Questions about a Non-imm visa for 'non-educational training'

[pocket]

Hi, I have a few questions about the non-immigrant visa, specifically for 'non-educational training'

I'm from Australia, and on the visa form for non-immigrant visa you have the option of getting a single entry or multiple entry, with each entry being good for 90days.

So my questions are:

1) what is the visa 'type' for a non-educational non-immigrant visa? (I've seen non-imm type O, type A, etc.)

2) Can each entry be extended for some period at the immigration office at Laksi? (like you can do with tourist visas)

3) Assuming I want to stay in Thailand for as long as possible, doing as few border runs as possible, what would be my best visa option? I'd like to stay for something like 4 to 8 months without leaving if it's doable.

Any help or pointers would be a big help!

Thanks

[wayned]

Without knowing your age or plans most likely the best option is a triple entry tourist visa. If used properly you can get almost 270 days permission to stay with 2 border runs and three 30 day extensions.

There may be other options but more info is required. Age, married to a Thai, have a Thai family, financial status, etc., etc?

[ubonjoe]

On what basis are you getting the visa? Do you have supporting documents for the application.

What is non educational training?

You would have to qualify for an extension of stay to get an extension of more than 7 days for a non immigrant visa entry.

[pocket]

Without knowing your age or plans most likely the best option is a triple entry tourist visa. If used properly you can get almost 270 days permission to stay with 2 border runs and three 30 day extensions.

There may be other options but more info is required. Age, married to a Thai, have a Thai family, financial status, etc., etc?

Sorry I should have provided more info in the post.

I'm 25, not married to a thai, no family connection to thailand at all, unemployed in australia.

My purpose for going to thailand is to play sport, and to that end I have a letter of invitation from a club saying I can stay with them and train with them indefinitely. If it's beneficial as far as visas go, I could even work for the same club and get an employment visa I guess? Employment visas seem fairly restrictive though, so I'm not sure if that'd be better?

I'm obviously missing something, but on the visa application form it says the visa is only valid for 90 days from the date of issue. So if I was to get a multiple entry tourist visa, and stay for 90 days on the first entry, then wouldn't the visa have expired by the time I do a visa run and try to use the second entry? How does that work?

[ubonjoe]

You will not be able to get a non immigrant visa.

A 3 entry tourist visa would have 6 months validity.

Where do you plan on applying? One of the honorary consulates would be the best place to get your visa. Info here: http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/consulate.html

[pocket]

You will not be able to get a non immigrant visa.

A 3 entry tourist visa would have 6 months validity.

Where do you plan on applying? One of the honorary consulates would be the best place to get your visa. Info here: http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/consulate.html

Why wouldn't I be able to get a non immigrant visa?

I called the thai embassy in Canberra earlier and they said that sport was valid for a non-educational non immigrant visa.

And yeah, I'd be applying with the thai embassy in canberra.

Also, last year I had a dual entry tourist visa and was told by the embassy that I had to use the second entry within 90 days of them issuing me the visa :/

Has something changed since then, or was I given the wrong information?

[wayned]

If you get a triple entry tourist visa it will be valid for 6 months from the date that it is issued. Get the visa just before your departure. Upon enrty you will getr 60 days permission to stay. Extend that 60 days for 30 more, 1900 baht. On the day that the extension expires do a border run and you will get 60 days when you enter. Extend that 60 days for 30 days more, 1900 baht Now the most important part. There is a "must enter by date on the visa. On or before that date make your last exit/re-entry. You will get 60 days permission to stay on entry and that can be extended for another 30 days. Hence, almost 270 days depending when you get the visa and how you use it!!

[pocket]

If you get a triple entry tourist visa it will be valid for 6 months from the date that it is issued. Get the visa just before your departure. Upon enrty you will getr 60 days permission to stay. Extend that 60 days for 30 more, 1900 baht. On the day that the extension expires do a border run and you will get 60 days when you enter. Extend that 60 days for 30 days more, 1900 baht Now the most important part. There is a "must enter by date on the visa. On or before that date make your last exit/re-entry. You will get 60 days permission to stay on entry and that can be extended for another 30 days. Hence, almost 270 days depending when you get the visa and how you use it!!

