Extra Visa Activities

[Ajarn]

What began as a restriction on the number of 30 day visas on arrival has turned out to be a

major reshuffling of immigration regulations, most of which were framed as far back as 1979.

The new rules apply to short term and long term tourists and farang residents and cover yearly

extensions of various types, investment visas and even work permits.

The fact that it was announced on September 24 that the national immigration bureau chief

lieutenant general Suwit Thamrongsrisakul has been transferred to an inactive post is not

thought to have any bearing on visa matters. None the less, Pattaya Today stresses that the

changes described below were accurate as of September 26, when we went to press, with an

anticipated implementation date of October 1.

“Living” in Thailand on 30 day visas.

As previously announced, it will no longer be possible to “live” in Thailand simply by

traveling to the border of a neighboring country and receiving indefinitely the 30 day visa on

arrival.

In future, foreigners will only be able to “live” in Thailand on visas on arrival only for up

to 90 days (three months) in any 180 (six months) day period. Effectively, this means three

consecutive runs to the border post (30+30+30) are the limit. The most commonly used border

posts for Pattaya based visa runners are Aranyaprathet, Pong Nam Ron and Pailin in Cambodia.

Foreigners wishing to go on “living” in Thailand for the next three months would need to obtain

a prior tourist visa at a Thai consulate or embassy in another country – not at a border post.

The most likely destination for the budget traveler is Penang where the Thai consul general is

currently awarding single entry tourist visas. These used to be valid for a stay of up to 60

days but from October 1 they are valid for a stay of 90 days. They cannot be extended.

The presumption is that, after that 90 days has elapsed using the Penang visa, foreigners would

then be free to take visa runs to the Cambodian border for a further three months (30+30+30)

before needing to return again to Penang or wherever

Foreigners traveling to Penang are advised to go and return by air. Some travelers have

experienced difficulties on the Thai side of the Malaysian border when trying to return by

train, even with a new visa.

The immigration bureau has confirmed that there is no limit to the number of 30 day visas on

arrival for an individual, provided that he or she is “living” not in Thailand for longer than

90 days in any block of 180 days.

The logic behind the new rules about visas on arrival is to discourage their use as a kind of

cheap residence permit.

Extensions to 30 day visas.

In an important new ruling, the former 15 day extension of a 30 day visa on arrival at Thai

immigration offices has been changed to 7 days only. You may also have a 7 days stamp placed in

your passport if the immigration authority refuses your application for a retirement or married

man’s visa or if you are deemed to have made too many visa runs to the Cambodian border. If you

get such a stamp, you must quit Thailand within one week or risk arrest for overstay.

Abolition of investment visa.

This visa allowed foreigners to reside in Thai for a year provided they placed 3 million baht

in a Thai bank or in bonds. It was often used by foreigners under 50 who did not yet qualify in

age for a retirement visa but wished to be based in Thailand. The understanding is that

existing applications and renewals will be accepted, but that no new applications can be made

from the beginning of October 2006.

Retirement visa.

This allows foreigners aged 50 and over to extend a non-immigrant visa for up to 12 months from

the date of the last entry into Thailand. It requires either 800,000 baht in a Thai bank or a

combination of cash in the bank and proof of pension paid in the home country. A letter from

the respective embassy is required for proof of pension. From now on, the immigration officer

will need to see proof that the 800,000 baht has been there for three months prior to the visa

being issued. This is to stop the practice of moving money into a bank account, and promptly

out again, once the visa is granted.

The old regulation, however, that you must produce an annual medical certificate for this visa

has been withdrawn.

Marriage visa.

This allows the foreign, legal spouse of a Thai national to extend a non-immigrant visa for up

to 12 months from the date of the last entry into Thailand. The minimum cash in a Thai bank is

400,000 baht. As with the retirement variant, checks will be made in future to ensure that the

cash is not simply put in a bank and then removed. This visa is issued in Bangkok only and,

during the waiting period, checks can be made by immigration police at your bank to see if

there has been a big cash withdrawal! If the funds have disappeared, you may be ordered to

leave Thailand in 7 days. Local immigration officers will also visit your home to verify that

you really do live together as man and wife.

Work permit regulations.

We are advised that work permits with the term “Consultant” in the title will not be accepted

in future. It is felt the term is too vague and potentially condones work related activity

contrary to the alien labour act. Obviously, work permit holders need to consult their lawyers

about the detail.

Those applying for work permits for the first time will first require a non-immigrant business

(type “B”) visa from a Thai consulate or embassy abroad. This will only be granted if the

applicant has a Wp3 work permit receipt form from the Labour Office, photocopy of all limited

company registration papers, all official paperwork showing company stamp, invitation letter

from the limited company advising on your potential role and stating salary, photocopy of your

passport, two passport size photos.

Multiple entry visas.

Many Thai consulates in the Pacific rim, specifically Penang, have now issued statements that

they will issue only single entry visas in future. This ruling is irrespective of type.

However, if foreigners choose to return to the country of their passport (say Europe, USA,

Australia) they may find that multiple entry visas, both tourist and non-immigrant, are still

being awarded. The reasoning seems to be that if you need a double, triple or multiple entry

visa, then go back to your own country.

