Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Thailand News and Discussion Forum | ASEANNOW

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Please help. Visa Issues.

Featured Replies

Good afternoon all,

I sporadically read this forum but have not posted before so hello all.wai.gif

I am looking for some help to attain a visa of 1 year or more in Thailand. I am 33 years old, a British citizen and UK resident but have been spending around 40% of my time in Thailand and have been told I must attain a visa to return as I have stayed my limit on the normal tourist visas.

My reason for spending so much time in Thailand (other than loving the country) is my Fiancée is Cambodian and her family live in Trat, Thailand. Although she does not have a long term Thai visa currently, she has had these in the past. Her son has lived in Thailand all of his life and is at school there also. Her mother has also lived in Thailand for many years and is also staying there legally. We are currently both in the UK and have a flight booked on the 20th of September back to Thailand but as it stands I cannot go unless I sort this out.

We split our time between England, Bangkok, Trat and Prachuap Khiri Khan. Her family rent a house in Trat, we rent a condo in Bangkok and we also own a condo in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

At present, my fiancée and I are not working and are living from funds generated by the sale of my business. We have been looking at investment opportunities in Thailand and have a good amount of money available for the right investment.

In terms of Visa’s, I am unsure what is the correct visa to apply for in my situation. I am guessing I cannot apply for a spouse visa as my partner is not Thai or have a long term visa although this can be arranged but will take time. I am not sure about a business visa as I am currently unemployed but this may be possible as we have money to invest in Thailand. I have also looked at the 5 year Thailand Elite program as a last desperate resort but obviously would prefer to apply for a 1 year visa due to cost.

I have contacted some agents to help as I don’t want to get it wrong but no luck. I have had an offer to help apply for an student visa but that is not legitimate and too risky. I want to take the correct road.

So I am looking for advice on the best way to proceed? Perhaps a business visa based on looking for investment opportunities in Thailand? I am happy to pay a professional but haven’t found an agent that can help me from the UK to get a legitimate visa. Any recommendations appreciated also.

Thank so much in advance.

All the best,

Brad

There is no overall limit on tourist visas. Only the number you can get at one embassy or consulate.

If you are in the UK you should apply for a 3 entry tourist visa in London that would give a total stay of almost 9 months without needing a new visa.

You can get up to 3 two entry tourist visas in Laos.

You don't have a lot of choices for visas. Finding a job or starting a business might be the best option long term.

If you have 500k baht you could get a 5 year Thai Elite visa that would give you unlimited one year entries for those five years. See: http://www.thailandelite.com/glimpse.php

  • Author

Firstly thank you for your help and sorry for posting in the wrong area... as I said I am new. smile.png

Ok, so I have been told I cannot get a visa on arrival anymore and must pre-arrange a visa. So perhaps I should apply for a tourist visa this time as i will be back in the UK for christmas anyway..

Do you think having money to invest would allow me to apply for a business visa for that purpose? Would be great just to have something longer term arranged.

Thailand elite program will be a last resort due to the cost..

I think you should sit down and think what you want, Read the Visa section, also about buying or Investing anything in Thailand. so many scary stories around.

So how many visa exemptions have you had,it's not a visa on arrival ?

I've had 8 in the last year without issue,when and where were you told to get a visa ?

Firstly thank you for your help and sorry for posting in the wrong area... as I said I am new. smile.png

Ok, so I have been told I cannot get a visa on arrival anymore and must pre-arrange a visa. So perhaps I should apply for a tourist visa this time as i will be back in the UK for christmas anyway..

Do you think having money to invest would allow me to apply for a business visa for that purpose? Would be great just to have something longer term arranged.

Thailand elite program will be a last resort due to the cost..

You have been getting visa exempt entries not tourist visas. Have you been getting 30 day extensions for them?

You should a tourist visa. It will give you a 60 day entry for each entry allowed that can be extended for 30 days at an immigration office.

You can get one year extensions based upon investment if you have 10 million baht to put in a Thai bank (and/or government bonds) or to buy a condo.

