Thread: From Non-Immigrant B to Tourist Visa

Hi folks,

I have been working in thailand for last few years, intend to stay on here but no longer have employment. I have just returned from Vientiene on a visa run after 4 years working in thailand and with passport full of 1 year non-B stamps.. I applied for a double entry 60 day tourist visa at thai embassy however was refused on the basis that after a long period of working I was not likely to be genuine tourist, and granted a single entry only, despite good natured protestations in both thai and english.

I am now very concerned that after gaining a 30 day visa extension in 2 months time I will find it very difficult to get another tourist visa , in particular a double entry type.

What advice can anyone offer as the best way to proceed? My passport is not full but pretty close, should I be losing /going swimming with it and trying again with a clean new one? Any more sensible ideas?

thanks in advance...

Gotta love that Thai logic, we won't give you a double entry since we suspect that you're not a genuine tourist, so we'll give you a single entry anyway.
Personally I'd lose the passport, start off fresh, or go to a different embassy.

Originally Posted by gordonbennet

I applied for a double entry 60 day tourist visa at thai embassy however was refused on the basis that after a long period of working I was not likely to be genuine tourist, and granted a single entry only, despite good natured protestations in both thai and english.

You no like Thai style

Hmmm, so, if i understand you correctly, you are saying that you are not a tourist but rather want to live here on a permanent basis and you want to know how to sneak into the country on a tourist visa.?

It sounds like you understand that you do not fit the Thai Immigration criteria but you want them to change their policies and procedures to suit your needs and desires.

It is clear to me that if you are not of retirement age or are not legally working here, or are not a real tourist then this country does not want you to live here. I am sure your country has the same criteria and rules. So why is it you think that you have the right to break Thai law and enter this country based on fraud? And why do you think we should help you?

Happy New Year

Originally Posted by gordonbennet

What advice can anyone offer as the best way to proceed?

One solution:
Go back to your home country and get a non Imm O, multi entry visa.
With that you can stay in Thailand for up to 15 months with a border run every 90 Days

Money Number One - meaning, that you have to prove you can take care of yourself (with foreign money) and are not coming to work illegally.
The kind Immigration Officer told me, that you after finishing working can extend a non-B with Retirement Status, if you are 50+ and have a retirement pension and/or deposit in a Thai bank.
Another possibility is Investor Status (no age limit), but that requieres quite some money, I think it is around 10 mio.
If you have a Thai-family, marriage or support (children), there are some possibilities - but again, you will need to prove the income from abroad.
It all make sense - as bushwacker explained - that if you are not a "real" tourist, you must show how you will finance your long-stay in the country. The multiple entry non-O is a very good option, but the embassy/consulate may (normally) wish to see a finacial status.
I believe quite a lot of expats stays here on "grey zone"-condition, meaning repeating visa runs or just staying, hoping nobody cares to look for them, when overstaying (know of one who have been here very long time, his visa expired 23y ago).
Good luck.

I am now very concerned that after gaining a 30 day visa extension in 2 months time

60 day extension if you have a thai wife or child here, btw.

Thanks for all the responses guys, unfortunately (kind of) i am not of retirement age , nor married so a non-O I guess would be out of the question.

As an update , whilst I am continuing to look for new work, I think my attempted solution will be to kill two birds with one stone and take a long procrastinated Thai language course which offers assistance with a 1 year Education Visa. Does anyone have any experience with these? I have looked at a couple of courses online, and plan to visit some schools but the timetables seem very relaxed! One hour a day four days a week, or two hours twice a week over 12 months kind of thing, giving the impression they are little more than VISA factories which (while it may solve my original problem) isn't really what I am looking for..