Please Note:

The above information came from the Pattaya Mail and is checked by Alan Hall’s lawyers, who in

turn checked it with Immigration. We do advice you to contact Immigration yourself concerning

your own situation and/or check with a lawyer. While every effort has been made to ensure that

the information contained herein is correct, CEC cannot be held responsible for any errors that

may occur. The views of the contributors may not necessarily reflect the view of CEC. Views and

opinions expressed herein may change with changes in regulations and should not be used in

isolation.

--

[Maestro]

...

The above information came from the Pattaya Mail and is checked by Alan Hall’s lawyers, who in turn checked it with Immigration. We do advice you to contact Immigration yourself concerning your own situation and/or check with a lawyer. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained herein is correct, CEC cannot be held responsible for any errors that may occur. The views of the contributors may not necessarily reflect the view of CEC. Views and opinions expressed herein may change with changes in regulations and should not be used in isolation.

Who are CEC?

The information regarding “Marriage visa” is incomplete. For complete information, see paragraph 7.17 of this document. Extension with 400K in the bank is no longer available for new applicants applying for the first time (unless the rules change again)

---------------

Maestro

[Chiang Rai,s Crazy Chris]

...

The above information came from the Pattaya Mail and is checked by Alan Hall’s lawyers, who in turn checked it with Immigration. We do advice you to contact Immigration yourself concerning your own situation and/or check with a lawyer. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained herein is correct, CEC cannot be held responsible for any errors that may occur. The views of the contributors may not necessarily reflect the view of CEC. Views and opinions expressed herein may change with changes in regulations and should not be used in isolation.

Who are CEC?

The information regarding “Marriage visa” is incomplete. For complete information, see paragraph 7.17 of this document. Extension with 400K in the bank is no longer available for new applicants applying for the first time (unless the rules change again)

---------------

Maestro

[Samuian]

Multiple entry visas.

Many Thai consulates in the Pacific rim, specifically Penang, have now issued statements that

they will issue only single entry visas in future. This ruling is irrespective of type.

However, if foreigners choose to return to the country of their passport (say Europe, USA,

Australia) they may find that multiple entry visas, both tourist and non-immigrant, are still

being awarded.

??? Even a Non-B + WP ? will it then be valid for a year? I wonder.... I have to fly back home to work in T.? I can't get the 'logic' in there..

[Noel]

Who are CEC?

Maestro

Possibly the Canadian Education Centre Network?

It may well be the case that their information is correct, but would it not have been preferable to have it imparted by a credible Thai source...?

[Maestro]

It may well be the case that their information is correct

Correct, but incomplete. There have already been reports in this forum that applicants applying for the first time for an extension of stay for support of Thai wife with 400K in the bank have been refused.

This is confirmation that the new rule under paragraph 7.17 of the National Police Office Order No. 606/2006 is being followed to the letter, except perhaps temporarily where the new order has not yet filtered down to the bottom level at an immigration office.

---------------

Maestro

[JimGant]

From the National Police Order:

7.23 In case of entering for

visiting a Thai wife /

husband or child.

The permission shall be

granted only one time with

the granted period not

exceeding 60 days.

(1) Have evidence affirming the

relationship and,

(2) In case of the marriage couple,

the spouse shall have the both

practical and legal relationship.

1. Application form

2. Copy of applicant’s passport

3. Copy of census registration

4. Copy of the Thai national’s ID Card

5. Copy of marriage certificate or birth

certificate

Any take on this? Is the Non Imm O visa to visit relatives being replaced with a single entry Tourist Visa?

[jumbo]

What began as a restriction on the number of 30 day visas on arrival has turned out to be a

major reshuffling of immigration regulations, most of which were framed as far back as 1979.

The new rules apply to short term and long term tourists and farang residents and cover yearly

extensions of various types, investment visas and even work permits.

The fact that it was announced on September 24 that the national immigration bureau chief

lieutenant general Suwit Thamrongsrisakul has been transferred to an inactive post is not

thought to have any bearing on visa matters. None the less, Pattaya Today stresses that the

changes described below were accurate as of September 26, when we went to press, with an

anticipated implementation date of October 1.

“Living” in Thailand on 30 day visas.

As previously announced, it will no longer be possible to “live” in Thailand simply by

traveling to the border of a neighboring country and receiving indefinitely the 30 day visa on

arrival.

In future, foreigners will only be able to “live” in Thailand on visas on arrival only for up

to 90 days (three months) in any 180 (six months) day period. Effectively, this means three

consecutive runs to the border post (30+30+30) are the limit. The most commonly used border

posts for Pattaya based visa runners are Aranyaprathet, Pong Nam Ron and Pailin in Cambodia.

Please Note:

The above information came from the Pattaya Mail and is checked by Alan Hall’s lawyers, who in

turn checked it with Immigration. We do advice you to contact Immigration yourself concerning

your own situation and/or check with a lawyer. While every effort has been made to ensure that

the information contained herein is correct, CEC cannot be held responsible for any errors that

may occur. The views of the contributors may not necessarily reflect the view of CEC. Views and

opinions expressed herein may change with changes in regulations and should not be used in

isolation.

--

I just had an interesting discussion about the actual difference between the fac that when we arrive we do not need a visa the so-called Visa Exempt and the Visa on Arrival.

n the way the Pattaya Mail writes it and 'confirmed and checked by Alan Hall's lawyers and checked with immigration' we now all should have to apply for a VOA instead of the actual Visa Exempt

Or are Pattaya Mail and Allan Hall plus imigration unaware of the difference between VOA and Visa Exempt

It think we need some real experts here.........Sunbelt???

J