Over 65, Swampy Visa Exempts

[rott]

A friend will be making 4 trips here of approx 28 days with approx 14 days home (UK) between each trip, August to January.

 

I understand (I think) that this will be OK on visa exempts, but if he repeats this pattern over the following 6 months will that still be OK or will he be told to get a Non O /Retirement extension or whatever.??

 

Thanks for any advice that can be given.

[elviajero]

I think that if he does that two long he will, at some point, be asked to get a visa. If he's in receipt of state pension he might be able to get a multiple entry non immigrant 'O' visa. If not a multiple entry tourist visa would be the next best option.

[VBF]

1 hour ago, elviajero said:

I think that if he does that two long he will, at some point, be asked to get a visa. If he's in receipt of state pension he might be able to get a multiple entry non immigrant 'O' visa. If not a multiple entry tourist visa would be the next best option.

Problem with that is that the UK Embassy wants proof of employment for the METV. So the O seems like a better option for this individual if. as you say, he gets a State Pension.

[elviajero]

10 minutes ago, VBF said:

Problem with that is that the UK Embassy wants proof of employment for the METV. So the O seems like a better option for this individual if. as you say, he gets a State Pension.

If he's 65 and in receipt of pension I am 99.9% sure they would issue a METV as long as he had £5K in the bank.

[VBF]

16 minutes ago, elviajero said:

If he's 65 and in receipt of pension I am 99.9% sure they would issue a METV as long as he had £5K in the bank.

You'd like to think so wouldn't you? I was just quoting what the embassy website actually says. Another one of those wonderful ambiguities for which the various departments involved in Thai visas and immigration are so famous.... sadly ?

 

An email to the embassy with all the details of the applicant's situation might bear fruit. NB they will be closed Monday August 28 for a UK public holiday.

[observer90210]

3 hours ago, VBF said:

Problem with that is that the UK Embassy wants proof of employment for the METV. So the O seems like a better option for this individual if. as you say, he gets a State Pension.

Once you have submitted all due documentation with the Consulate, are you required to submit the same documents in Thailand at immigration for the 3 months extention of stay for the O visa?

[VBF]

3 hours ago, observer90210 said:

Once you have submitted all due documentation with the Consulate, are you required to submit the same documents in Thailand at immigration for the 3 months extention of stay for the O visa?

Not quite sure what you mean by 3 months extension of stay   Let me tell you what I do know

 

The list of documents needed to get the O Visa are all listed on the Embassy website http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/en/types-of-visa#section5 

If it's a single-entry O one can stay in Thailand  for 90 days - then that's it!

If it's a multi-entry O one can stay in Thailand  for 90 days at a time so one leaves Thailand and returns for another 90 days (border hop) This can be repeated until the Visa expires - usually 12 months from date of issue BUT...I don't know if London issues Multi O

The application form http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/Consular/Form/visaapplication15.pdf implies that they would.

 

Now AFAIK, there is NO such thing as a   3 months extension of stay  - rather there is an annual extension for Retirement (which I have never done)

For that there is a different set of requirements including showing money in a Thai bank for a specific time, proof of Residence etc. At this point, i rather hope that someone like UbonJoe pops up to confirm or refute what I say and hopefully to offer you more options if any exist.

[BritTim]

9 hours ago, rott said:

I understand (I think) that this will be OK on visa exempts, but if he repeats this pattern over the following 6 months will that still be OK

After six visa exempt entries, the immigration official will receive an alert that the entry should receive extra scrutiny to ensure he is a genuine tourist. My expectation is that he will still be OK. His age and pattern of entries with return to home country are not symptomatic of someone working illegally (the main concern with those using visa exempt entries). At worst, I think he would be admitted with a warning that this is his last visa exempt entry, and he must get a visa in future. At that point, he can reevaluate.

[elviajero]

3 hours ago, observer90210 said:

Once you have submitted all due documentation with the Consulate, are you required to submit the same documents in Thailand at immigration for the 3 months extention of stay for the O visa?

The embassy in London only need proof of state pension to get the ME/SE visa.

 

There is no 3 month extension.

