Over 50 Visa Hua Hin

[rosievictoria]

Hi
I know this is not a new topic but in January Nereus and Iomuamart helped me when I had questions about the above.
I said I would come back and let you know how things went.
I will try and keep it short as it has been weeks of getting no where.
First I visited the Melbourne Thai consulate they could not help with an Over 50's Visa said to try Sydney.
After weeks of emails and phone calls I was told to contact the Thai Embassy in Canberra.
So back to Melbourne where they will give me two 60 day visas but I must leave Thailand after the first 60 days.
Now Iomuamart suggested I do the visa run through The Andaman Club in Ranong/Burma,so now I need to know how I do that and can you tell me the costs involved.
Do I go on the 60th Day or before?
So I really have to say that the information I was given from this web site was 100% correct and I could have saved many weeks of getting no where over here. I was just worried about doing the visa run.
Many thanks
rosievictoria

[Wanderlust]

Hi rosie,
Before I answer your questions, I have to say that it sounds like you are being offered a double entry tourist visa, and not a retirement visa (technically known as a Non-Immigrant O-A visa). The reason I say this is that if you are planning to come here and stay here (are you?) constantly getting tourist visas is one way to do it, but will become tiresome after a while. I suspect that you are not planning to live here though, which is why you are not being issued with the retirement visa. Now assuming I am correct that you are getting/have got a double entry tourist visa, these will allow you 60 days on entry, but when you are close to the end of that 60 days (or even on the last day) you can go to the immigration office in Hua Hin (or anywhere else in Thailand for that matter) and get a 30 day extension to that 60 days for 1900 baht. Now comes the important part - before doing that though you need to check when the visa in your passport expires (not the date stamp but the printed expiry date on the sticker in your passport). It should be (in the case of a double entry tourist visa) valid for 3 months (90 days) from the date of issue at the embassy/consulate in your country. This means that you would have to leave and re-enter Thailand before or on that date to ensure you get your second 60 day stay, which can also be extended by 30 days. Ideally you should get your tourist visa in your country as close to the date of departure as possible because of this.

Now to deal with your other questions, you will only really be able to do the run to the Andaman Club if you have your own transport (or hire someone to drive you there). It can be done by bus and local taxi or m/c taxi but it takes a lot longer and is a lot more hassle. If you are driving yourself it will cost you approximately a tank of fuel, lets say 1200 baht, which if there is others going as well can be shared of course, plus the all in price of 650 baht (I think) at AC which includes the return boat trip and the $5 fee on the Burmese side. The boat is a covered, comfortable jet boat and they have life jackets! I would advise not driving alone from two perspectives; navigation (although it is not too hard to find) and safety, for example if you have an accident or a puncture.
The other easiest visa run option is to take one of the all in minibus packages on offer in Hua Hin which will take you to Ranong itself, and you will normally be ferried across to Burma in a longtail boat. Normally that is quite an enjoyable experience as most of the time the weather is good and the water is very calm, but I have heard reports of when it wasn't, although have never had a problem myself. These boats are completely exposed to the elements and I have never seen a life jacket on one, so many people are worried about using them, understandably. The minibus packages include everything (except food and drinks I imagine) and cost about 2000 baht I believe.
I am sure there are others on here who can give you their specific tales of their visa runs, but I would recommend doing the Andaman Club one if you can as it is the least hassle generally. I hope that is of some help.

[ozuncle]

rosievictoria,
My friend is going through the process here in Perth and not having any trouble so far.
One phone call to our very small Perth Consulate and they posted all the forms and helpfull notes to him. It takes time because of Fed Police clearance, fingerprints etc but no major hastles.

It seems to me that you might be confusing them asking for a Over 50, or a Retirement visa.

From what I understand you need a " Non-Immigrant visa O-A (long stay)" visa.

All the info is here
www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493

Hope this helps

[Nereus]

After weeks of emails and phone calls I was told to contact the Thai Embassy in Canberra.
So back to Melbourne where they will give me two 60 day visas but I must leave Thailand after the first 60 days.

Hello Rosie, I was starting to think that you had already been and gone!
Sorry to hear about your run around, but for the cost of a phone call just check with the Thai Consulate in Perth. I am sure you could post your passports to them, and they gave me a multi entry non O visa no problem, and offered a retirement visa. ph: 08 9221 3237

[lomuamart]

I don't want to complicate matters, but a couple of points:

1. Did you ask for a Non-Imm Visa, Category OA/AO (can't remember which round the letters are)? You might have mentioned that you didn't want one, but you should be able to get one in your home country. Effectively, it's a year's retirement visa that you get prior to entering Thailand. On entry, you're stamped in for a year and you only need to report to imm every 90 days (not leave the country). It's a priveledge for potential retirees so they don't have to go through the extension process until the second year. Financial requirements are the same as the extension, namely 65k Baht a mth income or 800k in the bank. (Maybe only 65k will do, as the 800k is normally in a Thai bank and must be there now for 3 months prior to applying for an extension). I think other members have, or have had, visas like this. Perhaps they can shed more light on them. If you have one, no visas runs necessary.

