 |
|
|
#1
24-12-2007, 18:21
|
||||
|
||||
|
Visa Questions
Hello all,
My apologies in advance if this has been covered but I didn't see anything on a quick search. Anywho, I am having a great time here in Phuket...I've got a shop and apartment leased for 1 year...living with my Thai girlfriend but my third 1 month visa will expire in early January. I really would like to be able to do a visa run but I'm worried that they will refuse me entry after I try to return from Ranong. I don't want to end up stuck in Burma because they won't let me back into Thailand. Does anyone here have experience with trying to get back into Thailand after using up the 90 day limit? Should I not try? Should I just go back to where I came from(Canada) and wait 3 months before returning to Thailand? Do I pay a "fine" to the guy at the border? Is it better to do the Ranong run than to do the return flight from Singapore when I've exceeded the 3 month stay? So many questions... I'm hoping there is someone here who has experience stretching the visa rules a bit; hell there must be with all these expats here. Thanks in advance for your help. P.S. It really sucks having to wait a month do get an internet connection here in Phuket. It'll be great to be reading the threads here every day when I get my ADSL hooked up. |
| Guest Info |
|
+:+:+ Forum Headquarter +:+:+ |
|
#2
24-12-2007, 18:58
|
|||
|
|||
|
As you say you have a shop leased, you then I take it have a company? Even without a company but showing you have a lease for a shop, why don't you entertain the thought of going to Malaysia (Penang or KL) and apply for a business visa.
That will give you your first one for 3 months and you should be able to continue doing that until you have company established and then can apply for a 1 year Non Immigrant B visa (Business visa). That's what I'd recommend. I'm sure others have more information than I... I wouldn't recommend doing a visa run to Ranong as you'll more than likely be denied entry back into Thailand. Left it a little late as you don't really have many options to you at this stage. |
|
#3
24-12-2007, 19:09
|
||||
|
||||
|
The business visa is not an option...I am hoping to hear from people who have been able to stretch the rules with the 90 day max tourist visa thing.
Thanks for your input. Quote:
|
|
#4
24-12-2007, 21:05
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
You should really have sorted out a visa for the appropriate time before you came over. I definitely wouldn't recommend trying to get back in without something sorted first. You can try for a tourist visa in the region, but once you leave the country you may not get back in. I have heard of a couple of people, completely unaware's, turning up at Ranong having used 3 visa exempt stamps. They were given between 5 and 10 days (IIRC) basically to get out the country and then only come back with a visa of some type |
|
#5
24-12-2007, 21:38
|
||||
|
||||
|
I think the sensible thing to do is go out to a friendly consul somewhere where you can get a 1 year Non Imm O...might mean going back to Canada for it or some do it by going to Malaysia and posting their passports and application from there. You can't stay longterm here any longer and just keep doing monthly border runs. You need to be careful and play by the rules. There's already been people gone to Malaysia thinking they'll be able to come straight back and found they couldn't.
Presumably nothing to do with your business is in your name! Someone will probably come on later with other possible options. LivinLOS and Simbo are well clued up in these matters.
__________________
 Thai girl saying:"This my brother - not my boyfriend"...
Last edited by landofsmiles : 24-12-2007 at 21:47. |
|
#6
25-12-2007, 18:22
|
||||
|
||||
|
Thank You
Thanks for the advice people...I got the answer I was looking for.
It appears they are quite strict with the 90 day rule although they probably haven't been in the past. I will have to leave Thailand and come back later...no worries I was planning to go for a couple months anyway, just not now...it woulda been good to stay another month. What I don't get is why the Thai Immigration people want to force tourists who are here spending money to go home...they don't want my money? Merry Christmas. |
|
#7
25-12-2007, 20:24
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
You'll more than likely find, your home country is tougher towards foreigners than what Thailand is. With all the whingeing that goes on in this forum about visas etc.....Put the shoe on the other foot & ask a Thai person how how hard it is for them to travel into your country, let alone staying for mths on end. |
|
#8
25-12-2007, 20:31
|
|||
|
|||
|
If you had lost your passport when you were outside of Thailand, in say Malaysia, and got it re issued in Malaysia, (or if you changed your name and got a new passport) then when you came back to Thailand with a different passport then you could do your 90 day thing all over again.
|
|
#9
25-12-2007, 21:12
|
||||
|
||||
|
go back to canada.......................and apply for a non immigrant O...........
