Answered20 days ago
Can I enter Thailand on a 30-day tourist visa while waiting for my Non-O visa?
Can anyone answer this for me , so I have applied for a Non-o visa in the UK it's supposed to take 15 working days but there are 2 Thai bank holidays in those days so technically all being well I wouldn't get my visa until the day before fly if I didn't get my visa before my flight on the 28th can I enter Thailand on a 30days tourist visa and wait until my none -o arrives then sort it with an agent to get retirement visa or does that complicate things anyone been it this situation and dealt with it ?
Answer summary
The user is inquiring about the possibility of entering Thailand on a 30-day tourist visa if their Non-O visa has not been issued in time due to delays from Thai bank holidays. Comments suggest that it is possible to enter Thailand on a tourist visa and later switch to a Non-O visa, but there are important considerations. Specifically, it’s noted that if the Non-O visa is issued after entering Thailand, they would need to exit the country and re-enter for the visa to activate. It’s also advised to allow ample time for visa applications in the future to avoid similar situations.
39 repliesnewest first
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Clive ***********
Similar situation which prompted me to try Ai platforms: consensus was to approach agent/immigration after entering Thailand. I hope Ai is correct in this matter.
Stuart ***********
Clive Schofield never trust AI with these type of things. The moderators in this group are incredibly knowledgeable and will give you excellent advice. Can you enter Thailand and pay an agent to do everything for you...possibly yes, but you are putting yourself completely at their mercy and they will charge you a very high price for something you could easily have done for yourself before entering Thailand.
Clive **********
OPClive Schofield I used AI as it said I can tell you when to apply I took that advice and wish I had applied 2 weeks earlier when I was going to because now very tight deadline I won't trust AI again only for info
Graham ******
If your Non-O gets issued after you enter Thailand you have to leave and re-enter to get your 90 day stamp. You then get a residence certificate and a Thai sim registered to your passport to open a bank account (do some footwork while on your 30 entry to find a branch willing to work with you). Get your 800k transfered as soon as you can to season for two calendar months for your extension of stay application (not a visa).
Clive **********
OPGraham Seal thanks good advice
Jodie ******
You can but the only thing I came across when applying for visa is if you get it while your in Thailand you have to exit then come back in for it to activate the visa
Clive **********
OPJodie Bond can you go to say Vietnam for this or has to be back in UK where I applied
Jodie ******
Clive Thompson I think it can be anywher I’m not 100% maybe depends Wher you applied for it
Clive **********
OPJodie Bond yea I thought about that fly out and back in to get visa stamped
Phil ********
To the best of my knowledge - the Thai Embassy in London don't issue visas until shortly before you travel. That was certainly the case with my Non O.
James **********
Yes. just enter on 30 day stamp.
Lorraine *****
My husband is still at “pending approval” having applied 4 weeks ago. We aren’t landing in Thailand until 1st December from Hanoi but we are leaving the UK end of October….all getting a bit tight
Alan *****
I’ve applied for the same at the London embassy 8 working days ago, the only thing I’ve heard from them is they’ve received the payment, I’ve checked the status & it says processing, does anyone know if after this it’ll say pending. Tia
Dave ********
Alan Bow pending will be first once payment has gone through and documents and photos have been checked it will then say processing
Jonathan ********
@Dave *******
Mine went from processing to pending approval. Have my documents been checked or is that next?Dave ********
Jonathan Garner after approval you should get the visa
Clive **********
OPIt actually says on mine pending document check after the processing
Alan *****
@Dave *******
mine hasn’t said pending yet. Only processing.Dave ********
Alan Bow oh really thats strange
Clive **********
OPAlan Bow mines 9 days in it says processing and pending document check that means they haven't looked at it yet and only 4 days working next week because the 23rd is a Thai holiday
Alan *****
Clive Thompson you’d think that they would be on the uk holiday system as it’s in London. But knowing them they probably have both.
Clive **********
OPAlan Bow they do have both
Lorraine *****
Alan Bow mine went straight from pending document check to approved.
OH has gone from document check to pending approval and has been like that for a week.
OH has gone from document check to pending approval and has been like that for a week.
Alan *****
Lorraine Hof did yours ever say processing
Stu **********
Lorraine Hof what next page?
Lorraine *****
Alan Bow It said ‘processing’ but when you go into the next page it said at what stage the application was at (pending doc check, pending approval etc)
Peter ********
Next time apply for it 4-6 weeks before you travel. No need to make yourself stressed for nothing. Now just wait and I’ll hope you get the visa on time.
John *******
Peter Slaman but my flight with thai wife back to thailand from uk was 3 weeks time. Not much choice really. Or stay uk and let her fly. Also very hard to get same flights after getting visa. Had to book flights 3 weeks before to be curtain. Looked at flights 2 weeks before flight dates and has gone from 850 to 1450.
Clive **********
OPPeter Slaman yes your right I used AI to tell me the date to apply that's put me in this situation I applied on the 2nd of Oct and my flights 28th definitely stressful
John *******
Clive Thompson did it come? I applied 9th Oct to fly on 2nd nov
Peter ********
Clive Thompson
That realy sucks. I think the only option is to just enter Thailand on visa exemption. And when you receive the visa in your mail, leave Thailand and enter again to activate your non-o visa.
That realy sucks. I think the only option is to just enter Thailand on visa exemption. And when you receive the visa in your mail, leave Thailand and enter again to activate your non-o visa.
Clive **********
OPJohn Swift nothing John my flights tomorrow tried ringing them keeps saying no one to answer call the email address doesn't work not good normally I can get anything sorted but this is another level stress off the scale
Claus ********
Clive Thompson cross my fingers for you. Enjoy your retirement 🙏🙏
Clive **********
OP@Claus *******
thanks 🙏
John **********
Yes that would make it 17 working days, the Thai embassy in London is usually pretty good time wise although I'd always recommend applying at least 30 days before travel. You are supposed to remain in the UK until the process completes.
This is from the embassies main visa page
"Despite visa services being provided online, visa applicants must remain physically in the UK, Ireland, and UK Territories as the Embassy reserves the right to request an in-person interview. Accordingly, a visa application may be cancelled if the applicant departs from these countries and territories during the visa process and before a visa decision is made."
This is from the embassies main visa page
"Despite visa services being provided online, visa applicants must remain physically in the UK, Ireland, and UK Territories as the Embassy reserves the right to request an in-person interview. Accordingly, a visa application may be cancelled if the applicant departs from these countries and territories during the visa process and before a visa decision is made."
Lorraine *****
@John *********
I wonder in what circumstances they request an in-person interview as I don’t know anyone who’s done this and been asked in.Claus ********
Lorraine Hof just follow what the page says and don’t make own rules depending on what have been done before. There are always a risk that someone in the system do what the system allows them to do.
Same about E-cigarettes, they all smoke in Thailand but it is illegal. Follow the law.
I’m not always agree with the law too but I stay on the safe side when I go abroad…..
Same about E-cigarettes, they all smoke in Thailand but it is illegal. Follow the law.
I’m not always agree with the law too but I stay on the safe side when I go abroad…..
Claus ********
Lorraine Hof follow the law. What not to understand?
Lorraine *****
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