I've never gotten a clear answer as to how long the validity of the Stat Dec is.(Income Verification Letter for USA) I just read on the Udonmap forum a person posted a six month validity but I was told by my local immigration office it has a one week validity. My closest consulate thought it was good for 30 days.
Anyone know the answer?
^^I reckon he could always get another Thai passport if he leaves that job.
Just destroying his passport doesn't necessarily mean he gave up his Thai birthrights.
Why would I apply for an extension when the original visa is still good for over a year? My only expense is driving the 50km up to the Laotian border and then re-entering with another 90 day stamp. Yes there is the Laos visa to pay for, but no trips to the Thai embassy.
Personally, I would prefer to file for an extension only when the original visa is used up. Hate to throw away the 200 dollars I paid. If I have to go home for any reason, I will just obtain another 1 year visa in LA. Much easier than talking to Thai immigration. If I do not go back, I will just file for an extension at3 that time.
As or changes in holding two passports until the age of 18, I was going by the US Immigration regs. If they have changed, please post the new ones. Thanks
Why would I apply for an extension when the original visa is still good for over a year? My only expense is driving the 50km up to the Laotian border and then re-entering with another 90 day stamp. Yes there is the Laos visa to pay for, but no trips to the Thai embassy.
Personally, I would prefer to file for an extension only when the original visa is used up. Hate to throw away the 200 dollars I paid. If I have to go home for any reason, I will just obtain another 1 year visa in LA. Much easier than talking to Thai immigration. If I do not go back, I will just file for an extension at that time.
As or changes in holding two passports until the age of 18, I was going by the US Immigration regs. If they have changed, please post the new ones. Thanks
If you do not apply for the extension, you will become trapped in a cycle of applying for a new visa every year and have to leave the country to do it. Also, you will have to leave the country instead of just reporting to an immigration office. There might come a time when your health make the prospect of visa runs very unattractive. Certainly, I have decided that I am going to do all I can to avoid going to Laos every three months.Originally Posted by rickschoppers
I understand what you are saying, and would like to have the situation of not leaving the country. My plan is again to use the 1 year visa and then if it looks like I will not need to take a trip back to the US, I would then apply for an extension before the visa runs out.
Since I have a 92 year old mother and a sister who is going thru chemo back in the US, I do not know,at this time, whether a trip back will be needed or not, but I need to leave that option open. If I do not need to go back, I will apply for an extension to stay.
Everyones situation is a little different and mine is not cut and dry. Would I prefer to have a situation where I do not have to leave the country and just report in every 90 days? Of course. But for now the visa I have is just fine and gives me the flexability I need.
I haven't posted on this thread for awhile, so I thought I would give a quick update. Here it is 2018, about four years after my last post and I still have never had to apply for a visa extension. I have made a trip back to the US every summer and just obtained a new Multiple Entry Non-Immigrant O visa from Los Angeles. I hand carried the application to the Thai Consulate and picked up my passport the next afternoon. The process has been very easy and quick. This year I may have to apply for an extension since I don't plan on going back to the US until 2019. I am not looking forward to it, but will just have to bite the bullet. Does anyone know if anything has changed over the past four years for obtaining an extension based on being married to a Thai national? Any new regs that I need to be aware of?
Last edited by rickschoppers; 28-02-2018 at 04:41 AM.
First time i've seen this thread,some good advice & ideas.
Good on you mate looks like the plan came together.
Welcome back. I hope all is well with your family in America.
Which Immigration office will you be dealing with for your 90-day address updates and extension next year based on marriage ?
Welcome back rick. thought you'd carked it.
Thanks everyone, the family is doing fine and all is good right now. I was just taking a break. I will be dealing with the immigration office in Udon Thani, but I may try what Tod suggested in an earlier post, if they are still a soft touch.
What changwat do you plan on living? As you may know, rules change from office to office.
Went there on Feb 14th for a non-imm 'O'. Everything still the same but better in a way.
I arrived there just after opening time and nearly shit a brick. It looked closed and deserted as there was no long queues as usual
and no-one else coming or going. I'd already checked for Thai and Lao holidays and wondered why they'd be closed.
It was a big relief when I entered and saw 2 guys at the window handing in their documents. I handed in mine and got a ticket numbered 006.
Picked up PP and visa the next day.
No Khmers, Loa, Burmese or Phillies anywhere in sight.
Handed in:
Photocopy of Passport photo page
2 photos
Copy of Marriage Certificate.
Copy of house registration.
Photocopy of wife's ID card.
Thank you for the information Gazza. It sounds easier than an extension here in Udon. Fewer hoops and less BS.
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