Genuine facts and experiences of Visas

[Guess]

I have started this thread because every on so far has contained rumors, gossip, maybe if I'd have done that, a mate told me etc. etc. etc.

Could we please keep this to. This is what I have done and the circumstances.

Also as Wanderlust and myself have stated many times is that terminology is confusing the majority of people.

To re-iterate and regarding Visa issued by the Kingdom of Thailand only.The terminology that I have been told by immigration and have researched on various Embassy and Consulate sites are:

VISA. There are many types. All of them are either a separate piece of paper a bit like a bank note in style or a large page filling red colored rubber stamp.

STAMP. This is the stamp that is put on your passport either by Thai Immigration at a border crossing or at an immigration office. It states what date you the stamp was made and what date you have to do something else by. The "do something else" depends entirely on the Visa you have. If the stamp is not done in your presence it is not legal but many people do it and get away with it. It can of course be invalidated by an astute Immigration Official at any time during the life of your passport.

VISA EXEMPTION. This has been known as a Visa Waiver in some environments but Hua Hin Immigration state that term. It is NOT a VISA. It gives you the right to remain ion Thailand for thirty days. The Thai Immigration will issue you with three in any 180 day (or maybe six month) period. They are not extendable in Thailand. You must cross a border if you are able within thirty days. It is the changes in this rule that caused the unnecessary panic and uproar on October 1st. The change in the enforcement of this was made by Immigration over eighteen months ago. DO NOT CONFUSE THIS WITH VISA ON ARRIVAL. IN the case of many countries it is the same thing but not all countries especially those outside the EU and North America.

NON IMMIGRANT-O

There are many types of this Visa available to people and the length of validity and the conditions vary from issuing office to issuing office even in the same country. You are always better off to obtain one of these in passport holder own country. This is a very complicated situation and I would like to see people report the actual experiences, (NOT SECOND HAND OR FROM COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE CONSULATES BUT FIRST HAND ONLY). Changes have definitely been made this year.

NON IMMIGRANT-B

This is for people, who own businesses and/or intend to work here. One pre-requisite is that the boss of the company must request that you be a working employee.

The two ways get a B Visa are, firstly you can do it yourself which will be painstaking and frustrating but possible. Secondly get an agent to do it for you, but ad it is a big BUT. Get a contract from them to ensure that the deliverables are on time and that the charges are agreed in advance including a breakdown of the agency charges and the mandatory business set up costs that are paid to the government.

TOURIST VISA

Another area that has always been changing and has definitely changed dramatically recently. I only have one experience. I have just seen a UK passport that has a Tourist Visa issued in Penang. It was single entry (S) was marked USED and had an expiry date two months after the issue data. The rubber stamp was 60 days inclusive after entry to Thailand. Immigration in Hua Hin have told me that after 60 days they will extend it for 30 days for 1,900 Baht and the passport holder can then return to Penang and do it all over again. without limit. However I have been told things before regarding extensions that have proved to be incorrect. When you actually go to do something they will check the manula for changes since October 1st and then say "Oh sorry can not do no. Only seven days", so beware.


DODGY VISAS

I thought that the clamp down three years ago had put a stop to this practice and along with greater use of computers had made it almost impossible. This is not the case. I have seen a UK passport that has an exit stamp from Phuket airport on it a couple of days before the expiry of the previous Visa (both entries used already and expiry date past) backed stamped date. There was another entry stamp five days later and a rubber stamp with 30 days life on it. The holder never left Hua Hin so will not be on any passenger list for either day from Phuket airport but feasibly could have traveled on a flight to Singapore and transferred to a flight to Europe where no stamp would have been made. He could have then made the return journey. The thing is that any suspicious Immigration official could check the passenger list before both dates and see that the passport holder had not flown out or in on those dates. The airlines and the Airports Authorities are required by law to keep these records for a number of years, so at any time during the life of the passport you can be nabbed.

THE EVEN DODGIER VISA.

For UK passport holders at least but probably other Europeans and North Americans it is possible to download all necessary forms from the consulate in Hull and fill them. You the leave Thailand and stay in a neighboring country for a while. Send all documentation including your passport to a family member or trusted friend in the UK by DHL or any other guaranteed delivery service. Your contact in the UK need to open the package and take the contents to the Post Office and send it by registered mail to Hull. (All these instructions are on the web site). The payment is also made at the Post Office by means of a Postal Order. Even the necessary packaging and return package can be purchased at the Post Office. The Non-Immigrant O Visiting Family and Friends, Multi Entry Visa) will be processed and returned to your contact in the UK by registered mail within three working days. Your contact then needs to send everything back to you Hotel via DHL. You then can get back into Thailand and get a 90 day stamp at the border. You will need to do a border crossing after 90 days or extend at an Immigration office.

