Visa Paranoia

[oakdale160]

Be sure that the amount stated on the letter is the same as in your bank book. I got the lettter, drew out money to pay for the visa, stupidly updated my BB so the total was different by 10,000b. I had to start all over again and get a new letter.

[Nereus]

Hi Nereus,
Thanks for the info. but the office on Chaeng Wattana road appears to be for foreigners resident in BANGKOK???
I'm resident in Hua Hin i.e. NOT Bangkok which is why I thought I would have to go to the Sathorn Road Immigration Bureau?

No, it is the central office for ALL Immigration in Thailand. The old office(off Satorn Rd) is no longer open to the public.

The place is huge, and gets very busy, so allow yourself a lot of time.

http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/location1.html

[Don East Stand]

Cheers Nereus,

Sounds like a skytrain to MoChit then taxi to Immigration first thing tomorrow morning!

Oakdale ... I'll make sure my bank book and letter are showing same amount.

[Don East Stand]

Just to recap my situation - My wife and I are both UK nationals, both over 50.
I previously had a Non Imm "O" visa which my wife piggybacked on, however this lapsed when we had to go back to Scotland and could not extend visa before going.

We came back on tourist visa and had hoped to change it to Non Imm "O" and live happily ever after

To cut a long story short, although if anyone needs the details I can supply no problem, we had to go to Bangkok to try and change the tourist visa to a Non Imm "O"

I have to go back to Bangkok next week for the result of my application, and hopefully that will be a three month Non Imm "O" for me.

The problem is the Immigration official suggested that my wife would have to exit Thailand and come back on a Non Imm "O". That gives us a problem - my wife does not satisfy the financial requirements. I could put funds into a Thai bank in her name but then would have to wait either 60 or 90 days before she could get her own Non Imm "O" visa.

So ... assuming I'll be alright what can I do with my wife, strictly in terms of visas please!!

If I get 3 month Non Imm "O" can I get my wife (still on tourist visa) piggy backed onto my visa straight away without her having to leave Thailand?

If we have to wait three months (for funds to mature/season in Thai bank) how can she continue living here. She arrived on a 60 day single entry tourist visa which was extended by 30 days last week, so now OK until end of this month. Can she pop across a border and get another 60 day tourist visa?

As a last resort, unless anyone can think of other options, could I enroll her into a language school and get her on an "Educational" visa although if it's possible I would then want her piggybacked on my visa as soon as possible after that.

As always any help and advice will be greatly appreciated.

[lomuamart]

If your wife has to leave the country to get a non O, I don't think there will be too much trouble with her getting a single entry from virtually any embassy or consulate on the basis of her retiring here - she's over 50.
The only thing is that I'm not too sure of is if certain Thai missions require proof of funds. If they do, they won't be 65k a month or 800k in the bank. Those figures come in at extension stage. Further, funds don't have to season to get a visa. Again seasoning is only relevant at extension stage.
I'm surprised that you've been told that she can't piggyback on your visa but if that's the case then just go down to Penang or elsewhere and get her to apply for the single entry O.
Keep your fingers crossed that your wife gets the visa next week. If that's unsuccessful, ask the officer where your wife should go to get her Non O and whether she has to show funds to get it.
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the outcome even if she's got to leave the country. That might be an inconvenience but it'll get you straight after that.
And I'd do the trip asap after you get your visa so the expiry dates of the two aren't too far apart. If you leave the journey to the end of the month, you may run into timing issues when you both want to extend.

[Don East Stand]

Hi Lomuamart,

Thanks for the info.

Hopefully I will get my Non Imm "O" next week and I will again ask the question regarding getting my wife (UK national over 50) piggybacked on my visa, the same as it has been for the past 6 years.

You suggested that if my wife did end up having to leave the country, she may not need to show proof of funds, or have them seasoned for 2 or 3 months. Furthermore you said it would NOT be as much as 65k a month or 800k in the bank.

Can I ask where you obtained this information from, as I have spent all day scouring the internet, checking various Thai embassies and they all seem to be consistent with regards to the 65k a month or 800K in bank. There is no mention of it being less, or only having to be seasoned at extension stage?

I'm not doubting you, but I don't want to send my wife off on a trip and risk not getting her back!

As I say I will ask the questions next week, but I would like to be prepared and perhaps even transfer funds this week if necessary.

Thanks again

[lomuamart]

All I can say is that I've never heard of or experienced myself these high financial requirements for a single entry non O nor that any monies have to be seasoned - again for a single entry O.
The various embassies and consulates in the region do insist on more stringent financial requirements for the multi entry Os but that dosn't concern the two of you.
I must stress that it's been a number of years since I've done an O visa run and I appreciate that the regulations have changed but I try to keep up to date on visa issues from a variety of sources and I just don't recall that there are such stringent regulations regarding single entry O visas - as long as the applicant qualifies. Your wife does.
Still, I also wouldn't want your wife to go off on a wild goose chase so it's important that you try to clarify matters in BKK next week.
NB - up until recently, Savannaket were reportedly still giving out multi entry Os without any proof of funds let alone single entries.
If you get no joy from BKK, consider emailing visa agents in Penang, for example, asking them what the requirements are. They deal with these matters daily. That's something that I've done in the past and have always received speedy replies. You don't need to use them, of course.
Good luck.
PS, with the exception of Savannaket, I think you'll find that most places may want to see some finances. The problem is that they all ask for different things/amounts so try to pinpoint where you want to go and then get local information from there.

[lomuamart]

PS, in your searches are you sure that you weren't looking at the requirements for the OA (long stay/year's stay) visa? Because if you were then the requirements are 800K or 65k a month.
EDIT Jeeze. I've just looked at Penang and they do ask for 800k or 65k but say it's on a case by case basis. No mention of seasoning.
You really need reliable advice from BKK or locally.

[Don East Stand]

Thanks for the update, I'll continue to try and check around before going to Bangkok next week, so that I have a list of options. I still don't see why there should be a problem with getting it sorted at Bangkok Immigration if I get my Non Imm "O" but this is Thailand.

One further question, is my wife better going to the Thai Embassy, or a consulate, if she does have to leave Thailand?

To answer your question, I had been checking the requirements for Non Imm "O" although I had also had a look at the "OA" to see the differences. On the "OA" I believe you have to show your state pension, but of course I'm still far too young to qualify for that!!

[lomuamart]

In my opinion, consulates are generally more flexible than Embassies.
Having said that, have a look at what KL require. And don't forget Savannaket.
Not sure where you found the info re showing state pension for an OA. The requirements are here:
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/1 ... ay%29.html

[bapak]

See my PM