Anyone who has any knowledge of these outfits or recommendations on schools which combine a reliable visa service with some genuine learning and I would be most indebted.


in reply to bushwhacker, your emotive response suggests some anger at my query, but contains some misapprehensions. I do not want advice on sneaking back into the country (i am here already and don't wish to sneak anywhere), nor on committing any fraud. I have not had to deal with visa issues for 90% of my stay in the country so I am asking advice from those people on the board with the knowledge and disposition to offer it. I have lived and paid taxes here over many years and own furniture, vehicles and other difficult items to pack back into a suitcase. I have strong relationships here, have made it my home, and wish to continue to do so legally. I intend and expect to be back in employment again soon so I guess my question was really what the board thought the best way of managing visa status during an uncertain period between jobs.

Assuming you are British and have Thai friends etc why not pop back to Blighty and get yourself a Non Immigrant 'O' multiple entry visa valid for a year. Good for 90 days at a stretch before a border run and can be extended to run in total 15 months. If that doesn't work for you then just get a triple visit visa ( Cardiff do this and I believe Hull may offer a 4 entry visit visa ) and extend each trip by a month thus giving you at least 9 months.

Any port in a storm.......

( OOps, just saw Thetyim's post )

Originally Posted by bushwacker

Hmmm, so, if i understand you correctly, you are saying that you are not a tourist but rather want to live here on a permanent basis and you want to know how to sneak into the country on a tourist visa.?

It sounds like you understand that you do not fit the Thai Immigration criteria but you want them to change their policies and procedures to suit your needs and desires.

It is clear to me that if you are not of retirement age or are not legally working here, or are not a real tourist then this country does not want you to live here. I am sure your country has the same criteria and rules. So why is it you think that you have the right to break Thai law and enter this country based on fraud? And why do you think we should help you?

Happy New Year

Bit harsh innit! I've converted to tourist more than once after a B visa prior to changing my job. Snappy bugger!

Thegent. cheers for advice.. isn't a non-O require me to be of retirement age or to have Thai dependants / be dependant on a Thai through marriage? Can I apply on any other basis (even if only from back in UK)?


mr jones. ha ha not kidding..! This is my first post on any message board , and almost got in a row straight away..

So did you have similar difficulties to me when you converted to a tourist in the past? if not, where did you do so? I actually made my trip to vientiene prior to my 1 year multiple entry non-B expiring on the 31st dec '10, returning to the country on the 30th. My understanding was that by returning on the 30th, as i had a multiple entry visa still valid I should be stamped a permission to stay for a further 90 days , but decided to apply for a tourist visa as well just to cover my bases. Turned out luckily too as stepping through at nongkai border immigration I pointed out my multiple non-B and was given a stamp for 1 (one) day ! Panicking, I quickly indicated my new tourist visa , and had another tricky time explaining my status got stamped two months and a salty look of disapproval and sought advice on the board.

I'm currently in Thailand working and have informed my employer that I am resigning. I don't want to leave just yet and was wondering how the visa run works to change from a B to a Tourist visa here in Thailand.

I've never done this before and am just wondering what is required, do I need to go to a consolate after crossing the boarder? Do I need to stay the night, or can I just go across the boarder and then turn around and come back? What is the duration of a tourist visa - US passport?

I'm not going to work here again, I just want to hang out on vacation for a month or two before leaving for home. I've lived here for almost a year and haven't had a chance to enjoy this place!

Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by Tom Jane

do I need to go to a consolate after crossing the boarder?

If you want a Tourist Visa, yes

Originally Posted by Tom Jane

What is the duration of a tourist visa - US passport?

Validity of a tourist visa (single entry) is 3 months
Duration of permission to stay should be 60 days

Originally Posted by Tom Jane

can I just go across the boarder and then turn around and come back?

That will get you a 15 day permission to stay. Not a visa.

As they said. Cross a land border and come back you get 15 days permission, fly out and fly in you get 30 days. Get tourist visa from embassy (Vientiane etc) and get 60 days when entering Thailand.

Also good to know that when your employment ends you are required to leave the country immediately. You can get a week or so extension from immigration but you need to go and apply the same day than your employment is ending. Also you need to return your work permit etc. So there is quite a bit you need to do to avoid any overstay fines etc when leaving. My advice is that if you work for MNC's talk to your HR and if for Thai outfit find our in good time yourself direct from immigration and department of labor.