How Can I Apply for a Non-O Visa from Inside Thailand with an Exempt Entry Visa?

Non-O Visa Visa Application Thailand Immigration

Apr 16, 2020

5 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Question about applying first time for non-O visa (based on over 50, with proof of income) from inside Thailand. I currently have 30 day visa exempt entry stamp, expiring 19th April, now on amnesty until 30 April (nb did not yet apply for 30 day extension). Previously I have been in Thailand for 2 years on work permit until my job finished a few months ago. Since then I have stamped in a few times on exempt entry at airport (no landborder hops, no extensions, just took opportunity to travel). I was in process of preparing to apply for change of visa status to non-O when covid travel restrictions happened. My flight to home country (Australia) where I intended to apply for non-O was cancelled. My query is: how can I now apply for non-O in Bangkok, converting from visa-exempt 30 day (expiring with amnesty on 30 April, though hopefully may be able to still apply for unused 30 day extension)? Any indicative timeframes? Many thanks

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is seeking advice on how to apply for a Non-O visa from inside Thailand, as their current 30-day visa-exempt stay is expiring. They have received various responses indicating the potential challenges related to the expiration of their visa and the process to apply for the Non-O visa, including the need for sufficient time remaining on their current visa and documentation proving income. Several commenters suggest they might consider a 30-day extension first before applying for the Non-O visa.

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Tod *********

@An ********

yep, sadly you're not the first person using monthly income method who used a company that doesn't always flag the money as coming from abroad.

You CAN go to the bank that transferred the money into your bank and they can give a paper (FET) that says the money did come from abroad, AND you can print out your foreign bank account transactions to show the money LEFT your country the same time the money came into your account. You CAN prove those transactions originated from overseas

Personally I would NOT get caught up at all in the "free amnesty" no matter what the officer said, and you should have went and got your 30 day extension yesterday when you were at the immigration office.

IF you used transferwise <- the company most people use to move money cheaply. You can join the group

**************************************

Good Luck, you CAN definitely prove those were international transfers you're just gonna hafta work at it.

5 years ago

Tod *********

Unfortunately you should have gotten after this a LOT sooner than you did, :( You got a 30 day visa exempt entry on about March 21, and you should have either started the process back then to get the in country 90 day Non-O visa OR applied for the 30 day "normal" extension on that entry stamp so you bought yourself more time.

I honestly don't think you can do it, BUT go to your immigration office and see what if anything can be done.

Also keep in mind your country (Australia) no longer issues the affidavit of income from abroad letter meaning you either prove monthly incoming transfers of a minimum of 65K baht a month into a thai bank account in your name only for the previous year OR you bank 800K baht that was transferred in from abroad in a thai bank account in your name only to apply for the in country 90 day non-O visa and the subsequent yearly extension,

Good Luck,, (y)

5 years ago

An *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Status update: I went to Chaengwattana today. 1.Good news – yes, they checked my paperwork and will allow me to apply for N-O once I get 30 day extension to ensure at least 15 days left on visa at time of application.

@Tod ********

– correct, I was told the amnesty days are not eligible towards the 15+ day count. 2.Bad news – while I had the required finances including 12 months history of 65,000 pm, it was not all via foreign transfer (some salary, some transfer etc. however was told minimum bank account requirement must be ALL via foreign transfer). So unable to proceed today for insufficient evidence of foreign transfer. Only option now is to transfer 800,000 baht, as Aus Embassy doesn’t provide affidavits (as

@Tod ********

noted above) to meet the 65,000 monthly income criteria. So, once I’ve done this transfer, I will go again. (kindly note that my original plan as of only a few weeks ago was to apply for non-OA in Australia, so foreign transfer was not essential criteria.) Let me add that the IO was very helpful. Another thing: re 30 day extension of visa exempt stamp, IO said, after conferring with colleagues, that I could apply ‘anytime before 30 April’ (even though current stamp expires 19th April) and the ’30 days would commence from application date as normal’ (eg could apply 27th April and still get a further 30 days). I’m not convinced the next IO would interpret it same way, but that is what I was told. Lastly, other good news was that they weren’t convinced I was over 50! Bless their hearts🤩 Thanks team for the valuable guidance during these confusing days

5 years ago

An *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

thanks for the good advice. Yes, in hindsight I should have gone earlier but was in such a flux over flight cancellations and the whole visa thing. Anyway, I'm heading to Immigration now to roll the dice. Will report back

5 years ago

Reply to

An *********

Tod *********

You MIGHT <- as in maybe, be able to go to the immigration office and apply for the 30 day "normal" extension for 1900baht and then after that apply for the in country 90 day Non-O visa.

5 years ago

Tod *********

Unfortunately you do not have the time left on your current stamp :(

And from what I've been told the free amnesty stamp until the 30th doesn't count towards the days you need on a valid entry stamp to get it AND even if they did count that free time until the 30th you're a day short :( .

You need 15 days or MORE left on your current 30 day visa exempt entry, a 60 day tourist visa entry OR a 30 day extension from one.

5 years ago

Bobby ********

@Tod ********

. What proof of income will suffice?

5 years ago

Reply to

Bobby ********

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