Re-Entry to Thailand - A beaurocratic nightmare

[Jen65 100]

I had thought that holders of Non Immigrant "O" visas and retirees on extension of stay were not yet permitted to return to Thailand ???

 

I am flying out on 17th October (by necessity ) to Europe and need to be back about 10th November .   I contacted the Thai Embassy/Consul in Lisbon (from where I will return ) and they gave me the requirements for applicationof CofE etc .  I am aware of all the additional requirements ( medical / fit to fly/Covid Test/flight booking/ASQ booking  etc etc ) which is not a problem - only the VISA Re-Entry Issue.

 

Thai Consul in Lisbon sent me the attached email which basically says I need to apply for new visa O-A with all the attached additional requirements .  I did the medical and after asking Chonburi Immigration where I get a Police criminal record clearance ,I was told to go to Police HQ Bangkok , Criminal Investigations dept !  I was there at 9am this morning and they told me I would need a letter from Immigration requesting this Police check !!!  Chonburi Immigration knew I would need a letter of request to provide to Police department but they did not mention this or issue one even though they instructed me to go to Bangkok .

So back to Chonburi Immigration where I produced the sample form from Police HQ and was directed to Senior Immigration Officer .   The Officer asked why I needed this and wanted to see my Passport .  I explained my situation in that I was going out of Thailand and needed to be sure I could return and showed the email from the Thai Consul. 

The Officer explained that was all unnecessary since I already had a retirement extension and valid re-entry .  I would not need another visa and definitely not an O-A .  All that was required was for the Thai Embassy to provide a letter of guarantee for my status .

 

So now, with 2 days to go and today seemingly totally a waste of my time and money ,  I am still not sure WHO is correct !!!!  Absolute shambles !!!     

 

Edited October 15, 2020 by blackcab
Image redacted

[Eff1n2ret 670]

4 minutes ago, Jen65 said:

The Officer explained that was all unnecessary since I already had a retirement extension and valid re-entry .  I would not need another visa and definitely not an O-A .  All that was required was for the Thai Embassy to provide a letter of guarantee for my status .

If only that commonsense attitude reflected the truth.

[Sheryl 27,236]

Ignore what Immigration told you, they are not aware of the COE requirements (COE is issued by embassies not Immigration).

 

Unless you are married to a Thai, you will not be able to get a COE with a non-O.

[stubuzz 1,280]

I am amazed that you got a reply from the consul!

[Starmocihc 165]

If you exit, most likely you're not getting back in without proof of marriage and the ensuing process. 

[baansgr 9,655]

18 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Ignore what Immigration told you, they are not aware of the COE requirements (COE is issued by embassies not Immigration).

 

Unless you are married to a Thai, you will not be able to get a COE with a non-O.

Are they not allowing property owners or those with long term rental contracts entry? Sure I read that a few days ago.

[DrTuner 24,557]

The only way to deal with Thai bureaucracy is not to, or if you have to, get every single paper ever made about you, in duplicates. Meaning better get that criminal check. Police HQ is opposite Central, about 1-1 1/2 weeks to get it. I did one a few months ago. You need to tell the cause for it, as it'll be printed on the certificate, that's why they asked for immigration paper requesting it.

 

Thai bureaucracy is world class, hubba hubba.

[from the home of CC 9,250]

rather there be bureaucratic nightmares than the out of control disease rates that are prevalent in most of the west..   

[alianware 463]

21 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

The only way to deal with Thai bureaucracy is not to, or if you have to, get every single paper ever made about you, in duplicates. Meaning better get that criminal check. Police HQ is opposite Central, about 1-1 1/2 weeks to get it. I did one a few months ago. You need to tell the cause for it, as it'll be printed on the certificate, that's why they asked for immigration paper requesting it.

 

Thai bureaucracy is world class, hubba hubba.

Why does police need paper from immigration for just criminal check ?? Why the police won't just ask direct to the person who require it  ?? That is so stupid.

People just need criminal check for many reasons ex. for job application . So, do people also need letter from the boss to get check criminal ???? 

Damm stupid.

Edited October 14, 2020 by alianware

[DrTuner 24,557]

13 minutes ago, alianware said:

Why does police need paper from immigration for just criminal check ?? Why the police won't just ask direct to the person who require it  ?? That is so stupid.

People just need criminal check for many reasons ex. for job application . So, do people also need letter from the boss to get check criminal ???? 

Damm stupid.

Why? TiT, that's why. Ain't a damn thing you can do about it, except comply or forget about it. Yes, it sucks.

[ubonjoe 47,483]

1 hour ago, Jen65 said:

I did the medical and after asking Chonburi Immigration where I get a Police criminal record clearance ,I was told to go to Police HQ Bangkok , Criminal Investigations dept ! 

The police clearance has to be done in your home country to apply for a OA visa. You are not a legal resident of Thailand.

[sometimewoodworker 3,011]

1 hour ago, Jen65 said:

 

I am flying out on 17th October (by necessity ) to Europe and need to be back about 10th November . 

There is a virtual certainty that if you fly out you will not be retuning 3 weeks later, possibly up to 3 months. 

 

The CoE alone takes a couple of weeks, that is if the embassy will accept your application, getting on a repatriation flight is also difficult, that is all subject to your getting an ASQ booking that will probably require a non refundable payment, probably of the full cost. All of that is dependant on not getting infected on your trip.
 

So unless you are significantly wealthy, are backed by a very large multi national or have high political connections you plan is unlikely to be successful.
 

You should do everything in your power to avoid the trip.

Edited October 14, 2020 by sometimewoodworker

[Max69xl 2,763]

47 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

There is a virtual certainty that if you fly out you will not be retuning 3 weeks later, possibly up to 3 months. 

 

The CoE alone takes a couple of weeks, that is if the embassy will accept your application, getting on a repatriation flight is also difficult, that is all subject to your getting an ASQ booking that will probably require a non refundable payment, probably of the full cost. All of that is dependant on not getting infected on your trip.
 

So unless you are significantly wealthy, are backed by a very large multi national or have high political connections you plan is unlikely to be successful.
 

You should do everything in your power to avoid the trip.

There are several airlines flying from Europe to BKK at the moment,and she is not actually a repat. Several ASQ-hotels are ok with changing the check-in date free of charge. I don't know how you define "significantly wealthy", but you don't have to pick the most expensive hotel and airline. 

[carlyai 1,159]

1 hour ago, DrTuner said:

The only way to deal with Thai bureaucracy is not to, or if you have to, get every single paper ever made about you, in duplicates. Meaning better get that criminal check. Police HQ is opposite Central, about 1-1 1/2 weeks to get it. I did one a few months ago. You need to tell the cause for it, as it'll be printed on the certificate, that's why they asked for immigration paper requesting it.

 

Thai bureaucracy is world class, hubba hubba.

Unless things have changed, I have heard from a friend's friend that you can get the report on the same day, just requires a bit of waiting and ...ingenuity. 

[hereforgood 324]

1 hour ago, DrTuner said:

Ain't a damn thing you can do about it, except comply or forget about it.

yup