Thread: End This Visa Run Madness: Phuket Expat Tells of Horrific Trip and Starts Campaign

Originally Posted by 9999

You can easily rock up at PI immigration though and extend you stay without having to leave the country.

For another 30 days ? as you can also do in Thailand

Originally Posted by Fluke

For another 30 days ? as you can also do in Thailand

I don't know the rules but think you can just keep rocking up and paying to stay. Someone who knows is bound to chime in.

All interesting banter about visa runs and how to work within the Thai immigration requirements. I also do not understand why it is made so difficult for those who are married to a Thai national or have a child with a Thai woman.

If you are married to a Thai woman and use that as a reason for applying for an O visa, you still have to leave the country every 90 days. It has become harder to obtain a one year extension on an O visa and immigration is now asking for a lot more than they used to. The logic of making things harder rather than easier, really escapes me.

As for transportation for a visa run, I do agree with those recommending the bus. I am lucky to only live about 55 kms from the Laos border and can park my car in a lot overnight for 100 baht. Even though this makes things easier, I still resent the fact that I do have to leave the country.

I will be long gone before anything changes in Thailand that benefits foreigner when it comes to visas.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

All interesting banter about visa runs and how to work within the Thai immigration requirements. I also do not understand why it is made so difficult for those who are married to a Thai national or have a child with a Thai woman.

If you are married to a Thai woman and use that as a reason for applying for an O visa, you still have to leave the country every 90 days. It has become harder to obtain a one year extension on an O visa and immigration is now asking for a lot more than they used to. The logic of making things harder rather than easier, really escapes me.

As for transportation for a visa run, I do agree with those recommending the bus. I am lucky to only live about 55 kms from the Laos border and can park my car in a lot overnight for 100 baht. Even though this makes things easier, I still resent the fact that I do have to leave the country.

I will be long gone before anything changes in Thailand that benefits foreigner when it comes to visas.

You are right, they are making it harder for mult O spouse, think Savannakhet Lao is the last that doesn't require a Thai bank statement showing 100,000 plus..
Used to be you could get a child support extension of stay, 400,000 in the bankone day.
Rules have not changed, interpretations have, who knows what next.

I'm lucky, can change over to A W/P, but don't like taxes, or work.
Pattaya sells retirement visas for 15,000, I'm told.

Originally Posted by 9999

It might depend on where you get your non-O from. Got mine from Brisbane it was a piece of piss. I took in Mrs passport copy, daughter's birth cert, scrambled to consolidate 140K bt in my BKK bank acc and also took an Aussie bank statement, rocked up to the consulate all prepared, and all they needed was a copy of my kid's birth certificate, they didn't want to look at bank statements or anything else. It took 2 hours to process.

Home country, no problem, used to get mine in Melbourne.
Problems in SEA, guess they are saying, if you don't fly home yearly you don't have enough money to be here.
Probably right, have money, get an extension, if flying in and out regularly, get a multi O.
Not right for guys with families, but it's the rules, not going to get better I think.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Originally Posted by kingwilly

So who are doing all these visa runs then?

Obviously not people in Thailand illegally, ie without visas, willy.

Many do 30 day border runs without visas. When they cross back in they are given a 30 day Visa-Exemption.

They are without Visas.

In some places such as Chiang Mai I believe they make up a large % of the amount of visa runners.

I assume willy means 'circumventing' the law.

And no, of course people leaving the country on valid visas and returning with valid visas are not circumventing the law.

As said already many don't have visas, and either way they are certainly acting illegally if they are working here without the proper visa etc.

Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker

Perhaps the bottom line here is, (no pun intended about cyrilles backside) why do the Thais make it so hard?

It's not hard at all.

All people need to do is show an income of 40k baht and visit immigration once a year. Every 90 days your PA mails them a photocopied slip of paper.

Job done.

And that's only for males.

Female Westerners don't have to show any proof of funds at all. Nothing. Just marriage certs.

