Mr. Chang @ VISA SERVICE IN PATTAYA
E-MAIL: changvisa@gmail.com
183/27 M.10 Soi 13/2 Nongpure, Banglamung Chonburi 20150
Mobile: 66 81 7549342
Tel: 66 38 711 145
Fax: 66 38 710 163
www.visacentergroup.com, www.visa2britain.com
Q: I live in a country where I can obtain a single passport and include my two children in the same document, but I heard that there are disadvantages in doing this as regards Thailand. Do you know what they are?
A: The disadvantage is that all three of you must travel together, i.e. you cannot travel alone and neither of the children can leave without you. It’s OK to have the multi-person passport provided that you are very sure that the three of you will travel by the same plane and arrive and depart together as a group. The confusion is precisely the reason why many countries insist on one passport per person. Perhaps you are from Russia or the Ukraine?
Teaching English
Q: I live in a condo and get a bit bore with nothing much to do. I have had the offer to teach some of the kids in the building elementary English without any pay and purely as a volunteer. As I live in the same building, I assume there is no problem about this proposal?
A: Under the alien labour act 1980, you would be working. Whether you are paid or voluntary doesn’t make any difference. If someone in your building complained about the proposal, you could end up in trouble with immigration. Maybe you should ask the management committee of your condo to bring up the matter as an agenda item.
60-day visa
Q: I have a 60-day tourist visa, double entry, which must be utilized in its entirety before 17 September. Does this mean that the last day I can enter is September 17 or September 16?
A: Technically the last day is September 16, but custom and practice is that September 17 would be allowed as that is the date printed on your passport. However, our advice is to enter on the 16th or before if it is possible.
Multiple entry visa
Q: I have for many years obtained a one-year multiple entry visa in UK at the Thai consulate in Cardiff or Liverpool, but I have heard that they are now restricting the number of entries and the time-scale. Do you know what is going on?
A: You would need to enquire locally at the consulates. Generally speaking, multiple- entry, non-immigrant visas are not being given much at the moment, especially if you are under 50 and not married to a Thai. The restrictions come from memos from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is encouraging aliens to obtain one-year visas here in Thailand, retirement or family, provided they qualify.
British wife joining
Q: I hope you can settle an argument. I am British, 54, and hope to apply for a retirement visa in Thailand. But my wife is 48, so the question arises whether she can join me on this visa and how much it costs. My friends in the pub say she will have to wait another two years.
A: Your friends in the pub are wrong. Your wife, under 50, can indeed join you but she must provide the marriage certificate (in English or Thai or translated) and have a non-immigrant visa in her passport. A tourist visa will not do for this purpose. The cost is 1,900 baht.
Work permit and visa
Q: I have a work permit lasting until May 2013 but my non-immigrant B visa is only for three months and expires next week. What do I need to do? I don’t want to have to travel abroad to get another non-immigrant B visa as I don’t have the time.
A: You should visit the local immigration office with your work permit and visa. The business section will give you the list of documents required to bring your visa in line with the work permit. They are mostly related to the company or institution you work for.