Offshore worker denied visa

[LazaTron]

I was denied a tourist visa in Singapore. They said too many visa runs. I have been out of Thailand for close to 3 months. I am on my way to Thailand to get married to my Thai fiance. I earn close to 500,000 baht per month as engineer working offshore.

I had 10 out in visa runs from last year mostly. I've bean to 10 other countries since my visa runs, including usa, an UK.

I'm flying in today, hopefully, on a visa waiver with exit flight. If Thailand no longer wants money from tourists like me, I can afford to holiday in any country in the world. Any recommendations for similar lifestyle, beach type places?

[96tehtarp]

I'm very sorry to hear you were turned down. Don't worry, you can get a visa somewhere else nearby.

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. Once married a 1 year multiple entry Non Immigrant "O" visa can be obtained in another consulate. Ask here for locations when you are ready.

You met a mean nasty in Singapore. Some embassies and consulate's do 'ave 'em.

[ubonjoe]

You went to the wrong place to get your visa. The Singapore embassy is well known for not always being friendly and is inconsistent in what they do.

You will have no problem getting a 30 day exempt entry that you can now extend for 30 days at immigration (new rules).

After you get married you can get a multiple entry non-o in Savannakhet Laos with no financial proof needed.

[ubonjoe]

Some abusive and off topic posts and replies to them have been removed. If you do not have anything helpful to write please do not post it.

[96tehtarp]

I just reread the OP. At his income level he should at the very least look into the Thailand Elite Card and the benefits that come with it for 500k THB. However, if married the Non-O is a much cheaper option.

[LazaTron]

Thanks. I know Singapore embassy is tough, but I had to come here for other reasons as well. The well known, "rude" lady was not there, but still no luck. This is a very good example of the lack of conformity. I wasted much of my very valuable time to follow the rules, and was to no benifit. My time of work is 10 weeks. One again I will end up trying to do a visa run, as my flights are already booked for my return to work.

[bkkjames]

You went to the wrong place to get your visa. The Singapore embassy is well known for not always being friendly and is inconsistent in what they do.

You will have no problem getting a 30 day exempt entry that you can now extend for 30 days at immigration (new rules).

After you get married you can get a multiple entry non-o in Savannakhet Laos with no financial proof needed.

Hi Joe:

Thanks for your ongoing input and knowledge. Just a question on your last point - this is a given?

[LazaTron]

Elite card? I'm wealthy, not stupid. Rules could change at any time, then what? If it gets to be any more of an issue to visit, I'll simply go elsewhere.

[micky plumb]

I am also on 28/28 rotation so thought I would get a 12 month non imm O visa. I applied through the Hull Consulate who were brilliant. However the visa was denied by the Thai Embassy in London. No reason given other than they said to get Tourist Visa. Every box was ticked, the team in Hull checked everything and sent to London. They were quite apologetic when they informed me.

I have just finished a contract in Thailand. WP cancelled. I used a new 2nd passport. I had prevoiusly entered Thailand on visa exempts.

[stopthegreed]

I work offshore. And I had been living in Thailand for 9 years. I was refused entry 2 Months ago, so I got a flight to the Philippines. I love it there, and I WILL NOT be returning to Thailand. The Filipino lasses can have some of my money instead. And they can all speak good English. No such issues with Visas, and Beaches there would knock spots on anything Thailand has to offer. So its a no brainer and win win, me,.. And, lose lose for Thailand...... Simple eh ?

[jmccarty]

Avoid the Thailand Embassy in Singapore. Mean tempered lot there!

[Equalizer]

I have lived here 10 years and have a few friends who work off shore. Probably the most carefree spenders Thailand receives, mostly due to the nature of their job and the income they earn. I went to the floating market yesterday looking into getting the wife a unit there. The place was packed with Chinese tour groups taking pictures of everything they could see. I was at the exit gate and huge coach load passed me on their way out, not one of them had a plastic bag with something inside it they had purchased in the market, i was quite amazed. One of them threw some paper onto the floor so i busted through them all and picked it up, went straight over to the scruffy git who threw it and placed it in his hands to rapturous applause from the Thai onlookers.

[biggles45]

"You went to the wrong place to get your visa. The Singapore embassy is well known for not always being friendly and is inconsistent in what they do."

Good to know that it was the OP fault that he didn't know that Thai embassies don't all read from the same book. Tourists are supposed to be psychic now, or spend time on line trying to discover who the "nasty" embassies are??

[PJcm]

Hawaii and you can afford it

[Berkshire]

"If Thailand no longer wants money from tourists like me, I can afford to holiday in any country in the world."

"The Filipino lasses can have some of my money instead."

Why is it ALWAYS about the money with you guys? Do you not have any other socially redeeming values? Perhaps that's why Thailand doesn't want you.

[soihok]

I just reread the OP. At his income level he should at the very least look into the Thailand Elite Card and the benefits that come with it for 500k THB. However, if married the Non-O is a much cheaper option.

The visa may be cheaper, but marrying a Thai lady ain't a cheap option

Believe me......

[Gandtee]

Baht 5000,000! No wonder our bloody petrol is so expensive!

[4evermaat]

Sorry to hear about singapore. Not so sure why these offshore workers with so much money and educational credentials do not go to the embassy/consulates most likely to issue a suitable visa and be done with it (penang, KL, PP, etc) It is an extra airplane ticket, but it would be done without a lot of the drama.

