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  1. #151
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    Just a heads up.
    I have been mainly on multi non O visas since 2003, the odd single entry 90 day Non O from Vientienne and the very odd (once or twice) 30 day tourist visa in nigh on 17 years.
    90% have been multi non O visas from either Hull, London or the last few years Savannakhet.
    Even been going back every Sonkran to the UK for a month the last 4 years and re-entering at BKK.
    Never a problem, nobody ever batted an eyelid on my pretty full and well stamped passports, till last week....
    Had a week and a half's holiday in Vietnam with my 81 y/o Dad over here on a visit and my missus. Exited at DM, re-entered at Soowanapooooom.
    Mrs goes straight thru the Thai gate, i tell my Dad to follow as over 70, he's in and past passport control inside a coupla minutes - world record.
    I'm looking at the mass of queues and ask a pleasant female IO if i can follow my Thai wife and Dad, sure she says.
    Result.
    Except the female IO behind the counter is studying my PP intensely and i get called to go behind a separate screen come temporary office. Uh oh.
    Never ever happened before, never ever had a problem.
    New head big wig, pretty, late 30's, but obviously got a bee in her bonnet inspects my PP and starts shouting at me, goes right into one.
    Accuses me of being a "visa runner"....
    I state everything in my PP is legal and i have done nothing wrong and not one day overstay in 17 years.
    She is now getting really upset.
    I ask for my wife to come over and she agrees.
    She tells my wife i have a wrong visa and i should have a marriage visa.
    I state why are consulates still issueing 12 month multi non O's and why am i being stamped in @ Nong Khai year after year, 90 days after 90 days.
    She answers that NK and the border crossings in the North and NE are "soft" and it is wrong....
    She then goes into one about if my wife is on a UK visit visa and runs out, she can't go and get a Schengen visa and come back in again????
    How long we have been married? 15 fucking years.
    Lots of dodgy foreigners marrying innocent Thai women to get round visa rules????
    When in a foreign country, you have to abide by their rules.???
    If she comes to the UK and parks her car in a disabled parking space, it is illegal????
    WTF?
    Oh the irony.
    A Thai mentioning about parking a car in a disabled parking space....
    By now i've got steam coming out of my ears and arms crossed, my personna is coming across as not Jai Yen Yen.
    Luckily my missus is on the case, polite yes sir no sir convo with the rabid IO, yes we'll sort it out, yes he did'nt know, blah blah.
    On the way out, the looney IO is all smiles and wishes us good luck!!!
    Like flicking a fucking switch!
    One of the main reasons i have tried to have minimal contact with IO and their offices. And prefer a multi non O than a retirement or marriage visa.
    I have a profound lack of respect for most people in a uniform and of authority, always have, and i try and have as little to do as possible with these little Hitlers.
    Just a heads up. Hopefully it was just a one off...

  2. #152
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    Thanks for the heads up, have been expecting this for a while now. What "visa" did she expect you to have ? did she mean a non o extension based on marriage ?

  3. #153
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    ^^ Much like you... since 2006 I've been on multiple entry Non O visas based on marriage. I think in all that time I've only entered Thailand using visa exempt 2 or 3 times when my Non O had run out.

    This really has been the perfect visa for me... I'm never in Thailand more than 90 days anyway with regular work trips, and I think in 13 years I've only had to make two 'visa runs' during a time when I couldn't work due to a sick daughter.

    My Non O visas have come from Perth WA, Cardiff UK (when the consulates could still issue multiple entry Non O visas) but the last several have come from Singapore. In fact I'm planning on renewing my Non O at Singapore in the next couple of weeks.

    As said, this has been the perfect visa for me, but over the past few months I've noticed a lot more scrutiny of my passport by the immigration officers... it is full of stamps with me working a nominal 4 on, 4 off rota. I always enter at Suvarnanbhumi, and almost always on single flight tickets. I also regularly now get questioned about being married, where does the wife come from, etc etc.

