Reporting Fees etc

[kalbow]

Form? What form? I usually just front up to the counter and hand over my passport and say I'm '90 day reporting'. I guess the person behind the desk must have filled in some form but I notice recently there's more tapping of info into the computer and the actual slip for your passport is printed via the computer now.

Cheers
Kalbow

[lomuamart]

A Non Immigrant Visa of some sort is necessary to get an annual extension. That Non Imm could be an O, an OA or B etc etc etc, The Non Imm of whatever variety is the fundamental thing. (Ie you can't extend annually off a tourist visa).
The only difference an OA makes is to your first entry here. You'll get a year permitted to stay. The O visa will only give 90 days.
There will be other reasons why some go for an OA rather than O but in the long run it makes no difference when you start extending.

[hhfarang]

in the long run it makes no difference when you start extending.

I guess I'm too careful, but I wanted to make damned sure that I had permission to retire here without having to do visa runs before I left my home country. I would not have left the decision to convert from 90 days to annual to the local immigration officer, so I did it at a U.S. consulate that were a pleasure to deal with (and no tea money required).

[lomuamart]

But you had to convert from the OA visa to annual extensions. The process you went through would have been exactly the same as someone converting from an O visa.

[hhfarang]

Yes, all I'm saying is that before I cut ties with my home country by selling everything up and paying to ship me, the missus, and personal belongings over, I wanted to make sure that I already had a legal visa for a year at a minimum before jumping through local hoops.

I would think someone like Big Boy who has known about this move for years would have planned ahead enough to go ahead and get the one year visa with plenty of time to spare. You can get it early. The year doesn't officially start until the day you enter the Kingdom. I had mine done and dusted, visa in passport awaiting the entry stamp two months before the move. One less thing to worry about once you get here... there are enough of those already.

[lomuamart]

That's certainly fair comment and you also wouldn't have had to transfer 800K to a Thai bank account for a year (approx) if extending by the saving route. Hopefully enough time for someone to have made their mind up about staying here if a little undecided in the first instance.
The OA visa certainly gives the holder the luxury of time before having to deal with Imm.

[bapak]

That's certainly fair comment and you also wouldn't have had to transfer 800K to a Thai bank account for a year (approx) if extending by the saving route. Hopefully enough time for someone to have made their mind up about staying here if a little undecided in the first instance.
The OA visa certainly gives the holder the luxury of time before having to deal with Imm.

Except you would also have to do police and medical reports in your home country.
If Extension applied for in Thailand, this is not required. Just a minor thing.

[Big Boy]

Except you would also have to do police and medical reports in your home country.
If Extension applied for in Thailand, this is not required. Just a minor thing.

It's not that minor when you factor in the additional cost (both time and money) and the red tape. Yes, I could have opted for the OA, but I couldn't really see any advantages, only unnecessary hassle.

[moose 961]

were do you get the police report. went to the local police and they said they would give a letter of good citizenship. is that what there looking for. they didn't no anything about visa letters

[lomuamart]

What do you want a police report for?
On this thread they are necessary for an OA visa but that is obtained in your home country. So the police report must originate from there as well.
As the police don't issue visas, I'm not surprised they knew nothing about them here in HH.

[bapak]

I was referring the the extra items you need if apply for OA in your home country.

[lomuamart]

I was responding to moose 961's post, bapak.

[hhfarang]

I think a police report from one's home country should be a requirement for a visa to this (or any) country. That would have weeded out some of the riff-raff that has made it in.

[Big Boy]

I think a police report from one's home country should be a requirement for a visa to this (or any) country. That would have weeded out some of the riff-raff that has made it in.

I don't disagree, but while the rules are as they are, I can't understand why anybody goes to the unnecessary expense and additional time to get one.

[moose 961]

sorry lomaumart for being unclear. l was talking about a police report from the states. just wondering
as l probably will get the O-visa also.