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Wongkitlo

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Posts posted by Wongkitlo

  1. 10 hours ago, Caldera said:

     

    You mentioned a bank letter. Was that a letter stating just your current balance (as of the day it was issued), or a bank statement covering a certain period of time?

    I had both. The bank offered a 3 month or 6 month statement. I had only put the money in at the start of the month so I chose  a 3 month one. We asked  the bank for a letter for immigration and they knew what it was about. It said I had x amount in the bank on x date. 

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  2. On 4/18/2024 at 9:54 PM, ouagadougou said:

    I'll likely be flying into Ubon Ratchathani.  No car.

     

    Is there some sort of minubus service directly from the airport to Mukdahan?  Or do you have to go to the bus station first?

    I am not sure about direct service but the bus station is very close to the airport and the taxis are all metered. I went across town for 46 baht. Felt guilty that it was so cheap so gave him a tip. Buses to Mukdahan leave  regularly

  3. 2 hours ago, ubonrthai said:

    Still curious about this if someone can help. Much appreciated.

    In the past they did not require any money in a Thai bank which was convenient if you did not want to keep 400,000 baht in a Thai bank. It is hard to ascertain but their requirements are still a bit easier than in Thailand. Usually you must have the money in the bank for a period of time but Savannakhet does not seem to enforce this as far as anyone can tell. Also instead of dealing with Thai Immigration- family visits, photos of home, map of home etc- you can just exit and re-enter, suitable if you do not live in Thailand  permanently. I think a kor ror 22 is similar but issued if you have married abroad. 

  4. On 4/8/2024 at 9:12 AM, Liquorice said:

    Your friend will find the requirements for the Non Imm O ME visa for Thai spouse has now changed at Savannahket, requiring 400K THB in a Thai bank account for 2 months (same requirements as for a 1-year extension) prior to submitting the application. The single entry Non Imm O is still available without proof of funds for the moment.

    Where do you find that it must be in a Thai bank  for 2 months. I have seen no report of this. 

  5. I have posted this before but nobody seemed to believe me. An agent in Savannakhet offered me an agent assisted non-o Multi entry with no financial proofs required. I do not understand why people think there would be no visa agents operating in Laos. I did not take it at the time but am thinking of returning to do so.

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  6. 1 hour ago, tubber said:

    What financial proof do the consulate in Savannakhet require? Can I just print off a statement/update bank book or do they require a letter from the bank (which I may have read somewhere).

    It would probably be safest to do all three. There is another thread running where he said he had the letter. When are you going? It would be good to know how people are going with Savannakhet visas. 

  7. 3 hours ago, MangoKorat said:

    I am using the full term for the visa here - simply to be able to reply to you. I will no longer be posting after this.

     

    I have made it quite clear what my compaints are about from the start - maybe you haven't read through enough? In addition some of my posts have been removed which may lead to some confusion so I apologise if much of what is below is a repeat of what I have previously posted:

     

    The fairly new requirement for having to have 400,000 baht in a Thai bank account has come about because of people using a Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa to avoid having to have the same amount for a 12 month extension and 'seasoning' it for 2 months. In other words they have been using a Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa to live in Thailand when they should have been using a 12 month extension of stay. Its clear to me that the 400,000 requirement is Savannakhet's response to that abuse.

     

    The correct methods are:

     

    Visting a Thai spouse or Family - Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa

     

    Living with spouse of family in Thailand - Extension of stay.

     

    Official Thai Immigration policy - told to me by a Captain at Suvarnabhumi is that those entering Thailand for the purpose of visiting a Thai spouse should not be using other visa types or 30 day exempts. The correct method of entry for that purpose is a Non Immigrant O Visa.

     

    There is no official requirement to have 400,000 in a Thai bank account for a Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa .  I can't remember that exact amount that is required but its not 400,000 and there certainly is no official requirement for the money to be in a Thai account - this visa type is for people who do not live in Thailand. Many embassies or consulates that used to offer Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O Visas often waived the financial requirements - London did.

     

    There are people, I'm one of them, who have been using a Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa correctly for many years and have now been put at a disadvantage because of this new requirement.

     

    I know of quite a few guys who are married to a Thai woman, some have families with them, who work abroad or offshore and intend joining their wives when they retire.  I also know of people who use a Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa to visit their kids in Thailand. 

     

    It can be difficult for someone not living in Thailand to obtain a Thai bank account and some may not either have the 400,000 required or wish to deposit it in a country where they don't live - why should they? The Thai banking regulations also state that a normal bank account can only be held by someone resident in Thailand.

     

    To those who say obtaining an extension is an alternative - for someone using a Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa for its intended purpose, obtaining a 12 month extension may be impossible.  The initial application involves firstly obtaining a 90 day Non O and not being able to make the application until 45 days have passed.  There is then a potential 30 day wait for the extension to be issued.  I don't know of anyone who uses a Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa correctly and is able to take a minimum of 75 days off work and it is very much a minimum - you can't rely on that and I wouldn't risk a flight ticket on it. Even 90 days is risky.

     

    As I say, this matter has been brought about by abuse and I think I have every right to complain about it.  Why should people who have been complying with the rules for years be put at a disadvantage by those who abuse the system?

