Advice from BKK Immigration Officer : Get the correct visa !

[The Fat Controller]

In my passport, in this order, 2 x Non O Multi, Non O single, 5 x Tourist Visas (Single Entry), Non O Single.

 

I am married to a Thai but don't live in Ubon all the year.

 

I used the 5 TR Visas (without extending) to spend about 50% of the last 2 years in Thailand and on my last entry, with "vacation" on the TM6, no questions or comments made by the IO.

 

I chose TR because it suited my plans and was cheaper !

 

I entered on 29th October on my Non O and put "visit wife" on the TM6.

 

The IO had a good look at my history and stamped me in without any issue, however she did say "Good to have the correct visa type, if you had tried to come again with a Tourist Visa we may have refused you entry"

 

This was in the Premium Lane arriving on Emirates (no Fast Track passes now, show your boarding pass)

 

The are scrutinising everything and everyone now !

 

 

 

 

 

 

[La Migra]

"...Get the correct visa ! "  I think that says it all.  

It really appears Thailand is imposing a rule of thumb of 180 days per tourist. First if you are over, but also if your pattern of stay shows you might go over.

[nakluapattaya]

27 minutes ago, La Migra said:

"...Get the correct visa ! "  I think that says it all.  

It really appears Thailand is imposing a rule of thumb of 180 days per tourist. First if you are over, but also if your pattern of stay shows you might go over.

Still nice tho, i think 6 months a year is very acceptable to stay on a tourist visa. Makes sense.

[DrJack54]

Your using incorrect visa. Surprised you were not pulled up earlier. Sound like cake and eat it too. Obtain non o. 

Next.

[problemfarang]

Agreed with the IO, you need to apply for non-o single or multi. 

TR is.. not for you.. are you a tourist? no

[kevin612]

i think it is up to the io, he/she may deny the entry.

[The Fat Controller]

@problemfarang

 

@DrJack54 (it's YOU'RE not your, grammar matters)

 

You both obviously DID NOT bother to read my visa history in my original post, are you blind ?

 

I NOW HAVE A NON O

 

Then I posted.

 

"I entered on 29th October on my Non O and put "visit wife" on the TM6"

 

Whether 180 days in Thailand when I also have my house and interests in the UK can be construed as a "vacation" with my wife is a moot point.

 

 

[UKresonant]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Your using incorrect visa. Surprised you were not pulled up earlier. Sound like cake and eat it too. Obtain non o. 

Next.

 

1 hour ago, problemfarang said:

Agreed with the IO, you need to apply for non-o single or multi. 

TR is.. not for you.. are you a tourist? no

So the London Embassy is wrong then?

 

[gk10002000]

2 minutes ago, The Fat Controller said:

@problemfarang

 

@DrJack54 (it's YOU'RE not your, grammar matters)

 

You both obviously DID NOT bother to read my visa history in my original post, are you blind ?

 

I NOW HAVE A NON O

 

Then I posted.

 

"I entered on 29th October on my Non O and put "visit wife" on the TM6"

 

Whether 180 days in Thailand when I also have my house and interests in the UK can be construed as a "vacation" with my wife is a moot point.

 

 

Non O of what type?  You didn't say marriage extension.

[The Fat Controller]

@gk10002000

 

I NEVER said I had any sort of extension and I have never extended any visa.

 

Read my OP "Non O Single", that's the only kind available now in the UK based on being married to a Thai.

[donnacha]

7 hours ago, The Fat Controller said:

The IO had a good look at my history and stamped me in without any issue, however she did say "Good to have the correct visa type, if you had tried to come again with a Tourist Visa we may have refused you entry"

What she said is an accurate reflection of the policy now being implemented at both the Bangkok airports.

Being married to a Thai and thereby entitled to a Non O, you won't have any problems, but it appears that non-married guys staying roughly half the year in Thailand can currently continue to use tourist visas as long as they avoid the Bangkok airports.

That may change but, for now, my strategy is to fly long-haul from Europe to a major airport outside Thailand such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong etc, and then catch a short haul flight directly to the non-Bangkok airport closest to my home. It seems to take around the same amount of time and a little less money than flying via Bangkok. The main benefit is the completely different attitude of non-Bangkok IOs. Also, if I was to get turned back, I would be able to quickly catch a budget flight back to Kuala Lumpur or whatever, rather than be forced to arrange an expensive, last-minute ticket back to Europe and probably have to spend more time in the detention room.

