Immigration interrogation again :-(

[sipidan]

Firstly I'd like to say that I have British Passport and I work in the construction industry doing FIFO 23 days on & 10 days off R&R.

The last 2 times I've come to Thailand I've had problems at immigration saying i need a visa to come to Thailand!

Last month (March) at Phuket airport I was stopped & questioned, even the supervisor came over got involved.

"You work in Thailand?" No

"You work in Thailand?" No

"How many times you come Thailand?"

Over and over....then let through!

And again yesturday I was stopped & questioned, where is your visa? Where is your visa?

How long you stay? How long you stay?

Each time I answer, I come for 1 week holiday, I work in Australia. I have paperwork with me to show I work Australia! After a good 5 minutes I was let through again :-(

Has anyone else had these dealings recently?

To stop this it looks like I need to get a Non-Immigrant Visa Category “O”

Purpose of Visit to visit my Thai family(Daughter)???

I see there are 2 categories of a Non-Immigrant “O” Visa: SINGLE ENTRY and MULTIPLE ENTRIES.

I cannot get a new single entry visa every time in Australia because of my job!

I would like to try get a MULTIPLE ENTRIES(12 months) next week when i go back to Australia.

Question 1: If i get a multiple entry visa, can i do a re-entry visa(Extension of Stay) at Suwanaphumi Airport before i leave?

Question 2: Can I then go to work for 3 weeks in Australia & come back to Thailand with the same Non-Immigrant “O” Visa MULTIPLE ENTRY?

Question 3: Can i do this Every month for 12 months?

All answer will be greatly appreciated, Thanks Thanks Thanks!

[ubonjoe]

Phukhet is known to be the worst airport for entering if you have several visa exempt entries.

A multiple entry non-o visa allows unlimited 90 day entries for a year from the date of issue. You don't need a re-entry permit.

Not sure you will be able to get one in Australia now. There have been recent reports of denials for those applying based upon marriage.

If you had time before you leave you could go to Penang and get the visa if you can show 100k baht in the bank or proof of income. You would need your daughter's birth certificate showing you as her father plus a copy and a copy of her house book registry. You apply the morning of one day pick it up the next afternoon.

[johnatong]

If you get a multiple entry visa no re-entry permit is required and extensions of stay cannot be obtained at an airport!

A multiple entry visa allows multiple entries of 90 days for as long as the visa is valid.

While the visa remains available you can get as many new ones as you wish there is no limit !

These visas are normally only available to those who are legally married to a Thai or the legal(in Thai terms) parent of a Thai child.

[Happy Grumpy]

saying i need a visa to come to Thailand!

Shocking. Really.

Question 1: If i get a multiple entry visa, can i do a re-entry visa(Extension of Stay) at Suwanaphumi Airport before i leave?

With a M-Entry visa you just come and go. As long as each stay here is 90 days or less.

Question 2: Can I then go to work for 3 weeks in Australia & come back to Thailand with the same Non-Immigrant “O” Visa MULTIPLE ENTRY?

Yes.

That's what a Multi-Entry Visa is. You can enter as many times as you want up until the 'Expire by' date on the Visa. Typically 12 months.

Question 3: Can i do this Every month for 12 months?

Come and go?

Yes.

[BritTim]

Although the interrogations are inevitably stressful, I am not sure you need to change what you are doing. A little bit of aggravation and five minutes extra to enter the country is not the end of the world. I do not see they have any justification under Section 12 of the Immigration law to deny you entry (whether they would like to or not).

[fatdog 702 inches]

i thought the metv was for this

[ubonjoe]

i thought the metv was for this

There is a big difference between a multiple entry non immigrant visa and a METV, In this case the OP qualifies for a multiple entry non-o visa.

The METV is only valid for 6 months and only allows for 60 day entries verses a year of validity and 90 day entries for a non immigrant visa.

[troy11]

I work in Vietnam on 24 days on 18 days off roster and return to Thailand every time on my days off for 18 days. As you could imagine I have a lot of visa exempt stamps in my Australian passport. I always fly into and leave Suvarnabhumi Airport. I too get a lot of questions at immigration but I just show them my work permit and residency card for Vietnam, smile and answer their questions. I have never had any issues involving supervisors and have always been granted entry. I have no wife or children in Thailland, I tell them I am here for a holiday. Below is from the Thai Embassy .com website.