So why the difference and why the rules. Probably because everybody except the poor blokes who can't manage it would have them also. Who wants penniless, saddo foreigners invading their country? With their anger issues, mental issues, flabbiness and smell. No thanks.

Originally Posted by pickel

A non-imm o visa (marriage visa) is 90 days, which you then get a 1 year extension to. After that you are only required to do 90 day reporting at your local immigration office.

Incorrect.

That is for a Non-Imm O Single Entry based on marriage.

A Non-Imm O Multi-Entry can be used for 12 months from the date of issue.

Upon entering you are given a 90 day Permission of Stay. Without getting an Extension of Temporary Stay you will need to leave within 90 days whenever you enter Thailand during the 12 months you can use it.*

*Of course entering Thailand on the last day of the 12 months that a Multi-Entry Non-Imm visa gives you, will give you an extra 90 days beyond the 12 months, so is really 15 months. This is a Non-Imm Multi-Entry based on marriage requiring border runs every 90 days.

Originally Posted by ACT

Probably because everybody except the poor blokes who can't manage it would have them also. Who wants penniless, saddo foreigners invading their country? With their anger issues, mental issues, flabbiness and smell. No thanks.

Ah, OK.

You're just on a wind up.

Fair enough.

Yawn.

Originally Posted by ACT

Originally Posted by pickel

A non-imm o visa (marriage visa) is 90 days, which you then get a 1 year extension to. After that you are only required to do 90 day reporting at your local immigration office.

Incorrect.

That is for a Non-Imm O Single Entry based on marriage.

A Non-Imm O Multi-Entry can be used for 12 months from the date of issue.

Upon entering you are given a 90 day Permission of Stay. Without getting an Extension of Temporary Stay you will need to leave within 90 days whenever you enter Thailand during the 12 months you can use it.*

*Of course entering Thailand on the last day of the 12 months that a Multi-Entry Non-Imm visa gives you, will give you an extra 90 days beyond the 12 months, so is really 15 months. This is a Non-Imm Multi-Entry based on marriage requiring border runs every 90 days.

The guy in the OP is complaining about having to do visa runs. Why the fukk would he have a multiple entry if he is eligible for a single entry which doesn't require visa runs. And with a single entry you can purchase a re-entry permit from immigration, if you do wish to exit the country and come back.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Ah, OK. You're just on a wind up. Fair enough. Yawn.

As I pointed out earlier in the thread, ACT is the poster formerly known as Momo, one of the weakest trolls to ever grace the pages of TD. The post was deleted, yet multinicking is apparently still allowed.

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by ACT

Originally Posted by pickel

A non-imm o visa (marriage visa) is 90 days, which you then get a 1 year extension to. After that you are only required to do 90 day reporting at your local immigration office.

Incorrect.

That is for a Non-Imm O Single Entry based on marriage.

A Non-Imm O Multi-Entry can be used for 12 months from the date of issue.

Upon entering you are given a 90 day Permission of Stay. Without getting an Extension of Temporary Stay you will need to leave within 90 days whenever you enter Thailand during the 12 months you can use it.*

*Of course entering Thailand on the last day of the 12 months that a Multi-Entry Non-Imm visa gives you, will give you an extra 90 days beyond the 12 months, so is really 15 months. This is a Non-Imm Multi-Entry based on marriage requiring border runs every 90 days.

The guy in the OP is complaining about having to do visa runs. Why the fukk would he have a multiple entry if he is eligible for a single entry which doesn't require visa runs. And with a single entry you can purchase a re-entry permit from immigration, if you do wish to exit the country and come back.

Why?

Ummm, because they haven't got the funds to extend the single entry visa so it is only one entry of 90 days. That's it. 90 days later they have no visa.

Multi-Entry they have a visa that is valid for 12 months. Actually 15 months if they do their last border run just before the 12 months has expired.

Can you see the difference for people who don't have the funds to get an extension? 90 days and 15 months. Quite a difference in time there, maybe get a calendar to help you differentiate?

