welo
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A word on the upset expat who had to start over: it was definitely something related to his stamps - the problem was NOT that he wasn't home for the house visit. I thought I better clarify so others don't jump to wrong conclusions.
@ubonjoe, @mario2008
Thx for the replies and the valuable information!
Very much appreciated!
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Thx for the confirmation!
re: reentry permit. Good to know. I remember talking to a very upset expat who had left the country and had to restart his visa process. I thought that during the consideration period you are not supposed to leave (they might come to visit at your home, dont they?), but maybe the problem was only that he hadn't applied for a reentry permit.
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I had a visa exempt entry converted to Non-O, and have now applied for 1 yr extension.
The "under consideration" stamp given when applying for a 1-yr extension (marriage), does that actually extend you current stay permit until that date?
If I understand correctly, common procedure is to apply for the 1-yr extension at least 15 days before your current stay permit expires (which I did). The 30 day consideration period now exceeds my current stay permit.
I assume the answer is "yes", but better be safe than sorry!
Thx!!
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@lopburi
He wrote that "It's most likely everything will not be finalised by the end of the 15 day period".
EDIT: I understand now. Maybe the passport for his daughter is not finished on time, but maybe his Thai marriage registration is.
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I have been doing several 60-day extensions **based on marriage** in a row (meaning: 15-days at the border, 60 days at immigration, 15 days at the border, 60 days at immigration, ...).
You can apply for extensions at least a week before your permit of stay ends, probably even sooner (=now). You could try for another extension and still have enough time to consider other options if that fails.
Explain your situation, stay calm and friendly, but don't give up easily. Sometimes just staying put for a while will give them time to re-consider. You don't need to hide that you are in a difficult situation and that another extension would help you and your family a lot. I found most officers at immigration to be quite humane. Sometimes they might lack motivation, but they are not necessarily mean.
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Back to me, the OP
Just out of curiosity, will the 90 days of the converted Non-O visa start immediately on the day of the conversion, or will they be added to after the current permission to stay (as usually done with extensions).
Thanks guys, this already helped me a lot!!
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A home visit, honestly!? Awesome! Hang out with the dudes from Immigration. Nice!
That means it will look like this
Arrived on land-border crossing => 15 days | Extended at Immigration Office, based on marriage => 60 days | Today: day 15 of my 60 days | Next Week: Conversion to Non-O => 90 days * proof of funds (unseasoned) * proof of marriage * ... | Later: Extension, "under consideration" => 30 days * proof of funds (now seasoned!) * proof of marriage * ... | Later: Hang out with my friends from Immigr. at my home | Later: Extension at Immigr. Office, marriage => 1 year * ...EDIT: Love when the forum software messes up my posts!
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Thx again to everybody.It starts to all make sense to me now!@thaiexpat, @allDo you know whether the conversion to Non-O is in any way depending on the discretion of the officer?@ubonjoeI will definitely follow your advice and will wire-in the money just to make sure.
I will also make sure I have the recommended documents. I rather bring too many than having to come back again.To wrap it up, this is my roadmap:Arrived on land-border crossing => 15 days | Extended at Immigration Office, based on marriage => 60 days | Today: day 15 of my 60 days | Next Week: Conversion to Non-O, => 90 days * proof of funds (unseasoned) * proof of marriage * ... | Later: Extension at Immigr. Office, marriage => 1 year * proof of funds (now seasoned!) * proof of marriage * ...
I guess the 30 days extension "under consideration" will not be required/given in such a scenario? -
Thx for all the information. Even though it seems to be contradicting in some parts. Which is of course not surprising since different offices/officers apply the regulations differently.
I arrived on a 15 days stamp, extended that for 60 days based on marriage.
If I understand correctly, that means a conversion to Non-O will occur.
On the day I did the 60 days extension I inquired about the procedure for the 1yr extension. I was told that they could do it **right away**, if I had the money on the account (which I hadn't) and the paperwork ready - no word of the 2 month seasoning.
So my thinking
* that was just miscommunication - the officer was not very motivated and my Thai skills were not better than her English skills
* the conversion would extend my stay permit by 90 days (just a guess) so the seasoning will be satisfied for the 1 yr extension later.
Thx again for all your input!
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I have been reading a lot about extension of stay based on marriage, using the 400.000,- bank funds requirement.
I picked up a couple of details that I would really appreciate to have verified or get feedback on:
Immigration office is Bangkok / Chaeng Watthana
That would be the first 1yr extension.
Current status is 60 days extension based on marriage.
( A )
One source recommended to wire-in the money (from abroad) to the savings account instead of topping
it up from a cash payment. Something about proofing that it is YOUR money.
For me both options are feasible, but the cash option would save on transfer fees. Does immigration
care about this?
