Non-immigrant Visas In Bangkok?

[rhaugland]

From this site:

http://www.khaosanroad.com/thailand_visa_issues.htm

It says that non-immigrant "O" or "B" visas can be issued in Bangkok without travel to a foreign country. It sounds like if a person has a tourist visa issued by a foreign Thai Embassy (or Consulate?) that it is now possible to convert that to an "O" or "B" visa in-country. Is that correct? Does this also apply to a simple 30-day tourist visa issued on entry? Has anyone been doing this successfully?

It may be buried in another thread but are people who have had a sequence of 30-days tourist visas now being barred at the Thai border from re-entry or does the 3-month total limit start as of visas issued after October 1?

Thanks

Question: We have heard that there will be a 3 month visa you can buy here in Bangkok. Is this a new rule, if so when is it in place, is it already in existence, can you explain?

Police Major Suppachai: It is not a new visa, it is a new regulation for foreigners who don't have a visa, but visa extension, it means you can apply for a non immigration type B and O at the Immigration Bureau.

Question: In Thailand right?

Police Major Suppachai: Yes. But it means that you have to have at least 3 weeks, I mean visa. It means when you come in right, you have 4 weeks. In the first week you have to contact immigration, in Bangkok in Suan Phlu and submit the papers that you want to change your visa. You have to have a visa. Before we could change the category of visa from tourist to non-immigrant, but this time we can issue the visa as well.

2. Persuade foreigners that are on the incorrect visas or stamps to correct their paperwork in line with the law. By making the trip to an Embassy, Consulate or Immigration office necessary within 90 days from 1st October 2006, it is hoped that foreigners who are disrespecting Thai law rectify the situation by applying for the correct visa. To aid this, Non immigrant B and O visas will be issued inside Thailand at the Immigration Office in Bangkok. IMPORTANTLY, to apply you have to have at least 3 weeks remaining on your current stamp and obviously the correct paperwork. The visa needed to apply is yet to be clarified.

[lopburi3]

Believe this is the normal change of visa process but they can now change from a visa exempt entry as well as from a tourist visa. You can only do this when meeting requirements as listed in immigration regulations (extension of stay paperwork).

The 90 day count starts from October 1.