  • Author

Perhaps the issue is I keep going in and out as it flagged up on their system when i landed in Suvarnabhumi airport. I had an hour interview to prove i was not working in Thailand and explain why i am going in and out so much. I then got stopped at the border near Trat and again interviewed and the next time I re-entered there i was told i was not allowed in. I showed them I had my flight back the UK in 2 days and that the only reason i was allowed in.

This is a rough idea of my thai trips in the last couple of year below but it may miss a few:

9-14 January 2013
29 April - 6 May 2013
3-7 August 2013
5-8 September 2013
20-24 September 2013
3-6 October 2013
9-12 October 2013
17-23 November 2013
8 - 12 February 2014
3-6 March 2014
6-11 March 2014
27 August - 4 September 2014
4-15 September 2014
22 September - 7 October 2014
31 October - 10 November 2014
13-19 November 2015
29 December 2015
30 Dec to 25 January 2015
1-10 Feb 2015
21 Feb to 01 Mar 2015
29 April to 14 may 2015
15 May to 4 June

Edited by bradking82

  • Author

Ok.. so perhaps the best course of action is just to apply for a tourist visa at the Thai embassy in London to see me until Christmas.

In terms of sitting down and working out what we want.. of course it is a tough decision. My fiancee has been to the UK 3 times now and perhaps we are not too far of thinking about having a family so we will have to make a decision soon on where we will settle.

A simple life near a beach in Prachuap Khiri Khan area surrounded by coconut trees sounds like a dream to me but perhaps would not quite have the same appeal to someone growing up at the beach. We are getting there.. just need a little more time.

bradking82

Given your history I am not surprised that the immgration officers are curious about what you are doing.

If you will continue to be challanged unless you can modify your pattern of entries.

Leaving the country for a period of time would help as would securing an appropriate visa.

  • Author

bradking82

Leaving the country for a period of time would help as would securing an appropriate visa.

thank you.. I am not surprised also but the question is.. what is the appropriate visa for me? I would like to do things correctly but need some guidance as to the correct route. Perhaps the best way is just to go to the embassy and ask them. I guess i thought there may have been a simpler answer but i should have known better. :-)

I think he is on about a tourist stamp not a visa, for example I have been told I cannot come in again this year on a tourist stamp as I have reached the limit of 6 tourist stamps... so I will have to now get a tripple entry visa from the UK.

By the way, anyone know if hessle still do tripple entry visas or is it just london now?

Thanks,

Ryan

I think he is on about a tourist stamp not a visa, for example I have been told I cannot come in again this year on a tourist stamp as I have reached the limit of 6 tourist stamps... so I will have to now get a tripple entry visa from the UK.

By the way, anyone know if hessle still do tripple entry visas or is it just london now?

Thanks,

Ryan

What is a "tourist stamp" ? Do you mean a "visa exemp"t entry ?

There is no limit to the number of visa exempt entries which can be obtained but excessive use of these enteries wiil cause the immigration officers to question exactly what you are doing.

I think he is on about a tourist stamp not a visa, for example I have been told I cannot come in again this year on a tourist stamp as I have reached the limit of 6 tourist stamps... so I will have to now get a tripple entry visa from the UK.

By the way, anyone know if hessle still do tripple entry visas or is it just london now?

Thanks,

Ryan

I think you are asking about the Hull honorary consulate.

They will do a 3 entry tourist visa but you have to apply in person. They can no longer accept mail in applications.

I think he is on about a tourist stamp not a visa, for example I have been told I cannot come in again this year on a tourist stamp as I have reached the limit of 6 tourist stamps... so I will have to now get a tripple entry visa from the UK.

By the way, anyone know if hessle still do tripple entry visas or is it just london now?

Thanks,

Ryan

There will be a few confused by 'Hessle'.

I think he is on about a tourist stamp not a visa, for example I have been told I cannot come in again this year on a tourist stamp as I have reached the limit of 6 tourist stamps... so I will have to now get a tripple entry visa from the UK.

By the way, anyone know if hessle still do tripple entry visas or is it just london now?

Thanks,

Ryan

There will be a few confused by 'Hessle'.

I am from the UK and have never heard of Hull being referred to as "hessle"...............

Maybe a bit of localised slang ?

