urgent advise on non imm o visa obtain in AU

[jacksam]

Hello, hope someone can advise. I have just left Thai Consulate Melbourne, where I was refused a non imm o visa. Not related but have lived in Thailand for 2 years and am 60 yes old.

The io stated that they do not issued them and have not since last Sept. Stated I need a family member or this or that. I pulled up their own web site and showed them in print....family member or FRIEND..... they just repeated you can have a tourist visa. I don't have time to apply for O-A by mail to Canberra. Should I just get a tourist visa and change to non imm o when in Thai. I had my gf with me and he asked if I was defacto. ????

[ubonjoe]

You should of been able to get a single entry non-o for being 50 or over. Were you asking for a single or multiple entry?

If you cannot get one a single entry tourist visa would be OK and then do a change of visa status at immigration to get a non immigrant visa entry.

[jacksam]

Thanks ubonjoe. Yes I asked for a single entry non imm o

He said they havent done them since "September rule changes" meaning sept 2013. I was shell shocked.

Googled their own web page...ie Thai consulate Melbourne and pointed out the requirements. It sated the usual and "visit family or friend" amongst others.

He had no answer. Might add it wasn't just him. I was originally attended by a lady and he was bin ear shot. I was polite and he did suggest a tourist visa.

By way could I fly into bkk on stamp exempt and convert somehow to non o? Prob not. I have to come back for 3 weeks in Feb and could do the mail O-A to Canberra then. However I fly into bkk Oct 12. Would love it if the stamps were still available as I like going to HCMC every month for week or so, but worried I have too many already.

[Mario2008]

Seems they insist on that you get a O-A visa if you apply based on retirement.

Try one of the honorary consulates in Oz.

[Mario2008]

Yes, you can come on a toruist visa and then convert to a non-immigrant visa based on retirement without any problems, as long as you meet the financial requirements.

In case of conversion the money does not have to be seasoned, but you need to bring it in from abroad if you use the money in the bank option.

[jacksam]

Thanks Mario but I think the Thai consulate in Melbourne is an Hobart consulate. The extension based on retirement doesn't seem to be mentioned on application form. By the way I obtained a non o 18 months ago from same consulate.

[jacksam]

Sorry the HOBART was honorary

[jacksam]

Anyway fact is despite all the experts telling me a single entry non imm o was a given in my own country and city of melb..... I was refused.

Yes I can get a tourist visa. Already had a single entry from HCMC no that is used I can either come back on a tourist visa and change to non imm o . which will need police check etc. Or risk coming in and try and obtain a stamp after I book a flight out tick to somewhere like HCMC....to satisfy airline.

Basic message here is despite all the good advice from TV ...I have wasted time and effort. If I knew all this I would have just done a mail app for non imm o a to Canberra.

[ubonjoe]

You will not need a medical or police check to do an a change to a non immigrant visa or extension of stay at immigration here.

[jacksam]

Thanks ubonjoe. Will get a tourist visa. Guess I just want members to know that Melbourne is not issuing non imm O despite their own web site indicating they do. Seems the guidelines on the site has little to do with how they operate. The io (not Thai) looked very surprised when I brought up their web page with non imm o requirements.