TB Immigration Info Brief 070/22: Immigration Udon Thai – Converting from a Tourist status to a Non-immigrant
Reporter: Louwrens
On October 22, I responded to a discussion about financial difficulties with the Thai Embassy in The Hague when applying for a Non-immigrant O visa. In the discussion, reference was mainly made to taking a Tourist visa, and transferring it to a Non O in Thailand. My contribution was that I did it with Visa Exemption, so no visa, and then the route to Non O at Immigration to enter Udon Thani.
In the meantime I have even received the annual extension, and that surprisingly quickly. At Ronny's request, an overview of the most important milestones. I will not go into the required paperwork, only the required letter of support from the Dutch embassy. The overview:
- October 14: Arrival Bangkok, visa exemption obtained.
- October 17: Reported to immigration.
- October 19: Letter of support received.
- October 21: Non O visa application accepted by immigration, approval goes through Khon Kaen.
- November 21: Visa received with date November 2, conversion to Retirement.
- December 19: Year extension obtained, valid until January 30, 2024
All in all, about 2 months lead time, and no hassle with The Hague. It is important to know that if a period of 90 days is indicated, this can be read as at least 45 days. There may be other opinions about the course, but in this case the data are rock solid, and this may be preferable to a Tourist Visa.
Reaction RonnyLatYa
Thank you for your report.
As a supplement:
- Whether someone first enters with a Visa Exemption or with a Tourist Visa does not matter much for the conversion procedure. Only the application form differs from TM86 or TM87.
- What is important for the applicants is that they must ensure that there are at least 15 days of stay left when submitting the application.
- Those 90 days is the initial Non-immigrant period that someone would also have obtained with an entry with a Non-immigrant visa.
The 45 days is then the period in which you can submit your application for an extension in Udon. Other immigration offices, on the other hand, stick to the 30 days before the end of the 90 day periods. Those are rather local rules that everyone should take a look at in their immigration office. However, the annual extension will always follow those 90 days, regardless of when you will submit your application in those last 45 or 30 days.
In the case of Lourens, his initial 90 days will then run from November 2 to January 30, 2023. His annual extension will then follow from January 31, 2023 to January 30, 2024. A conversion to Non-immigrant costs 2.000 Baht. One year extension 1900 Baht.
In addition, also the link where you can view what the conditions are.
- As Thai Marriage: https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022C1_06.pdf
- If Retired: https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022C1_09.pdf
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Lawrence,
Did you have to demonstrate on departure that you would leave Thailand in one way or another after the visa exemption obtained?
Not when departing from Amsterdam, but when obtaining the Visa Exemption, Immigration in Bangkok did look at a return flight. This was on January 6, 2023, well after the 90 days that the exemption is valid. It was agreed to my response that I will go for a Non-Immigrant O for a follow-up, also because I already had this type of visa before the Covid pandemic. Incidentally, it went very smoothly, the prepared papers with, for example, financial and residence details were not even asked, no guarantee that it always goes that way, of course. Anyway, satisfied with the way things are going and the Visa Exemption is free too!
In addition to Pascal's question: with which airline did you go to Bangkok? And did you have to show them a return ticket that connected to the visa exemption period?
With KLM, also return. No questions in that direction.
Ronnie,
Lourens only received his non-immigrant O visa after 1 month. If you request it only 15 days in advance, you will be in overstay for 15 days. What happens then? Sanctions or not?
No you are not in “overstay”.
He may have only received his application back on November 21, but as you can read, his Non-immigrant status took effect on November 2. Well within time.
You will normally also receive proof of your application and that it is being processed. I don't know if that was also the case with Lourens.
You don't have to worry about “overstaying”. The processing is in progress and any immigration office can normally see this when they request your details.
I submitted my application on Friday 23/12/22 and my period of stay under exempt visa + extension runs until 8/01/23. I can collect my visa on 9/01/23. What if my application is declined?
i got a receipt of the 2000 BTH i paid and on it they mentioned my visa application number
That is the normal procedure that you receive it.
If it is declined for any reason, you will be notified in advance.
You will then normally also receive a residence period of 7 days so that you have time to leave Thailand within a regulatory period.
Lawrence,
Did you have to enclose a letter of support (affidavit?) with your annual extension application?
Mark,
To my regret, I had to resubmit all financial documents, so I also requested the support letter again. Same monthly details, moved forward 1 month, and everything in the letter is the same except the date of sending has changed. Well.
The two applications are therefore independent of each other.