by carlpipe

[ubonjoe]

A statutory declaration that is up to 6 months old will be accepted by immigration.

[carlpipe]

The single entry from Penang is without proof of income right? I don't actually use the proof of income until the extension right?

[ubonjoe]

A single entry non-o based upon marriage requires no financial proof in Penang.

[cfhebertjr]

The post below is from gzu88bb. I do not believe it is that simple in Savannakhet but I want to be wrong. Some Tout from "Visa run services to Laos" in Nong Khai wants to charge me 6000 baht only for taxi service.

I need a Non Imm O (Foreign Spouse - me). Here now on tourist extension although I am married 8 years to Thai. It's a 20 hour RT drive from Phayao to Vientiane. Four days total travel and overnight.

For 8 years I have only needed Tourist Visa as I commute to work in APME. Work is slow now and figure its time to bite the bullet and get a real visa.

I have all kinds of payslips, bank statements, marriage certs, Thai driver's license, etc.etc. I don't have time to make mistakes on a 4 day journey.

How many extensions can I get on a Tourist visa? I run to Mae Sai for extensions.

The Arbittor in Chiang Rai will do a Spouse Support Visa extension for 90 days but they require certified payslips from US Consulate in Chiang Mai.

Please someone give me the latest requirements in this New Regime.

Posted 2014-01-17 12:54:11

This is to inform you folks that I myself (without my wife present) did apply successfully for a Multiple Non-O-Visa at the Royal Thai Consulate General in Savannakhet/ Lao. My passport comprises several Multiple Thai Non-O-Visas that I acquired from different countries over the last 8 years and one re-enty permit stamp as a precautionary measure in case my first-time Savannakhet application would have failed.
POPULAR

With a smile and well dressed (long trousers) I handed in the following paperwork, waied the officer and the only words exchanged with him were: „sawadee khrap, please give me a Multiple Non-O-Visa for 1 year, kop khun khrap„ and nothing else. The officer did not say a single word, quickly glanced through my paperwork and after literally 10 seconds I left the window again.

I handed in the following:

- visa application (see Application.jpg)

- 2 pictures attached to the application

- original marriage certificate

- 1 copy of marriage certificate, i.e. front and back page copied back to back on a single sheet with no date and signature on it (see Marriage Certificate Front and Back Page.jpg)

- 1 copy of my passport front page dated 15.01.2013 and signed by me

- 1 copy of my wife’s ID card, front and back page copied on a single front sheet, dated 15.1.2013 and signed by my wife only

- 1 copy of my wife’s Blue Book (Tabian Ban) copied on a single front sheet dated 15.01.2013 and signed by my wife only

- 5000 Baht visa fee

So in essence the only thing I really had to show was the original marriage certificate which I got back again. No other questions were asked and no proof of financials was needed nor asked.

Enclosed you will find the shuttle bus time table departing from Friendship Bridge (not Mukda Han) on the left hand side. The one-way bus fare just over the bridge is THB 50, also payable with Thai Baht at the Lao side.

Tuk-tuks on the Lao side bring you for approx. THB 150-200 one way directly to the Thai Consulate. Opening hours respectively to hand in your application has to take place from 09.00 to 11.00 in the morning and you will be able to pick up your visa from 14.00-14.30 the next day. When you pick up your visa, be there in time.

[ubonjoe]

Here are a couple of reports from earlier this year from the pinned topic called latest reports of getting a visa. A search would reveal more.

2015-01-20 http://www.thaivisa....sa-no-problems/

2015-02-27 http://www.thaivisa....-multiple-trip/

[cfhebertjr]

Here are a couple of reports from earlier this year from the pinned topic called latest reports of getting a visa. A search would reveal more.

2015-01-20 http://www.thaivisa....sa-no-problems/

2015-02-27 http://www.thaivisa....-multiple-trip/

Thanks Ubonjoe. I did not clearly state that I was looking for information about Vientiane. I searched the forum for a thread but could not locate one. Savannakhet is a much farther drive than Vien.

[ubonjoe]

You did not find anything about Vientiane because they do not do multiple entry visas. They will only do a single entry non-o visa based upon marriage.

[cfhebertjr]

Here are a couple of reports from earlier this year from the pinned topic called latest reports of getting a visa. A search would reveal more.

2015-01-20 http://www.thaivisa....sa-no-problems/

2015-02-27 http://www.thaivisa....-multiple-trip/

Okay ubonjoe thanks for your input....let's try again:

I need a Non Imm O (Foreign Spouse - me). I am Here now on tourist extension although I am married 8 years to Thai. It's a 20 hour RT drive from Phayao to Vientiane. Four days total travel and overnight.

For 8 years I have only used a Tourist Visa as I commute to work in APME. Work is slow now and these Tourist Visa Extensions are eating into my Beer money.

I have all kinds of payslips, bank statements, marriage certs, Thai driver's license, etc.etc. but I don't have time to make mistakes on a 4 day journey.

The Arbittor in Chiang Rai will do a Spouse Support Visa extension for 90 days but they may require certified payslips from US Consulate in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is a 3 hour drive one way and US consulate only provides Citizen services on Tuesday and Thursday with a booking.