Hawaii and you can afford it

But where is the fun? What will you have to show for it when the money is all spent?

[Udoth]

The visa may be cheaper, but marrying a Thai lady ain't a cheap option

Believe me......

I don't believe you, I'm married to a Thai and she doesn't cost me any more than any wife would cost. I think it depends who you marry to and why.

If a 60 year old man marries a 20 year old girl, she will cost alot yes. and I don't blame her at all.

[Suradit69]

I work offshore. And I had been living in Thailand for 9 years. I was refused entry 2 Months ago, so I got a flight to the Philippines. I love it there, and I WILL NOT be returning to Thailand. The Filipino lasses can have some of my money instead. And they can all speak good English. No such issues with Visas, and Beaches there would knock spots on anything Thailand has to offer. So its a no brainer and win win, me,.. And, lose lose for Thailand...... Simple eh ?

"So its a no brainer and win win, me,.. And, lose lose for Thailand...... Simple eh ?"

How will Thailand ever cope?

[soihok]

The visa may be cheaper, but marrying a Thai lady ain't a cheap option

Believe me......

I don't believe you, I'm married to a Thai and she doesn't cost me any more than any wife would cost. I think it depends who you marry to and why.

If a 60 year old man marries a 20 year old girl, she will cost alot yes. and I don't blame her at all.

I see you are not well endowed on the humour front Udoth.

Only 10 years between me and my missus.

Lighten up

[Suradit69]

I had 10 out in visa runs from last year mostly.

"You went to the wrong place to get your visa. The Singapore embassy is well known for not always being friendly and is inconsistent in what they do."

Good to know that it was the OP fault that he didn't know that Thai embassies don't all read from the same book. Tourists are supposed to be psychic now, or spend time on line trying to discover who the "nasty" embassies are??

""Tourists are supposed to be psychic now,"

He isn't a tourist. It doesn't take a psychic to figure that out.

And, as he said:

I know Singapore embassy is tough

So even without psychic abilities he knew they were difficult about handing tourist visas to people who clearly are not tourists.

If Thailand no longer wants money from tourists like me, I can afford to holiday in any country in the world.

And maybe the embassy spotted the ego he was sporting.

Edited September 4, 2014 by Suradit69

[HidyHo]

I work offshore. And I had been living in Thailand for 9 years. I was refused entry 2 Months ago, so I got a flight to the Philippines. I love it there, and I WILL NOT be returning to Thailand. The Filipino lasses can have some of my money instead. And they can all speak good English. No such issues with Visas, and Beaches there would knock spots on anything Thailand has to offer. So its a no brainer and win win, me,.. And, lose lose for Thailand...... Simple eh ?

Where in Philippines are you based out of?

[laobali]

Elite card? I'm wealthy, not stupid. Rules could change at any time, then what? If it gets to be any more of an issue to visit, I'll simply go elsewhere.

Your Thai fiancee-soon-to-be-wife might not be too happy about this!

[HappyinNE]

Laza Tron,

Try Malaysia. Beautiful place and the best Chinese food in the world. The beaches north of Kuanton on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia are beautiful. When I was working temporarily there there was a three month visa given at the airport coming in.

[soihok]

Laza Tron,

Try Malaysia. Beautiful place and the best Chinese food in the world. The beaches north of Kuanton on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia are beautiful. When I was working temporarily there there was a three month visa given at the airport coming in.

Avoid Malaysia.

I have been working here for 2 years and it is a seriously screwed up place.

[LazaTron]

I was denied a tourist visa in Singapore. They said too many visa runs. I have been out of Thailand for close to 3 months. I am on my way to Thailand to get married to my Thai fiance. I earn close to 500,000 baht per month as engineer working offshore.

I had 10 out in visa runs from last year mostly. I've bean to 10 other countries since my visa runs, including usa, an UK.

I'm flying in today, hopefully, on a visa waiver with exit flight. If Thailand no longer wants money from tourists like me, I can afford to holiday in any country in the world. Any recommendations for similar lifestyle, beach type places?

Update. Got in no problem.

I made a mistake, above, I have entered Thailand 10 times, but 4 times were visa runs, out/in same day.

[soihok]

On the money the OP is on, Singapore is a realistic option.

[soihok]

Nice one mate.

What about next time?

[ubonjoe]

I was denied a tourist visa in Singapore. They said too many visa runs. I have been out of Thailand for close to 3 months. I am on my way to Thailand to get married to my Thai fiance. I earn close to 500,000 baht per month as engineer working offshore.

I had 10 out in visa runs from last year mostly. I've bean to 10 other countries since my visa runs, including usa, an UK.

I'm flying in today, hopefully, on a visa waiver with exit flight. If Thailand no longer wants money from tourists like me, I can afford to holiday in any country in the world. Any recommendations for similar lifestyle, beach type places?

Update. Got in no problem.

I made a mistake, above, I have entered Thailand 10 times, but 4 times were visa runs, out/in same day.

I was very confident you would not have a problem entering the country. They don't count old entries they just check to see if you had just left and were doing it to get another entry.

Having several visa exempt entries is not a valid reason for them to refuse an application for a tourist visa. Even back to back entries are not a valid reason.