     

    At the moment, those who report from Savannakhet have posted that they only have to show the money in a Thai account - no seasoning. I have a Thai bank account and can put 400,000 in it simply to obtain the visa but I'd be returning it to the UK with me when I leave.  How long before the authorities realise that can be done and add the seasoning requirement of an extension?

     

    What about the people who've been using the visa correctly but don't have an account? 

     

    On this forum we often seem to be discussing how to get around Thai visa requirements.  I'd suggest that the vast majority of Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa users never visit this forum. The first they know of this new requirement is when they arrive at Savannakhet to obtain a new visa.  In other words, the vast majority of Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa users use their visa for the purpose it is intended. Many simply use Savannakhet because they work abroad or a Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa is no longer available in their home countries.

    @Liquorice I am glad he is not posting further. This is such a flawed reasoning and assumptions if any of it makes the slightest sense. 

  8. On 3/30/2024 at 8:18 PM, MangoKorat said:

    Absolutely sure.  I wouldn't work for the pathetic salary many English teachers in Thailand get.

    If you are so untroubled by finances why don't you get a visa at one of the surrounding embassies. If you have 400,000 b in a Thai bank account for 6 months you can go to Ho chi Minh, Vientiane,  KL and any of the surrounding countries. Why bother poor Savannakhet with your complaints. 

  9. 1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

    Put that in the woulda coulda...

    Never read a similar report. 

    Suggest folk ignore that option. 

    I am sorry for so many posts but I did not know how to comment on my screenshots of my private message with the other poster. With all respect, I find it hard to believe that you think there are no agents in Savannakhet and as  they are usually located close to immigration (in this case across the road) I do not understand that you think it is implausible. Before I left Laos, after I was over the frustration of being refused I did get the tuktuk to take me back to the shop as I thought it was a useful contact but it was closed in the afternoon I left a note under the door but no reply. I did send to Dolly's pizza shop(well known farung shop in Savannakhet)  but no reply. If I was sure  I could get an agent visa there for such a bargain price  I would go straight there on my next visit.

  10. 37 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

    Put that in the woulda coulda...

    Never read a similar report. 

    Suggest folk ignore that option. 

    Unfortunately I was one of the first to be refused for no Financials in October. My last non-o had not expired yet but for my own reasons and suspecting with the new government a change was coming I went early and was refused. I actually commented on  one of the first reports that they had changed policy if you check the feeds. As I was leaving in a very bad mood  one of the tuk tuk drivers  grabbed me and said I can get you a visa. He took me to the shop across the road and she grabbed my passport and started writing details. She said 12000 b for a non o. I already had another entry so I left, wrote off my travel costs and had another 3 months, a border run then 2 months visiting my wife. If you do not believe me you can easily check my former posts or maybe assume that Savannakhet immigration are so correct that they will not lower themselves to agent assisted visas. Considering the cost of living in Laos  comparing it to a 22,000 baht first  time agent assisted retirement visa in Pattaya it does not sound so 'could, woulda'  I am surprised I am the only one who commented. There are 3 shops across the road and it was the closest to the bus station etc

  11. On 3/7/2024 at 12:31 PM, HammerMan said:

     

    Obviously, there is the river passage to the berth which is quite time-consuming but may offer a unique experience of seeing the fabulous Temples etc. I'm told the demand from passengers is significantly higher in Bangkok and therefore worth trying.

    It is probably easier to get to BKK from the Eastern Seabord- Koh Chang, Koh Kood, Pattaya than to Sattahip. There are plenty of operators going there. Then you have the choice of bus, plane or boat to Samui. I would choose the boat. I have had customers who took Seahorse from Sattahip and they enjoyed it but getting to Sattahip can be difficult. Bangkok sounds good. I could send customers there.

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  12. I went to Savannakhet  last year and was offered a 12,000b  agent assisted 1 year non-o married to a Thai  visa with no financials required by the shop across the road from the consulate. I am not sure if that included the visa fee. I did not take it as I had other options but am surprised that nobody has taken it up and reported back. Considering a retirement visa in Pattaya is far more expensive to set up. 

  13. 14 hours ago, sandyf said:

    I don't have any problem with context, you have gone in the wrong direction and apologise if the implication of what I said wasn't clear.

    Your post was split up and only one part addressed rather than the context of the whole post. A common practice on the forum by some.

    I knew what you were trying to say in the OP, I am in the neighbouring province which has 3 immigration offices, 2 are used by expats and operate quite differently.

     

    Sorry. You lost me with 'Your post was split up and only one part addressed rather than the context of the whole post' whatever the context of that is?

  14. 12 hours ago, Liquorice said:

    Is it really any hardship to supply a map and a few photos as requested.

    You could have completed that task in less time than you've spent posting your complaint.

    I don't really think it was a complaint. I was just highlighting the crazy rules they are following at Laem Ngop.  Personally I find it an invasion of my privacy and there is another office a bit further along towards Cambodia which I would use if I needed again. I thought the point of having a forum is to exchange information, even if you want to go through the posts and pass judgements on the importance of what others write. I think it is a good warning to others that if they use the Laem Ngop office they will need to do this and would be better off going to Klong Yai. 

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