1. Is there a limit of times that a Tourist Visa can be extended? I run to Mae Sai for extensions. I am on extension now and it expires on 16th June

2. What are the requirements for a Non Immigration O Visa (Single Entry) in Vientiane?

The only hold up for me at the moment is this certified financials crap. I've got bank statements, payslips and retirement account statements out the wazoo but there is no easy way for me to get them certified by a Consulate. The wife and our daughters are on my company's health insurance. The wife receives a large monthly stipend and has for 8 years.

Please someone give me the latest requirements in this New Regime.

Thanks for your help in advance.

[nzexpat]

Not sure which "new regime" is being talked about !

To obtain an extension of stay based on marriage the financial (c*ap?) requirements are and remain the same as they have been for many years

IE

A. 400,000 in a Thai bank in the name of the applicant as shown by a letter from the bank and the account passbook.

OR

B. An income of 40,000/month certified by an Embassy in the form of a letter/ affidavit.

If these (cr**) financial requirements cannot be met then a multi-entry "NON -O" VISA based on marriage can be obtained from Savannakhet. Such a visa allows stays of up to 90 days in Thailand

Edited June 4, 2015 by nzexpat

[ubonjoe]

Here are a couple of reports from earlier this year from the pinned topic called latest reports of getting a visa. A search would reveal more.

2015-01-20 http://www.thaivisa....sa-no-problems/

2015-02-27 http://www.thaivisa....-multiple-trip/

Okay ubonjoe thanks for your input....let's try again:

I need a Non Imm O (Foreign Spouse - me). I am Here now on tourist extension although I am married 8 years to Thai. It's a 20 hour RT drive from Phayao to Vientiane. Four days total travel and overnight.

For 8 years I have only used a Tourist Visa as I commute to work in APME. Work is slow now and these Tourist Visa Extensions are eating into my Beer money.

I have all kinds of payslips, bank statements, marriage certs, Thai driver's license, etc.etc. but I don't have time to make mistakes on a 4 day journey.

The Arbittor in Chiang Rai will do a Spouse Support Visa extension for 90 days but they may require certified payslips from US Consulate in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is a 3 hour drive one way and US consulate only provides Citizen services on Tuesday and Thursday with a booking.

1. Is there a limit of times that a Tourist Visa can be extended? I run to Mae Sai for extensions. I am on extension now and it expires on 16th June

2. What are the requirements for a Non Immigration O Visa (Single Entry) in Vientiane?

The only hold up for me at the moment is this certified financials crap. I've got bank statements, payslips and retirement account statements out the wazoo but there is no easy way for me to get them certified by a Consulate. The wife and our daughters are on my company's health insurance. The wife receives a large monthly stipend and has for 8 years.

Please someone give me the latest requirements in this New Regime.

Thanks for your help in advance.

There have been no changes for getting a a non-o visa.

1. Are you just getting visa exempt entries at the border or do you have a tourist visa from an embassy or consulate.

Visa exempt entries are limited to only a couple of them back to back. You can only get one extension at immigration per entry.

2. To get a single entry non-o visa based upon marriage to a Thai you need your marriage certificate plus a copy, signed and dated copies of your wife's house book registry and ID card.

You can apply for a one year extension of stay based upon marriage at immigration after you have the non-o visa entry.

To prove you income of 40K baht you do an income affidavit at the US consulate in Chiang Mai.they do not ask for any proof.. Info is here: http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/service/notarial.html You will need to make an appointment to get the affidavit.

[cfhebertjr]

Thanks ubon and nz.

I was able to find a forum thread that gave me a link to the affidavit forms at USCS in Chiang Mai. Printed and filled already.

Scheduled the notarial services for next week at Consulate and since I need translation of passport we will go to Star Visa Services down the street from USC. They've done some certs and photos before. Our Amphur (Phu Kamyao) will do Tor Ror 13 (Yellow Tabian Ban) for me when we come back.

Ning at Star will assist in obtaining the Non-Imm O for Spouse or Retirement (my choice she says). Time is money to me and 4 days of travel and visa processing in Laos just does not add up in my book regardless of what Star Visa will charge. If I could go alone it might be worth it but the wife keeps me on a short leash here.

When in China...eat Chinese and the same goes for Laos!

ubon I am visa exempt and have one extension so it is good to know that another extension would not be allowed.

FYI I was able to get a 2 year Drivers License yesterday for 185 baht. Prior to the NEW REGIME it was 500 for one year and everyone seemed to have an attitude. The Amphur boss actually did all the paperwork. He filled and printed the Residence Certificate and did not even collect the signed passport copies and photo that I typically provide. He also refused the 200 baht stipend my wife slyly enclosed in a book which she pushed across the desk. He would not even touch the money. Freebies are nice.

For nz...new regime is the current regime not the old regime. Let me know if you need further clarification.

Thanks all for your assistance. Hopefully I am all set. If the Non/Imm O fails then we will head to Chiang Rai for Extension for Support of Thai Wife at Arbittor.