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  1. #1
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    15 Day Wait For A Non-O Visa? WTF?

    The wife and I spent a wonderful afternoon at Lad Phrao immigration today to change her tourist visa to a Non-O.

    We arrived at 12:40 and immediately went to the lady who checks the paperwork work for non immigrant visas for farangs. She pointed out my wife's tourist visa expired today and that the wife needed to extend it for another 30 days. However, she made a cursory inspection of our paperwork and asked for a few more copies of things. Luckily we had the documents she required with us so it wasn't a problem.

    By the time we got through everything it was time for lunch (1:00-2:00). The wife's queue number was 20 down from the last number served. I figured 30-40 minutes after lunch and we could then queue up for the non-b.

    My wife was served at 4:00...that's right, 2 HOURS for 20 customers! Then another 30 minute wait to get her passport returned.

    However, the bright spot among the rain of shit was the lady who was checking the non-o paperwork. On about 3:30 she came to us and asked for our packet o' paperwork again so she could get her boss to review it.

    Of course there was a problem...The paperwork checker came back, told me there was a problem and her boss wanted to talk with me. At this point, I'm thinking "Oh fuck..."

    The boss explained I was simply missing a piece of paper, that it would take 15 days to get the Non-O approved and we could simply provide the required piece of paper at that time and the Non-O would be granted.

    The boss then told me to go get a copy the page with the wife's extension on it and then bring all of the paperwork back to her, sans queuing shite. Did this, she reminded me that I needed that document and that my wife should come back on the 19th for her non-o with the document from the school and the wife would be out in 30 minutes.

    A mere 15 minute wait for the receipt for the visa application and we were out of there. 4 hours on the nose.

    So some good stuff, some incredibly terrible stuff. The last time we needed to extended a tourist visa at Chaeng Wattana we were in and out in less than 30 minutes. Lad Phrao nearly 3 hours.

    The service at the Non immigrant visa desk was fucking superb. So much I asked to speak with the boss and told her that the lady who checked our paperwork deserved a raise.

    Now, the last time the wife got her Non-O it was done the same day. When did it change?

  2. #2
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    david44's Avatar
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    sub sutheb siam mate

  3. #3
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    I did the same thing some time ago (extenson 30 days and convert to non o) and after much babbling back and forth their idea was that you are wasting 15 days of visa if you do it straight away.....

  4. #4
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    The process of applying for a change in visa; going from a tourist visa to a non-O visa inside the country has been "going under review for 14 days" now for more than a year! It's been talked about on numerous thai related forums.

    It's standard procedure for either changing a tourist visa to a non-O or applying for a non-O off a 30 day visa exempt stamp.

    Glad you actually had a tourist visa not just a 30 day visa exempt stamp, as you obviously got the 30 day extension you needed..

    Good thing they let you take the extra required documentation when you go to get the visa stamped into your passport.

    DON'T lose the receipt for 2000baht as that's what you need to show to get a queue number to get the non-O stamped into your passport.

    Also make sure you go back to Lad Prao if Chaengwattana still isn't open.

    BTW: the area where you go to get the non-O stamped into your passport once you get your queue number is inside all the way over on the left, near the area where you get re-entry permits.

    Good Luck,

    Oh, just so you know, IF all you were doing is extending a 60 day tourist visa by another 30 days, you WOULD have been in and out quite fast. You most certainly weren't doing that, your wife's visa expired on the day you applied to change it to a non-O AND you needed a 30 day extension too boot. I think you did good going as unprepared as you did..
    "Whoever said `Money can`t buy you love or joy` obviously was not making enough money." <- quote by Gene $immon$ of the rock group KISS

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by toddaniels
    Oh, just so you know, IF all you were doing is extending a 60 day tourist visa by another 30 days, you WOULD have been in and out quite fast.
    Actually, that was step one in the process...that step that took over 2-1/2 hours. 2-1/2 hours for that bit o' service is NOT quite fast. It sucked, just so you know. We waited for 2 hours for 20 customers to be served, which sucked. It was NOT good, fast service, it took that long after queuing up to have the paperwork inspected prior to queuing up to submit the paperwork, so no, it wasn't fast. It was really what most intelligent and experienced people use as an example to explain what fast isn't.

    Applying for the non-o was done while we were waiting for the tourist visa extension, thanks to the helpful staff on that side of the room.

    Quote Originally Posted by toddaniels
    BTW: the area where you go to get the non-O stamped into your passport once you get your queue number is inside all the way over on the left, near the area where you get re-entry permits.
    Thanks, that's what the nice lady who runs that section explained to us after talking to her several times as I explained in the OP.

