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
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Q: I have a work permit and non immigrant “B” visa. But I am finishing my job in a couple of weeks and want to switch to a retirement visa without leaving the country. Is that going to be possible?
A: Assuming you are at least 50 years old, it is possible. You need to visit the labour office which issued the work permit, with a letter from your employer, to terminate the work permit. The office will give you a tor tor 10 form. You should then visit the immigration office of your choice, preferably the same day, to obtain a one year retirement visa. Of course, you will require the documentation for the one year visa. When a work permit is cancelled, remember that the visa collapses too the same day.
Q: I have a 60 day tourist visa, single entry, but I hope to visit Vietnam after about one month has been used up in Thailand. Can I obtain a re-entry permit to ensure I can get back into Thailand? I am a British citizen aged 42.
A: You could, but there is not any point really. When you return to Thailand from Vietnam, you will automatically receive 30 days at Bangkok airport. If needed, you could request a further seven days later. The re-entry permit doesn’t extend the life of the visa but simply protects it.
Q: I have heard that I must carry around my passport at all times whilst I am in Thailand. But I am concerned that I might lose it. So is this requirement really enforced by the police?
A: No it isn’t. The best idea is to obtain a small laminated copy of your passport and visa and carry this around in your wallet (being careful not to lose your wallet of course). What the police need, if they stop you for any reason, is proof of who you are. A valid Thai driving license is an alternative to the laminated passport copy. But you will need your actual passport to carry out some functions such as obtaining money at a bank, dealing with Thai bureaucracies and the like. It’s just a matter of common sense in the main.
Q: Accidentally, I recently attended a sex show in a nightclub although I did not realize it was going to turn out like that. I spent the whole time worrying what would happen if there was a police raid. Would I have been arrested?
A: Unlikely. If a club is raided because of indecent display, or whatever, the manager, the staff and the performers would likely be arrested and be asked to pay a fine at the police station. But it is most unlikely any customers would be arrested unless they tested positive for illegal substances. However, the police do sometimes take photographs or shoot a video of the proceedings, so if you feel vulnerable, then simply pay your bill and leave as soon as any dubious performance begins.
Q: What are the main reasons why a tourist visa to Britain is turned down? I want my Thai girlfriend to visit me in Manchester and I want to be fore-armed as it were. I have heard you have to prove a genuine relationship.
A: There are several common reasons. One, as you hint, is that there isn’t sufficient evidence of a genuine, long-term relationship. You need lots of photos, evidence of phone calls and emails, etc., to illustrate how you keep in touch when you are separated geographically. Another common reason is that the guy in UK has not shown enough evidence of his income or resources. The third reason is that the Thai applicant has not shown sufficient cause why she (or he) would return to Thailand at the end of the holiday.
Q: I have a friend who says he knows somebody at the embassy who can get me a visa for my girlfriend if I pay 100,000 baht. Do you believe that’s possible?
A: No, I don’t believe you can bypass embassy procedures by bribery.