Answered9 years ago
What is the process for obtaining an interim tourist visa after switching from a Non-Immigrant B Visa to a retirement or Non-Immigrant O Visa in Thailand?
If you decide not to teach anymore and give up your Non Immigrant B Visa and move towards a retirement Visa or Non Immigrant O Visa, how can you long can you get an interim tourist Visa for to tide you through?
Answer summary
If you give up your Non-Immigrant B Visa to transition to a retirement or Non-Immigrant O Visa, you generally need to leave Thailand within 7 days of stopping work. During this time, you can apply for a new tourist visa which comes in various forms, typically a single-entry 90-day tourist visa, which can be extended by 30 days at an immigration office. However, there are limitations on how many tourist visas you can obtain, as individual consulates may impose red stamps after issuing multiple visas, effectively denying further applications.
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Nils *********
Perhaps I am mistaken, but once you stop working I believe you have to leave the country within 7 days. Then you can apply for a new visa and return as a tourist.
Jon ********
OPthat’s undestood: the question has been answered 😉
Jon ********
OPso you may be issued a red stamp indicating you cannot get another one but not refused one when applying insofar as you have no other issues, correct? But there is no standard on if you can get 1,2,3or 4 in a row at the same consulate before red stamped?
Jon ********
OP@Tod ********
got it. i just need a few months so i can transfer money for a retirement visa or marriage visaTod *********
right, no rhyme or reason. Most places you get red stamped when you have 3 or 4 tourist visas from them back-2-back. The way to minimize the chance of red stamping is to jump around from consulate to consulate rather than use the same consulate over and over.
Tod *********
We're confusing TWO very different things.
A visa exempt entry is when you enter the country without having bought a visa from a thai consulate before hand and are stamped in for a number of days for free. Most western countries get 30 day visa exempt entry stamps.
A tourist visa is something you BUY at a thai consulate in another country. They are sold in two ways only. A 90 day single entry tourist visa and a 6 month METV <- multi-entry tourist visa.
At most thai consulates in S/E Asia all you're going to get is a 90 day single entry tourist visa. What that means is the visa is valid for 90 days once you get it and you have that long to enter the country and get stamped in for 60 days.
You can also extend a 30 day visa exempt entry OR a 60 day tourist visa entry by 30 days at the immigration office for 1900baht
A visa exempt entry is when you enter the country without having bought a visa from a thai consulate before hand and are stamped in for a number of days for free. Most western countries get 30 day visa exempt entry stamps.
A tourist visa is something you BUY at a thai consulate in another country. They are sold in two ways only. A 90 day single entry tourist visa and a 6 month METV <- multi-entry tourist visa.
At most thai consulates in S/E Asia all you're going to get is a 90 day single entry tourist visa. What that means is the visa is valid for 90 days once you get it and you have that long to enter the country and get stamped in for 60 days.
You can also extend a 30 day visa exempt entry OR a 60 day tourist visa entry by 30 days at the immigration office for 1900baht
Jon ********
OPI keep losing my voice teaching at the government schools. Can't do it anymore. You have similar issues ? :) Thanks for the information.
Terary **********
I lasted almost a full 2 years teaching government schools. It was a pain but tolerable. My issue was with the agencies.
Terary **********
60 days + 30 day extension
Jon ********
OPSo you got 60 days for each or just 30 ?
Terary **********
I trying to remember. Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon, And I think there was at least one more. All SETV
Tod *********
@J**
, there is no such things as double entry tourist visas anymore.. :/Terary **********
Difficult to do a border crossing in any of those places.. I went to the consulate, they were all Single Entry Tourist Visa. Same process as going to consulate in Vientiene.
Jon ********
OPThey were single entry ? Did you go to the consulate or just do a border crossing ?
Jon ********
OPI do not understand your response.
Jon ********
OPHow long were the VISAs, single or double entry and where did you go Vientiienne ?
Terary **********
I was in the same situation. So far I have gotten 3 or 4 tourist visas. My plan is for a couple more years.
Tod *********
I don't understand the question.. You can get as many tourist visas as you want to (or until a consulate red-stamps you and says you can't get any more from them).
Jon ********
OPMatt *******
@Tod ********
avoid red stamps then :)Tod *********
@J**
, yes there is a limit :/ BUT each consulate decides the limit for that consulate. Then they red stamp you stating you got a lot of tourist visas from them and you will be denied one if you apply again. @Ma**
, that's a tricky question. There are reports of the thai consulate in Phnom Penh not issuing a tourist visa because the person had a red stamp from the thai consulate in Vientiane on their earlier visa. AND there are reports of someone with a red stamp from Vientiane also getting a red stamp in Penang on the first tourist visa they applied for there.Matt *******
would a red stamp mean other consulates also refuse?
Jon ********
OPThere is no limit ?
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