The Royal Thai Consul in Liverpool, UK, phoned me yesterday to tell me that UK (and I presume other countries) had just been informed that they are no longer able to issue yearly Multi Entry Non-Imm O Visas for retirees like us returning to Khao Lak on 29th November until 24th March 2017 with a break after 61 days (I know, messed up with flights by 1 day!) in Ho Chi Minh City which we had an appointment in early November at the Consulate to obtain. So now she can only issue a Single Entry visa to cover the first visit. This leaves us with a problem for the second entry which will be for 52 days before our return to UK. We could enter on a 30 day Visa Exempt stamp then apply at Immigration in Phang Nga for an extension but our return flight out of Thailand is beyond the 30 days you are required to have for a Visa Exempt entry. I'm aware that this entry may not be challenged by the airline when we fly from Vietnam but I prefer not to take the risk. 

Any suggestions for second re-entry? How easy/difficult/time consuming would it be to get Single Entry Tourist Visas in HCM City? 

Thanks in advance

I assume you are 65 or or over and getting a pensions that has allowed you to get multiple for the past 2 years. If that is the case you might want to contact the embassy about getting the visas. It sounds like they have taken away the ability for the honorary consulates to accept applications for multiple entry visas which has happened in other countries.

If you cannot the the multiple entry non-o visa you could apply for a Multiple entry tourist visa that would allow unlimited 60 day entries for 6 months from the date of issue. Each entry can be extended for 30 days at an immigration office.

 

Correct assumptions. I'm aware of the METV which is the last option, first because its cost and second because we have non-refundable accommodation booked in Liverpool to go to the Consulate. For the METV we would either have to travel to London to the Embassy (even more cost) or apply by post sending our passports which I am reluctant to do. 

this is known since almost a month already, many honorary consulates have posted this prominently on their websites (such as Portland USA and several German consulates). no more multiple Visas whatsoever from honorary consulates.

Obviously only just got around to the UK Consulates! 

58 minutes ago, Arandora said:

Correct assumptions. I'm aware of the METV which is the last option, first because its cost and second because we have non-refundable accommodation booked in Liverpool to go to the Consulate. For the METV we would either have to travel to London to the Embassy (even more cost) or apply by post sending our passports which I am reluctant to do. 

If you go to the Post Office, they can send your passports by secure, signed for mail. Put a pre-paid, self addressed same time envelope inside and the Embassy will return them the same way.

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

It sounds like they have taken away the ability for the honorary consulates to accept applications for multiple entry visas which has happened in other countries.

 

That's consistent with a report that I read from Germany.

Non-O multiple only from Royal Thai (general) consulates since a while.

 

Are you sure this is not a  U.K. problem with limits on the U.K. not issuing one year Non O visas to those who can not prove U.K. government pensions?

In the U.S. the consulates are also stopping certain visas, and making it clear thy want you to apply to the Thai embessies and  branch embessy offices, not the Royal Thai consulates.

As evidence the recent Portland Oregon Royal Thai consulate being instructed to issue no more METV visas and require all applicants for METV visas to apply to the Los Angeles Thai embessy or the New York embessy as of 15 August 2016.

looks to me like they are pushing the O-A "retirement" visas for those over 50 which requires more paperwork and is more expensive to get.

There are always changes being made in long term stay visas, any of which are poorly thought out and more poorly implemented such as that abortion of a 6 month METV that replaced the double and triple entry tourist visas since November 2015.

 

The title of this thread is misleading.  Should have UK in the title.

 

59 minutes ago, siam2007 said:

this is known since almost a month already, many honorary consulates have posted this prominently on their websites (such as Portland USA and several German consulates). no more multiple Visas whatsoever from honorary consulates.

can you confirm that this is just the individual consulates making their own decision, or is this coming from some official directive from Thailand?   I could not find anything official on this that non-immigrants multiple are banned or anything like that.

 

8 minutes ago, 4evermaat said:

The title of this thread is misleading.  Should have UK in the title.

 

can you confirm that this is just the individual consulates making their own decision, or is this coming from some official directive from Thailand?   I could not find anything official on this that non-immigrants multiple are banned or anything like that.

 

 

 

I believe it is a worldwide thing, there are actually some topics running here on TV already. The TV Visa experts may hopefully be able to clarify this within the next days

If you are concerned about returning to Thailand on visa exempt without onward travel within the 30 days, then one option would be to buy a train ticket out of Thailand within the 30 days of your return. You can do it online with 12go.asia and get a reservation confirmation. If you then decided to cancel you would get a partial refund depending on when the cancellation was actually made.

 

29 minutes ago, IMA_FARANG said:

In the U.S. the consulates are also stopping certain visas, and making it clear thy want you to apply to the Thai embessies and  branch embessy offices, not the Royal Thai consulates.

Embassies don't have branch offices. There are official Thai consulates and honorary Thai consulates.

Only the honorary consulates have been restricted from issuing multiple entry visas.

