Visa Rules

[dylanist]

We are in Lao and two teachers from Thailand have been asked for "police clearance letter", others have not been asked. Very confusing.

We have to go home for a short time due to family illness.

Since we have not returned to Thailand yet how long do we have before our visas are not any good?

Or if we enter Thailand is there anyway to keep my O and my friends B NonImmigrant visa status, fly home, stay a month and then return and still have our O and B status?

Thank you for this site and all the help that people give.

[lopburi3]

That is written on your visa - normally will be 3 months from date of issue for a single entry type.

When you enter Thailand you will receive a 90 day permitted to stay.

You can keep a permitted to say alive with a re entry permit but that costs 1,000 baht and only provides entry until your original permitted to stay date - you do not get 'credit' for time outside the country.

[PeaceBlondie]

This is the second unconfirmed report that people (farang teachers in Thailand) are being told in neighboring consulates or Thai embassies, that they need a police clearance. Yet I'm unaware of any such published statement by the Thai authorities in the M.F.A. or Immigration Police, of such a request.

[Casanundra]

Two very good and qualified teacher friends of mine went to Penang last Wednesday and I believe the rule for the police clearance was introduced at 11pm the night before. They had no idea of this new change and so when they arrived at Penang they both had their visa applications refused and where sent back to Thailand with the grim message to get the police report.

The police report I believe takes 7 days and includes taking your finger prints as well as doing an interpol check although I suspect that when they get to the police station the coppers will not have a clue about this new requirement and will probably send them away or ask for a hefty contribution to the policemans ball.

The intersting thing was that one of the teachers was on his third and final 30 day tourist entry and so in theory should not have been allowed back into thailand for another 90 days. However at immigration they didn't bat an eyelid and they just allowed him back into Thailand on another 30 days tourist entry visa taking his tally up to four.

IMHO, this is just yet another step in the path of making it even harder for those getting their visas for Thailand. Both teachers however said that those getting their 60 day tourist visa were having no problems and it was just the ones getting a retirement visa, a non-imm O and B that seemed to be getting rejected.

[astral]

The validity of your visa is shown by the stamp in your passport.

However if you did not get a re-entry permit, your visa will have lapsed when you left Thailand.

[loong]

Two very good and qualified teacher friends of mine went to Penang last Wednesday and I believe the rule for the police clearance was introduced at 11pm the night before. They had no idea of this new change and so when they arrived at Penang they both had their visa applications refused and where sent back to Thailand with the grim message to get the police report.

The police report I believe takes 7 days and includes taking your finger prints as well as doing an interpol check although I suspect that when they get to the police station the coppers will not have a clue about this new requirement and will probably send them away or ask for a hefty contribution to the policemans ball.

The intersting thing was that one of the teachers was on his third and final 30 day tourist entry and so in theory should not have been allowed back into thailand for another 90 days. However at immigration they didn't bat an eyelid and they just allowed him back into Thailand on another 30 days tourist entry visa taking his tally up to four.

IMHO, this is just yet another step in the path of making it even harder for those getting their visas for Thailand. Both teachers however said that those getting their 60 day tourist visa were having no problems and it was just the ones getting a retirement visa, a non-imm O and B that seemed to be getting rejected.

As I understand it the 90 days permission to stay on entry rule runs from October 1st so you should still be okay up to 30th December.

What is the relevance with teachers in this post? If they are teaching in Thailand, they have a work permit - Yes????

Is it that only teachers have to get a police report or everyone applying for a tourist visa?