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Why was my certificate of residence denied despite having a NON-O visa?
Certificate of ResidenceNON-O VisaRetirement VisaImmigration ProcessesTM30 FormDriving LicenseExpat AdviceThai Visa RegulationsPurchasing a Vehicle in Thailand
Feb 11, 2025
a year ago
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERI was just turned away from immigration for a certificate of residence because my o retirement visa will not be in place till April 15 .
I have a current lease for 6 months and all I need to do is purchase a car and get a license...
I have a current lease for 6 months and all I need to do is purchase a car and get a license...
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the author's experience of being turned away from immigration while trying to obtain a certificate of residence due to their ongoing NON-O visa, which will transition to a retirement visa only in April. The comments reveal various perspectives and advice, including the importance of the TM30 form, the option of using an agent for quicker processing, and the requirements for purchasing a car and obtaining a Thai driver's license.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Terary **********
Agent can get the certificate or residence, or better yet, an agent can help with a license.
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERyes im going with an agent, went to the main office yesterday and there were lines as big as a professional basketball court it was hot as heck nd we hadnt eaten .. left now all i need to do is get a tm 30 from the landlord and two passport pix.
Terary **********
@Fred *************
get 10 passport pix, you'll use them.Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Terary *********
yes i know I will!!!!Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
Max **********
I only had lease and obtained COR able to obtain licence and purchase car before retirement visa. I used Laurie Chiang Mai visa shop never had any problems.
Joe **********
Do you ever get the feeling we're not wanted here?
,.......
,.......
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERyes
Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
Denise **********
I went for one end of last year. I had to wait till it was sent out. I had already'bought ' a car and couldn't get the sale completed till my residency cert arrived.
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Denise *********
they are goin to deliver the car on friday thank goodness and will wait for my papers ive gotten everything for them and the $$ should be here by thu.Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
Stephen *********
Have you tried using an agent, generally they can take care of everything the same day for you depending on your needs, but i bet if you spoke to one they would have a solution
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERnot yet im goin to the main office tomorrow and im sure they will be happy to please the officer at the one i went to was misinformed and or they had old information...
Thomas *********
@Fred *************
hey guy when you're in Rome wear a togaFred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Thomas ********
I'm sure i shall...Thomas *********
@Fred *************
good luck manFred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Thomas ********
all i can do is try... I tried 6 banks and different offices before I found one who opened my accountReply to
Fred **************
Reply
Bill ********
I was just turned away from immigration for a certificate of residence because my o retirement visa wnt be in place till April 15
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERbut oh see ive got a NON O visa till then! Awwww jeeez
Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
David **********
For retirement visa 1 year you need a rental agreement that is long term im lucky I live with my wife s parents but still need to supply photos of the house house number in photos with us and a pic from the street
David **********
I've blocked a few that wanted to tell me everything I do is wrong
David **********
Agents are a waste of money
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERI agree unless you are making much more than they or have little time to waste!
David **********
@Fred *************
yes but you have the same time as me the only thing needs doing is money in bank the other stuff can be done later retirement visa is easiestFred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERI know that is what we are waiting for the 2 mos of it in the bank...
Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERI didnt come here to argue, so you shall be blocked if I determine you are starting one... thats next door....to the ministry of silly walks
Xjwhudkwhry ********
the officer's wife wasn't nice to him last night...
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERunderstood but he was a she and so on these days...
Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
Graham *******
if your visa is turned down you will not be classified as a resident, what is the problem?
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERwhere does it say my visa was turned down? I will correct immediatly...
Graham *******
@Fred *************
until you have one, you don't have one! "IF"Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERright, thank you...
Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
Nigel **********
If you go to immigration main office you can get it same day. I did one two weeks ago, I was out within hour and half
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERthat is exactly what im doing tomorrow!! can you tell me what you brought and what did they use?
David **********
@Fred *************
I had a thai id and rental statement from the man where I reside all I needed they will advise you what you require the immigration at khon kaen are excellentFred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@David *********
khon kean way far away!Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
Nigel **********
@Fred *************
a letter confirming where I was staying from the property owner, passport, file the form out that they give you and 500 BhatSteffi ******
@Nigel *********
2x Passphotos for 1 certificate required too, I went there 2 weeks ago.Nigel **********
@Steffi *****
Oh yes - I forgot those...Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERthank you!!!
Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
Will *********
What were you wearing when you applied?
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Will ********
oooh wouldnt you like to know... ill give you a hint only my best, girly boy wear complete with fishnets and some hot 9inch spiked stilhettos...Will *********
I don't think you are "well aware" - I've seen farang "inexplicably" turned down because they've rubbed an official up the wrong way and they are compleely unaware of it - so - what WERE you wearing? - cargo shorts and an Hawiian shirt?????
Ric ******
@Fred *************
That question wasn't a joke. It's cultural sensitivity. If you want things to go smoothly in thai banks or the immigration office, dress like a business person. Especially, if your case is in a gray area.Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERthis was a question not an analysis...you are overthinking!
