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Posted November 29th, 2008
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Visa Teaser Question
I am 73 years old and I have been severally bitten by a stray dog and I can hardly walk. I am now on two days overstay in Thailand and my doctor has said I cannot travel at the moment. I am very worried, what can I do?
Visa Teaser Answer
I do hope you are ok.
In extreme cases such as this one the Thailand Immigration Bureau have the facility to offer a medical extension which is mainly aimed at people who have had an accident or worse and cannot travel on a Cambodian visa run or fly back home.
A Doctors letter will be needed to demonstrate your are Sick
Before you go to the Thailand Immigration Bureau you have to obtain a letter from your doctor or consultant clearly stating what your symptoms are and how long they advise you cannot travel for.
This letter must be written in English and must be official from a hospital and not a local clinic. The Immigration Bureau do like to help In extreme cases and at the Bangkok Pattaya hospital on Suckumvit road they have an Immigration desk inside the hospital for patients who cannot travel.
Tags: doctors letter, Sick In Thailand Posted in Sick In Thailand, Visa Over Stay
Posted November 29th, 2008
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Visa Teaser Question
I am an Australian passport holder I am 51 years old. I hope to be able to stay in Thailand for a long time so am looking at getting a 1 year retirement visa. I believe I have all the qualifications for a Thailand retirement visa.
I went to the immigration office and they said I had tampered with my passport. The Thai immigration officer then refused to issue me with a retirement visa. I had taken a large Cambodian visa off a passport page, I did this because my passport was full, what can I do?
Visa Teaser Answer
No, No, No, peeling a visa stamp off a page in your passport is illegal and not the answer to making extra pages available.
Never tamper with your passport
I would advise you to renew your passport from your embassy or consulate and then go back to the immigration with your application, but never tamper with your passport including removing existing visa stamps.
Tags: full passport, Refused Retirement Visa Posted in Refused Retirement Visa, Retirement visa
Posted November 29th, 2008
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Visa Teaser Question
What a nightmare, I have just returned from Singapore after traveling to Penang to obtain a Thailand single entry tourist visa, I was refused the Thai tourist visa in Penang because when I left Thailand I had paid two days overstay at the airport and they would not issue me a visa because my last stamp was an overstay, is this a new rule?
Visa Teaser Answer
Thailand has ever changing visa rules which keeps me busy, this seems to be the case now in Penang, if you leave Thailand and have overstayed “even one day” and then go to the consulate they can refuse to issue you with any Thai visa type, so the answer is don’t overstay in Thailand.
Tags: penang visa run, refused thai visa, single entry visa Posted in Refused Tourist Visa, Visa Run
Posted November 29th, 2008
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Visa Teaser Question
I have just had a terrible experience whilst trying to renew my Thai retirement visa. I thought that my Thai retirement visa finished on the 5th December 2007 but it actually was my 90 day report slip I was looking at and not my retirement visa which meant that I was ten days overstay when I wanted to renew, what can I do?
Visa Teaser Answer
This is an alarming occurrence at the moment, we have seen numerous cases were the client has presumed that there Thai Retirement visa finish date was not the ink stamp in there passport but was the 90 day report date.
Please be aware that your 90 day report date does not always run perfectly with your one year Thai retirement visa
Please be aware that your 90 day report date does not always run perfectly with your one year Thai retirement visa. In most cases your 90 day report date will run past your retirement visa date.
For renewing any long stay one year Thai visa you should always check the ink stamp in your passport and go by that date.
For your 90 day report go by the date on the white TM47 paper stapled into your passport, I would advise you to go to your local Thai immigration office and point out your mistake. Normally the immigration officer will allow you to pay the overstay and retain your visa.
Tags: 90 Day Report, thai retirement visa, Visa Over Stay Posted in 90 Day Report, Retirement visa, Visa Over Stay
Posted November 28th, 2008
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Visa Teaser Question
I have been recently stopped in Pattaya by the Traffic police whilst driving my motorbike and I have been fined because I did not have a copy of my passport on my person is this correct?
Visa Teaser Answer
Yes this is correct -
Like most countries Thailand law is that a foreigner should carry at least a copy of their passport showing the details page and your latest entry visa stamp and the white departure card that is placed in your passport when you enter Thailand.
It can be for your own safety. Also I always advise having a copy of your passport because if the eventuality arose were you lost your original passport it will save you a lot of heartache at your embassy when applying for a new passport.
Call in at one of my offices and for a small fee we can produce a credit card sized laminated copy of your passport which you can carry with you at all times with ease.
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted November 28th, 2008
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Visa Teaser Question
I am a British Citizen and I am applying for a 6 month Fiancée visa for my Thai girlfriend to come to the UK and marry me.