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by ACT

Ummm, because they haven't got the funds to extend the single entry visa so it is only one entry of 90 days. That's it. 90 days later they have no visa.

Then he shouldn't have had a wife and kids, and there's nothing he can complain about.

Actually there is.


Females don't have to show any proof of funds to get an Extension of Temporary Stay based on marriage.

They can also apply for a Thai passport after 5 years of continuous extensions. Extensions that are granted with simply a marriage cert.

And there's that fool forced into 12 years of border runs while a female equivalent would have had a Thai passport 7 years ago.

ACT, like to tell us where it says you can fax your 90 day report in to immigration, thought that was only for too sick to travel. Jim

Originally Posted by ACT

Many do 30 day border runs without visas. When they cross back in they are given a 30 day Visa-Exemption.

They are without Visas.

.

The 30 day Visa exempt stamp finished years ago, four or five years ago they stopped issuing 30 day visa exempt stamps .
Nowadays they only give 15 day visa exempt stamps with a maximum of four , although they do give you more than four , they tell you not to come back for anymore .

Originally Posted by ACT

Originally Posted by Fluke

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Illegals, dodgy teachers and cheap ass retirees fuel the visa run trade, without them needing to do quick, regular trips to the border and back. Proper tourists stop to see the sites and take some time and therefore would not bother.

It's not difficult to understand. ..

Illegals dont need to do Visa runs .
Teachers get working Visas .
Retirees get annual Visas .
You really have no idea what you are talking about

I cannot believe that you have ever been to Thailand. Not even on a holiday.

I stated some facts , you are welcome to disagree with them .

Originally Posted by Norton

^^^Yep to all.

And more over can't he drive himself and deal with it at the border if it's such a problem? What he is doing is more likely to backlash and no option will be provided for the safety for all in the future, that's the Thai way but not even exclusively them but most governments choose the easy route and just outlaw whatever the complaint is about altogether instead fixing it..

Originally Posted by Fluke

I stated some facts , you are welcome to disagree with them

Appzrently you don't, and we are welcome to disagree. In the absence of facts we are entitled to disagree.

Originally Posted by chassamui

Originally Posted by Fluke

I stated some facts , you are welcome to disagree with them

Appzrently you don't, and we are welcome to disagree. In the absence of facts we are entitled to disagree.

The facts that I stated were that retired people dont have to do regular Visa runs , neither do people who are here illegally and neither do Teachers on Working Visas.
You are welcome to disagree , but it would help you case if you would actually prove that I am wrong, rather than just saying it .

Hardly exclusive to visa runs.

Take the train instead.

Originally Posted by Fluke

Originally Posted by chassamui

Originally Posted by Fluke

I stated some facts , you are welcome to disagree with them

Appzrently you don't, and we are welcome to disagree. In the absence of facts we are entitled to disagree.

The facts that I stated were that retired people dont have to do regular Visa runs , neither do people who are here illegally and neither do Teachers on Working Visas.
You are welcome to disagree , but it would help you case if you would actually prove that I am wrong, rather than just saying it .

When I first came to Thailand on a multi-entry non-immigrant ''O'' Visa I had to do border-runs every 90 days until I changed it to a Retirement visa during my last 90 days producing all the correct paperwork and proof of 800,000 baht in a thai bank account and I have to report to the immigration office in person every 90 days and submit a completed tm 47 form to obtain another 90 days permission to stay in Thailand...easy peasy japanesey. Have never had a problem over the years because I don't make things complicated for myself.

^ Can't you just mail the 90 day report form to immigration, instead of having to visit them.

Perhaps it's only BKK and other metropolises that you can mail the 90 day report to.


Also, with a Thai spouse the guy in the OP (or anyone else with a spouse) can get a 60 day extension based on visiting one's spouse with nothing but a marriage cert. This goes for all visas and Visa Exemptions.

It is sometimes nicknamed the Unofficial Marriage visa - do a border run with no visa, get 30 days, during this 30 day period visit immigration with spouse and marriage cert, get 60 day extension of stay for 1,900 baht.

Repeat.