Takiap wrote:Okay let me clear this up. I did take a copy but they wanted the origianal.
I am not wealthy and have never implied that I am. In fact it is the exact opposite but I do have a family which I love dearly. I certainly don't have 800K nor do I have 400K.
Okay so I am not rich or wealthy as others on here may be but that does not change the fact that I have emotions for my wife and child!!!!
Whether Takieb is rich, or not, dosn't matter.
Hey all you purists, Takieb did at least post his/her experience.
I don't see much from anyone else other than negative feelings.
I thought the whole idea of this thread was to try help others through personal experience.
So, why do you shoot the messenger?
Takiab. I'm sorry if I've offended you.
Seems to me, the only people over here that want to make things difficult for "genuinely" married people are the Thai authorities.
I should know as I'm married to one.
This week I submitted the application for renewal of my marriage visa. I'm just entering my fourth year in Thailand, so this was my fourth such application, and it included two unexpected new demands.
By way of background, we had lived in what is best described as my wife's family compound in Phetchaburi for the first 2 1/2 years, and moved to a rented house in Hua Hin in July this year to spend some time looking around to determine whether we wanted to purchase a property here. In addition, I have used the Hua Hin immigration office more than a dozen times since the day it opened, and the officers know me well by sight, and address my wife by her familiar name.
I submitted all the usual documents, all in good order. Then the immigration officer said he wanted to see our landlord, and that we had to bring him in person to the immigration office. Our landlord was kind enough to consent to this, and the immigration officer interviewed him for about ten minutes, and then required him to sign a statement. This included some details of our lease agreement (not the amount), and also a paragraph that said that the landlord confirmed that we were living as husband and wife in his property. There was no wiggle room for him in the wording, no "in my opinion" or suchlike.
Furthermore, since my wife had not changed her thabien baan address from Phetchaburi, the immigration officer then requested that we physically bring a person from that same moo baan to the immigration office in Hua Hin to confirm that we had lived there previously as husband and wife. This person could not be a relative, and even though my wife had lived in that moo baan for more than 40 years, it wasn't easy to find someone who was willing to present such testimony on our behalves to the police. Nevertheless we did so, and I had the task of driving to Phetchaburi to bring him to Hua Hin (and then taking him back to Phetchaburi after the event). Again, the immigration officer interviewed him for ten minutes, and required him to sign a statement to the same effect as the landlord, and with the same precise wording.
Since these were both pre-printed letters on immigration department letter-heading (but no TM-number), I assume these demands are not uncommon. I wonder what would have happened had we previously lived in Chiang Mai, and not in Phetchaburi.
In response to the last post about getting your landlord to the police station:- a year or two ago I went through the same thing HH, just prior to the immigration opening up down here. I had to get my landlord in to the police station to sign a statement. He also had to submit a copy of his ID, etc, etc.
I should add that I had done my application in Bangkok and they had in turn instructed the HH police to visit my home in Takiap to confirm that I did in fact live at the address I had given. Well the HH police were certainly not going to travel to Takiap for the sake of a farang needing a visa which is why I had to drag the landlord through to the police station.
Shane
Don't try to impress me with your manner of dress cos a monkey himself is a monkey no less - cold fact
Onlyme wrote:Takiab. I'm sorry if I've offended you.
Seems to me, the only people over here that want to make things difficult for "genuinely" married people are the Thai authorities.
I should know as I'm married to one.
No offense taken. I did have a copy but they wanted the original as well as my wife's ID card and a bank book.
Shane
Don't try to impress me with your manner of dress cos a monkey himself is a monkey no less - cold fact
As guess has quite correctly said we need factual information good or bad i have been offline a week and heard lots and seen some things which makes me wonder why nothing has come forward either good or bad so come on lets have the facts please
A couple of things. I did my run to Ranong last week - the first time in 5 months. I'd had a 30 day stamp last year that covered me until the day my wife and I left Thailand for the UK. We were there a month and I came back on a multi-entry Non O. So, after a further 3 months here, I set off to the sunny south expecting things to be "same same, but different". My observations of that journey are as follows:
1. I was at the bus station at 7.45am to catch the 8am bus to Phuket. At 8.30am, I was informed that it wasn't due until 10am. Bearing in mind Guess' post of some time ago where he said imm in Ranong shut down at 4.30pm, I decided it wasn't worth waiting for that bus. The chances would have been very high that I'd have missed office hours. I appreciate that this could be a one-off instance, but also it could be a change in timetable. I'm not sure, but I would suggest that those who were, like me, expecting an 8am bus should check whether the timing's changed.
