@James *******

Are you saying if he's denied entry at the border he can't come back in to Thailand via the same border checkpoint for two nights and not without a proof that you're leaving Thailand in 60 days even if he's allowed back in?

Does that mean it also negates any chance he has of successful Non-Imm R application after returning to Thailand and extend his stay beyond 60 days even if he's allowed back in? 😟

@James *******

They are aware that Japanese nationals can enter Thailand visa exempt but he has to leave and return to Thailand with a visa one way or the other tourist or otherwise.

Either way, does he really need an "experience border run service company" to do border run?

@James *******

He is a Japanese passport holder and is in a forest monastery in Southern Chiang Mai near Lamphun border (two hrs south of city of CM).

I've questioned this myself but no one can explain why the monastic candidates can't/don't apply Non-Imm R outside Thailand. That's just how they do it and every foreign monks I know seem to have arrived in Thailand on tourist visa (as a lay person) and change to Non-Imm R locally.

I assume part of it is that you have to ordain first to become a monastic BEFORE you can apply for Non-Imm R. But then, those who became a fully-ordained monk and remained in robe for 10 years also leave Thailand when their Non-Imm R extension max out at 10 years (5 for those from Buddhist countries), return to Thailand on tourist visa and reapply Non-R locally.

Some reordain in Thailand to apply for Non-R even if they are already in robe because Thai Buddhist authorities doesn't always recognize the lineage they took ordination or the documents proving it.

Either way I don't think he has enough time to apply for Non-R locally for the monastery where he's staying does not have a preceptor and it takes time just to make appointment to invite one but also to collect signatures from provincial head monk, county head monk, National Office of Buddhism, etc etc.

@Tod ********

Thank you always!

@James *******

I don't know the applicant directly so I don't know how long he has been staying in Thailand but I assume he is in Thailand now under 60 days visa waiver program (he has previously lived and worked in Thailand and has a bank account here).

He is a Japanese passport holder staying in a forest monastery in Chiang Mai and needs to leave Thailand in two weeks time, apply whatever visa he can get in Laos (preferably tourist) so he can come back and change that to Non-Immigrant R (Religion) after taking samanera ordination to become a novice monk.

An I correct to believe you can NOT apply for a visa inside Thailand when you arrived here visa free (visa exemption)?

Thanks you always!

I suppose you have to make two trips to the embassy, once to pay up and another to receive the visa/passport?

Lastly, is it OK for the candidate to designate a monastery (temple) as a place to stay so long he can get "letter from whom you will be staying with and a signed copy of his/her ID" (abbot)?

BTW, can SETV be exntended (max 60 days?) ?

Yes, I was told you can take Bhikkhu ordination, remain in robe and stay in a monastery as a monk under retirement visa but I don't think you can show up to Chaeng Wattana or Chamchuree Square in robe asking for Non-Imm B extension. 😅

And the institution that has a final say in approving extension or reapplication? is the National Office of Buddhism (สำนักพุท) and without their endorsement/recommendation letter immigration bureau will not issue fresh new visa or extension.

If you're from non-Buddhist countries (all western countries) your Non-Imm R can be extended for up to 10 yrs (5 yrs if you're from Buddhist countries). That's not always observed and sometimes they issue recommendation letter toward 6th extention (or 11th for farang monks).

I know western monks who remained in robes in Thailand for 30 years or longer and at least one American monk who received a PR despite monastics not eligible for PR application other than under "special circumstances" category and two farang monks who were granted citizenships by HM the King but I heard reapplication will become more and more difficult to justify and convince National Office of Buddhism as years go by and beyond that I know nothing.

Wat Pah Nanachat, aka Int'l Forest Monastery in Ubon has a Thai lay supporter/secretary who is very versed in those matters but he has his hands tied up with so many foreign monks at his monastery and I'm not allowed to consult him unless I go visit him in person at the monastery in Ubon.