( B )
I have been told at immigration that the following is possible:
- Apply for extension at least 25(?) days before permission of stay ends.- Provided the paperwork is correct and bank account has required amount..
- they will give a temporary extension of 30(60?) days for consideration
- and then give the final 1yr extension at a later point.
Is that possible considering that the seasoning requirement is NOT fulfilled
on the first appointment?
Appreciate your help!
Thank you,
welo
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Why dont they just get a 60 day tourist visa and problem solved ?
The question should be why they *didn't* get a tourist visa.
Maybe they had different travel plans that didn't require a stay longer than 30 days in Thailand?
Maybe they didn't have a Thai embassy located near their home town and didn't feel comfortable to send their passport by mail?
Maybe they had inaccurate information or were advised badly?
Does Imm put a big red naughty boy stamp in your PP for an over stay?
Will it effect other countries when some of them ask if you have been refused entry into any country before? and some ask if forced to leave a country.
Just things to consider !
This is ridiculous. To answer your questions:
1. No (there is no big red naughty stamp) - I have one overstay and there is not a single red dot in it. And it's smaller than the extension of stay stamps that you get at immigration.
2. No, it will not affect other countries because you have NOT been refused entry to Thailand, and you have NOT been forced to leave a country.
Stop the scaremongering.
Yes, if you plan to stay longer in Thailand than a month you should seriously consider obtaining a Tourist Visa which will allow you to stay for up to 60 days - it is most likely your best (most convenient) option.
However, the 30 day visa exemption entry is a perfectly legal and valid way to enter (and stay in) Thailand. It is used by tourists entering Thailand ALL THE TIME.
The Thai Immigration Law does not allow you to overstay your stay permit, and there is a fine of 500 Baht per day for those who do. Payable when you exit the country. There are no repercussion as a result of this, and you will be able to re-enter Thailand without problems. This is standard procedure and it happens ALL THE TIME.
The words of caution go to those fellows who are planning for lengthy stays in Thailand (several weeks, months, years) without a valid stay permit. Check out other discussions on this topic.
Please show me reports where Western Tourists (in Thailand we unfortunately may have to add "white-skinned") with a couple of day overstay (and were able to pay the fine and not involved in illegal activities) ran into problems - either in Thailand or when entering other countries.
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@daxbr
I am wondering if I gave my friends the wrong advice. I also heard a story from a friend who did not have to pay for overstay at the airport. I have never considered this since my personal experience is that the officers are very strict with it.
I doubt that they will *not* have to pay overstay at the Poipet border.
Also, having the overstay waived at the airport, is surely not anything you can count on.
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@steve187
What's going on here?
This whole website/forum is about repeating the same information over and over again to people who are - most of the time - already in the country, and try to figure out what to do.
I asked a very specific question, but you asked for the 'big picture'. I gave it to you and then you come up with this?
Are you genuinely interested in why people do it or are you just trolling?
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If I didn't do the counting wrong there will be no 2-day overstay at the end. Their stay permit will expire on the 24th, and they leave in the morning hours of the 25th.
The 1-day airport rule saves them 500 Baht (each)
2000 Baht overstay is cheaper than 1900Baht plus transport and they don't waste 4hrs or more in the traffic and at immigration (although the government complex is actually an impressive building).
The 2-day overstay at the end came up in my question earlier trying to figure out how exactly this 1-day rule is applied/handled.
But thx (again) for trying to help out, Mario.
They are genuine (American) Tourists so I think the risk of ending up in jail with only 4 day overstay is minimal.
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Thx guys for your input.
@jpinx
That is indeed an option but my friends already decided against it.
@steve
I am pretty familiar with all available options, that's why I asked this rather specific question.
Their current stay permit (30-day stamp) expires on the 6th. Their flight is on the 25th at 6.00am.
I will advise them to go on a border-run to Poipet on the 10th. They will have to pay 4 days overstay (2000B). When they return they will receive a 15 days stamp. That will give them a stay permit until the 24th.
The overstay fines will be slightly cheaper (1900B plus transport) and also less hassle than a 7-day extension at Chaeng Watthana.
They could stay outside of Thailand for any number of days to reduce the overstay, but they don't want to for various reasons.
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They do have luggage. So no online checkin.
Can you pls also confirm this (If you know):
> I further assume that if their stay permit expires on the 3rd, and they leave after midnight (then the 5th), they would have to pay 2 days overstay fine?
Any experience with this? How does immigration handle this?
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Thx a lot Mario,
I will check again for their exact departure time. I forgot that the earliest checkin time is rather late. I guess if the flight is not just after midnight (let's say 2:am at the very latest) it will not work out.