Needless to say, I am actively considering alternative countries in which to spend my money ????

 

Edited October 31, 2019 by donnacha

[Pravda]

7 hours ago, The Fat Controller said:

I chose TR because it suited my plans and was cheaper !

 

You are flying business class and are whining about the cost of visa.

 

Yeah.... Next!

[donnacha]

9 minutes ago, Pravda said:

You are flying business class and are whining about the cost of visa.

 

Yeah.... Next!

When did he whine about the cost of a visa?

He said he previously found tourist visas to be a good match for his needs, now he has a non O, zero whining about the cost.

Being good at picking the best option at any given time is how we can afford to fly business class.

[Bullie]

This kind of nonsense was reason for me to leave Thailand forever, with my family. The cost and difficulty, year on year for visa, banks, uncouth immigration officers every 3 months (I've had them screaming at me for a small faux-pass, making me to actually want to lash out and throttle the bixxch) sufficed march this year and we pulled the plug.

Now residing in Northern/Southern Europe, no troubles visa-wise and frankly, a lot cheaper all in all. We are superhappy with the move. My Thai/Cambodian wife is actually enjoying the cold!

[LivinLOS]

22 minutes ago, donnacha said:

When did he whine about the cost of a visa?

He said he previously found tourist visas to be a good match for his needs, now he has a non O, zero whining about the cost.

Being good at picking the best option at any given time is how we can afford to fly business class.

Add in that when asking overseas consuls on the best options, they advise this visa class often to folks even who may qualify for non imm visas. 

I know Cardiff advised me when they could only issue a single, to get a METV instead as it fit my travel plans and would enable my entire winter break on a single visa. I wanted to renew my DL's and so I stuck with obtaining a non imm last year but that was the actual advice offered. 

[The Fat Controller]

I chose the visas to suit my length of stay, as the clampdown on consecutive TR visas had not yet reared its ugly head.

 

Why pay double when it was not needed ?

 

I didn't get to be a millionaire by squandering my hard-earned money, putting the maximum every year into stocks and shares ISAs since their inception has worked very well, that and being in one of the best paid professions in the UK with a final salary pension has helped.

 

The reluctant next step, to avoid all the immigration <deleted>, is probably going to be Thailand Elite, then I can come and go as I please.

[Suradit69]

11 hours ago, The Fat Controller said:

 

@DrJack54 (it's YOU'RE not your, grammar matters)

Since that matters to you ...

 

11 hours ago, The Fat Controller said:

 

I NEVER said I had any sort of extension and I have never extended any visa

... then accuracy should matter too.

 

visas cannot be extended. An extension of stay extends your permission to stay in the country. It does not extend a visa beyond the expiry date printed on it. Surely accuracy matters as much or more than grammar.

[ubonjoe]

2 hours ago, The Fat Controller said:

Why pay double when it was not needed ?

Perhaps when you only compare the 2000 baht for a single entry non-o visa verses 1000 baht for a tourist visa. But it you are staying longer than 60 days you need to include 1900 baht for a 30 day extension.

The 5000 baht fee for a multiple entry non-o visa is well worth the investment when you consider the costs if making a couple of trips to the country during the year if you consider the costs for the visas, the time spent and other costs incurred to apply for tourist visas or single entry non-o visas.

[The Fat Controller]

@ubonjoe believe me, I have considered all the options, for the 5 consecutive TR visas it was only my intention to stay 60 days at a time and on this Non O it will be exactly 90 days before I go back to Scotland for a rest !

 

I have never needed or intended to request an extension of permission to stay so far and consequently have taken a chance and swerved the TM30.

 

The Savannakhet multi Non O is a possible option, but for 3 trips a year, the single entries from Glasgow are only marginally more expensive when you add in the cost of the Laos visa.

 

Also, crossing that border will exclude me from doing something in the UK that I feel very passionate about, donating blood !

 

With all the recent changes and clampdowns, the 20 year "Elite Superiority Extension Membership" is looking to be a good option although my wife may have a heart attack when I tell her the cost.