2.Sounds like Melbourne are talking about a double-entry Tourist Visa. You get 60 days when you enter Thailand, but this can be extended for a further 30 days for 1,900 Baht in HH. Then you have to leave and reenter to activate the second entry (60 days+another 30). So you'll get 6 months effectively from the visa, with one exit.

3. The Andaman Club run is definitely the most relaxing way to get to Burma. The boat's large, air-con and simple walk on. Mini busses take you to the casino the other side where you normally wait 2 hours to go back again. Have a drink, some food, play the slot machines. It's an impressive hotel.
The downside is that the departure pier is not in central Ranong. It's about 5-7km before you actually reach the town. So, depending on how you're arriving (car or bus) will determine how you get there. If by bus, then your best bet is to get a taxi from the bus station. It won't be difficult to organise. Just tell them when to return to take you back and don't pay them anything until the whole return trip is completed.
I'm not sure of prices. It's ages since I've done it that way, but they were comparable to taking a longtail boat, just a lot more comfortable. I'd hazard a guess at around 1,000 B return, maybe less. The fee for the Burmese stamps went up from 5-10 US dollars a while ago.

As far as exiting the country is concerned, you can do so on the last day that is stamped in your passport "permitted to stay". That includes any extension you've got as well. Personally, on the type of visa Melbourne are talking about, I'd go a day before, just in case of delays. If you arrive a day late, it's possible that you'll have invalidated the second entry on your visa. There'll be an overstay fine, but the visa's validity will depend on the good nature of the imm officer.
Hope that helps.

[lomuamart]

There you go, Rosie. I was beaten to it.

[rosievictoria]

Thank you all for replying so quickly.
We arrive in Thailand on 19th June and hope our stay will be for 120 days this time if we get the right visa's.
I have printed all your answers and will sit with a coffee and read all the information you have sent.
Sounds like Perth is the go I really thought when I got onto Canberra where the Thai Ambassador lives I was onto a winner but not so.
You are really a great lot and thank you once again as I was starting to feel over the last few weeks I was getting no where fast.

rosievictoria

[lomuamart]

Just a small point. A double-entry Tourist Visa should be valid for 6 months for the date of issue. At least the two I've had from Penang in the past were - just checked my passport.
Single entry is only valid for 3 months.

[Wanderlust]

Yes you're right lomu - my mistake. I couldn't get at my passport to have a look! It is though, still important to be aware of the expiry date, especially if you applied early for it.

[Wanderlust]

Thank you all for replying so quickly.
We arrive in Thailand on 19th June and hope our stay will be for 120 days this time if we get the right visa's.

Hi again rosie,
If 120 days is all you want then you really are better off with the double entry tourist visa you were being offered, as the O-A retirement visa is (normally) only for 90 days and is issued on the basis that you are going to apply for the year's extension when in Thailand I believe. There is the one that lomu mentions which gives the one year stamp on entry but getting this involves a lot of hoops to jump through and lots of paperwork, and is much more visa than you need. The tourist visa is easy to apply for and get, and will fulfill your requirements with one trip out of the country and back.

[rosievictoria]

I have just spoken to the Hua Hin Immigration and asked if I get a 90 day visa here in Australia can I extend it for 30 day for 1900 baht each in Hua Hin.
And the answer was NO only can extend for 7 days.
So it looks like I am back to two 60 day visa's and having to do the visa run.
This means it is essential that we go on the end of the first 60 days.
Do they run every day?
Do you pay departure tax when you leave Thailand for Burma?.
We want to go by The Andaman Club do they leave from Hua Hin?.
Could you give me a contact phone or email for the Andaman Club.
Thanks again for all your help.

rosievictoria

[lomuamart]

A 90 day visa is a Non-Immigrant one and that, as imm told you can only be extended for 7 days (giving you 97 days in total).
A Tourist visa is good for a 60 day entry and then can be extended for 30 days (giving you 90 in total).
90 days is the magic number, whether you have to extend a Tourist visa to get them, come in on a Non O for that period of time or have a year's extension already to a visa and have to report to imm (again every 90 days).
Imm in HH would have been thinking you meant a Non O visa when you said "90 day visa". If you'd asked about an extension to a 60 day Tourist visa, you'd have been told that you can get 30 days for 1,900B.
Confusing, isn't it? but I assure you if you check again for a Tourist Visa (60 days), you'll be told you can extend for 30 days.
If you mean the mini bus service to Ranong, I'm not sure if they go daily, but I'd doubt it. Not enough demand.
You don't pay departure tax from Thailand - that's just for the airport. However, the fee is now 10 US dollars to enter Burma and get your stamps. If you go via the Andaman club, I'm sure the 10 US is included in the overall price. If by longtail boat, you'll need to get them yourself. The going rate is 600B in Ranong. You'll not do better than that. However, if you get them from a bank in HH first, it'll set you back about 350 odd Baht, depending on exchange rate.
I'm not aware of any service that goes to the Andaman club from HH, but there may be. Otherwise it'll be a bus and then taxi at Ranong.
Take a look at this. It'll give you a good idea of things in Ranong:
http://www.phuket-info.com/casino.htm