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I have a group of friends on a budget that are a couple of days short on their stay permit. They have to go on a border-run to Poipet but will still be 3-4 days short.
I heard that they waive you one day of overstay if you leave at the airport on that day. I am thinking about advising them to time their border-run so that they will have exactly one day overstay when they leave at the airport.
I wonder how this is executed if your flight is going in the early morning hours. Let's say the flight goes on the 5th at 4am. If they enter immigration before midnight (technically the 4th) with one day overstay (=stay permit until the 3rd), will the rule still apply.
Technically, they exit Thailand one day BEFORE the flight date - would they still be waived the overstay?
I also have to check if the checkin time actually allows for this.
I further assume that if their stay permit expires on the 3rd, and they leave after midnight (then the 5th), they would have to pay 2 days overstay fine?
Does anybody know about these technicalities?
Appreciate your help!
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I stayed at the 'Star Vegas' Casino. It has a pool and a market/shop/restaurant area close by. (prices might be higher now).
The Star Vegas is not on the main road - turn left after crossing the bridge (coming from Thailand). There are casino shuttle taxis going all the time (for free).
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It doesn't take longer without the 100 Baht extra, but it's not to everybody's taste to mind-fight with the officer when handing in the application without the tea money. (smile and keep repeating 'sorry, no').
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Make sure you apply for the eVisa a couple of days before. They just recently introduced an express fee surcharge of 10 USD if you need it the next day. (Official processing time is and always has been 3 (business?) days but they used to deliver within a view hours without surcharge).
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There are several options:
Casino buses
- several pickup points around Bangkok: I know of Lumpini Park (wait at the Rama IV bus stop) and Central Bang Na (in front of Big C / just inside the Soi between Central Bang Na and Big C) - ask for 'Cambodia', 'Poipet'
- one way 200B (100B for Thais)
- they are used to Westerners going to the border but staff speaks very little or no English
- they start early in the morning (the first one at Lumpini leaves at 4:30), and go every 30 minutes - 60 minutes throughout the day. Latest I ever went was 12:30 from Bang Na.
- travel time is 3-3.5 hrs, but add 30 minutes waiting time.
- return: find the big car park just 50 meters from where you had been dropped off on arrival. Walk around and ask for 'Bangkok / Lumpini' or 'Bangkok / Bang Na'. Problem is, casino visitors with return tickets have precedence over Westerners, but most times you get a seat, otherwise you have to wait for another bus.
MiniVans
- depart from Victory Monument - I took one once several months ago, they departed from right behind 'Century The Movie Plaza', a 5 minute walk from the BTS, look it up on Google Maps)
There should also be some departing from Bang Na, but not sure exactly where (BTS Bang Na? Central Bang Na?) - 240B one way; ask for the destinations 'Sa Kaeo, Aranya Prathet, Rong Kluea' to find the right spot, then make sure your Van goes to the border (ask for 'Rong Kluea' or better 'Poipet' or 'Cambodia' since the 1st you will probably not pronounce correctly) - Sa Kaeo town is 1hr from the border, Aranya Prathet is a 20min Tuktuk ride from the border, but it is no problem to get one straight to the border market.
- travel time 3.5-4hrs
- no English speaking staff
- return: MiniVans leave from right in front of 7/11. Some go to Victory Monument, some can also drop you in Bang Na.
Visa Run Company
- Go with a visa run company (2000B(?) return, incl Cambodian visa)
Taxi
- I've seen signs at the border that say 1900 Baht to Bangkok, this is all I know. Never tried, never heard about others going by taxi.
You need a Cambodian visa to visit the Casinos or do a border run. Search the forums. Maybe get an 'eVisa'.
- several pickup points around Bangkok: I know of Lumpini Park (wait at the Rama IV bus stop) and Central Bang Na (in front of Big C / just inside the Soi between Central Bang Na and Big C) - ask for 'Cambodia', 'Poipet'
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Never heard about a minivan to Poipet for 100 Baht. The standard rate from Victory Monument is about 220 Baht (or so).
Where do these 100 Baht Minivans leave from exactly?
Thx
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Does anybody know the approximate departure times for the casino buses to Poipet/Aranya Prathet from Central Bang Na in the (early) morning hours?
Thx a lot!
Online 90 day reporting available from April 1st
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
Posted
Didn't work for me when I tried several times over the course of two days mid last month. I had successfully submitted an online report last year with that passport.
Eventually went there in person and had a queue of 240 people (!) and 3-4 hours waiting time when arriving after lunch break.
Now I wonder what to do for the next report. I would like to try the online system again, and if that didn't work, fall back to sending by mail.
Of course, that approach doesn't work because mail-in needs to happen at least 15 days prior to the due date, and online reporting at earliest 15 days prior. Ingenious!