Thaivisa.com to meet with Immigration Commissioner

[Expattaff1308]

1.I submit the same paperwork year on year for my retirement extension, the only change being my increase in annual pension, everything else is exactly the same as previous years, will it ever become possible that this information is stored on computer and I only need to inform you of any changes or supply anything further that Immigration needs with my extension application, instead of repetative annual paperwork?

 

2. Is there any plans to extend extension periods to 3 or 5 yrs for those long time expats who have continuously stayed for (eg) 5 yrs?

 

3.If yes to number 2, could the 90 day then become an annual report unless there are any changes? If not how about online reporting?

 

4. I appreciate this one is a Government issue and would require a change of law but I would appreciate it if it could be considered.

Many expats here purchase homes for their families and still have to meet the 800,000 Baht annually. Would it be possible to consider that those who have purchased the family home and are listed on the Chanote and hold a yellow book be given some recognition for that investment and have maybe some discount to the annual 800,000 or 400,000 figures. (for example show 500,000 annually and a copy of the property details) = 800,000 for retirement  and maybe for marriage discount 150,000 and show 250,000 = 400,000.

 

5. I read often the different interprutations of rules for each office including the prices for services, could these be standardised and published in each Immigration office to stop any misunderstanding of policy or price.

Thank you for your consideration.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Expattaff1308

[jonnyscot]

Would you consider reducing the overall timeframe for foreigners wishing to make an application for an extension inside Thailand, this is specific to people such as offshore workers who have thai wife and non imm o visas but don't remain in Thailand long enough to satisfy the requirement of time in country before being permitted to apply for extension and the under consideration period, due to their work schedule outside Thailand, some workers only remain in Thailand for 4 weeks or less followed by regular periods of between 4 weeks and 8 weeks or more outside country before returning to see our families for another 4 week period.

as a side note;; I'm sure many offshore workers would happily cover an additional cost for an express service for an application for extension if it were made available


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[Bazle]

What is the number of times in one year that you can enter Thailand with a 30 day visa exempt stamp. I was told by immigration officials at airport when I entered that since this was my 3rd entry in 2014 that I may not be allowed to come back

 

Same question but asking for further clarification -

 

1.  If there is such a rule, what is a "year" - the present calendar year or the last 365 days?

 

2. If there is such a rule, does it apply to everyone or just those coming from neighbouring countries?

 

3.  If there isn't a restriction based on number of visits in one year, are there any other restrictions planned and, if so, what are they (full details)?

[laocowboy2]

I live and work in Cyprus - where there is no Thai diplomatic representation and therefore nowhere to apply for visas. I  normally visit Thailand several times a year using the 30 day exempt. So far I have visited twice for business, twice for pleasure (my Thai wife is resident in Thailand - she is not keen on Cyprus) and twice for medical (cancer diagnosis and then a month later an operation). Apart from the operation visit (when I was in Bangkok for three weeks before I was allowed to travel) my normal visit duration in two weeks or less. I will be visiting again later this month for 10 days further treatment and will be doing so again in November. Will there be problems if I continue to enter on 30 days exempt. If yes,  what sort of visa should I seek - and how do I get it given the lack of any Thai representation here?

[BlackJack]

Why isnt the "retirement visa" means tested -ie if you own your own condo then you dont have to pay rent and so the amount you need to live on is far less than 65K per month as opposed to a person that needs to rent a condo. Also being married you need to show half of what a single person would have to show - however being married there might be 4 kids and so a total of 6 people can live on half that of a single retired person?

 

[Lite Beer]

Is there any chance of ending the discrimination against Thai Women who want their foreign Husbands to live with them in Thailand?

I.E. treat them the same way as Thai Men who want their foreign Wives to live with them

[razer]

Would Immigration consider issuing Ex-patriot ID cards to people who have legal visas that allow residency, like Malaysia, Taiwan and Korea?

[SICHONSTEVE]

 Have you ever considered doing away with visa runs for expats and allowing a visit to the local immigration office instead in order to get a stamp (charging a fee of say 1,000 baht) as this would generate money for the government and make it much more convenient and less costly in terms of not having to make those unnecessary visits to the border to exit and re-enter Thailand? 