    Quote Originally Posted by toddaniels
    I think you did good going as unprepared as you did..
    Could you explain how we were unprepared....other than with the barely functioning A/C?

    Sure, I was missing a piece of paper, the immi lady said it wasn't a problem and we had the originals of all the other documents they asked for....or are you just trying to be one of those argumentative asses that infest places like expat internet forums by trying to come across like you actually know something?

    All I'm doing is relating my experience. It may or not be the same as yours. I've been doing this for 11 years now and honestly if I wanted your opinion of my preparedness, I would have sought it before I applied for the visa, not at this point.

    Love,
    csffan.

  6. #6
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    After doing it for 11 years, you still can't get all the required paperwork ready beforehand?

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by neemo
    After doing it for 11 years, you still can't get all the required paperwork ready beforehand?
    Can you predict what paperwork is needed on any day/time?

  8. #8
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    just out of curiosity, on what basis is your wife changing her visa to a Non-O?

    I thought Non-O visas were issued to foreigners who have a Thai spouse or Thai child.

  9. #9
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    I hafta concur, after doing this for 11 years why are you just now going from a tourist visa to a non-o and then a yearly extension of stay for your wife. She'd be piggy-backed on any yearly extension you'd have had all this time too.

    No I am not one of those people who infest forums about thailand pretending to know things. If I don't know something I'm the first to man up and say I don't. Now on the other hand, you seem like someone who isn't happy no matter what the outcome is, and/or are one of those oh-so self important foreigners who think the thaiz care a bit that we're here..

    As far as unprepared I mean, you first tried to get your paperwork vetted when your wife's tourist visa expired on the day you applied, then you went to get a tourist extension and get back in the other line to vet the paperwork again, you were missing a document. But I think most importantly you had no idea that it's been over a year that non-O's go under review for two weeks! Seeing as even a rudimentary google of it turns up hits I'd say you were pretty piss poor prepared there buddy..

    FWIW: I've been out to Lad Prao probably a dozen times since Chaengwattana closed, and I've found the air-con works fine once it comes on at 10 o'clock like the rest of the mall..

    It is my opinion that what really makes that tourist visa extension line go slow is the fact that it's also the 90 day report line too. Couple that with the fact that as a rule, tourists don't know shit from Shinola as far as what they need and you get a pretty darned slow line.

    Now I'd bet once you got a queue number after your paperwork was vetted and went inside it went pretty good, or as good as a satellite office NOT designed for that volume of people can run given the circumstances..

    Still keep at it, like my grandfather used to say, "even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while.

    Don't forget that missing document and your blue receipt for 2000baht in two weeks when you go back...

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by CSFFan View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by neemo
    After doing it for 11 years, you still can't get all the required paperwork ready beforehand?
    Can you predict what paperwork is needed on any day/time?
    Changes with the wind and respective office....

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by raycarey View Post
    just out of curiosity, on what basis is your wife changing her visa to a Non-O?

    I thought Non-O visas were issued to foreigners who have a Thai spouse or Thai child.
    His missus isn't Thai, mate....

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by raycarey
    just out of curiosity, on what basis is your wife changing her visa to a Non-O?
    My wife is a Filipina. She's getting a Non-O off my new Non-B visa. Non-B visa holders can get their family members a Non-O.

    Quote Originally Posted by toddaniels
    It is my opinion that what really makes that tourist visa extension line go slow is the fact that it's also the 90 day report line too.
    No it isn't. The 90 day reporting was window 7. We visited window 6 for the tourist extension. The windows have changed since I was there when I got my non-b. Maybe when the wife goes back I'll get her to take some pictures.

    Rudimentary google? Guess what dude, I've been here long enough to know that things change daily, depend on the person looking at the paperwork, the phase of the moon and whether or not the immi officer got laid the night before.

    All google does is tell me how things were yesterday, much like the list of required documents that I got from immi to apply for the non-o a month ago. I had all of the documents, yet more were required. It's the way of things here in Thailand.

  13. #13
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    CSFFan; I think you've mis-remembered what I wrote or perhaps I wasn't clear enough for someone who's been here 11 years, knows what's what and all.

    Here, lemme try to use smaller words ;

    I'm NOT talking about the windows inside; where you turn in a 90 day report OR to extend a tourist visa by 30 days Mr holier-than-thou...

    I'm talking about where you line up at the temporary counters outside to get your paperwork vetted, receive an actual queue number that lets you go inside and end up at the appropriate window to do your immigrations stuff.

    The first real temporary counter on the left as you enter that waiting area from the mall proper has two light green signs above the same queue line labeled; "90 Day Report" and "Tourist Visa". They are taped to wall right behind where the immigrations people sit.