Aah ok, that sounds kinda doable. Is it possible to do the 30 day extensions anywhere other than chaengwattana? I'll be living in Ratchaburi, and it'd be great if I don't have to head to bkk to do it.

Thanks for the help!

[ubonjoe]

You will not be able to get a non immigrant visa.

A 3 entry tourist visa would have 6 months validity.

Where do you plan on applying? One of the honorary consulates would be the best place to get your visa. Info here: http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/consulate.html

Why wouldn't I be able to get a non immigrant visa?

I called the thai embassy in Canberra earlier and they said that sport was valid for a non-educational non immigrant visa.

And yeah, I'd be applying with the thai embassy in canberra.

Also, last year I had a dual entry tourist visa and was told by the embassy that I had to use the second entry within 90 days of them issuing me the visa :/

Has something changed since then, or was I given the wrong information?

Do you have any supporting documents from a school or some type of training facility? Without that you will not get it.

Even for the non immigrant visa one of the honorary consulates would be more flexible than the embassy or official consulate in Sydney.

Normally a 2 entry visa has 6 months validity but there are some locations that do them with only 90 days.

[ubonjoe]

Tourist visa entry extensions can be applied for at any immigration office.

[pocket]

You will not be able to get a non immigrant visa.

A 3 entry tourist visa would have 6 months validity.

Where do you plan on applying? One of the honorary consulates would be the best place to get your visa. Info here: http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/consulate.html

Why wouldn't I be able to get a non immigrant visa?

I called the thai embassy in Canberra earlier and they said that sport was valid for a non-educational non immigrant visa.

And yeah, I'd be applying with the thai embassy in canberra.

Also, last year I had a dual entry tourist visa and was told by the embassy that I had to use the second entry within 90 days of them issuing me the visa :/

Has something changed since then, or was I given the wrong information?

Do you have any supporting documents from a school or some type of training facility? Without that you will not get it.

Even for the non immigrant visa one of the honorary consulates would be more flexible than the embassy or official consulate in Sydney.

Normally a 2 entry visa has 6 months validity but there are some locations that do them with only 90 days.

Yes I have a signed letter of invitation from the president of the sporting club that I'll be living and training with in Ratchaburi.

To be honest I didn't even know I could apply at an honorary consulate! Do you know if they accept applications by post? I'm in Darwin at the moment which is served by the honorary consulate in Adelaide according to your link.

re: the validity of a dual entry tourist visa - do you mean that the visa validity varies depending on which office I apply to? The dual entry that I referred to above was issued by the thai embassy in Canberra and only valid for 90 days.

It's kinda frustrating how inconsistent the whole visa system seems to be....

[pocket]

Here's a link to the visa form I'm using - no mention of triple entry tourist visas? (see part B on the right)

http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/doc/form/Visa%20Form%20A%20(Canberra)100913.pdf

Also:

"On both Single Entry and Double Entry Visa, do not apply

for a visa earlier than 3 months before you will arrive in Thailand, for double

entry visa 2nd entry must use within 3 months from the date of issued."

Is this unique to the canberra embassy and I can expect a longer visa validity if I apply elsewhere?

[ubonjoe]

They accept mail in applications. Info here in instructions for application form: http://www.royalthaiconsulate.org.au/New_Visa_Application_Form.pdf

The honorary consulates have been reported as issuing 3 entry visas and two entries with 6 month validity,

[pocket]

They accept mail in applications. Info here in instructions for application form: http://www.royalthaiconsulate.org.au/New_Visa_Application_Form.pdf

The honorary consulates have been reported as issuing 3 entry visas and two entries with 6 month validity,

That explains it! Excellent, well thank you very much for your advice - it's made things a whole lot clearer for me.