visa info

[simon_cook 22]

I currently have a 1 year spousal dependency extension to my non imm o visa that runs until March 2012.

I am planning to go to the U.K for a couple of months at Christmas but dont know whether to get a re-entry stamp to keep my visa open or just get another non imm o in the U.K.

The reason being is that i will not have the 400,000bt in the bank to renew the marriage extension come March 2012.I know i can still keep the 1 year extension running should i wish as my friend knows someone in immigration, but they charge 19,000bt if you dont have the 400,000bt in the bank.

So my question is can i get a non imm o visa while in Thailand in March if i re-enter the Kingdom on my spousal extension as i dont want to pay 19,000bt for another visa,or will i have to get one in the U.K before returning?

I would really like to keep the marriage extension running but not if it means paying 19,000.

If not does anyone have any other ideas.

Hope this makes sense.

 

Many Thanks

Edited June 14, 2011 by simon_cook

[joekicker 53]

I currently have a 1 year spousal dependency extension to my non imm o visa that runs until March 2012.

I am planning to go to the U.K for a couple of months at Christmas but dont know whether to get a re-entry stamp to keep my visa open or just get another non imm o in the U.K.

The reason being is that i will not have the 400,000bt in the bank to renew the marriage extension come March 2012.I know i can still keep the 1 year extension running should i wish as my friend knows someone in immigration, but they charge 19,000bt if you dont have the 400,000bt in the bank.

 

Get a new friend, because he gives horrible advice. Get a re-entry permit for 1,900 baht. By next March, who knows what you'll want to do, and in the meantime, you're fine.

 

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[pattysteve 34]

You cannot get a new O visa in Thailand.

 

IMO if you cannot meet the visa requirements for the spousal retirement extension you are back to doing the 90 day visa runs.With an O visa bought in the UK.

 

If later you have the 400k,you can apply again from scratch.

 

If ive understood your post correctly haha.

[simon_cook 22]

Joekicker,i will be here till Oct 2012 definately. So if i do what you say when it gets to next March i will be fucked,yes?

[joekicker 53]

Joekicker,i will be here till Oct 2012 definately. So if i do what you say when it gets to next March i will be fucked,yes?

 

I don't know about the future, Simon. What I am saying is that you have a current visa to remain in Thailand until March, and you would be foolish to let it lapse for the sake of not getting a re-entry visa for 1,900 baht without any hassle or bank account check. What I am saying is that your friend is wrong about the re-entry visa/permit

 

If you want to renew the visa next March, you'll need to show some gelt in the bank, yes. If you don't have it, your visa will run out and you'll have to find other ways to stick around for 7 months. But there are various ways of having money in the bank. There are brokers who will lend you that money for a few weeks, for example, so that you can get the required bank letter. Just one suggestion. You can switch to a retirement visa, perhaps. No reason to be fucked, for sure.

 

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[simon_cook 22]

Joekicker,thanks for the help.Cant get retirment visa as only 40.

[Gary 4,119]

A re-entry visa is 1,000 baht not 1,900 baht. A support visa (marriage) has less of a money requirement than a retirement visa.

 

Pay the 1,000 for the re-entry visa and worry about it next March.

[pattysteve 34]

A re-entry visa is 1,000 baht not 1,900 baht. A support visa (marriage) has less of a money requirement than a retirement visa.

 

Pay the 1,000 for the re-entry visa and worry about it next March.

 

Don't entirely agree.

 

OP goes home to UK at xmas for 2 mnths,arrives back in Thailand,say early Feb.Then by the end of March he has to fly back to UK to get another O visa.

 

This version is true only though if the OP has no way to meet the extension criteria.

[MM 6,562]

Don't entirely agree.

 

OP goes home to UK at xmas for 2 mnths,arrives back in Thailand,say early Feb.Then by the end of March he has to fly back to UK to get another O visa.

 

This version is true only though if the OP has no way to meet the extension criteria.