This method is even more risky than the previous one. Firstly you have the same problems that the first visa has but additionally you will have an
exit stamp from Thailand and an Entry stamp for the neighboring country. You will have no exit stamp from the neighboring country that ties in with your visit to the UK. However people are doing this and so far getting away with it.

PLEASE CAN WE KEEP THIS THREAD TO REAL LIFE FIRST HAND EXPERIENCES WITH DATES AND LOCATION DETAILS AND PASSPORT HOLDER NATIONALITY QUOTED.

I think this would be very helpful in this period of constant change

[Guess]

Ranong is open for border crossings to Victoria Point.

Thai Immigration in Ranong now closes at 16:00.

You will be photographed in Myanmar when your passport is stamped.

Check they give you your own passport back before leaving the office.

[lomuamart]

Couple of points. Closing time at Ranong has always been 16.00, hasn't it, as per the notice on the door as you walk in. The reason for this is that Burmese imm close at 16.30 or 17.00 - and there's a time diffrence of 30 mins between the two countries. Burma is 30 mins behind Thailand. Unless it's changed over the past couple of months, Ranong will always stay open if they know that you're coming back - this is also true at The Andaman club - although you may have to go to their quarters to get someone first. They know who's gone out and so are expecting people to return. What they don't do is stamp you out after 16.00 - I've seen it many times. A foreigner pleading with them to get stamped out, otherwise they're on overstay, but having it explained that there's nowhere to go to - Burma's closed for the day. So it's "come back tomorrow, pay your overstay and take it from there". I forget what time they state they open, but I've been there at 6am and my taxi driver has woken them up in their quarters. One poor chap would always open up and stamp you out. Just remember to thank him profusly.
I'd certainly go along with what you've said re Non Imm visas, Guess. Just about the only place to get a multi-entry is now back in your home country - indeed the consulate in Hull say this on their website.
As far as the situation is concerned regarding their complexity, I think the situation is pretty clear - certainly with regard to getting one on the basis of supporting a Thai national and that's all I qualify for.
In neighbouring countries, particularly Penang, go armed with your marriage certificate (or birth certificate of your child if you're applying on that basis), a copy of your wife's ID card, yourself, your passport and the fee. In Penang, you'll be issued with a single entry Non-Imm O visa which is good for 90 days upon entering The Kingdom. During the last 30 days of your entry, go to an imm office in Thailand and apply for a year's extension to your visa. You will need your wife this time, a copy of your house book as well and, for those who are applying after Oct 1st for the first time, proof that you earn a minimum of 40k per month overseas - average. If your wife earns, this can now be added to the total - it's actually now household income that counts. You'll need a letter from your Embassy certifying that you have the income. Now quite what The Embassy want to see from you to get that certificate, I'm not sure. I'd certainly be interested to hear from anyone who's done it through the British Embassy.
All being well, you'll get a year's extension after a "consideration period" that can be up to 3 months and never have to leave the sunny LOS again. Just report to imm every 90 days. This proceedure can go on indefinitely as long as you've got the income and prove it each year.
Think that's it. But, as Guess said, it's always worth talking to your local imm office first. Every visa, extension or otherwise is given or refused at the officer's discretion. So, to have an idea of what he/she wants first will be half the battle.
As far a Tourist visas are concerned and the number of times you can do it, I'm not sure. Appreciate you've seen this passport and the details are again correct re validity and duration of stay. However, I had trouble about 6 years ago in Penang getting a second, back-to-back double-entry TV. I did get it, but the agent said I almost definitely wouldn't get a third. Is there anyone out there who has got more than one or two consequtive TVs from Penang? I hope the statement that you can get unlimited numbers is correct, but I doubt we'll hear much about it until well into The New Year as it's not really been necessary before. 30 day runs were the norm before.

[ricardo]

I got a 1 year multiple entry Non Immigrant "O" visa from the Thai Embassy in Singapore 3 weeks ago.

I was applying based on my marriage to a Thai.
Requirements were a copy of my marriage certificate (I provided English and Thai copies), 2 photos and the application form plus a fee of $220 (approximately 5000 baht). The whole process took 30 minutes and the visa was ready the next day.