Will *********
@Fred *************
- I don't think you are "well aware" - I've seen farang "inexplicably" turned down because they've rubbed an official up the wrong way and they are completely unaware of it - so - what WERE you wearing? - cargo shorts and an Hawaiian shirt????? - Just look at your avatar!Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Will ********
I've got a Thai spouse who picks my clothes you guessWill *********
@Fred *************
If you see a farang who's got it wrong, nine times out of ten they have a Thai spouse - I can never work out why they think they would be a good source of information.Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERyou guys enjoy yerselves my questions been answered thanks
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERIam well aware of thai tradition and do respect it...so
Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
James ******
....like I can help you?? I'm in Chicago.
Scott *********
Cert of residence can be given by a hotel for a 1 night stay
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Scott ********
ive got 2 beagles no can do...Kool *******
@Scott ********
you've got the right idea, just the wrong terminology. You get a copy of the TM30 from your hotel in order to show, and get your residency certificate mailed from immigration.Tim ********
@Kool ******
why mailed??? I walked in and got mine within 40 minutes.Ric ******
@Tim *******
current official process seems to be that they mail it to your home address. Apparently, this can be circumvented with an agent.Graham ******
@Ric *****
that depends on the province, I got mine in 25 minutes, no fee ;)Reply to
Graham ******
Reply
Alex *******
Just heads up ,
You need 1 for buying a car,
and other one for the driver license, 2 separate documents
( no copy except)
You need 1 for buying a car,
and other one for the driver license, 2 separate documents
( no copy except)
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you!
Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
Vinson *******
If I understand correctly, your visa isn’t in force until april, yet you wonder why you can’t just do what you want in spite of conforming to the rules?
Am I missing something?
Am I missing something?
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Vinson ******
i currently have a non O visa it will be converted in April i need an auto and it would be sweet to have a DL with it ( that would be conforming to the rules would it not?)Vinson *******
@Fred *************
apparently not or they wouldn’t have turned you away, unless there is more that you aren’t telling us, otherwise you wouldn’t be here , but rather you would be straightening things out with officialChannels
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Vinson ******
right, thank you!Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
Ruth *******
@Fred *************
I think your post is unclear. Do you currently have a non-O? What do you mean by “convert”? Extend? Switch from marriage to retirement or visa versa or something else entirely?Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERcurrent a non o convert to a retirement
Graham ******
@Fred *************
you are already on a Non-O retirement visa and in April you will be applying for an extension of stay, not a visa ;)Reply to
Graham ******
Reply
Alan ******
Use a agency
Nick *******
I got one in a TV to open a bank account, cost 500 bht.
Donna ******
@Nick ******
How did you get it?Nick *******
@Donna *****
I went to IO and asked for it, said I needed it to open a bank account.Donna ******
@Nick ******
May I ask which documents you provided? Just passport and TM30?Nick *******
@Donna *****
Yep, that’s all I had at the time.Reply to
Nick *******
Reply
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nick ******
i already have a bank account with Bankok Bank I need one for purchase of a car and a drivers licenseGraham ******
@Fred *************
you need two then not one ;)Nick *******
@Fred *************
Understand, was just pointing out I got a residence certificate on a tourist visa.Reply to
Nick *******
Reply
Ryan ************
Just use an agent, 3500thb.
I waited 3 weeks for my certificate to be sent to me and it only lasts 30 days. The agent will get you the certificate on the same day giving you 30 days to use it
I waited 3 weeks for my certificate to be sent to me and it only lasts 30 days. The agent will get you the certificate on the same day giving you 30 days to use it
David **********
Get a letter from immigration to get a thai licence
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@David *********
yes they turned me away said i need to have an O retirement visa .....David **********
@Fred *************
ah yes I have an non o visaReply to
David **********
Reply
Kool *******
There is no visa type requirements anymore for a residency certificate, just that the correct TM30 has been filed for where you live, and it is in the same district you are applying in. Take a copy of your current TM30 to the local immigration office, and they will mail the residency certificate to you after you apply.
Carsten ************
There was for sure another (additional) reason for the denial.
Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Carsten ***********
im sure there was Carsten but till you can predict the outcome, why not sell your trade?Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
Stuart *********
That’s strange what office was this at?
Peter ****************
@Stuart ********
I read somwhere, e.g. BKK only gives it to you after first 90 days reporf.Stuart *********
@Peter ***************
used to that way. Changed a few months ago.Fred **************
ORIGINAL POSTERchamchuri tower office
Ellie *******
@Fred *************
, then that was the mistake. You have to go chaengwattana office to get COR. Chamchuri issues COR for ONLY those who use Chamchuri for visa/extensions. Even if you are on Non-O retirement extension, you cannot get COR at chamchuri office.
Nitesh ******
@Ellie ******
thats correctFred **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ellie ******
ok thank you!Reply to
Fred **************
Reply
John **********
@Peter ***************
no longer the caseReply to
John **********
Reply
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