To clarify all the points so far:

1 hour ago, IMA_FARANG said:

Are you sure this is not a  U.K. problem with limits on the U.K. not issuing one year Non O visas to those who can not prove U.K. government pensions?

In the U.S. the consulates are also stopping certain visas, and making it clear thy want you to apply to the Thai embessies and  branch embessy offices, not the Royal Thai consulates.

As evidence the recent Portland Oregon Royal Thai consulate being instructed to issue no more METV visas and require all applicants for METV visas to apply to the Los Angeles Thai embessy or the New York embessy as of 15 August 2016.

looks to me like they are pushing the O-A "retirement" visas for those over 50 which requires more paperwork and is more expensive to get.

There are always changes being made in long term stay visas, any of which are poorly thought out and more poorly implemented such as that abortion of a 6 month METV that replaced the double and triple entry tourist visas since November 2015.

 

Some countries have obviously  known this has been in force for some time in other countries. All I can say is that the Liverpool Consul herself phoned me yesterday as she was to all others who had made appointments from now and who were similarly affected so that they could consider their options. It was only this week she was informed of this by the Thai Embassy in London. We are over 50, in fact nearly 70, and have met all the requirements for a yearly Multiple Entry Visa for the past several years and our appointment to do the same this year was confirmed on that basis. I was not sure when I opened the topic whether it was just UK that is why I did not specify UK in the title and wrote 

3 hours ago, Arandora said:

The Royal Thai Consul in Liverpool, UK, phoned me yesterday to tell me that UK (and I presume other countries) had just been informed ....

 

1 hour ago, 4evermaat said:

The title of this thread is misleading.  Should have UK in the title.

 

can you confirm that this is just the individual consulates making their own decision, or is this coming from some official directive from Thailand?   I could not find anything official on this that non-immigrants multiple are banned or anything like that.

 

Title was not intentionally misleading as explained above as was the source of the decision to all UK consulates i.e. The Thai Embassy in London.

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

If you are concerned about returning to Thailand on visa exempt without onward travel within the 30 days, then one option would be to buy a train ticket out of Thailand within the 30 days of your return. You can do it online with 12go.asia and get a reservation confirmation. If you then decided to cancel you would get a partial refund depending on when the cancellation was actually made.

 

There have been reports I have read elsewhere that some airlines enforce the "Proof of Onward Travel BY AIR" rigorously and will not accept any other means of entry. Of course, other reports deny this with them but I am risk averse so if I am going to comply with the POOT by air requirement I will look for the cheapest possible flght ticket out of Thailand within 30 days of our second entry and throw it away after we have entered. Or I could buy a fully refundable ticket and cancel before the departure date and claim a refund.
I am just looking at all the options and am grateful for the suggestions so far. 

Sorry for duplicate post. How do you remove one?

Just spoke to the Thai Consul in Liverpool to clarify what she advised me which was UK Consulates can no longer issue the yearly 90 day visas for elderly/retirees in receipt of State and Works pensions. Instead the Thai Embassy recommended that such as should go the Provincial Immigration Office with exactly the same documentation that we are required to take to the Consulate for our now Single Entry 90 day visa and they will convert it into a Multi Entry so that we will be covered on our second entry. The Thai Embassies explanation of this to the Consul was that it was easier to do this in Thailand than in UK. Go figure! Seems to me they would prefer the extra charge for the multiple entry to go to the Immigration Offices in Thailand than to the Consulates outside.

James Bond Island here we come! 

2 minutes ago, Arandora said:

Just spoke to the Thai Consul in Liverpool to clarify what she advised me which was UK Consulates can no longer issue the yearly 90 day visas for elderly/retirees in receipt of State and Works pensions. Instead the Thai Embassy recommended that such as should go the Provincial Immigration Office with exactly the same documentation that we are required to take to the Consulate for our now Single Entry 90 day visa and they will convert it into a Multi Entry so that we will be covered on our second entry. The Thai Embassies explanation of this to the Consul was that it was easier to do this in Thailand than in UK. Go figure! Seems to me they would prefer the extra charge for the multiple entry to go to the Immigration Offices in Thailand than to the Consulates outside.

James Bond Island here we come! 

Immigration does not issue multiple entry visas.

You could only apply for a one year extension of stay during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the non-o visa. You would need 800k baht in a Thai bank for 60 days or proof of 65 baht income or a combination of the 2 totaling 800k baht.

57 minutes ago, Arandora said:

Sorry for duplicate post. How do you remove one?

i have removed them.

I checked the website for the Melbourne Consulate on August 10. Printed out the form, organised my documents.

 

I've been traveling, so turned up at the consulate only to find out they no longer issue non-o multiple entry visas...   documents and passport had to be sent to Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra,  so now hoping I get my passport back in time for my return flight...

Edited September 8, 20169 yr by kkerry

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

Immigration does not issue multiple entry visas.

You could only apply for a one year extension of stay during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the non-o visa. You would need 800k baht in a Thai bank for 60 days or proof of 65 baht income or a combination of the 2 totaling 800k baht.

