SJ,
Thank you for clearing that up. I get the feeling from my experiences, chats with fellow foreigners and forums, that the difficulty some have faced in getting multiple entry non O visas has got nothing to do with whether they have had one previously or their application; I called a few of the neighbouring Embassies before I decided to go to KL last time, and the simple answer from many of them was 'we do not issue multiple entry non immigrant O visas' in so many words, but all of them would issue single entry ones. I am wondering if that means the issuance of these is limited to only certain Embassies? That would certainly explain the difference between my experience in KL, and lomus in Penang anyway. Why is another matter, but then again that question could be applied to a whole host of things we all come across in our dealings with immigration, and not just Thailand.
Crackdown on back to back tourist visas
-
Name Taken
- Suspended
- Posts: 1025
- Joined: Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:57 pm
I have heard that the Thai Embassy/Consulate in Los Angeles is not friendly also, so it's probably best to give the Thai Embassy/Consulate in Los Angeles a pass.ricardo wrote:I know for a fact that they have tightened up in Singapore. I used to get a 12 month Non immigrant "O" based on marriage from Singapore but when I called thenm earlier in the year they had stopped issuing them. They would only issue a single entry visa.lomuamart wrote:As far as I'm aware, the Non O visa situation hasn't been tightened up by regulation. However, to get one (either single or multi entry) in a neighbouring country, you've got to qualify for it. Married to a Thai or over 50 and looking to retire.
As I was visiting the UK I applied for a new visa from the consulate in Hull.
Just FYI
Hull have issued multi entry Non Os to visit family and friends for as long as I can remember. I've had three from there, two before I was married and was still under 50. The honourary consulate is well known for issuing O visas on this basis. I believe other honourary consulates in the UK are equally as flexible - ie Birmingham.
I've always been advised to steer clear of the Embassy in London as they would not issue on the basis of visiting friends or just for an extended stay. This seems to be evidenced by their web site:
Other activities such as visiting Thai spouse, children, parents, voluntary job
(Category "O")
Pension earners or Applicants over 50 years of age will require the following documents (Category "O" with multiple entries) :
Pension statement if the applicant is a pension earner, or
Proof of income with a minimum of £900.00 per month or
Thai Spouse visa with a copy of marriage certificate and passport or Thai ID of spouse
The Penang website looks pretty useless, but the MFA site again states that O visas are for retirees and those with family here - there are a couple of other reasons:
- other activities (Category "O") as follows:
to stay with the family, to perfrom duties for the state enterprise or social welfare organizations, to stay after retirement for the elderly, to receive medical treatment, to be a sport coach as required by Thai Government, to be a contestant or witness for the judicial process.
No mention of visiting girlfriend or just for extended stay.
Obviously, I can to some extent only go by my personal experience and that is simply that Penang don't issue multi-entry Non Os - even to those married to a Thai. Ricardo has had the same experience in Singapore - single entry only, even when married.
I've always been advised to steer clear of the Embassy in London as they would not issue on the basis of visiting friends or just for an extended stay. This seems to be evidenced by their web site:
Other activities such as visiting Thai spouse, children, parents, voluntary job
(Category "O")
Pension earners or Applicants over 50 years of age will require the following documents (Category "O" with multiple entries) :
Pension statement if the applicant is a pension earner, or
Proof of income with a minimum of £900.00 per month or
Thai Spouse visa with a copy of marriage certificate and passport or Thai ID of spouse
The Penang website looks pretty useless, but the MFA site again states that O visas are for retirees and those with family here - there are a couple of other reasons:
- other activities (Category "O") as follows:
to stay with the family, to perfrom duties for the state enterprise or social welfare organizations, to stay after retirement for the elderly, to receive medical treatment, to be a sport coach as required by Thai Government, to be a contestant or witness for the judicial process.
No mention of visiting girlfriend or just for extended stay.
Obviously, I can to some extent only go by my personal experience and that is simply that Penang don't issue multi-entry Non Os - even to those married to a Thai. Ricardo has had the same experience in Singapore - single entry only, even when married.
Personally never had a problem with London consulate issuing on 'visit friends/girlfriend/extended stay' etc, plus know a lot of Suvveners who got same.
You're right about the neighbouring consulates, some seem to tighten up what they do or don't give out. The visa agents seem to be up on where is easy at certain given times, guess they have contacts they ring through too.
Know Vientienne and Vietnam became flavours of the month last year. I chanced Penang last year when cocked up my dates and overstayed, knowing we were going on to KL then Manila so had other chances, but Penang did it without question, but that was only a single entry that I needed so may have been different scenario if wanted multi-entry.
SJ
You're right about the neighbouring consulates, some seem to tighten up what they do or don't give out. The visa agents seem to be up on where is easy at certain given times, guess they have contacts they ring through too.
Know Vientienne and Vietnam became flavours of the month last year. I chanced Penang last year when cocked up my dates and overstayed, knowing we were going on to KL then Manila so had other chances, but Penang did it without question, but that was only a single entry that I needed so may have been different scenario if wanted multi-entry.
SJ