 

A ME visa will be valid for 1 year, but you can only stay a maximum of 90 days per entry. After 90 days you can leave and leave and immediately re-enter for a new 90 days.

 

If you want to extend a SE or any ME entry by 1 year you need an affidavit from the British embassy in Bangkok confirming the amount of income. If the income is greater than 65K you're good. If not you can use money in a Thai bank to make up the shortfall. Annual income plus the balance in the bank needs to equal at leat 800K.

[observer90210]

50 minutes ago, VBF said:

Not quite sure what you mean by 3 months extension of stay   Let me tell you what I do know

 

The list of documents needed to get the O Visa are all listed on the Embassy website http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/en/types-of-visa#section5 

If it's a single-entry O one can stay in Thailand  for 90 days - then that's it!

If it's a multi-entry O one can stay in Thailand  for 90 days at a time so one leaves Thailand and returns for another 90 days (border hop) This can be repeated until the Visa expires - usually 12 months from date of issue BUT...I don't know if London issues Multi O

The application form http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/Consular/Form/visaapplication15.pdf implies that they would.

 

Now AFAIK, there is NO such thing as a   3 months extension of stay  - rather there is an annual extension for Retirement (which I have never done)

For that there is a different set of requirements including showing money in a Thai bank for a specific time, proof of Residence etc. At this point, i rather hope that someone like UbonJoe pops up to confirm or refute what I say and hopefully to offer you more options if any exist.

oki....guess you were refering to the UK...but some consulates in Europe will only issue 90 day O visa, that can be extended, renewed or whatever the term, for another 90 days but it can only be done in Thailand....guess the rules change from one country to another....thanks for the feedback anyhow...

[Crossy]

19 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

that can be extended, renewed or whatever the term, for another 90 days but it can only be done in Thailand

There's no 90 day extension of any visa type that I'm aware of.

 

Its 30 days for visa exemptions / tourist visas or 1 year for non-immigrant, plus the special 60 day extension to visit your wife.

 

EDIT Actually, wasn't there a period where they were extending non-ed visas 90 days at a time?

[elviajero]

17 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

but some consulates in Europe will only issue 90 day O visa, that can be extended, renewed or whatever the term, for another 90 days but it can only be done in Thailand.

No such visa exists from anywhere that can be extended by 90 days in Thailand. Only a 1 year extension is available based on retirement.

[jeab1980]

Surley 4 trips on visa exempt with a trip back to the UK in between each visa will flag nothing up with Immigration. Due to his trips home. I know plenty of guys who come over stay for 30 days shoot of home for a few weeks and return on visa Exempts. To my knowledge none have had a problem at all. Now flying to a neighbouring country  and returning might throw a flag up i expect.

[elgenon]

4 hours ago, elviajero said:

The embassy in London only need proof of state pension to get the ME/SE visa.

 

There is no 3 month extension.

 

A ME visa will be valid for 1 year, but you can only stay a maximum of 90 days per entry. After 90 days you can leave and leave and immediately re-enter for a new 90 days.

 

If you want to extend a SE or any ME entry by 1 year you need an affidavit from the British embassy in Bangkok confirming the amount of income. If the income is greater than 65K you're good. If not you can use money in a Thai bank to make up the shortfall. Annual income plus the balance in the bank needs to equal at leat 800K.

An METV obtained in America is good for 9 months. Is it different in the UK?

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, elgenon said:

An METV obtained in America is good for 9 months. Is it different in the UK?

He was writing about a multiple entry non-o visa that is valid for one year from the date of issue.

A multiple entry tourist visa is only valid for 6 months from the date of issue but can give a total stay of 9 months by doing an entry just before it expires.

[rott]

Thanksto all for the clarification.

[captnhoy]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

He was writing about a multiple entry non-o visa that is valid for one year from the date of issue.

A multiple entry tourist visa is only valid for 6 months from the date of issue but can give a total stay of 9 months by doing an entry just before it expires.

I too am trying to decide how to proceed. Is a multiple entry non-o visa the one that is issued based on retirement?

[jeab1980]

17 minutes ago, captnhoy said:

I too am trying to decide how to proceed. Is a multiple entry non-o visa the one that is issued based on retirement?