I also asked if they issued a 1 year Non Imm "O" visa based on a guarantee letter. Answer was NO.

[sargeant]

Bluddy good idea guess only thing is it would also be useful to hear from peops on the bad end of a visa problem to try and clear some chaff and let people know what isnt going to fly

[JW]

NON IMM B

Last month i required a new non imm B to allow me to get a work permit.
I needed:
Completed company accounts and paperwork
A document from the labour department showing that my application for work permit was with lodged.
Photo
Passport - make sure it has at least 1 year validity (they say 6 months but have the year for safety British embassy advised this).

I went to K.L for this, arrive early to get in the queue for submissions (9am).
They will give a receipt and a number for collection the following day.
You can collect after 11.30 the following day.
If you contact them they will send you a list with what you required.
They were helpful there and everything went fine.

[Guess]

Bluddy good idea guess only thing is it would also be useful to hear from peops on the bad end of a visa problem to try and clear some chaff and let people know what isnt going to fly

Yes absolutely, positive and negative experiences are both valkuable so long as they a first hand information.

One question from Ricardo. Did your wife need to be with you?


The responses from ricardo and JW are exactly what I believe will be of great help to people.

[lomuamart]

Bluddy good idea guess only thing is it would also be useful to hear from peops on the bad end of a visa problem to try and clear some chaff and let people know what isnt going to fly

Yes absolutely, positive and negative experiences are both valkuable so long as they a first hand information.

One question from Ricardo. Did your wife need to be with you?


The responses from ricardo and JW are exactly what I believe will be of great help to people.

Why does your wife need to be with you on a visa trip? Unless you both want a holiday?
The wife's presence is not necessary until you apply for an extension in Thailand. Then it most definitely is required.
However, if I was going all that way, I'd try to give my wife a chance of seeing another country.
Marriage certificate, copy of wife's ID card, etc etc. How many times do I have to say it? The verification of your finances/marriage for the extension take place here, in Thailand, after you've got your visa.
Simple.

[lomuamart]

I know it's long-winded, but here you go folks. I hope this link works:
Sh**.
All the new regulations are contained in National Police Order No. 606/2006
Subject: criteria and conditions in permitting alien/foreigner to temporarily enter The Kingdom. The marriage stuff is all under 7.18
It's a PDF file.
All the rest of the stuff is there. All current, as far as I'm aware.
http://www.lawyer.th.com/National_Polic ... t_2006.pdf

[Sciamachy]

Regarding the 2 month toutist visas, I've not heard about anyone being refused a second visa outright, however, Thai embassies in neighboring countries are becoming increasingly restrictive about issuing multiple entry tourist visas, some embassies have on occaision told applicants that they will not issue them a second tourist visa, and some embassies have told applicants that if they legally extend their toutist visas by one month in Thailand they must provide documentation as to why -- e.g., a letter from their doctor saying they were sick.

[ricardo]

Guess : My wife was with me when I applied for the visa, but her presence had no bearing on the outcome. The embassy official I dealt with had no idea my wife was with me.

I took my wife over so that we could have a short holiday together - thats all.

[sargeant]

Sciamachy
This thread is for facts only guess is 100% correct there are on numerous threads for the i have heard i have not heard rumours
this thread is really for people who have done it and it is total fact
Your post while probably true is not backed up with a i have just done it, have just been refused, or an i have just recieved
As with ricardo and JW perfect examples
I could and will put a post in later as to how i got a retirement visa for myself and a friend facts NO maybes. But 2 different approaches

[Sciamachy]

Those are the facts, based on my personal experiences. Just cause you have not had the same experience doesn't mean mine are less factual -- rather, our divergent experiences are perhaps evidence that the system is capricious.

[sargeant]

Sciamachy i am not having a go at you but for instance some embassies which embassies and did you go to all of them this thread is for specific embassies by name
And i havent heard about anyone being refused a second visa outright well neither have i but this thread is for those that have and the reasons why and where it happenned

Guess mods help please we need this thread to stay factual

[Sciamachy]

Okay sorry. The embassy in Laos said one visa this time, don't come back again. The embassy in Burma said next time if you have visa extensions in your passport you need a letter explaining it or no visa.

A friend told me the embassy in Cambodia was also quite difficult with him amd that the embassy in Vietnam has stopped issuing multiple entry visas. That was his experience.

I didn't mean to state that no one is ever rejected a tourist visa, only that I had not had that experience personally. However, I fear that I will one of these times.