Under the new provisions of the Visa Exemption Rule (VER), visitors can now come regularly to Thailand without limiting their stay within a total of 90 days in a six-month period. Just keep in mind that under the VER, you are allowed 30 days maximum on each visit.

[BritTim]

I work in Vietnam on 24 days on 18 days off roster and return to Thailand every time on my days off for 18 days. As you could imagine I have a lot of visa exempt stamps in my passport. I always fly into and leave Suvarnabhumi Airport. I too get a lot of questions at immigration but I just show them my work permit and residency card for Vietnam, smile and answer their questions. I have never had any issues involving supervisors and have always been granted entry. I have no wife or children in Thailland, I tell them I am here for a holiday. Below is from the Thai Embassy .com website.

Under the new provisions of the Visa Exemption Rule (VER), visitors can now come regularly to Thailand without limiting their stay within a total of 90 days in a six-month period. Just keep in mind that under the VER, you are allowed 30 days maximum on each visit.

Even that old 90 days in a six month period rule was scrapped, and that page is also outdated in not reflecting the 2014 change that allowed 30-day extensions of visa exempt entries. Unless the immigration official has a well founded suspicion that you are working illegally, they have few grounds for refusing many visa exempt entries. (The lack of legal justification does not stop some land border posts from barring entry to those they consider have too many visa exempt entries, however.)

[johnatong]

I work in Vietnam on 24 days on 18 days off roster and return to Thailand every time on my days off for 18 days. As you could imagine I have a lot of visa exempt stamps in my Australian passport. I always fly into and leave Suvarnabhumi Airport. I too get a lot of questions at immigration but I just show them my work permit and residency card for Vietnam, smile and answer their questions. I have never had any issues involving supervisors and have always been granted entry. I have no wife or children in Thailland, I tell them I am here for a holiday. Below is from the Thai Embassy .com website.

Under the new provisions of the Visa Exemption Rule (VER), visitors can now come regularly to Thailand without limiting their stay within a total of 90 days in a six-month period. Just keep in mind that under the VER, you are allowed 30 days maximum on each visit.

That website you refer to is a commercial site which should not be relied on for accurate information.

Generally speaking people will be allowed in visa exempt with not much fuss if they have proof of employment overseas and have 20,000 Bht (or equivalent) cash as evidence of being able to support themselves

All 30 day visa exempt entries can be extended for another 30 days at an immigration office for a fee of 1900 Bht.

[jphasia]

To the OP: I have a Non O Multy entry 1 year based on Thai child. I am on the same situation as you: working abroad and coming back regularly to Thailand. I used to have the same questions from immigration few years ago when i was on Visa exempt and I opted for this visa. It might be difficult in some embassies to get it but if you present your case properly, they might understand and accept. I got this visa from several embassies where i used to work. I am preparing in advance a letter adressed to the consult explaining my situation: being from such nationality, working in that country and having family in Thailand together with copies of my work contract, regular incomes, eventually copy of the business visa where i am working, copy of the Thai birth certificate and others documents they might ask.

I got it in several countries including Vietnam, Russia and now for the last few years Myanmar. (I am French).

The Non O 1 year Multi let you go in and out of Thailand within 1 year without limitation and no questions. Working in Myanmar, i am going in and out at least 1 time per week. It happened sometime going in and out the same day for a meeting in Yangon. I would say that the only restriction is that you cannot stay longer than 90 days each time you enter stay in Thailand (I think you can even get an extension of 60 days in case but i am not sure and never tried). At the end of your visa, you can apply for 1 year extension with certain requirements but i have again never done it.

I cannot tell that all embassies will accept to give you this kind of visa and which requirements but the ones i used where ok with a strict requirements as long as they understand your situation.

I read for example in this forum that Penang is requesting to show 100,000b in a bank account or some others request you apply with your family presence or evidence as legal father.

For example, I remember for me in Russia, after presenting evidence that i was working there and a copy of the birth certificate, they accepted only if i show them the original bc which i didn't have with me. I had to ask someone to send it me to Russia.

In Myanmar, the first time i called them and ask if they can issue such visa, they told me if you got one before, just bring a copy and a copy of the bc and we will give 1 year non O multi. And they did.

As i said, this visa is very convenient if you live in Thailand but travelling a lot.

Of course, passing very often the immigration, i still get question sometime but i believe this is the role of the immigration especially when they see a passport full of stamps.