 

I'm thinking the same thing...if he knows he won't have the 400K to show for renewal in March 2012, and doesn't want to pay the 19K bribe to immigration to get an extension without the proper funds in the bank, then the best way to stay until Oct 2012 would be to chuck the spousal visa and get the non imm O in the UK over the Xmas holidays.

[joekicker 53]

A re-entry visa is 1,000 baht not 1,900 baht. A support visa (marriage) has less of a money requirement than a retirement visa.

 

Doesn't matter in this case, but this is not a fact. A retirement visa can be had with monthly income rather than a bank deposit. In some cases, it can be had by merely stating you have the monthly income, no actual proof required.

 

I'm thinking the same thing...if he knows he won't have the 400K to show for renewal in March 2012, and doesn't want to pay the 19K bribe to immigration to get an extension without the proper funds in the bank, then the best way to stay until Oct 2012 would be to chuck the spousal visa and get the non imm O in the UK over the Xmas holidays.

 

I'm not clear, though, why he wants/needs the "O" visa, or what advantage there is to getting one to fill in from March/April to October.

 

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Edited June 15, 2011 by joekicker

[MM 6,562]

I'm not clear, though, why he wants/needs the "O" visa, or what advantage there is to getting one to fill in from March/April to October.

 

The way I interpret the situation is, come March, he will not be able to extend his spousal visa due to not having the funds to show, and not wanting to bribe immigration to ignore that fact. If he doesn't have an "O" to Oct 2012, then he will have to make 15/30 day visa runs from March to Oct 2012 (which will certainly be more expensive than paying off the immigration guys to give him an extension).

 

The simplest, and most legal, solution would be to return to the UK at Xmas, not bothering to get a reentry for the spousal visa, get an "O" 1 year, and return with a visa that will last him until Xmas 2012, well past his return date.

 

What's not clear about that?

[joekicker 53]

The simplest, and most legal, solution would be to return to the UK at Xmas, not bothering to get a reentry for the spousal visa, get an "O" 1 year, and return with a visa that will last him until Xmas 2012, well past his return date.

 

What's not clear about that?

 

He can't have two active visas in his passport. If he gets a new visa now, then he's effectively cancelling the "spouse visa". Then he has a 90-day visa. Why not wait until March, go to Penang (say) and get a 90-day or even 60-day tourist? I can't see there's a problem of survival from next March (April or even May, really, you get appeal time) through October of 2012.

 

It's hugely possible I'm missing something, though. (Is this English "O" visa good for a one-year stay? Never heard of a visa that's worth more than 90 days.) And it's not a huge deal, I'm more intellectually curious and not as sharp on visa-ins-and-outs as lots of BM including you.

 

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Edited June 15, 2011 by joekicker

[Gary 4,119]

Until recently Hull in the UK was issuing one year visas apparently to anyone who applied. I have a Brit friend who goes into Laos and sends his passport to his sister in the UK. She gets the new visa from Hull and sends it back to him in Laos and he is set for another 15 months. And, YES, it is good for 15 months. I do know for a fact that he has done this for the past 3 years. According to posters on Thai Visa, Hull has tightened things up and my friend is worried that he may no be able to do this next year.

 

The income statements from some foreign embassies are now being questioned by Thai immigration and some offices are wanting proof of the income. Some are insisting that the 65,000 baht per month requirement be sent to your Thai bank account. The 40,000 baht monthly requirement for the support visa already requires proof.

 

Thai immigration offices are NOT created equal. Actual requirements vary wildly. The office I use is one of the bad ones. The head official is a real prick. Since you now have to use the office determined by where you live, things are not as easy as before.

 

I am by no means an expert but I am very familiar with the office I use and also very familiar with my Brit friend's circumstances. Member posts on Thai Visa also vary wildly as to their supposed requirements.

[simon_cook 22]

MM,thanks for understanding exactly what i was talking about.

