type B visa

[Masterwoodsman]

Guys... just wondering what is the score when a Type B visa comes close to expiry. My obvious plan is to do a visa run as close to the expiry date as possible to have obtained 15 mths rather than 12 mths.

My question is to those who have been in a similar situation, do the authorities question the fact that when you enter they may only be 2 or 3 days left on the visa, or does it not matter so long as its still valid on arrival they have to honour the 3 mths stamp.

Similarly would it be better to have say 15 to 20 days till expiry so it looks a bit more authentic.

Cheers
MWM

[LivinLOS]

As long as you enter before the expiry date on the visa you will gain another 90 day stay..

[Masterwoodsman]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

As long as you enter before the expiry date on the visa you will gain another 90 day stay..

I'd pretty much guessed that but i just didn't want to offer customs a situation to which they might see reason to exploit.... i.e "you've only got 3 days left so i'm only stamping for 3 days" that kind of sh1t... but hey ho i'll see how it goes...

[LivinLOS]

I have never heard of that happening and think its not an 'interpretable' rule (goes without saying they are a rule unto themselves of course tho)..

I wouldnt do it on the last day, but in the last 5 or so no problem as I understand.

[Dodger]

I've done it on the last but 1 day and no problems, but as Lil says and you are aware of MWM, they can decide for themselves, but I will not be changing things this year but doing the same as before.

You are given 4 x 90 days stamps, so you are totally compliant and doing as they obviously wanted, when they set up the rule.

[Masterwoodsman]

Actually it doesn't expire till June 12th but just planning ahead. I'll probably leave a few days and hope when i re-enter the customs bloke got his leg over the night before !!!

OK that wraps that up..... cheers guys

[ATMwalking]

Keep in mind that at that point your actual visa will have expired. So while you are trying to get a free 90 days, the gov could play with the non-B rules and it could be hard for you to get a new non-B (as you are not renewing).

[LivinLOS]

Yeah.. but he is also not getting in country extensions anyway.. So hes at the mercy of getting new non B from outside Thailand anyway.

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Yeah.. but he is also not getting in country extensions anyway.. So hes at the mercy of getting new non B from outside Thailand anyway.

Regardless, once you let it is expire by trying to get a free 90 days, you are giving up on any possible grandfathering if there are changes. Plus they are basically targeting people that are pushing the rules. If you are at the official's mercy (as we usually are), why flaunt your cleverness. Just renew in time and give up the free 90 day hack.

[LivinLOS]

Not argueing..

But if hes not getting incountry extension, he cannot 'renew' the same visa, thats the point.. So he will have to let it expire anyway.. He cannot go get a fresh visa AND get grandfathering. Grandfathering ONLY applies to extended visas not reissues.

His choices do not appear to be stay and extend (and get grandfathering) its simply get a new one now, or get a new one 3 months later. Both of those involve getting a new one and are equal.

[Soupdragon]

Correct me if I am wrong but the Non B is a working visa used to get a work permit. In order to keep the work permit the Non B must be concurrent, any gaps would mean the work permit is withdrawn. If he exercises the extra 90 day option I think he will struggle to get his next Non B visa.

[ATMwalking]

LivinLos and Soupdragon

Agree with both of you on the technicalities. Inherently there is some conflict in the whole non-b issuance.

I'm partly trying to get at the spirit of the non-b which soupdragon is also getting at with the technicalities. The embassy will issue a new non-B before the old one is finished. And technically you are applying for a new one every time when out of country but it seems like they look at it more like a renewal if you have a valid permit. Like you are trying to do the right thing and just pay the 6000 baht. That is my impression of it.

[Nicke]

I usually do a visa run before my visa expire and thus get about 15 months for each non-b multi visa. Never had any trouble with that.

Originally Posted by Masterwoodsman

Guys... just wondering what is the score when a Type B visa comes close to expiry. My obvious plan is to do a visa run as close to the expiry date as possible to have obtained 15 mths rather than 12 mths.

My question is to those who have been in a similar situation, do the authorities question the fact that when you enter they may only be 2 or 3 days left on the visa, or does it not matter so long as its still valid on arrival they have to honour the 3 mths stamp.

Similarly would it be better to have say 15 to 20 days till expiry so it looks a bit more authentic.

Cheers
MWM

[Masterwoodsman]

Right now there's a spanner in the works.... let me explain

I dont have a work permit as i had the B visa granted in Perth Australia using a sponsor letter from the company i work for in UK. Went to Perth as easier and cheaper than going back UK.

It will be necessary to obtain a new B visa as i'm still conducting work in Thailand although being paid from UK as a consultant, so no work permit required.

I'm getting the opinion from your posts that if i get an extra 3 months just before the current visa expires in June i will stand less chance of getting a renewal when i go through the same process in Perth, which would be in September....correct me if i've interpreted wrong.

I dont, and haven't heard of the term "grandfathering" and dont know if this would even apply in my case. Given my details as above am i better off going back to Perth BEFORE the visa expires to re-apply or go ahead with the extra 3 months carrying me through to September and applying for a new B in Perth as before.

