Non Immigrant B Visa

[Elvenesse]

I'm going to Phuket at the end of next month with a couple of team mates to spend 6-12 months training and fighting Muay Thai.

The gym we're training at has said they'll provide us with a letter of invitation and business registration documents for our visa applications. The Thai Consulate in Cardiff, Wales, has said that they can only issue us with a 90 day non immigrant visa and that we'll have to apply for an extension of stay at an immigration office. What's the likelihood we'll be able to get a one year visa at that point?

If we can't, we're initially in the country for 120 days (121 technically), so would the best bet be to just fly to somewhere like Kuala Lumpur and come back into the country with a 30 day visa exemption?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[ubonjoe]

You should be applying for a non-ed visa instead of a non-b visa. Getting a multiple entry visa will be difficult in the UK since the embassy in London must approve them.

You will not be able get an extension at immigration unless the gym is registered as a school with the ministry of education.

It might easier to apply for a multiple entry tourist visa that would allow unlimited 60 day entries for 6 months from the date of issue and can allow almost 9 months of total stay by doing a entry just before it expires and extending it for 30 days at immigration.

[Elvenesse]

The gym isn't registered with the ministry of education, so I don't think there's any point in trying for an ed visa.

The £5K in the bank for the last 6 months is an issue with the multi entry tourist visa. I can meet those requirements, but my teammates can't. How strict would the UK consulates/embassy be with that one? Would having a bank statement showing £5K for *one* month be enough?

[Elvenesse]

Also, if we had the 90 day non immigration b visa, what are the chances of getting just a 30 day extension of stay without having to leave the country and go back in to get the 30 day visa exemption?

[ubonjoe]

The gym isn't registered with the ministry of education, so I don't think there's any point in trying for an ed visa.

The £5K in the bank for the last 6 months is an issue with the multi entry tourist visa. I can meet those requirements, but my teammates can't. How strict would the UK consulates/embassy be with that one? Would having a bank statement showing £5K for *one* month be enough?

You might be able to get a single entry non-ed visa

They will certainly want to see the money in the bank to get the METV. But they could get single entry tourist visas that would allow a 60 day entry that can be extended for 30 days at immigration and then go out to get another visa at a nearby embassy or consulate.

Also, if we had the 90 day non immigration b visa, what are the chances of getting just a 30 day extension of stay without having to leave the country and go back in to get the 30 day visa exemption?

There is no 30 day extensions for non immigrant visas.

[Elvenesse]

Looks like we'll have to fly to Kuala Lumpur and back in for the last 30 days visa exempt then.