    I can't really think of a more suitable visa for me, and hope to continue on it for the foreseeable future.

    I have heard talk that the Non O based on marriage could be phased out... and is more geared to people visiting spouses rather than actually living in Thailand. I guess for me, with at least 5 or 6 months spent away at work, I can argue that I'm not permanently living here.

  4. #154
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    Quote Originally Posted by thaiguzzi View Post
    Just a heads up. Hopefully it was just a one off...
    Hopefully they haven't put a mark against you for your next trip. How long is left on your visa?

  5. #155
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    Mendip

    I was like you when i was working I just got a visa exempt entry as I worked a 8 weeks on 3 weeks off cycle in Indonesia so in and out in less than 30 days.
    That meant 4 or 5 entries per year so I am not sure they wouldn't start to question me now.
    A couple of times I was at home for longer than the 30 days so I just went to Immigration (Buriram) and got a 30 day extension to cover me.

    So far in 20 years I have been coming here since I first met my wife I have not had any trouble or issues with Immigration so I hope it continues that way.
    I am on a married to Thai wife Visa and I don't think the criteria for the Visa is overly onerous so I can't understand why anyone would get a retirement Visa in preference to a Married Visa but each to their own.

  6. #156
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    ^^ Much like you... since 2006 I've been on multiple entry Non O visas based on marriage. I think in all that time I've only entered Thailand using visa exempt 2 or 3 times when my Non O had run out.

    This really has been the perfect visa for me... I'm never in Thailand more than 90 days anyway with regular work trips, and I think in 13 years I've only had to make two 'visa runs' during a time when I couldn't work due to a sick daughter.

    My Non O visas have come from Perth WA, Cardiff UK (when the consulates could still issue multiple entry Non O visas) but the last several have come from Singapore. In fact I'm planning on renewing my Non O at Singapore in the next couple of weeks.

    As said, this has been the perfect visa for me, but over the past few months I've noticed a lot more scrutiny of my passport by the immigration officers... it is full of stamps with me working a nominal 4 on, 4 off rota. I always enter at Suvarnanbhumi, and almost always on single flight tickets. I also regularly now get questioned about being married, where does the wife come from, etc etc.

    I can't really think of a more suitable visa for me, and hope to continue on it for the foreseeable future.

    I have heard talk that the Non O based on marriage could be phased out... and is more geared to people visiting spouses rather than actually living in Thailand. I guess for me, with at least 5 or 6 months spent away at work, I can argue that I'm not permanently living here.
    The multi entry will be phased out IMO as it's not included in the e-visa options at all,which are supposedly being rolled out everywhere after initial testing at various embassies.

  7. #157
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    I love the multi-entry O (married to a Thai).

    I actually have a work permit and still use this visa as I like to escape for a day or 2 every 90 days and have zero dealing immigration in Thailand.

  8. #158
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bogon View Post
    I love the multi-entry O (married to a Thai).

    have zero dealing immigration in Thailand.
    yup this

  9. #159
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    ^^ exactly. TM30... what's that?!

    I don't really know what my options will be if it's phased out... I'm sure life will get more complicated.

  10. #160
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    Did my multi O spouse border run yesterday, Chong Mek, no problems at all, if anything they seem to have got the new finger print system working properly
    immigration is faster than ever, passport finger prints scanned, a stamp and on your way.

    As to changes, if any in the multi O visas I get from Savanhket or Australia, that may be the end of Thailand for me, crap rubber prices, rising costs, now talk of more taxes and enforcing some old taxes etc.

    Can sit and watch TV waiting to get my OAP in Australia.

  11. #161
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    Quote Originally Posted by parryhandy View Post
    Thanks for the heads up, have been expecting this for a while now. What "visa" did she expect you to have ? did she mean a non o extension based on marriage ?
    Ya, i think so.

