Maximum 3 consequtive tousist Visas, then no more???

[cambsangler]

I was in Laos Thai embassy yesterday and talked to an Israelly who has been here for many years, he was saying that Thai authorities were enforcing a policy whereby you can get 3 back to back tourist Visa's, after that you can not get another one, this had applied to some UK friends of his so it was not just for Israellies (Is that the right spelling?? )
Anyone heard of this or had experiences or know anyone who has?

He is now on a student visa, learning Thai language, which gives him 1 year Visa

[Little Italian Udon]

I knew about that from thai embassy in vientiane

[BobHelm]

I think this has been in existence at some of the Thai Consulates in some of the neighbouring countries for quite some time - at least a year from memory. As far as I am aware that has never been the rule from Vientiane & still isn't. It was discussed when one of the Consulates (I think Malaysia) started doing it. No one has ever reported on the Forum that it has happened to them at Vientiane, so I am apt to think that it still is not.
I heard that some of the Consulates were unhappy about not being able to charge for Tourist visas & that was the root cause of the 'new law'. But, that could just be a wild rumor.

[pompui]

I was in Laos Thai embassy yesterday and talked to an Israelly who has been here for many years, he was saying that Thai authorities were enforcing a policy whereby you can get 3 back to back tourist Visa's, after that you can not get another one, this had applied to some UK friends of his so it was not just for Israellies (Is that the right spelling?? )
Anyone heard of this or had experiences or know anyone who has?

He is now on a student visa, learning Thai language, which gives him 1 year Visa

=D> =D>
Sounds like a typical crap farang desperate to stay in LOS for long periods of time trying to use the tourist visa when clearly not for what the visa is for and then when that fails do the other option as you mentioned re a student visa.Hopefully LOS will properly enforce the student visa,as been mentioned before,about farang having to do a test at the end of their learing Thai language to show that they have taken up this visa the way it has been designed for,not just pretending to go to the learning schools.

[jai yen yen]

I get my 3 60 day tourist visa's every year in Vancouver. Been doing that for 6 years but have never tried for more than 3.

[hey you]

i know an expat who has lived here for some years. although he could get an o visa he kept getting a 120 day visa. early this year he went to laos to renew 120 day visa and came back in a panic , he had been told he had too many tourists visas so request for another one was denied. he ended up with a 30 day visa and a big problem.

[BobHelm]

Do you have more details hey you?
How many 'double entry' tourist visas was 'too many'? (1.5 to make 3 tourist visas, or 3, making 6 tourist visas?)
What 30 day visa did he get? As far as I know no such visa exists...
What action did he take after the 30 days had expired?

[hey you]

the man has been here for over five years so must have had a lot of 120 day visas,he came back in on a standard 30 day tourist visa and as his passport was nearly full he got a new passport so was able to start afresh.he was granted a 120day visa on his new passport.

[BobHelm]

The 'standard' tourist visa is 60 days, not 30...
There is not a 30 day visa....People from certain countries are given 30 day visa exemptions when entering Thailand via air. Entering via land (as would be the case from Laos) this is reduced to 15 days. It cannot be granted at an Embassy or Consulate only by Immigration staff at point of entry.
I am not trying to be 'picky' hey you, but this is an important subject & it is vital to get the details 100% correct as a slight change in details can mean the difference between Embassy & Immigration staff accepting or rejecting an application.
You also mention that the gentleman in question had been doing it for 5 years & that his passport was nearly full. Could the rejection of a new double entry tourist visa be centred on the possibility that his passport was near expiry rather than anything else?? Visas are computer recorded so I cannot see that the presentation of a blank passport, all other things being equal, would necessarily result in one being granted...

[cambsangler]

I was in Laos Thai embassy yesterday and talked to an Israelly who has been here for many years, he was saying that Thai authorities were enforcing a policy whereby you can get 3 back to back tourist Visa's, after that you can not get another one, this had applied to some UK friends of his so it was not just for Israellies (Is that the right spelling?? )
Anyone heard of this or had experiences or know anyone who has?

He is now on a student visa, learning Thai language, which gives him 1 year Visa

=D> =D>
Sounds like a typical crap farang desperate to stay in LOS for long periods of time trying to use the tourist visa when clearly not for what the visa is for and then when that fails do the other option as you mentioned re a student visa.Hopefully LOS will properly enforce the student visa,as been mentioned before,about farang having to do a test at the end of their learing Thai language to show that they have taken up this visa the way it has been designed for,not just pretending to go to the learning schools.

Wow, a bit quick to generalise there and perhaps somewhat unfairly as neither you or I know his exact circumstances.
Let me put a scenario to you that I think would show your reply as being totally unfair.