    In fact, you can't even use the windows INSIDE until you get your paperwork vetted and receive a queue number from OUTSIDE first!

    Was that clear enough for you?

    I'm heading out to Lad Prao Immigrations early tomorrow. Mostly to kill some time and have "simulating conversation" with half-wit know it all foreigners.

    You want me to take and post pictures of the green temporary signage behind the tables in the outside waiting, paperwork vetting area for you? Christ I'll take pictures of every frickin table outside and every window inside too if you want me to.

    Hang about; you're that same guy who posted how they wouldn't have been able to make it thru the arduous Non-B visa process at Lad Prao without the "company fixer" holding your hand and queue jumping for you.

    I rest my case!! (and will post pictures if requested)!

  14. #14
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    [ Mr holier-than-thou...

    hey todger, pot,kettle black and all that

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by toddaniels
    rest my case!! (and will post pictures if requested)!
    It makes me wonder why I even bothered to share my experience in the first place.

    It will be the last time though. Was that clear enough for you?

    I'd forgotten, no good deed ever goes unfucked on a forum.

  16. #16
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    Who's gonna cry first?

  17. #17
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    Now now now CSFFan, I'm not tryin' to ruffle your feathers or get your panties in a wad..

    I'm just pointing out that some of the information you related might not be how it really is. There's no need to get pissy...

    I mean after all, you've managed to live here 11 years, and that hasta count for something right?

    I just think you're making more of a big deal out of having to use these satellite immigration offices than it really is.

    Is it inconvenient?
    Possibly, although some of those offices are a LOT closer to the foreign enclaves than Chaengwattana is.

    Is it semi-chaotic?
    Yep, because as I pointed out they're making do with facilities NOT designed for what they're tryin' to do.

    Is it well run?
    Christ is anything in this country really run like something in a first world country? I think they're making the best of a bad situation.

    I was at Lad Prao for 5 hours yesterday and even ate lunch with a couple immigrations staff and a few of those red-vested volunteers. They HATE being there and they wish with all their hearts they could go back to their ice-cold air-con'd offices in Chaengwattana. Still what I got from all of them, was that they're doing the best they can with what they've got to work with.

    They also said the Major Suksawat is so under used by foreigners that if you really want to get something done fast, GO THERE.

    They can't understand why foreigners are afraid to cross the river to go there. One official remarked, it was as if foreigners think they have to swim across the Chao Phraya river instead driving across on bridges..

    True to my word, these are the pix of the OUTSIDE waiting area which you MUST queue in first to get your paperwork vetted and receive a real queue number so you can go inside to the appropriate window and do your immigrations stuff..

    This one clearly shows the cluster fuck outside at the waiting area in the queue for 90 day reporting AND tourist visa extensions of stay.


    This one shows the two signs at counter J labeled Tourist Visa & 90 Days Report which is why that queue is a cluster fuck.


    There is also a problem for engrish teachers at private language schools. They hold Non-B visas BUT have to go to this sign to get extensions of stay along with students.


    They cannot go to this sign (which I find strange seeing as they hold a Non-B visa)


    For extensions of stay because of marriage, retirement, raising half-breed kidz AND getting your stamps transferred to a new passport you go here


    Re-entry permits go here


    Thus ends the lesson in what's what out there. As you can see it pretty much is as I said it was.

    Now back to the pissin' match already in progress...

  18. #18
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    NOT ONE comment after I posted pix!!

    You pussies!

  19. #19
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    Photos ( usually) dont lie

  20. #20
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    Just curious; CSFFan did your wife get the single entry 90 day Non-O visa stamped into her passport after the two weeks without a hitch?

    Personally I've never seen immigrations take the application, paperwork & fee yet not issue a Non-O after the mandatory wait. They'd rather not accept the application than go thru the wait to have it denied,
    , but that's just my own experience with the process.

    Believe me CSFFan I wasn't tryin' to do anything but point out maybe you mis-remembered how things were out there. It is semi-controlled chaos, but the system does work.

    Now if they can just get that protesting monk out of Chaengwattana things might get back to normal. . .

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CSFFan View Post

    It makes me wonder why I even bothered to share my experience in the first place.

    It will be the last time though. Was that clear enough for you?

    I'd forgotten, no good deed ever goes unfucked on a forum.


    Jesus Topper,

    Why do you actually bitch about someone not entirely agreeing with you or questioning you.

    We all learn by threads like this.

    I find your information very good and Todd is just asking a few questions.

    Jesus, you ran SZ for ages and here you are crying away.

  22. #22
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    all i can say;
    thank god i live here in Phuket where immigration ( Phuket town and Patong) are a breeze

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