  12. #162
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dillinger View Post
    Hopefully they haven't put a mark against you for your next trip. How long is left on your visa?
    Fingers crossed.
    Last 90 day trip out.
    Due for a 12 month Multi Non O renewal in Savannakhet in April.
    First year in 3-4 that i'm not going back to the UK over Sonkran with my lad or missus to see my poorly mum.
    May be a blessing in disguise.
    I don't think there are probs at the mo up here with land border crossings, more so with Gestapo Nazis at Suwanapoom.

  13. #163
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    Does anyone know if a copy of one's Thai Immigration file can be obtained? If so, what is the "successful" procedure.

    Officially, LuLu

  14. #164
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    You know where I live, no immigration offices, no police, border troops only, in 17 years out here have never been asked for my passport, visa wise.
    Years ago had a police address check, not for a visa, just to see where I lived, guy had died in the district couldn't find his passport and didn't really know who he was.

    Chong Mek border crossing, they will stamp you in, stamp out, but you are in Lao, motorbike taxi , back over the border dirt road and back home.

    Sometimes think, why waste the money on visas, I can walk to Lao and no immigration cops have been out here in the 17 teen years I have live in backwater Thailand.

  15. #165
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    Quote Originally Posted by jamescollister View Post
    Sometimes think, why waste the money on visas
    Very good question.


    Simply go to immigration once a year and get annual Extension of Temporary Stays for 1,900thb, Jim.



    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    Officially, LuLu


    Bugger.

  16. #166
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    Quote Originally Posted by Luigi View Post
    Very good question.


    Simply go to immigration once a year and get annual Extension of Temporary Stays for 1,900thb, Jim.







    Bugger.
    Kind of lost me there, 1.900 Baht you can get a years worth of extensions of stay, please tell me more, never head of that.






  17. #167
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    Quote Originally Posted by jamescollister View Post
    Kind of lost me there, 1.900 Baht you can get a years worth of extensions of stay, please tell me more, never head of that.





    Go to your local immigration office.
    Take wife, marriage cert, proof of funds or income, a few other bits n bobs, get a 12 month Extension of Temporary Stay based on family.

    Cost 1,900thb.

    Report every 90 days. Free.


    repeat every 12 months.

  18. #168
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    Quote Originally Posted by Luigi View Post
    a few other bits n bobs
    This is why I don't do the extension.

    These bits and bobs include taking photos of you and the misssus outside the house with the house number clearly shown, sitting on the marital bed together, downstairs on the sofa, on the bog turning one out and so on.

    Don't forget the hand-drawn map of directions to your house from immigration (no Google map allowed).

    Oh, and the immigration dude might want to pop round and say hello one day at your abode to make sure you are who you say you are. He may even want to stay for a cup of tea and a slice of cake and then wait for you to give him his 'petrol money'

    Make sure when applying that you have done your tm28 and tm30 or there will be a fine waiting for you too.

    Won't go too much in how to prove your funds as the nice people at the bank will tell you on the day of your application as you will have to visit there before hop-footing it to the immigration because you have to update the bankbook and get a letter from the manager stating that everything is all good.

    Missed out a couple of bits and bobs, but you get the jist.
    Black diamonds? I shit 'em.

  19. #169
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    Pros and cons, Boggy. Pros and cons.

  20. #170
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bogon View Post
    This is why I don't do the extension.

    These bits and bobs include taking photos of you and the misssus outside the house with the house number clearly shown, sitting on the marital bed together, downstairs on the sofa, on the bog turning one out and so on.

    Don't forget the hand-drawn map of directions to your house from immigration (no Google map allowed).

    Oh, and the immigration dude might want to pop round and say hello one day at your abode to make sure you are who you say you are. He may even want to stay for a cup of tea and a slice of cake and then wait for you to give him his 'petrol money'

    Make sure when applying that you have done your tm28 and tm30 or there will be a fine waiting for you too.

    Won't go too much in how to prove your funds as the nice people at the bank will tell you on the day of your application as you will have to visit there before hop-footing it to the immigration because you have to update the bankbook and get a letter from the manager stating that everything is all good.