Let's say he is married to a Thai girl and lives with her here in Thailand, he is a young man and does not have the luxury of falling back on a pension pot or a bank full of money to get a retirement visa, nor does he have 400,000 baht available to meet the requirements to get a spousal visa and can not get a job that pays enough to enable him to meet the rquirements.
All the same he loves his wife and wants to stay here with her, if he can not get more back to back tourist visa's he has few alternatives open to him. If he goes down the education visa to allow him to stay with his wife then I say good luck to him (or anyone who has to go down this route).

It's no different to being back in our 'home' countries. There are laws and regulations. Back home we use them to our advantage wherever possible, as do 1000's of imigrants who reside in our 'home' countries.

[hey you]

i can only write what i was told, how he got the visa i do not know but i do know because of another problem he was worried that the visa would expire before everything had been sorted out. the passport problem was lack of pages, a page for every loas visa soon filled his passport. his new passport arrived and i was amazed he got a 120 day visa. only the thai embassy can tell you why they granted one

[papaguido]

Wow, a bit quick to generalise there and perhaps somewhat unfairly as neither you or I know his exact circumstances.
Let me put a scenario to you that I think would show your reply as being totally unfair.

Let's say he is married to a Thai girl and lives with her here in Thailand, he is a young man and does not have the luxury of falling back on a pension pot or a bank full of money to get a retirement visa, nor does he have 400,000 baht available to meet the requirements to get a spousal visa and can not get a job that pays enough to enable him to meet the rquirements.
All the same he loves his wife and wants to stay here with her, if he can not get more back to back tourist visa's he has few alternatives open to him. If he goes down the education visa to allow him to stay with his wife then I say good luck to him (or anyone who has to go down this route).

It's no different to being back in our 'home' countries. There are laws and regulations. Back home we use them to our advantage wherever possible, as do 1000's of imigrants who reside in our 'home' countries.

Based on the "scenario" you present, such an individual will easily qualify for a Non Imm "O" visa good for 3 months (don't get that confused with the 1yr extension), and they're unlimited. Far better than back to back tourist visas and more cost effective.

[cambsangler]

Based on the "scenario" you present, such an individual will easily qualify for a Non Imm "O" visa good for 3 months (don't get that confused with the 1yr extension), and they're unlimited. Far better than back to back tourist visas and more cost effective.

Did not think you could get one if you are already in the country??

[BobHelm]

I believe Thai Embassy Vientiane give out Non Imm Os to someone officially married to a Thai - not for any other reason though I understand.

[papaguido]

Did not think you could get one if you are already in the country??

Well if the guy is making 30 or 60 day visa runs than obviously the Non "O" would be the better option if he is fact married.

I believe Thai Embassy Vientiane give out Non Imm Os to someone officially married to a Thai - not for any other reason though I understand.

Correct Bob. A copy of marriage certificate is required as part of the application.

[SanukJoe]

Bob, isn't there a way to get more info on this? I remember there was an expert from/on Thaivisa?

It is very important to have the latest updates/developments here on UM, I don't like all these rumours and "I heard from" stories, facts is what is important. Perhaps a couple of people having got their 3rd or more consecutive tourist visa from Vientiane without any problem could post here their experience.

For those upset "straight" fellows like Pompui: the law allows someone to apply for a tourist visa, validity 60 days. After 60 days he/she has to leave LOS unless a 30 day extension is granted (only once). In that case he/she has to leave after 90 days and that is the end of the "tourist" story. The person can come back into LOS with a new visa and a new period of stay starts... nothing unlawful about that. No law indicates how long you have to stay out of the country before being allowed to enter again.

Joe

[Frans]

cambsangler, From what he live?

[BobHelm]

Joe, that was lopburi & a reliable source for certain.
Sadly I think he got fed up with some of the more trivial posters who used to be on here & so he no longer visits or posts.
I agree 100% with what you are saying about facts rather than rumors.
I did know a few people in Udon who had lived long term on Tourist visas but they all seem to have gone to countries new now, so I cannot be of much help in that respect.
I am sure that someone would know someone who this had happened to if Vientiane were applying the ruling 100%.

[SanukJoe]

Thanks Bob, a shame lopburi isn't available anymore...

It would be good if there was a central information point where all info is collected and ready to view.
Questions like this in Vientiane or anywhere else are very important for a lot of people and it is not easy to google about it. Also the question in what country you can get a Non O multiple entry based on retirement without the 800K requirement would be valuable information. I remember one of them was Perth but they closed down the consulate

Anyway, I hope people with first hand info will report here to make things clear and have people better prepared.
Getting a visa should not resemble a lottery...

Joe

[Tafia]

Thanks Bob, a shame lopburi isn't available anymore...

Sanuk Joe
He still posts on Thaivisa under lopburi3, maybe you can post your query there or pm him.
Hope this helps.
Taff