Joekicker,i have had 2 visas running at the same time in my passport before as i returned to the UK for a few weeks a couple of years ago and i knew when i returned my visa would only have 2 months to run so bought another non o multiple entry while i was there.When i returned the guy at immigration just looked a bit bemused for a couple of seconds then i was on my way.

This visa is good for 15 months approx(if you make last visa run the day before it finishes) but with 90 day visa runs of course,which i detest.

I would just love to keep the 1 year extension running to avoid visa runs and just wanted to know what other options i may have.

 

Another question,

If i get a re-entry stamp and then while in the UK have to renew passport cause mine is full do i then have to return with 2 passports so i can show them the re-entry stamp etc?

 

Many Thanks

[joekicker 53]

Joekicker,i have had 2 visas running at the same time in my passport before as i returned to the UK for a few weeks a couple of years ago and i knew when i returned my visa would only have 2 months to run so bought another non o multiple entry while i was there.When i returned the guy at immigration just looked a bit bemused for a couple of seconds then i was on my way.

 

But he didn't stamp both your visas, did he? As said: You can only have one VALID visa at a time.

 

Another question,

If i get a re-entry stamp and then while in the UK have to renew passport cause mine is full do i then have to return with 2 passports so i can show them the re-entry stamp etc?

 

Yes.

 

For a fact, this is zero problem with UK passports because usually, the authorities themselves will join the two passports - old and new. If they don't, Scotch tape is handy so they don't get separated in your bag. But the answer, joined or not, convenient or not, is "yes".

 

ONE alternative perhaps not so convenient as in the pre-9/11 days is to get a new passport IN Thailand. Take that along to immigration, they will transfer the visa for you. But it would STILL be a good idea to keep the old passport handy for a few months or a year, why not?

 

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[jacko 8,822]

Joekicker,thanks for the help.Cant get retirment visa as only 40.

From what you have said in the OP and the thread, I am inclined to disagree with Joe and say get another non-Imm O multiple while you are in the UK. Particularly if your couple of months there will be mostly after Christmas. It will give you a potential 15 months beyond your return from the UK. Then perhaps you can make the spousal extension without paying the 'fee' of 19,000 baht.

 

Be aware that I hear Hull are not as easy going as they used to be with their non-Imms, and you will be on the 90 day visa runs to Cambodia or wherever.

 

Good luck.

[joekicker 53]

From what you have said in the OP and the thread, I am inclined to disagree with Joe and say get another non-Imm O multiple

 

for what it's worth, I absolutely agree with this as well *IF* that new visa gives you a year's stay in Thailand. USUALLY they don't, but I know that a few do.

 

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[Gary 4,119]

From what you have said in the OP and the thread, I am inclined to disagree with Joe and say get another non-Imm O multiple while you are in the UK. Particularly if your couple of months there will be mostly after Christmas. It will give you a potential 15 months beyond your return from the UK. Then perhaps you can make the spousal extension without paying the 'fee' of 19,000 baht.

 

Be aware that I hear Hull are not as easy going as they used to be with their non-Imms, and you will be on the 90 day visa runs to Cambodia or wherever.

 

Good luck.

 

 

Reasons for visiting Thailand used to accept "visiting friends". This is no longer a good enough reason. Having a legal Thai wife IS a good enough reason. They also like to see some sort of rental agreement. I don't think the OP will have any problem if he chooses to get a visa from Hull. In and out every ninety days is expensive and the main disadvantage for that visa.

[simon_cook 22]

Ive been getting a multiple entry non imm o visa for 10 years now (since i got married) so no problems there.

Just wanted to avoid visa runs if poss.

[jacko 8,822]

Ive been getting a multiple entry non imm o visa for 10 years now (since i got married) so no problems there.

Just wanted to avoid visa runs if poss.

Had you lived in easy proximity of a border the visa runs would be acceptable.

I just thought the new Non-Imm O from the UK would be the best for you. Everything you want is not always possible.