Thanks guys

[Nicke]

I have a work permit so visa renewal is easy.

In your case it depends on Perth, embassies in Malaysia will only issue non-b single entry visa without a work permit, and you meet all other requirements.

I dont see why there should be any difference if you use you visa for 12 or 15 months? As long you enter Thailand before expire date it is valid.

Some embassies do ask for a WP to re-issue a B visa, but in such cases they usually stamp that wp is required next time or similar, if I remember correctly.

[Geir]

Originally Posted by Nicke

I usually do a visa run before my visa expire and thus get about 15 months for each non-b multi visa. Never had any trouble with that.

Work the same way with non im. O as well. All the people I know are 'pushing' it to 15 months and no one ever had problems doing it......

Geir

[Soupdragon]

Originally Posted by Masterwoodsman

I dont have a work permit as i had the B visa granted in Perth Australia using a sponsor letter from the company i work for in UK. Went to Perth as easier and cheaper than going back UK.

It will be necessary to obtain a new B visa as i'm still conducting work in Thailand although being paid from UK as a consultant, so no work permit required.

OK when I posted earlier I was under the impression that you had and wanted to keep a work permit. If this is not the case and you have the correct paperwork to support the Non B then a renewal should be no problem. I only have experience of Singapore and Penang, in those places they will only issue a 90 day single entry Non B unless you already have a work permit, in which case you get a muliple entry, obviously Oz is differerent.

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by Geir

Work the same way with non im. O as well. All the people I know are 'pushing' it to 15 months and no one ever had problems doing it......

Geir

And those are the people that will b!tch and cry like someone just killed their puppy when the embassies suddenly take a negative view on people living in thailand for 3 months without a proper visa being in effect and won't reissue.

You can play the loophole, But it needs to be acknowledged as such. Pretending a 12 month visa is actually 15 months certainly isn't the intended policy. There is risk that could haunt you later. I wouldn't put too much faith in a little stamp.

How many people had to "loose" their passports after the government start enforcing the person-less Sado visa runs? How about the sudden requirement for an onward ticket outside of asia to get the tourist visa? I know two people that got trapped in this change, now they are both having to leave Thailand for at least 3 months. They act like they are so shocked and wrong-done-by, but hey, they were playing a game and that's the downside.

[Masterwoodsman]

I'm kinda favouring Chris's outlook that maybe to gain 2 or 3 extra months isn't worth jeopardising a new 1 year ME renewal, especially to be disappointed when traveling and spending good money to get it done. Chances are it wont but i dont fancy taking the marginal risk...

[Nicke]

I understand what ATM is saying but I dont see this as a loophole, just the current rules. The visa sticker allows you to enter as many times you want during the year. Immigration and labour office just look at your visa stamps, the real visa and expiry date.

Until ATM wrote this I didnt even thought about viewing it this way.

For those with visa extensions, its strictly one year.

Originally Posted by Masterwoodsman

I'm kinda favouring Chris's outlook that maybe to gain 2 or 3 extra months isn't worth jeopardising a new 1 year ME renewal, especially to be disappointed when traveling and spending good money to get it done. Chances are it wont but i dont fancy taking the marginal risk...

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by Masterwoodsman

Right now there's a spanner in the works.... let me explain

I dont have a work permit as i had the B visa granted in Perth Australia using a sponsor letter from the company i work for in UK. Went to Perth as easier and cheaper than going back UK.

It will be necessary to obtain a new B visa as i'm still conducting work in Thailand although being paid from UK as a consultant, so no work permit required.

You know thats not true dont you

I'm getting the opinion from your posts that if i get an extra 3 months just before the current visa expires in June i will stand less chance of getting a renewal when i go through the same process in Perth, which would be in September....correct me if i've interpreted wrong.

I have never heard of it badly effecting a future application.. All apps are case by case and for a non B its merely a ticking the box type thing.

I dont, and haven't heard of the term "grandfathering" and dont know if this would even apply in my case. Given my details as above am i better off going back to Perth BEFORE the visa expires to re-apply or go ahead with the extra 3 months carrying me through to September and applying for a new B in Perth as before.

Grandfathering means that if you are getting extension of stay incountry.. And the rules change.. They often grandfather your visa class so that the old rules apply year after year as you renew. Like guys who renew retirement with only 400k (currently 800) as thats what it was when they first started doing it. Grandfathering is sketchy at best, its supposed to be applied but is very officer / department / has he been laid last night dependant.

And no this would not apply to your case.

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by Nicke

I understand what ATM is saying but I dont see this as a loophole, just the current rules. The visa sticker allows you to enter as many times you want during the year. Immigration and labour office just look at your visa stamps, the real visa and expiry date.

Until ATM wrote this I didnt even thought about viewing it this way.

For those with visa extensions, its strictly one year.

Thats exactly it.. Your allowed to have as many 90 day entries any time 'entering Thailand' for up to a year.

If you have a tourist visa you do the same.. The visa's validity is for the entering thailand not the duration of stay.

I also dont see it as any kind of scam and I dont think the immigration do either, or at least I have never had any impression of that.