    Missed out a couple of bits and bobs, but you get the jist.
    Yep. All that. If your local immigration officials are friendly it might be painless enough but if they are a bunch of jobsworth assholes then dealing with them will be a pain.

    Hence my preference for the Multi Non O and stuff the TM 30.

    So far after 20 years I've not had any problem but plain to see its getting tougher. I have the 400,000 but can thing od better places to put it than a Thai bank.

    All this is a result of the last coup that some idiots actually praised as a good thing.

    Guess it won't be long before a new regulation is added whereby you will have to supply a 5 minute video of yourself rogering the wife with full penetration clearly shown.

  21. #171
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    ^ So, for the likes of meself, if the Non O multi entry based on marriage is phased out, do tou think that would be my only option?

    Bear in mind that I'm constantly in and out of the country for work, and that I could never guarantee being in country for a certain date... 90 day reporting or extension renewal?

  22. #172
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    90 day reporting or extension renewal?
    90 day reporting no problem, the clock sets new when you depart. The extension huge problem, you would have to start over...

    Your extension of stay has no time limit plus you can use a re entry permit. The visa I am on and extending is 27 years old. One time I did have to find the old passport it was issued in and show it to immigration..

  23. #173
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    ^ So, for the likes of meself, if the Non O multi entry based on marriage is phased out, do tou think that would be my only option?

    Bear in mind that I'm constantly in and out of the country for work, and that I could never guarantee being in country for a certain date... 90 day reporting or extension renewal?
    For people like yerself, genuine FIFO types, ie month in month out, i don't think there will be a problem.
    Its more a problem for people like me who live here permanently, and do a border run every 90 days, out and straight back in. Even an overnight stay i doubt will help.
    There are more cases coming to light now similar to my experience at the big BKK airport to make me now think it was not a one off, nor that i had an IO throwing a hissy fit.

  24. #174
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bogon View Post
    This is why I don't do the extension.

    These bits and bobs include taking photos of you and the misssus outside the house with the house number clearly shown, sitting on the marital bed together, downstairs on the sofa, on the bog turning one out and so on.

    Don't forget the hand-drawn map of directions to your house from immigration (no Google map allowed).

    Oh, and the immigration dude might want to pop round and say hello one day at your abode to make sure you are who you say you are. He may even want to stay for a cup of tea and a slice of cake and then wait for you to give him his 'petrol money'

    Make sure when applying that you have done your tm28 and tm30 or there will be a fine waiting for you too.

    Won't go too much in how to prove your funds as the nice people at the bank will tell you on the day of your application as you will have to visit there before hop-footing it to the immigration because you have to update the bankbook and get a letter from the manager stating that everything is all good.

    Missed out a couple of bits and bobs, but you get the jist.
    +1.
    Well said.
    Not only have i always had a problem with people in uniforms and authority, but i refuse to kowtow to Jobsworths and play the game, which obviously gets me into bother sometimes, especially if i'm not wrong.
    Last time i was in an immigration office was 10-12 odd years ago in Nong Khai, needed a letter or something, paid for of course, sitting there waiting with my wife, and a senior female heffer of a IO is trying to sell the missus some skin whitening cream because in her opinion she was too "dark" FFS.
    Kvnts.

  25. #175
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    Quote Originally Posted by Luigi View Post
    Go to your local immigration office.
    Take wife, marriage cert, proof of funds or income, a few other bits n bobs, get a 12 month Extension of Temporary Stay based on family.

    Cost 1,900thb.

    Report every 90 days. Free.


    repeat every 12 months.
    Bit of a problem there, last time i had 400,000 Baht in the bank, took the wife and kids back to OZ, 2 terms at school to get thier English up to speed.
    Can't show an income, live from rubber plantations, prohibited occupation, no Multi O spouse, just no visa and 20,00 fine, can move down the road, Lao 1/2 an hour on a motorbike. No immigration there either, wrong side of the Mekong.

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