How easy is it to get a non-Imm 'B' ?

[uncle tom]

I'm preparing for my next jaunt to the Kingdom at the end of the year, probably for ten weeks again.

In the past I've been getting 30 day tourist visas on arrival, and making a couple of trips out of the country to renew it at appropriate intervals.

Aside from the rumours that I might only get a 15 day stamp - or worse - when I re-enter, I'm also running out of places I want to visit; and am getting a bit hacked off with the expense..

If I'm reading the Thai Embassy site correctly, I could get a tourist visa in advance that would give me a 60 day stamp, so reducing my need for trips out from two to one..

The alternative would seem to be a non-Imm 'B' (I don't turn 50 until next year) and maintain that my trip is for business purposes.

That way I should be able to get a 90 day stamp, which would suit me fine.

Question is, how fussy are they about granting these visas?

If my company (which I own) drafts a letter stating that I'm in Thailand to research export opportunities for Thai products (without being specific), are they likely to be happy?

The Embassy site suggests that you need a raft of corporate details about your business contacts in Thailand; but I'm wondering if they will buy the argument that as the purpose of the trip is to establish such contacts, I don't have that information.

- Anyone got experiance of applying for one of these, or a better suggestion?

Tom

[bapak]

I'm preparing for my next jaunt to the Kingdom at the end of the year, probably for ten weeks again.

In the past I've been getting 30 day tourist visas on arrival, and making a couple of trips out of the country to renew it at appropriate intervals.

Aside from the rumours that I might only get a 15 day stamp - or worse - when I re-enter, I'm also running out of places I want to visit; and am getting a bit hacked off with the expense..

If I'm reading the Thai Embassy site correctly, I could get a tourist visa in advance that would give me a 60 day stamp, so reducing my need for trips out from two to one..

The alternative would seem to be a non-Imm 'B' (I don't turn 50 until next year) and maintain that my trip is for business purposes.

That way I should be able to get a 90 day stamp, which would suit me fine.

Question is, how fussy are they about granting these visas?

If my company (which I own) drafts a letter stating that I'm in Thailand to research export opportunities for Thai products (without being specific), are they likely to be happy?

The Embassy site suggests that you need a raft of corporate details about your business contacts in Thailand; but I'm wondering if they will buy the argument that as the purpose of the trip is to establish such contacts, I don't have that information.

- Anyone got experiance of applying for one of these, or a better suggestion?

Tom

Check out the Thai Consulate at Hull, UK ... B Visa in person or by post with the minimum of fuss... www.thaiconsul-uk.com/ Cheers, Bapak

[loverboy44]

A Non Immirgrant B Visa is not the way for you as you have to apply for a work permit within 30 days of entering the kingdom.
It depends how long you want to stay.
You can get a toursit visa that you can extend after 60 days for 30 days without a problem.
If you want to stay longer i would apply for a one year Non Im O visa in Hull stating that you are visiting friends. This way you would have to make a boarder run every 90 days.

[uncle tom]

If you want to stay longer i would apply for a one year Non Im O visa in Hull stating that you are visiting friends. This way you would have to make a boarder run every 90 days.

So if I'm just asking to visit friends, I don't need the letters of acceptance from the Thai ministry or official recommendation from some voluntary body - correct?

Tom

[buksida]

Non-B visas are a pile of paperwork and in my experience the hardest to obtain. You maybe lucky in getting the actual visa in the UK as Hull consular seem pretty lenient but you'll have a nightmare trying to extend it in Hua Hin without some, if not all, of the following ...

Work permit
Company letter of employment/contract
Income tax registration (aliens must pay tax on a minimum of 50k per month regardless of what they actually earn)
Company registration certificate
Office location map (they will check up on you)
Company employee details (4 Thai nationals per alien work permit)
Company shareholder information (must be real shareholders)
Company profit and accounts (must show annual profit if an alien is employed or is an alien-owned company)

They may ask for some or all of these or may not - luck of the draw in Hua Hin, you can never tell as they alter the requirements as and when it suits. Best go for a Non-O as suggested above, far fewer complications.

[loverboy44]

It is easy to get a B Visa in Hull and many stay here with those Visas a long time not knowing that they have to apply for a work permit so staying here illegally. I have seen plenty of those.
Applying for an O Visa requires maybe the adress of a friend of yours in Thailand but better call before as they can change from day to day.
You can not get this visa at the embassy, only at the consulate in Hull.

[uncle tom]

Thanks for the advice guys..

I've started out filling in the visa application form - for the 'O' visa - and having put down 'visiting friends' as my purpose of visit, I've come to a box titled: "Evidence substantiating your purpose of stay"

Is this best left blank, or should I write a covering letter?

Tom

[thaiorchid]

A little reflection.
On several threads here, I have seen a certain consulate in a certain English town mentioned as a easy way to get around the visarules.
If you want to keep that window open in the future, it might be a good idea to use the PM-function to advice OP,s.
Thai immigration can read, and one day they will have enough of Mr consul in Hxxx, if we keep putting it in their faces.
thaiorchid

[uncle tom]

thaiorchid,

I take your point, but your post implies that the consular office concerned is a soft touch, and may be admitting people who are not conducive to the well-being of Thailand.

Have you any evidence of that? - I certainly havn't seen any. The long term British visitors are a pretty sound bunch.

I would suggest that the officers concerned are using their resources, skill and experiance, coupled to the discretion accorded to them; to facilitate visas for those who are of benefit to the Kingdom.

They are probably equally astute when it comes to identifying idiots who are best kept at bay.

It is perhaps inevitable that visa offices with less experianced staff will be more pedantic, leading to more refusals for worthy applicants, and more approvals for those of doubtful character.

I would suggest that the Hull office is doing a first class job, both for Thailand and for British travellers with sound intentions (Like me.. )

That said, bureaucracy is bureaucracy..

..shall I leave this box empty?

Tom

[Big Boy]

My experience is that Hull are very good, but I've had just as good a service from other consulates in the UK. Because a consulate offers a good service, surely doesn't mean they're doing something wrong

Most people who go to the consulates are genuine requesting a visa with the correct supporting documents - why should we expect anything other than a very good service?