[weescotsguy66]

Why in applying for a Marriage Non Imm O visa do you have to apply for a Non Imm O single entry outside the country. If you are on a Tourist Visa (UK) why can you not get a Non Imm O without leaving the country after we are married?

[Local farang]

Yacht Crews foreign Flagged yachts whos owners choose to keep the boats here . What Visa can Yacht Captains and crews expect to get from the embassy ?

 

[mmail2you]

Why can't expats with a 12 month Visa/ extaension of stay be offered a ID card which is in alignment with the extension of stay they have been given and if they wish to charge a nominal fee for this rather the stupid Idea of carrying your passport.

[uptheos]

Why isnt the "retirement visa" means tested -ie if you own your own condo then you dont have to pay rent and so the amount you need to live on is far less than 65K per month as opposed to a person that needs to rent a condo. Also being married you need to show half of what a single person would have to show - however being married there might be 4 kids and so a total of 6 people can live on half that of a single retired person?

 

 

I'll second that question.

[monk213]

My question is this: I have renewed my ED visa last month (July) and it is not an extension it is a new 1 year ED visa. I go to class as I should and speak fairly decent Thai. Do I have to leave the country to renew it again and if so when?

[Sydneycraig]

Is it against any rules to use a triple entry tourist visa to stay (with extensions and 2 exit/entry) for a stay of 7-9 months a year ? Is it possible to repeat this yearly after 3-5 months in home country?

[badmedicine]

Could you set up a confidential hotline (with English language operator) for expats to report people known to be staying here illegally?


There are many good people staying legally in Thailand who would like to help remove the criminal elements who come here and abuse the system. Criminals are often known more easily to other expats than they are to Thai officials, so a hotline would be a great aid in enforcing the law. Edited August 6, 2014 by badmedicine

[dkwebb59]

Regarding the rule to carry our Passport with us at all times. I assume this is to make sure I'm not on over stay. My Passport is good for 10 years. If I have to carry it at all times, it probably wouldn't even last 5 years. Plus it would be easier to get lost. I have a suggestion: Below the Immigration Visa stamp, in our Passport, insert a block. In this block, the Immigration officer would write our name. Then we could just carry a copy of the Passport picture page and a copy of the page with the Visa stamp (which would have our name written in by the Immigration officer). This way, we would only have to carry 2 small pieces of paper with us. Personally, I would rather take the possible chance of having to pay a 2000 baht fine rather than take the greater chance of loosing the Passport (or stolen) and then have to go thru all the hassle of replacing my Passport.

[Nuddy]

My question is,

Can immigration allow for good conduct long term expats who have done correct always by allowing a graduated scale of less paperwork.

For instance after 5 years allow the yearly extension (marriage/retirement/etc) be rewarded with  say 6 monthly reporting, or longer extensions, and after 10 years say more consideration.

 

Reason. No matter how much we stay here, no matter how good we are, no matter how much we comply, no matter how much baht we bring in, each extension is like you have just arrived in country.

 

If you fail that extension process for some reason the best you get is a 7 day extension to leave the country. (unless you decide to make the interviewing officer happy)

All can be stamped in the passport

All can be documented.

 

[Old Man River]

Any chance of ID cards for Permanent Residents?

Although completely legal, not having current re-entry permits in our PR books and none in our passports raises questions.


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[unclekleef]

1: I have two questions : Why when you have a work pass do you have to do a 90 day report and also have to get a Multi-Entry Visa?

2: Carrying your passport at all times is both risky (theft) and inconvenient, especially if you go to the beach etc, would it not be possible for Expats both retirees and Work Pass, to have a similar i/d card as Thais, that way if it is lost or stolen, you do not have the major problem that would apply to a passport. 

 

I have not read all the posts, so if this is a repeat - my apologies.

[Time Traveller]

1. Why do we need to do 90 day reporting, when we regularly have to ask immigration to extend our stay and required to update the info then anyway?

2. IS there going to be any review or changes to other categories for people who living in thailand by work/marriage visas? 

3. Why are immigration extension of stay requirements different every time we request this? 

[eggers]

At Immigration yesterday for Retirement Visa & Multiple entry Visa.

To reduce time, is there any way of combining the granting the Visas to one process?