[HooHaa]

get to penang with a current bank book and aply for the non-o.

you can come and go as you please and it is easy to get on the strength of having a thai dependent. plenty of threads explaining what you need

[gandalf12]

Had similar problems when I worked in Papua New Guinea on a 6 / 3 rotation. I always told them I was only staying for 3 weeks and showed them my work visa for PNG

[ljd1308]

I got the Non 0 based on being a father in Sydney last year....easiest visa I have ever applied for.

Go to the Sydney consulate website it has a list of about 5 things that you need and should have, then you go in there with the visa fee and a couple of days later pick it up.

No need to show any income or savings.

[realenglish1]

The fact that they let you in shows they believe you

[sipidan]

Thanks everyone. I've got a spare day next week in Perth so I'll try applying for Non-Immigrant Visa Category “O”. If I get it I get it,if not I'll just fly over & answer the questions immigration ask. And supply them with work contracts & other relevant paperwork.

Like BritTim said, I don't see it as I'm doing anything wrong.

I'm not doing constant visa runs & coming back and forth daily/ in & out same day or working illegally!

[johnno2]

if you are coming in on a visa exempt 30 day tourist from australia, you can come and go as often as you like so long as you don't stay here for a cumulative period of over 90 days in a six month period. once you go over that limit, you then need a visa from an embassy.

i have a friend who comes here regularly and he was stopped on his last visit and told to get an embassy visa. fair enough, he is here for over 90 days in a 6 month period. if you haven't been here for 90 days total in a 6 month period, inform immigration of this next time you are quizzed.

[johnno2]

I work in Vietnam on 24 days on 18 days off roster and return to Thailand every time on my days off for 18 days. As you could imagine I have a lot of visa exempt stamps in my passport. I always fly into and leave Suvarnabhumi Airport. I too get a lot of questions at immigration but I just show them my work permit and residency card for Vietnam, smile and answer their questions. I have never had any issues involving supervisors and have always been granted entry. I have no wife or children in Thailland, I tell them I am here for a holiday. Below is from the Thai Embassy .com website.

Under the new provisions of the Visa Exemption Rule (VER), visitors can now come regularly to Thailand without limiting their stay within a total of 90 days in a six-month period. Just keep in mind that under the VER, you are allowed 30 days maximum on each visit.

Even that old 90 days in a six month period rule was scrapped, and that page is also outdated in not reflecting the 2014 change that allowed 30-day extensions of visa exempt entries. Unless the immigration official has a well founded suspicion that you are working illegally, they have few grounds for refusing many visa exempt entries. (The lack of legal justification does not stop some land border posts from barring entry to those they consider have too many visa exempt entries, however.)

that 90 day requirement is still showing in the thai immigration webpage. if it isn't current and you have a link, can you please post it

[johnatong]

if you are coming in on a visa exempt 30 day tourist from australia, you can come and go as often as you like so long as you don't stay here for a cumulative period of over 90 days in a six month period. once you go over that limit, you then need a visa from an embassy.

i have a friend who comes here regularly and he was stopped on his last visit and told to get an embassy visa. fair enough, he is here for over 90 days in a 6 month period. if you haven't been here for 90 days total in a 6 month period, inform immigration of this next time you are quizzed.

I wonder where you got your information.

There is no "90 days in a 6 month period" rule/requirement !

[sipidan]

On my latest visa exemption stamp the immigration office wrote in Thai "advised to get visa"!

[BritTim]

if you are coming in on a visa exempt 30 day tourist from australia, you can come and go as often as you like so long as you don't stay here for a cumulative period of over 90 days in a six month period. once you go over that limit, you then need a visa from an embassy.

i have a friend who comes here regularly and he was stopped on his last visit and told to get an embassy visa. fair enough, he is here for over 90 days in a 6 month period. if you haven't been here for 90 days total in a 6 month period, inform immigration of this next time you are quizzed.

I wonder where you got your information.

There is no "90 days in a 6 month period" rule/requirement !

The requirement did exist for a while, and many official and unofficial pages still quote this restriction, even though it is long gone.

[ubonjoe]

I work in Vietnam on 24 days on 18 days off roster and return to Thailand every time on my days off for 18 days. As you could imagine I have a lot of visa exempt stamps in my passport. I always fly into and leave Suvarnabhumi Airport. I too get a lot of questions at immigration but I just show them my work permit and residency card for Vietnam, smile and answer their questions. I have never had any issues involving supervisors and have always been granted entry. I have no wife or children in Thailland, I tell them I am here for a holiday. Below is from the Thai Embassy .com website.

