Cowman
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No visa for a Thai National. It is very easy for them to get in, and free. I am not sure about motorbikes but cars can be taken in but I do not know the procedure.
Thanks for that info Gonsalviz
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I have several question regarding a Thai going to Laos. I know what my requirements are but I have no idea what is required of my wife who is Thai.
Can we take our Thailand registered motorbike? She has a current passport, does she need to get any kind of visa prior to entry, or can she get a visa on entry?
What does it cost? I know these are strange questions for an expat forum, but I don't know where else to go for the information as I'm in Japan at the moment.
Thanks for any help.
Cheers,
Cowman.
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Bill
At the second branch in Udon Thani, I opened a NEW account and transferred 500,000 from the Bangkok branch and 350,000 from the first branch in Udon Thani. The passbook was new with only one entry for that day. It did not show a 3 month history. The Bangkok branch account did. That is why the branch manager told me to show that.
Cowman
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Maybe this will help somebody avoid the problems I had, but TIT where the rules change on a whim.
My first problem came when I went to the branch of the Siam Commercial Bank in Udon Thani at which I have an account, to get the bank verification letter stating I had 800,000 baht in the bank for 3 months. There was only 350,000 baht in that account but there was over 2 million in an account with the same bank in Bangkok that had been sitting there for 6 months waiting for stock market opportunities.
The bank refused to give me a letter for anything but the money in THEIR branch. Of course I had the passbook for both accounts which they updated and verified the account balances. No pleading or begging would get them to change this decision. The manager with whom I had previous amicable dealings was not available.
In desperation I went to another branch at which I did not have an account. At least some luck was going my way since the manager from my branch had been transferred there. She reiterated the bank policy of refusing a letter for an account at another branch, but suggested I open an account at her branch, transfer 800,000 baht and she would provide a letter verifying I had 800,000 baht with Siam Commercial Bank for 3 months. This she did.
I brought with me photocopies and originals of every conceivable document as well as those mentioned on the official checklist. From the Thai Immigration website I downloaded TM.7 (Application for Extension of Temporary Stay in The Kingdom) and TM.8 (Application for Re-entry Permit into the Kingdom) and filled them in on the computer.
On arrival at the Immigration Office at Nong Khai I was called over by the very person I was trying to avoid. I had had previous dealings with him. He has no name on the desk, as the others do (you cannot complain about someone whose name you do not know?) but he sits at desk No. 1 in the right corner. Avoid him if you can. I have found him particularly obnoxious. Last time I was there he had a one sided conversation with my wife (in Thai) badmouthing me in particular and foreigners in general. We were the only “customers” there at the time.Unfortunalely I understood more than I wanted to.
“Give me passport! Give me TM7. Internet form no good! Go outside and write again!”
I smiled (sweetly?) and went outside to obey. When I returned after labourously filling in both forms, he was busy so I was directed to another chap at a desk by himself against the far wall. I gave him both copies of the TM7 since my photo was glued to the website copy.
He asked “Why make two? Internet copy ok.” And he gave me back my handwritten form.
However he had a problem with the bank letter, bank books and photocopied bank records. He took them to the big boss in another room and came back with the news that I needed a letter about the Bangkok Branch account. I explained what I had experienced in Udon Thani. Then he told me to go to the Nong Khai branch. Again I explained what the banks policy was. He then asked for my wife’s phone number so he could talk to her. I have no idea why he wanted to do this. I told him she was on the farm without a phone and squashed that notion.
Despite the fact that my passbooks clearly show 2.5 million in the Siam Commercial Bank of Thailand for in excess of 3 months, he took me in to see the big boss. Again I explained, and explained, and begged and pleaded and grovelled. She eventually relented and agreed it was ok JUST this time since it was my first renewal application, but it would NOT be acceptable in the future. I didn’t dare ask her what it was that would not be acceptable, coward that I am. I will worry about that next year.
They did not ask for our Tambian Ban or any of the other documents I had but DID ask for a copy of my wife’s ID card. (Which I had – I really did have everything.)
Since the bank verification letter must be dated the same day as the renewal application, getting from Bangkok to Nong Khai in time might pose a problem. Getting from our house in the Boondocks, to Udon Thani to Nong Khai was trouble enough.
So, the bottom line is: I have my one year extension. Next year I’m sure there will be other obstacles.
The Big Boss really enjoyed telling me I was a bad boy, but since she was SO kind she would let me off this time, but it must NEVER happen again.
They managed to find somethings to photocopy for which I was duly charged, despite the fact that I had the required photocopies with me. I guess at 10 baht a copy it adds up to good “tea money” for them.
My check list:
1. Application form TM.7 filled in. (website copy ok or not ok depends on who you get)
2. Passport + Photocopies of the following: front page, visa, re-entry permit, arrival stamp, current TM.6
3. Copies plus originals of all bank passbooks. (I had copied all pages)
4. Bank letter of verification of 800,000 in account at THAT branch for 3 months.
5. One photo 4 x 6 cm
6. Copy of wife’s ID card (signed by her)
7. Application fee of 1,900 baht
8. Plentiful patience, smiles and grovelling.( Grovelling is possibly optional, but it seems to assuage their egos)
Cheers
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Greetings from the Isaan Boondocks,
The first year of my retirement visa is due to expire on 24 February 2009.