[SICHONSTEVE]

Regarding the rule to carry our Passport with us at all times. I assume this is to make sure I'm not on over stay. My Passport is good for 10 years. If I have to carry it at all times, it probably wouldn't even last 5 years. Plus it would be easier to get lost. I have a suggestion: Below the Immigration Visa stamp, in our Passport, insert a block. In this block, the Immigration officer would write our name. Then we could just carry a copy of the Passport picture page and a copy of the page with the Visa stamp (which would have our name written in by the Immigration officer). This way, we would only have to carry 2 small pieces of paper with us. Personally, I would rather take the possible chance of having to pay a 2000 baht fine rather than take the greater chance of loosing the Passport (or stolen) and then have to go thru all the hassle of replacing my Passport.

 

 You do not need to carry your passport around with you - just produce it in a reasonable time when challenged.

[DrTuner]

Is there an online website where all the current ministerial regulations and police orders regarding immigration can be downloaded ?

 

Are the immigration police orders published in the Royal Gazette ?

 

Who is the official spokesman for Thailand's immigration ?

[Sortapundit]

This one has already been proposed, but it bears repeating: 

 

When is a tourist no longer a tourist? For how long can a person legally visit Thailand for leisure purposes? Is there a limit of x days in a calendar year, or x tourist visas/exemptions?

 

And a corollary: will immigration officers receive clear instructions of these limits to ensure that decisions made at land and air borders are fair and consistent?

[Sojuncoke]

1) Could they review or come up with a visa that will benefit expats earning income from oversea and wishes to pay taxes and also call thailand their home away from home ? since getting PR status is a long and tides process

 

2) If NOT Will they review and maybe come up with a installment plans for ppl to purchase thai elite card (i know people will say there is gonna be ppl abusing this if so. Maybe come out with somthing like 3 mths review just like the ED visa. and for those who didnt made their payment the visa would be cancel ?) 

 

Above is the 2 question i would like to ask. Thanks !

 

Please ask this question! It will help many!

[NamKangMan]

To avoid any more confusion amongst expats and tourists will it be possible to clearly state the rules for duration of stay for people on various visa's and VOA so that they have a clear understanding of the boundaries - for example, in any 180 days a tourist can only stay in Thailand x number of days or in any 12 months etc, and must leave Thailand for x number of days before being allowed to return on VOA or tourist visa - just some clarity so that people know exactly what is allowed which will also help those on work rotation patterns  

 

I would like a firm commitment from Thai Immigration on this issue as well.

 

I'll simplify smedly's question and ask: "How long does a person on a 30 day visa exemption stamp, or a 60 day tourist visa, have to be outside of Thailand, before their re-entry back into Thailand, or their application for another 60 day tourist visa, IS NOT considered to be "back to back" by Thai Immigration?

[evadgib]

1. To eliminate misinterpretation at lower levels how about implementing one set of rules nationwide & ensuring each office(r ) complies?

 

2. When can foreign spouses married to Thais & on extensions based on marriage expect parity re the renewal process?

 

   (I'm told that Indonesia addressed this <gender discrimination> issue recently in order to bring them in line re ASEAN).  

Edited August 6, 2014 by evadgib

[DrTuner]

Is the Privileged Entry visa offered by Thailand Elite defined in an ministerial order/police order and if so, where can these orders be had for a review ?

[Nuddy]

Why was the grandfather clause cut out for the married to Thai foreigner a few years ago

It was 200.000 baht in the bank, and then without notice the grandfather clause was cut out making the foreigner add 200.000 baht to the bank account or leave.

Why couldn't the grandfather clause continue on forever.

Who decided to change this and why.

Thank you for the opportunity to ask questions.

 

[patekatek]

I will echo the many previous posts asking that an ID card be issued that is good for 1-5 years that eliminates the need for 90 day reporting. My "local" office does not recommend using postal services and so I have a 150 km round trip drive to Hua Hin every 90 days. The other request would be to eliminate the "re-entry" permit for persons on an approved 1 year extension. Lastly, I would like to be able to apply for, and receive, permanent residence status based on marriage to a Thai and not have to have a job in Thailand. I'm retired and really would like to keep it that way.