I am reporting what the Royal Thai Consul in Liverpool was told by the Royal Thai Embassy in London. I will query your comments, which I also thought was the case, in due course. Perhaps that has changef too? And perhpas the correct information will be posted on the Thai Embassy website one day! 

25 minutes ago, Arandora said:

I am reporting what the Royal Thai Consul in Liverpool was told by the Royal Thai Embassy in London. I will query your comments, which I also thought was the case, in due course. Perhaps that has changef too? And perhpas the correct information will be posted on the Thai Embassy website one day! 

 

In my experience, consular officials have little idea what really happens at immigration offices in Thailand. They are happy to repeat some Chinese whispers, however. You are wasting time discussing things with her. She sounds a very well intentioned lady, trying to be helpful but basically clueless. Just thank here nicely, and look for advice from those who really do know the facts.

I really think that is an insult to the Honorary Consul, not just a member of staff, who has received instructions direct from the Royal Thai Embassy in London, not "chinese whispers". I posted here for information from those who really know the facts on a recent development. 

Further information from Thai Embassy in London, obtain a Single Entry Visa for 90 days at Liverpool then in Thailand go to Immigration Office and apply for a Re-entry Permit for the second which will be issued at the discretion of the Immigration Officer. Does that make more sense?

 

Edited September 8, 20169 yr by Arandora
Updated information.

No, "then in Thailand go to Immigration Office and apply for a Re-entry Permit for the second which will be issued at the discretion of the Immigration Officer" does not make sense.

What the immigration office in Thailand can do for you is described in clause 2.22 of the following two documents:

 

Immigration Bureau Order 327/2557  basis for extension of stay

 

Immigration Bureau Order 138/2557  documents for extension of stay

Perhaps the Thai Embassy in London should be told this!!!

it would seem to me that the best plan for you, would be to obtain a single entry non 'o' which would cover your first stay in Thailand, and for the 2nd stay obtain the cheapest throw away air ticket out of Thailand within 30 days of your 2nd entry date, this would enable you to use a visa exempt entry, extended by 30 days at local immigration (1,900 baht) all round costs should be cheaper  than a  multi entry non 'o' visa, off the top of my head £60 for non 'o', £40 for local immigration office extension, £20 to £30 for throw away flight, making it cheaper than a multi entry non 'o' at £135. the only extra inconvenience would be obtaining the extension

5 hours ago, Arandora said:

Perhaps the Thai Embassy in London should be told this!!!

 

It would, indeed, be great if the Thai Embassy (and also the consulates) were trained to be able to give accurate advice to travelers. Right now, they know the procedures around visas they issue, and that is about it. Perhaps, I have been in Thailand too long, and become used to the idea that officials only know about their own narrow area of responsibility. However, my approach is to accept the system as it is and look for accurate information elsewhere (on Thai immigration matters, that means here, selectively from specific members).

Why not get a 60 day single entry tourist visa from Liverpool (cheaper and easier than an O visa and a one day overstay will probably be overlooked) , so you don't waste your hotel booking, and another from Ho Chi Minh when you are there, which is what you originally suggested.

i am hoping to get the non imm o visa for u.k. pensioners in a couple of months time when i'm 65.

after reading your post yesterday evening , i phoned hull and they said it was still available.

i also phoned london a couple of days ago to check if i could get it there, and they said yes.

 

 

10 hours ago, steve187 said:

it would seem to me that the best plan for you, would be to obtain a single entry non 'o' which would cover your first stay in Thailand, and for the 2nd stay obtain the cheapest throw away air ticket out of Thailand within 30 days of your 2nd entry date, this would enable you to use a visa exempt entry, extended by 30 days at local immigration (1,900 baht) all round costs should be cheaper  than a  multi entry non 'o' visa, off the top of my head £60 for non 'o', £40 for local immigration office extension, £20 to £30 for throw away flight, making it cheaper than a multi entry non 'o' at £135. the only extra inconvenience would be obtaining the extension

Given the confusing advice coming out of the Embassy in London and Consulate in Liverpool, that is my Plan B after a trip to Phang Nga Immigration when we arrive to nail down which if any option they offer - it's a nice drive from Khao Lak anyway. I phoned the Consulate at Hull and they had not been informed that they could not offer Type O multiple entry visas for retirees over 60-65 in receipt of state pension. So that remains an option if we do it quickly. 

Any suggestions for cheapest routes for a throw away ticket? AirAsia has a Big Sale on at the moment and we can get the extension locally in Khao Lak at the once a week Immigration caravan there. 

Edited September 9, 20169 yr by Arandora
Updated.

4 hours ago, madmitch said:

Why not get a 60 day single entry tourist visa from Liverpool (cheaper and easier than an O visa and a one day overstay will probably be overlooked) , so you don't waste your hotel booking, and another from Ho Chi Minh when you are there, which is what you originally suggested.

As I said I am risk averse and not prepared to risk the one day overstay. Getting the visa in HCM will take up precious time of the 3 days we have there but it remains an option.