Longterm visa, legal or not? What should we do?

[Elaine]

I am new to the Forum ... Have been in Hua Hin for several months with my partner.

Not sure about sounding out about a situation we have and if not appropriate, please tell me so.

My partner has had some contact with 2 Thai ladies, one massage and one guest house manager, who run a visa advice centre. We have been discussing a long-term visa and they said they can help us achieve this but at fairly high price. I checking with a lawyer in Bangkok, what they are suggesting is totally illegal. At first we thought that it was a scam but met at their office a immigration staff member - we know that she is such as we have seen her at Hua Hinn Immigration.

While we would like to achieve a long stay permit here, and are prepared to pay a reasonable sum, we do not want to get caught up in something that is illegal, and while ok now, may come unstuck in the future.

Has anyone here had a similar experience? And any advice?

[chopsticks]

..........we do not want to get caught up in something that is illegal, and while ok now, may come unstuck in the future......

I would say you've just answered your own question

[buksida]

What have you been offered and for how much?

The only long term visa is PR, and that's not cheap either - but it is legal. The problem with this kind of 'deal' will arise when you need to use a different immigration office or border crossing and your passport gets scrutinized as there is something unfamiliar in it.

[Takiap]

When you say "long-term", what do you actually mean? In other words, are you hoping for something like permanent residency, or are you talking about a one year visa? The reason I'm asking is because they may in actual fact not be offering anything illegal, but instead, they could simply be offering to do something you could do yourself.

I do know there are certain "favors" which can be paid for, but the ones I know of cannot cause any problems further down the line, because they don't involve anything which is "illegal" so to speak.

If you give us a little more info, perhaps we can help, of if you'd rather not post for all to see, you're welcome to send me a PM.

[Elaine]

Now 60 days Tourist.. Offer is for O Visa and then later to PR.

[Super Joe]

Now 60 days Tourist.. Offer is for O Visa and then later to PR.

Elaine, it's far far to premature for anyone to be talking to you about PR, you can't even apply for that until you have completed 3 consecutive years on a non-immigrant visa.

If just one of you is over 50, you both can quite easily obtain non-imm 'O-A' retirement visas, which permit you to stay for 12 months, then obtain annual extensions in Thailand. The main applicant needs either 800k Baht in a Thai bank, or 65k Baht a month certified income/pension, or a combination of the two.

If you're both under 50, you can get valid non-immigrant 'O' or 'B' visas if you're working or adopt a Thai child If not you can still get non-immigrant 'O' multi-entry visas, usually from your home country, they will give you 90 day permits of stay where you then have to do a border run (go to Cambodia or Burma for half hour, you can stretch this to 15 months and then you will require a new one to be issued from outside Thailand, 'possibly' from a local neighbouring country, but most say from your home country in person.

Under what basis did they say they would get you non-immigrant 'O' visas ?

SJ

[margaretcarnes]

I think the important point to note - as made there by SJ - is the 'from outside' Thailand. Anyone who offers to get you a visa without you having to actually exit Thailand is to be avoided at all costs IMO.
It did used to be done regularly - and maybe still is. But at the end of the day is illegal - even though the visa stamp itself may be perfectly valid.
The fact that you have recognised an Immigration officer in the office of your contact is irrelevant to be honest. That officer could be as bent as a 9 baht note, and will know nothing at a later date when you get pulled on re-entry.

[Takiap]

As SJ has pointed out, if one or both of you are over the age of 50, then you can get an O visa valid for 12 months which you could then extend in Thailand. Of course, in that case you can do it all yourself without having to pay bribes. If you don't officially qualify for a particular visa, and yet they say they can get it for you, I would be extremely careful, as others have pointed out. Not only could you find yourself being deported, but you could even end up getting some free complimentary accommodation at the Bangkok Hilton - please be careful, and even more so if there's an immigration official involved. Remember, once you cross the line, they have you by the short and curlies.

[pitsch]

I think the important point to note - as made there by SJ - is the 'from outside' Thailand. Anyone who offers to get you a visa without you having to actually exit Thailand is to be avoided at all costs IMO.

You can get a "0"-Visa inside Thailand, if you apply for a visa change at least 21 days before your visa or 30-day stamp expires. I did it this way (I am over 50). The problem is only to have the money in the bank at least 2 month before the application (if not some tea-money can help) or to get a income-verification from your embassy in time.

[margaretcarnes]

Yes - as SJ has said for over 50's the change can be done. It doesn't seem though that the OP and partner have time to even prove income/capital - as they are on 60 day tourists?
Things have changed quite a bit over the years I know, but I changed from a 12 month Non Imm O to B years ago via a farang agent. Went to renew the B at Immigration in Bangkok, and it was only by the grace of Buddha I got out of that place. Not pleasant