...multi entry........................that will give you 4 x 3 months............and if you work it right 3 months more after the year................but you still have to leave thailand..........before each 3 months ............godd luck to ya............  |
|
#10
26-12-2007, 08:08
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
I hope this post is a piss take and not a serious option for the OP......
__________________
She's different from the other BG's...... She's a cashier !!!! 
|
|
#11
26-12-2007, 08:23
|
|||
|
|||
|
Non-Immigrant O
This has got to be the way to go. But of course age and money can play a part too. Probably best to have a chat with the Thai Consul in your home country and see what suits for the longer term.
A "B" visa is clearly a good option, although you have stated it is not an option for you, as technically non-immigrant-O does not allow work. Usually a non-immigrant-O has to be applied for first. But Thailand is still Thailand and the "rules" do seem to change depending on circumstances. In the UK at least a Non-immigrant-O cannot be issued in Thailand. Best to you Mac Last edited by Mac : 26-12-2007 at 08:29. |
|
#12
26-12-2007, 09:06
|
|||
|
|||
|
You might make your visa run to place that has a Thai Embassy or Consulate and get a visa there before you return. The way I understand the law, it applies only to people who enter the country with a visa received on arrival in country.
|
|
#13
26-12-2007, 10:32
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Well I can think of 1 obvious answer as to why it is difficult for a Thai to stay in Canada for months on end. Canada is a wealthy country with a very good social system...you can go to Canada, sit on your fat ass and do nothing and Canada will give you money and free health care and many other things. Put the shoe on the other foot...If I go to Thailand and want to sit on my fat ass and do nothing, I will probably starve to death...I don't hink the Thai government will be giving me money. There is a huge difference between Thailand and my home country...I'm surprised you didn't think of it. I am here spending my hard earned money in their country...I am not taking from them I am contributing. I would expect that most farangs actually bring money into their country...not the other way around..hence I ask the question again... Why do they not want my money? |
|
#14
26-12-2007, 11:51
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
That argument is made a lot.. And to be honest is complete crock IMO. First thing that not apples to apples comparison is what you get when you are there.. The first world provides lots of things free, healthcare, education, benefits, income assistance, housing assistance, etc etc etc.. So any 'poor' person who arrives there is taken care of out of the communual pot. Hence there is a need to stop people drawing out of the pot and never putting in. What does a farang in Thailand ever get a chance to drain from the Thai 'pot' ?? A farang in Thailand is pure foriegn exchange, pure economic benefit. Secondly, while the entry requirments to the west have a guideline, once that guideline has been met your are then free to come, to stay, to get PR, to get citizenship, to work (without having to have a 10x min wage), to own land, to own companies, equal protections under law, etc etc etc.. We treat each person as an equal. Again nothing like that happens here. Lastly, While the requirements to the west are initially tougher, those 'tough' requirements are pretty much non existent for anyone of means. If a Thai who earns 10x the UK average salary attempts to go to the UK they dont have much of a visa problem !! If a Thai with saved assets of a similar amount over and above UK norms (hence assuring they will not be a drain on the UK) attempts to get visa's they dont have much problems. I didnt see Thaksin on the channel tunnel doing his 30 day visa runs too often. Thailand is relatively easy to come for a short stay, but long term staying here gets tougher and tougher if you dont fit some ever decreasing pigeon holes.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich. |
|
#15
26-12-2007, 11:52
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
They currently do not track reissued passports or even dual passport holders.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich. |
|
#16
26-12-2007, 11:59
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
However, I thought the machine readable passports inherently can be tracked back and that some of the ports of entry in Thailand, such as BKK and HKT track using these measures.