Edited by nowretired

I think he is on about a tourist stamp not a visa, for example I have been told I cannot come in again this year on a tourist stamp as I have reached the limit of 6 tourist stamps... so I will have to now get a tripple entry visa from the UK.

By the way, anyone know if hessle still do tripple entry visas or is it just london now?

Thanks,

Ryan

There will be a few confused by 'Hessle'.

I am from the UK and have never heard of Hull being referred to as "hessle"...............

Maybe a bit of localised slang ?

No Hessle is an area in Hull where the honorary consulate is situated.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hessle

The Royal Thai Consulate

Embassy

Priory Court, Saxon Way, Priory Park West, Hessle, North Humberside HU13 9PB

01482 581668

Open today · 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Edited by stoneyboy

Mr Google helped me.

Thanks gents !

But seriously, why would someone expect "hessle" to be known to anyone outside Hull without providing more definition to the name ?

I am from the UK and have never heard of Hull being referred to as "hessle"...............

Maybe a bit of localised slang ?

I am from Hull, and Hessle is just outside of Hull, most would class it as Hull but technically you would say Hessle. You will find most will say the Thai Embassy is in Hessle not Hull.

Anyway, Hessle, Hull, same same smile.png

ryanhull, on 18 Aug 2015 - 10:13, said:snapback.png

I think he is on about a tourist stamp not a visa, for example I have been told I cannot come in again this year on a tourist stamp as I have reached the limit of 6 tourist stamps... so I will have to now get a tripple entry visa from the UK.

By the way, anyone know if hessle still do tripple entry visas or is it just london now?

Thanks,

Ryan

What is a "tourist stamp" ? Do you mean a "visa exemp"t entry ?

There is no limit to the number of visa exempt entries which can be obtained but excessive use of these enteries wiil cause the immigration officers to question exactly what you are doing.

The limit is 6 tourist stamps, I know this as last time I came in I was on my 6th and was told I am not allowed to do it again. I was questioned and explained I have a wife and son in Thailand and do not work, they was fine with my explanation but still said 6 is the limit and showed me it on the computer. Tourist Stamp, Visa Exempt Entry... same same smile.png

Edited by ryanhull

The six entries is what raises the red flag on the IO's computer and prompts them to interview the indiviual who has caused the flag to show.

There is no limit but they seem to have succeed in ensuring you secure a visa for the next entry!smile.png

Edited by nowretired

There is a limit of 6 as stated by two border officers... Maybe this is a new limit/rule set but I will take what they told me as the truth... There is also no interview aside from the question 'what are you doing here' which I would not class as an interview. Cheers

Edited by ryanhull

  • Author

Thank you all for your time and help. It has helped clear some things up. Will let you know what happens once I go to the embassy just incase it is helpful to anyone else. biggrin.png

You're in Britain, which embassy or consulate are you going to ? You can go to the Thai embassy website, and download the application form for a tourist visa. No need to actually go to London. You mail your passport and stuff to the embassy, I used registered post myself. I got my passport back surprisingly quickly, with the tourist visa sticker inside it.

There is a limit of 6 as stated by two border officers... Maybe this is a new limit/rule set but I will take what they told me as the truth... There is also no interview aside from the question 'what are you doing here' which I would not class as an interview. Cheers

There is no limit to visa exempt entry. After 6 the computer raises a flag for an interview, that's all.

The limit is 6 tourist stamps, I know this as last time I came in I was on my 6th and was told I am not allowed to do it again. I was questioned and explained I have a wife and son in Thailand and do not work, they was fine with my explanation but still said 6 is the limit and showed me it on the computer. Tourist Stamp, Visa Exempt Entry... same same smile.png

There is no rule or regulation that limits the number of visa exempt entries to 6 that can be used for denial of entry. They can only deny entry under section 12 of the immigration act. The most common are for a lack of financial proof (20k baht cash or the equivalent) and/or suspicion your are working here. This has been discussed in several topics before.

If you are legally married to a Thai you could easily get a multiple entry non-o visa that would allow unlimited 90 day entries for a year. Savannakhet Laos does them with no financial proof.

Create an account or sign in to comment

Recently Browsing 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.