I have prepared the documents for the UK Visa application but a friend said that I cannot apply with the British embassy until I have produced a provisional wedding booking from the UK to prove that we are going to marry while my girlfriend is in the UK.
I have visited my local registry office and they cannot book the wedding until my Thai girlfriend is in the UK with the correct visa in her Thai passport.
Visa Teaser Answer
I do agree it would be beneficial to produced a provisional wedding booking from the UK for the fiancee visa application - but it is increasingly difficult to book a provisional wedding unless your Thai girlfriend is in the UK with a fiancee visa in her passport.
In February 2005 the marriages and civil partnership branch in the UK changed the law stating that your Thai girlfriend must be in the UK at the time of wedding booking with a fiancee visa.
This was stated on data sheet DSP 13.9, which was issued to all FCO and ECO offices, I would not be overly concerned if you cannot make a booking as this is a small insignificant part of the application and my advise is to concentrate on making sure that all the documentation you shall present to the UK Embassy at the time of the Fiancee visa application is correct.
Posted in UK Fiancee Visa, UK Visa
Posted November 28th, 2008
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Thai Visa Question
I am a Canadian Citizen and I would like to take my Thai girlfriend to Canada for a holiday, my a guy at the bar said that my Thai girlfriend needs a Police clearance, is this correct. I am only applying for a holiday visa for Canada!
Thai Visa Answer
The answer is yes, if you are applying for a tourist or a migration visa to Canada your Thai girlfriend - Thai wife is required to produce a Police Special Branch clearance report. This report can be obtained in Bangkok.
Tags: holiday visa canada Posted in Canada Holiday Visa, Canada Visa
Posted November 28th, 2008
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Visa Teaser Question
I am an American Citizen and I am attempting to apply for a tourist visa for my Thai partner to go to the USA for a short holiday.
I am finding it very difficult to understand what is needed to apply for a USA tourist visa and the American Embassy they keep talking about a pin number, can you advise what this is!
Visa Teaser Answer
I do agree it can be difficult to understand the USA embassy requirements.
When you are considering applying for a USA tourist visa for your Thai partner you have to obtain a digital pin number first which allows you to arrange an appointment to submit your application and attend an interview at the American Embassy which is compulsory.
To obtain the pin number you have to look on the Embassy website were it gives you a listing of the available post offices and outlets were the pin number can be obtained in Thailand.
When you visit an outlet you pay the relevant visa application fee and you are given the pin number on an electronic receipt this allows you to schedule an appointment with the Embassy via the telephone or through the Embassy website.
You also should be aware that the visa application form should be submitted online through the Embassy website and when this is completed you print a hard copy and put with your relevant documentation.
This obviously gives the USA Embassy a full picture of your Thai partners visa application before you arrive for an interview.
My advice is possibly getting professional help with the application as dealing with the American embassy can be complicated.
Posted in USA Tourist Visa, USA Visa
Posted November 28th, 2008
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Visa Teaser Question
Darren, I have a six year old Thai child which I take care of him myself in Pattaya I am currently on a non-immigrant o visa multiple entry is it possible to convert this and get a long stay visa on this basis some people say yes and some say no.
Visa Teaser Answer
I have been asked this question on numerous occasions.
The immigration bureau will give a one year extension of your current non-immigrant o visa if you have a sole custody document from the Thai courts stating that you are the sole guardian of the child and you also have to have funds of 400,000.00 baht in your Thailand bank and at the moment you don’t need to show a monthly income.
Tags: sole guardian of the child, Thai child Posted in Farang Parents
Posted November 28th, 2008
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Thai Visa Question
Hi Darren I am 65 years old and live in Thailand on a one year retirement visa every year I show the immigration bureau my funds of 800,000.00 baht in the bank I am currently in the process of bringing my 49 year old American wife to Thailand to live with me.
I am concerned about her visa. Can she come to Thailand on the 30 day arrival visa and then convert to a retirement visa as my wife and do I also have to deposit a further 800,000.00 in my Thailand bank to cover her visa.
I have heard so many different stories.
Thai Visa Answer
It is imperative that your wife comes to Thailand on a 90 day non-immigrant visa because she is not at the age of 50 years she cannot change the visa on arrival 30 days to a non-immigrant visa which is needed to start the process of a retirement visa. It is nearly impossible to obtain in the Thai consulates around Asia because your wife is not 50 years old,
It is also imperative that you have your marriage certificate with you in Thailand as this is part of the application.
You do not have to deposit a further 800,000.00 baht in your Thailand bank to cover your wife’s visa because the immigration rules state that only one member of the relationship has to have the financial side so your wife shall be “piggy backing” on your current retirement visa.
But please make sure that when you are ready for your wife to apply for the visa you do have the 800,000.00 baht in your Thailand bank account.
Tags: one year retirement visa, piggy backing, thailand to live Posted in Retirement visa