I have been told that if I leave Thailand and return before it will be extended for another year.
I have a multiple entry permit so re-entry is not a problem.
My intention is to leave via Nongkhai since I can get another re-entry permit at the immigration office there when I return.
Now, my question is:
When leave Thailand and pass through immigration at Nongkhai, can I just turn around and walk back through the immigration check-point without actually entering Laos?
When I was younger and more adventurous I “did” Laos and apart from the beer there is no magnet drawing me back.
I'd be grateful for any comments.
Cheers
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Thanks for all that info, particularly the link. I hope they let me use my tuk-tuk for the test if one is required.
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As Lite Beer said, get from your Immigration office a so-called resident paper (tell them for what you need it) and from any clinic a medical certificate (costs 40 THB in Isaan) and with that paperwork you go to the local Land Transportation office and they only will issue you a Thai drivers licence valid for one year and renewable for 5 years after that one year period. Take the driving licence from your home country with you. You may get the licence it without a test, and in case the ask you for a test it is really not a big deal. TIT.
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I need a Thai Driver’s Licence to be legal driving my (Issan) tuk-tuk.
I went to the local licence centre in Nonghan (I live in Udon Thani Province) to get a licence but they said they can no longer issue to foreigners. I was told that it was now the responsibility of the Immigration Department. Immigration used to have an office in Udon Thani that operated on Fridays, but that no longer happens, so I guess the closest is Nongkhai (which is not very close.)
Has anyone else had this experience. Do they issue a licence or just provide some sort of authorisation for the regular licence centre?
What do I need to take to immigration? I have an international licence with a little over a week before expiry and am here on a “retirement” visa.
By the way where is the Immigration Office in Nongkhai?
Any help appreciated.
Cheers.
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Thanks for all that detailed information, especially the bit about leaving just before my visa expires. It is as I expected. Nobody on an OA visa is exempt from the 90 day reporting. Without the advice from this forum, though, I wouldn’t have known.
I didn’t get a re-entry permit with my OA visa this time since I had planned to spend a full year here. I have to go back for at least 2009 to work as I was given a one year leave of absence from my job in Japan. If living in Thailand is agreeable I will quit my work in Japan and come here to live permanently in 2010. What is my best option under these circumstances? I plan to return to Japan around 25th February (my one year open ticket expires then) and come back to Thailand in July for 2 months and then again in December. At all costs I want to avoid a Non-immigrant OA renewal in Japan. I am a little inclined to think my safest option is to obtain an OA renewal in Bangkok late February with multiple entry for 2009.
Thanks for all the advice not only on this posting but throughout this forum. It has been invaluable.
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OA visa from Japan
For 20 years I have been a Japanese resident and yearly have been coming to Thailand for the past 15 years, 3 times a year for a total of about 5 months. Since 2000 I had been getting 1 year Non-Immigrant O visas from the Thai Embassy in Tokyo with no problems. Last year they refused with no explanation and offered only 60 day tourist visas instead. This year anon-immigrant AO was suggested by the embassy staff as an alternative.
After a month of the ploughing through the most incredible bureaucratic quagmire in Japan I finally managed to get an AO visa in from the Thai Embassy there. Had I been working I would not have had the time required to collect the necessary paperwork.. There HAS to be an easier way. I suspect it is a lot more straightforward in Thailand but I was not prepared to risk it. I will happily list the procedures for anyone else as foolish as I wanting to do the same thing.
When collecting my visa I asked about the 90 day reporting I had read about. The embassy official mumbled something non-committal and when I pushed for a reply he said that all foreigners must tell the police where they live. Nothing about regular reporting. When I asked the same question at immigration at Suvanabhumi on arrival I was told ”You stay Thailand 1 year”. My passport was stamped with the usual immigration entry stamp with VISA CLASS : NON OA and ADMITTED UNTIL: 24 Feb 2009. The “NON OA” and “24 FEB 2009” handwritten. But nothing about reporting.
So I am still really none the wiser. I assume I need to report every 90 days but don’t really know. Could someone more knowledgeable let me know. Is it possible that OA visas issued outside Thailand don’t have this requirement. Wishful thinking I know, but ….?
Help Wanted in Udon Thani
in Isaan
Posted
Help Needed.
On Monday 24th November in Udon Thani there will be a golf memorial for Steven Gilbert who died recently.
All proceeds of the event will go to his widow. The competition will be in the form of a two person team Texas scramble and will be played over 18 holes at the Wing 23 Golf Course in Udon Thani. Around 40 golfers are expected to participate in what is intended to be an annual event.
Since the organisers are golfers and would dearly like to play, people are urgently needed to help with registration, fee collection and score card distribution and collection.
If anyone who lives in or around Udon Thani is able to help out, please phone one of the following:
Noel Murphy 08 9619 3310, Darren Abel 08 9649 8513, Peter Dine 08 3661 8030.