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
Family extension
Q: I am married to a Thai lady but I don’t need a one year visa as I’m out of the country too much working in the Middle East. On the other hand, a month on arrival is often not enough for me and I dislike leaving the country just to get another short period. Is there any other way for me to see my family on a regular basis? There is no Thai embassy in my area of work.
A: If you enter with a month on arrival, you can extend at the immigration office for two months by bringing along your wife with her ID and proof of local residence – the tibean bahn for the house. You will also fill in a TM7 (plus photo) and pay the normal extension fee 1,900 baht.
Another family extension
Q: I am in the same position as the person in the question above except that I have two Thai children, aged 2 and 4, but no Thai wife as she left us a few months ago. The children are well looked-after in my absence, but I work for part of the year on the oil rigs in northern Europe.
A: Yes you can also get the 60 days extension if you need it. You bring along the children’s birth certificates, but you still need the tibean bahn or proof of residence. Some immigration offices may require you to show the children, others will accept a photo of you with them. No evidence of the wife’s disappearance is needed for this visa purpose.
Death of retiree
Q: My father, who is American, recently died in Thailand. He had a retirement visa but I notice it was overstay for two months because his final illness precluded his appearance at the immigration office. Will I get into trouble if I appear at the immigration office to report his death?
A: No problems for you. There is no penalty once a person dies. If you have the death certificate and his passport, take them along. The documents will be photocopied and the originals returned to you. To do all this is a courtesy but, if the death is not reported by you to immigration, you still won’t be bothered. There is not actually an obligation on you.
Overstay concerns
Q: I read a lot of stuff about what happens if a falang overstays his visa – fines, jail, deportation of whatever. But why is it so difficult to get at the truth? Surely the law must be clear on the penalties?
A: The law, as you call it, is discretionary. It says that overstay must be paid at 500 baht a day up to a limit of 20,000 baht. Provided you have the cash, arrest is unlikely. Beyond that time-frame you may still be able to pay the maximum of 20,000 baht even though the limit has been exceeded. In any and all circumstances, arrest is entirely a matter for the immigration authorities. “Up to you” fits the situation entirely.
South Korean entry
Q: I understand my South Korean friend will get 90 days free at Bangkok airport on arrival. But what happens if he comes by a land crossing? Does the same rule apply?
A: Yes it does. Several countries – South Korea and some in Latin America – do not need a prior visa to obtain three months on arrival by land, air or sea. They can obtain a further three months by exiting the country and returning by any lawful means.
Number of entries
Q: I have heard that a British person can only come to Thailand three times in six months unless they have a prior visa. I live and work in the Philippines but I enjoy coming to Thailand for a holiday more frequently than that. I am 55 years old.
A: There is no restriction on the number of times you can enter Thailand and obtain your 30 days free at the airport. Of course you could, if you wish, apply for a retirement visa (minimum age 50) as long as you have the required income or bank deposit. You do not need to be retired in spite of the visa’s name, but whether it’s worth it (considering visa and reentry fees as well as processing efforts) depends on your individual circumstances and the length of your frequent visits to Thailand.