2. Fortunately, I'd decided to go a day early, so I caught the 5pm train to Chumpon that arrived a little after 9pm. 230 B one way. Spent almost all the time in the restaurant car having a good time. Stayed at "The Chumpon Palace Hotel" in the middle of town. 420 B for a double room, air con, cable tv, mini bar, hot water shower etc etc. Great value and very friendly.
Went out to "The Farang Bar" a 20 B taxi ride away, had great fish and chips and good company. Some farangs and I eventually finished drinking at 5am outside a small restaurant just up from the bar.
The next day, a shared mini-bus to Ranong, which leaves every 30 mins, was 120B.
3. Ranong imm was quiet when I eventually got there about 1.30pm - held up due to hangover. The Burmese side was chaos!!!. 10 dollars (as we all know now), but what surprised me was that the boat didn't stop at the little Burmese imm island. Straight to the mainland. There were loads of people at the office - which was opposite where it used to be. If my boatman hadn't managed to wheedle his way through the mellee, I'd have been there an hour, not 5 mins. 20B well spent!!
4. On return to Ranong, no problems. Another 90 days. But I did speak to the Head of Imm and he said it had been Bedlam over the few days prior to Jan 4th and that he personally thought all the changes were bad news for Thailand. (It certainly had meant a lot more work for his staff).
I asked what his office's requirements would be for a year's extension to my Non O as I'm married. When he realised I was from HH, he suggested I apply there - fair enough. He was looking a bit harrassed.
5. Never, ever get the 4.30pm bus that originates in Ranong, back to HH. Took the best part of 8.5 hours. I'd have been better waiting for the 7pm and relaxing with some beers and grub.
6. On the return bus, I met a young Aussie who " was chilling out on the islands". He didn't even know about the 90 days in 180 rule (on 30 day stamps). I pointed out on his passport the Ranong imm had marked his first two and written 3 on the one he'd just got. Hopefully, he's a bit wiser now. Did make me realise what "chilling out" means. Ie - you're not keeping up to date with this country and you're stumped next time you go, unless you get a proper visa next time. Bye bye thailand for 90 days.
Anyway, that's longwinded, but all factual. Hope it helps some people, particularly with journey planning. I don't really think the imm offices have a firm grip on what's expected of them yet. Time will tell.
I am just about to start a new company and myself and my partner required the above visa.
We used a local Thai lawyer and went to Vientiane in Lao. Embassy was easy to find, paperwork was checked and a receipt given. We picked up our visa's next day.
Service was excellent and the city is really nice to spend a night or 2.
Would recommend using this for the above visa.
JW is giving a very helpful advice, especially for those, which feel bored about visiting Penang.
A friend of mine used the Vientiane-trip, too, to apply for a new Non-Imm "B" 3 month visa, and was very satisfied with the service of the Thai-Embassy.
Of course, a trustful lawyer should do the paperwork in advance, as JW mentioned already.
On the other side I heard, that they dislike to issue multi-entry "tourist-visa", and Non-Imm "O" visa.
Not sure, if this are just rumors, or not?
Does anybody have newer experiences or information about that?
I am going to push this thread again because guess was correct we need to know the facts good or bad FIRST HAND i know peops have had the big red 3 and must leave for 3 months peops are asking for someone to take care of their cat because they are in visa do dos so come on let us know
what the hell is appennin
bozzman101 wrote:any up date on a non imigrant o visa retirment???
will be landing in bkk in march
a few days in bkk then to immirgation office hh to apply for retirment
As long as you're over 50 and have either 800k in a Thai bank account (and it must have been there for 3 months before you make your application now), or an income of 65k a month, or a combination of the two (as long as the total is over 800k), don't think you'll have a problem.
Twice this week I've been to immigration to ask, politely, what they require
First time - Bank statement, bank book with copies, passport with copies and medical certificate. If married 400k instead of 800k
Second time - Bank statement, bank book, passport all can be copied for free in immigation, and medical certificate not required
What can you believe? I'm going armed with the lot and maybe a rattling gun under my tshirt
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
Pete 