Non o 90 days single entry (apparently quite hard to come by at most embassies)

Non o based on marriage multi entry  valid 1 year 90 days at a time.

Non o based on marriage 90 day single entry. 

There are of course more non o types.

All obtained out of country at thai Embassies or consulates. 

 

Not to be confused with:

 

Extension of Stay done at Immigration offices within the country

Based on 

Retirement or marriage or lots of other things but the first two are the most used i would expect. To get these you must have a Non O visa to start with. (Which can be got by getting your TV  changed to a Non o single entry 90 day  visa at immigration offices) (confused yet!)

You can get re entry permits both single and multiple for your extensions of stay from Immigration when you do the extension or bkk airports before you leave.

[ubonjoe]

14 minutes ago, captnhoy said:

I too am trying to decide how to proceed. Is a multiple entry non-o visa the one that is issued based on retirement?

In the UK it issued it you are 65 or older and getting a state pension.

It can be difficult to get one at most locations for being 50 or over for retirement.

[captnhoy]

59 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

In the UK it issued it you are 65 or older and getting a state pension.

It can be difficult to get one at most locations for being 50 or over for retirement.

And in this example it is described as a "multiple entry non-O good for 1 year". Is the same visa available in the US? I am retired and not short on funds or income.

[ubonjoe]

9 minutes ago, captnhoy said:

And in this example it is described as a "multiple entry non-O good for 1 year". Is the same visa available in the US? I am retired and not short on funds or income.

You cannot get a multiple entry non-o visa for being 50 or over that allows unlimited 90 day entries for a year from the date of issue in the states now.

You could apply for a OA long stay visa that allows unlimited one year entries for a year from the date of issue.

[captnhoy]

Thanks Joe

[Jonmarleesco]

The limit, unless I misunderstand it, is three visa-exempt visits in succession; then he needs to obtain a visa. 

[Jonmarleesco]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

In the UK it issued it you are 65 or older and getting a state pension.

It can be difficult to get one at most locations for being 50 or over for retirement.

The first I've heard of that. And it isn't obvious on the UK's consulate websites. So what are the criteria for an over-65 non-O visa?

[ubonjoe]

22 minutes ago, Jonmarleesco said:

The limit, unless I misunderstand it, is three visa-exempt visits in succession; then he needs to obtain a visa. 

There is no written limit on the number visa exempt entries that can done by air. By land there is a limit of 2 per calendar year.

[ubonjoe]

19 minutes ago, Jonmarleesco said:

The first I've heard of that. And it isn't obvious on the UK's consulate websites. So what are the criteria for an over-65 non-O visa?

Info for a single entry non-o is here on the the Hull consulate website. The multiple entry non-o can be applied for at embassy in London with the same requirements. http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/non-immigrant-visa-cat-o-pensioner.php

 

[elviajero]

8 hours ago, jeab1980 said:

Surley 4 trips on visa exempt with a trip back to the UK in between each visa will flag nothing up with Immigration. Due to his trips home. I know plenty of guys who come over stay for 30 days shoot of home for a few weeks and return on visa Exempts. To my knowledge none have had a problem at all. Now flying to a neighbouring country  and returning might throw a flag up i expect.

There might not be an automated flag, but an IO can stop anyone at anytime. The experience of your friends is irrelevant. Millions enter through the airports every year and only some people get stopped and questioned. Who gets stopped is down to the individual IO's, with or without the help of flags!

[observer90210]

12 hours ago, Crossy said:

There's no 90 day extension of any visa type that I'm aware of.

 

Its 30 days for visa exemptions / tourist visas or 1 year for non-immigrant, plus the special 60 day extension to visit your wife.

 

EDIT Actually, wasn't there a period where they were extending non-ed visas 90 days at a time?

ok thanks....guess I got bit mixed up in the jungle of Thai visas!!..I guess I'll settle next time for a 6 month METV visa with 60 days per stay.

[Crossy]

5 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

... jungle of Thai visas ...

It can indeed be a jungle for the uninitiated, which is why this forum exists