Under the new provisions of the Visa Exemption Rule (VER), visitors can now come regularly to Thailand without limiting their stay within a total of 90 days in a six-month period. Just keep in mind that under the VER, you are allowed 30 days maximum on each visit.

Even that old 90 days in a six month period rule was scrapped, and that page is also outdated in not reflecting the 2014 change that allowed 30-day extensions of visa exempt entries. Unless the immigration official has a well founded suspicion that you are working illegally, they have few grounds for refusing many visa exempt entries. (The lack of legal justification does not stop some land border posts from barring entry to those they consider have too many visa exempt entries, however.)

that 90 day requirement is still showing in the thai immigration webpage. if it isn't current and you have a link, can you please post it

Not sure what immigration webpage you are looking at. Perhaps a bogus commercial website.

See: visa exemp tPO 778-2551_en.pdf

[Eclipse]

That 90 day 6 month rule bit the dust years ago.

[TEFLKrabi]

if you are coming in on a visa exempt 30 day tourist from australia, you can come and go as often as you like so long as you don't stay here for a cumulative period of over 90 days in a six month period. once you go over that limit, you then need a visa from an embassy.

i have a friend who comes here regularly and he was stopped on his last visit and told to get an embassy visa. fair enough, he is here for over 90 days in a 6 month period. if you haven't been here for 90 days total in a 6 month period, inform immigration of this next time you are quizzed.

I wonder where you got your information.

There is no "90 days in a 6 month period" rule/requirement !

Last September, immigration at Aranyaprathet were still using the 90 day rule.

[sipidan]

It's probably been wrote countless times on other posts, but an online visa service just like Vietnam Etc etc. Would be great.

They could get more money that way, as against the visa exemption.

It's comical some countries can get a visa on arrival Ethiopia, Kazakhstan....proper regulars! Smirk!!

[ubonjoe]

It's probably been wrote countless times on other posts, but an online visa service just like Vietnam Etc etc. Would be great.

They could get more money that way, as against the visa exemption.

It's comical some countries can get a visa on arrival Ethiopia, Kazakhstan....proper regulars! Smirk!!

I think you are confusing visa exempt entries and a visa on arrival. A visa on arrival is only for 15 days after paying 1000 baht for it and it cannot be extended. A visa exempt entry can be extended for 30 days.

The visa exempt list is much longer that the visa on arrival one. See: http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/customize/62281-Summary-of-Countries-and-Territories-entitled-for.html

[BritTim]

It's probably been wrote countless times on other posts, but an online visa service just like Vietnam Etc etc. Would be great.

They could get more money that way, as against the visa exemption.

It's comical some countries can get a visa on arrival Ethiopia, Kazakhstan....proper regulars! Smirk!!

Personally, I would not find the 15-day non extendable visa on arrival available to Ethiopians particularly attractive.

There might be some merit to a Cambodian style e-visa, but allowing 60-day entries. The problem with that is the need for a functioning website. Unfortunately, the evidence suggests official Thai websites are pretty fragile.

[thedemon]

It's probably been wrote countless times on other posts, but an online visa service just like Vietnam Etc etc. Would be great.

They could get more money that way, as against the visa exemption.

It's comical some countries can get a visa on arrival Ethiopia, Kazakhstan....proper regulars! Smirk!!

Personally, I would not find the 15-day non extendable visa on arrival available to Ethiopians particularly attractive.

There might be some merit to a Cambodian style e-visa, but allowing 60-day entries. The problem with that is the need for a functioning website. Unfortunately, the evidence suggests official Thai websites are pretty fragile.

The Cambodian e-visa service is outsourced to a private company that collect an extra USD10 over the regular visa cost. I think that is probably why it works.

[recycler]

You could also consider spending your money where they make you feel more welcome...

[sipidan]

Phukhet is known to be the worst airport for entering if you have several visa exempt entries.

A multiple entry non-o visa allows unlimited 90 day entries for a year from the date of issue. You don't need a re-entry permit.

Not sure you will be able to get one in Australia now. There have been recent reports of denials for those applying based upon marriage.

If you had time before you leave you could go to Penang and get the visa if you can show 100k baht in the bank or proof of income. You would need your daughter's birth certificate showing you as her father plus a copy and a copy of her house book registry. You apply the morning of one day pick it up the next afternoon.

Hello

Does you know or does anyone know if I was to apply by post to Canberra Australia would I need to send my daughters original Birth Certificate or would a certified copy be sufficient?

Because it's in Thai does it need to be translated?

Thanks