 

 

Edited November 1, 2019 by The Fat Controller

[Ventenio]

I understand the whole, "I'm a millionaire because I save money" thing.....BUT when we are talking about seeing your wife, family, etc.....I'm not sure how a few thousand baht is worth causing them stress.  but that's just me.  I'll spend billions on my passion and not buy a bowl a soup for 60 baht because I think it should be 40....but we are different.  my two cents.

 

 

[The Fat Controller]

@Ventenio my wife is quite happy to have her own time too, so me being away is no real issue so far.

 

It also allows her to start her little projects without a veto from me.

 

Our main business pays all the bills and more, so she likes to do a side business, anybody want to buy some lovely dates in the Ubon area ? Haha

[ChakaKhan]

6 months used to be my length, but last 3 x has been 4 month stays and thats enough for me to roll out..

 

So been away 11 months, gonna hope for 30 day stamp+extend, then burma for another 30+extend=120 days

 

No visa

[Tuvoc]

15 hours ago, The Fat Controller said:

The IO had a good look at my history and stamped me in without any issue, however she did say "Good to have the correct visa type, if you had tried to come again with a Tourist Visa we may have refused you entry" 

 

Yes, and that is my concern also. I'm using a Visa exempt soon to visit my wife for a week. A Visa exempt is for tourism only - visiting your wife isn't tourism and there is a Visa specifically for that. They have every right to refuse entry. I'm simply going to say it is a holiday, and in support of that I have an onward journey to New Zealand after Thailand.

[overherebc]

16 hours ago, problemfarang said:

Agreed with the IO, you need to apply for non-o single or multi. 

TR is.. not for you.. are you a tourist? no

So if our plans for next year work ie sell the house on the coast and buy a small house in UK and keep the Bkk house and split time, me in UK 8 or 9 months and my wife doing 6/6 months what will I be, a once a year tourist or an expat coming to Thailand who 'must' have an O visa because I'm married to a Thai???

Edited November 1, 2019 by overherebc

[The Fat Controller]

@overherebc that is a good point.

 

I would also be interested to know what came up on the IO's screen when she scanned my Non O Visa, did she actually get any indication of the purpose (married to Thai) or just a generic message that it was valid ?

 

So many mysteries !

 

 

[Old Croc]

15 minutes ago, The Fat Controller said:

@overherebc that is a good point.

 

I would also be interested to know what came up on the IO's screen when she scanned my Non O Visa, did she actually get any indication of the purpose (married to Thai) or just a generic message that it was valid ?

 

So many mysteries !

 

I believe they have access to everything regarding your Immigration history.

A friend recently travelled to the UK with his daughter, and going out they had a bit of trouble reconciling his extensions. The daughter, looks Thai, was educated in England and is very sharp, was standing behind the IO and reports that her father's history of extensions, including all the photos, were on display.

[overherebc]

36 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

I believe they have access to everything regarding your Immigration history.

A friend recently travelled to the UK with his daughter, and going out they had a bit of trouble reconciling his extensions. The daughter, looks Thai, was educated in England and is very sharp, was standing behind the IO and reports that her father's history of extensions, including all the photos, were on display.

On the way out through DMK the IO spent ages and I mean ages staring at the 60 day extention stamp page in my PP and asking other IO's about it.

I don't think he could understand a one year multi visa lasting 17 months all above board.

[thaibook]

3 hours ago, overherebc said:

So if our plans for next year work ie sell the house on the coast and buy a small house in UK and keep the Bkk house and split time, me in UK 8 or 9 months and my wife doing 6/6 months what will I be, a once a year tourist or an expat coming to Thailand who 'must' have an O visa because I'm married to a Thai???

I come in as a tourist without a visa, but with  30 day exemption then get a 30 day extension.  At CW the IO told me I could then apply for a further 60 day extension to visit my Thai wife.  However, she said one can only apply for the 60 day extension once each year.  Perhaps the CW officials and those at the airport have different bonus structures.

[overherebc]

24 minutes ago, thaibook said:

I come in as a tourist without a visa, but with  30 day exemption then get a 30 day extension.  At CW the IO told me I could then apply for a further 60 day extension to visit my Thai wife.  However, she said one can only apply for the 60 day extension once each year.  Perhaps the CW officials and those at the airport have different bonus structures.

I've been doing two a year for the last three years. ???????? .

[thaibook]

2 minutes ago, overherebc said:

I've been doing two a year for the last three years. ???????? .

consecutively or with a break in between?