__________________
 |
|
#17
26-12-2007, 12:06
|
||||
|
||||
|
CMD, you are not getting a visa when you come to Thailand, but instead get an "on arrival permit". The purpose of this special arrangement never was to allow somebody to live almost permanently in the country. In fact it is a very fair system and it became abused by a great deal of farang "free-loaders" who just used it to circumvent a legal visa by travelling to Mae Sai for the day. In fact, it is not that difficult to get a multiple entry business visa to come and go as you wish if you have legitimate business there (hitting the red light districts does NOT count as "legitimate business interests"!). I don't understand the outcry over Thailand's government, wanting to get a better handle on just who is living in their country! In many cases (certainly not alll) there are undesirables that have just come to abuse a system where their pensions or savings will stretch farther because of the exchange rate. These people, despite their cries of how much they spend in Thailand, are NOT being altruistic in their intentions! They are there because THEY benefit from being there - not because they are hoping to contribute to Thailand's economy! And what they spend, while surely contributing to the economy, is on consumables like beer and food for themselves.
I have no more to say on this matter. |
|
#18
26-12-2007, 12:11
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Machine readables are tracked and we are all tracked via the passport number (and presumably by our other details).. However they do not appear to link travelling on passport a or passport B at immigration entry. I have left Thailand on one and returned 4 hours later on a different one.. No questions.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich. |
|
#19
26-12-2007, 13:05
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
And what would be wrong with that ?? People coming into Thailand importing money and spending it into the economy is direct foriegn exchange. You dont need to open a factory to be a net benefactor, importing money is a benefit pure and simple. In fact imported money, direct foriegn exchange is far more valuable than local the local economy, people in the country working and spending are merely passing money from person to person thats nothing like as beneficial as importing money. Local economic trade doesnt make a country richer compared to its neighbours, foriegn exchange does, this is why tourism is always such a good economic segment to poor countries. Even better than exporting industry which takes local products (and hence has a local cost) so doesnt have a 100% 'import' of money that tourism does. Also its not having visa regs that people dissagree with, its having dofferent visa rules depending on the day, place of the visa office, state of his hangover that day, week, or month. A year ago they said to stop visa running and use tourist visa's and that these would not be restricted, now they are restricting them. Not a month goes by when a new visa reg or rule is introduced, usually without notice, and usually not applied equally. Makes a total minefield where long stayers have no legit source of immigration information or stability in their lives. Whats ok this year is not next etc etc etc.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich. |
|
#20
26-12-2007, 13:14
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
You have no more to say on this matter because your brain is wired all wrong and your head would explode if you had a rational thought. |
|
#21
26-12-2007, 13:28
|
||||
|
||||
|
[quote=ChoakMyDee;420823][size="4"]I just dumped a few hundred thousand Baht into the Thai economy by funding a startup business that is employing my girlfriend, her sister and her brother. QUOTE]
Doesn't that constitute running a business then?...even though it's not in your name you are funding it.
__________________
Thai girl saying:"This my brother - not my boyfriend"...
|
|
#22
26-12-2007, 13:40
|
||||
|
||||
|
[quote=landofsmiles;420824]
Quote:
Nope...she's running it. |
|
#23
26-12-2007, 14:53
|
||||
|
||||
|
Well back to the visa issues.. You can.. Get a tourist visa.. these are getting harder and harder to get around local SE Asian countries.. You will get them or more of them back home.. Go to a friendly consul and get non imm O multi.. Thats a 1 year visa and you can edge it out for 15 months.. These are issued to any walk in of any nationality in some places worldwide.. Closest is Oz. Same as above for a friendly consul and a non imm B based on a sponser letter.. Good for a 1 year / 15 months use visa). Go with full company paperwork, a company invite letter, company shareholder info, company tax returns, contract offer of employment, and whatever else they may wish to see on the day to any local SE asian consul and get a 90 day single entry non imm B. Those are the legal alternatives to a person under 50 and |