15 replies to this topic

[brizzle]

So we all know things can get pretty frustrating when it comes to all things legal and visa related in Thailand.

After a change in the rules concerning unmarried fathers of a Thai child now being denied non o visa's I have
encountered the same levels of frustration when dealing with all things officially Thai related in Blighty.

Cardiff declined my unmarried fathers non O visa (fair enough-as per the new rules) but then declined to give me a non
O visa with the purpose to get a retirement visa in Thailand. Their reason ...I had to show them evidence of £1200 earnings per month.
When I mentioned about a lump sum in a savings in a UK bank account which would more than satisfied the 800,000 thb requirement in Thailand
it would still not be good enough...it had to be the £1200 . A combination of both I asked..no chance they said...

So thanks To advice received on this forum I contacted Hull and eureka....''yes sir as long as you are over 50 and can show us proof of savings exceeding £20,000 in a Uk account we can issue you with a non O visa with the view to retirement in Thailand".

I can see very little info on the retirement subjet on the website of Liverpool or Birmingham so what their policies are is anyones guess.That would need a phone call.
Glasgow does not even appear to have a website...although maybe somebody might point me in the direction if there is one?

And finally to the ''biggy'' in London ,The Royal Thai Embassy you have this under visa types :-

Category "O" with multiple entries

Pension earners or Applicants over 50 years of age, following document is required;

- Pension statement if the applicant is a pension earner, or
- Proof of income with a minimum of £900.00 per month or
- Thai Spouse visa with a copy of marriage certificate and passport or Thai ID of spouse

So this would imply (due to the "or") that you only need a pension statement...not even a sum mentioned.
or you only need to show proof of earnings as £900 PM and not £1200 PM

Now probably this is all incorrect but it just goes to show you the headache that even Thailand in England is
capable of producing when it comes to matters of an official nature

How difficult would it be just to get it right ! I would like to propose a new term for this TITIE (This is Thailand in England).


On a serious note does anybody really know what the real rules are ?

Edited by brizzle, 2012-09-22 19:52:12.

[lopburi3]

I believe the change to 1,200 pounds is very recent so Embassy 900 is likely just the old figure that has not been updated but if you applied it would be 1,200. As for marriage there would not be any financial requirement but you would have to supply marriage certificate and a copy of spouse ID card or passport (which is a normal requirement everywhere now).

[brizzle]

I believe the change to 1,200 pounds is very recent so Embassy 900 is likely just the old figure that has not been updated but if you applied it would be 1,200. As for marriage there would not be any financial requirement but you would have to supply marriage certificate and a copy of spouse ID card or passport (which is a normal requirement everywhere now).

Thanks lopburi3...still not good that they are not updating their website info in a timely manner and to say that you need merely provide a pension statement if you are a pension earner is also very vague ... no pension minimum is mentioned for example.

In short ..as my old school reports used to say..."could do better".

[punisher]

I believe the change to 1,200 pounds is very recent so Embassy 900 is likely just the old figure that has not been updated but if you applied it would be 1,200. As for marriage there would not be any financial requirement but you would have to supply marriage certificate and a copy of spouse ID card or passport (which is a normal requirement everywhere now).

Thanks lopburi3...still not good that they are not updating their website info in a timely manner and to say that you need merely provide a pension statement if you are a pension earner is also very vague ... no pension minimum is mentioned for example.

In short ..as my old school reports used to say..."could do better".

Go to Thailand,get a lawyer,go to family court and get a document what says u r the father of ur kid,with that u should not have a problem to get the non O visa u need,but it might be a bit time consuming,in my case it took about 10month from start till I got the document

[ubonjoe]

If you consider that 65,000 baht is required for extensions based upon retirement the 1200 pound figure is only 58,268 baht at todays exchange rate. So thats not a bad deal.

Edited by ubonjoe, 2012-09-23 12:35:24.

[davejones]

I applied for my non-o visa at Hull 2.5 years ago. I wan't asked to show any income or savings. There was just a question on the form asking if I had enough money for my stay in Thailand. I simply answered "yes". Posted application on Monday afternoon and got it back first post on Wednesday. Very efficient. If you go to Hull in person I think it only takes an hour. I think that the Hull consulate is the place to apply. They can issue visas that other Thai consulates can't.

[lopburi3]

No they can not issue visas other Consulates can not - they must abide by the same rules and do not issue without proof as stated above. You can easily verify that with download from there website as they clearly spell out the requirements. This is no longer 2.5 years ago and things have changed.

[Qauvorka]

Sorry to digress but my non o visa just expired and I am a unmarrried father of two children, so you now say I can get this visa anymore?

[KunMatt]

I applied for my non-o visa at Hull 2.5 years ago. I wan't asked to show any income or savings. There was just a question on the form asking if I had enough money for my stay in Thailand. I simply answered "yes". Posted application on Monday afternoon and got it back first post on Wednesday. Very efficient. If you go to Hull in person I think it only takes an hour. I think that the Hull consulate is the place to apply. They can issue visas that other Thai consulates can't.

And the rules have changed like 3 times since then.

I also used to get my Non Imm O visa from Hull just based on visiting my gf. Now I cannot even fetched same visa and we have a son and a house here together.

If anyone knows a way to get the O visa without getting married it would be great news!

[Mario2008]

Sorry to digress but my non o visa just expired and I am a unmarrried father of two children, so you now say I can get this visa anymore?

You will need proof you are the legal father, in essence go to court and ask to be recognised as the legal father. The might take 2 or 3 months, but then you can also get an extension of stay from immirgaiton.

If at least of of the children is 6 or 7 years old, you cna try to go to the amphur with the child and mother and claim you are the legal fahter. Then you will be recorded as the legal fahter. For some reason most immigraiton offices will not accept this, but consulates will for a visa.

The birth certificate alone is not enough. But you can try with a small note from the mother confirming you are the father and are living witht her and taking care of the children. No guarantee on success, but it might work at some consulates.

[Qauvorka]

Sorry to digress but my non o visa just expired and I am a unmarrried father of two children, so you now say I can get this visa anymore?

You will need proof you are the legal father, in essence go to court and ask to be recognised as the legal father. The might take 2 or 3 months, but then you can also get an extension of stay from immirgaiton.

If at least of of the children is 6 or 7 years old, you cna try to go to the amphur with the child and mother and claim you are the legal fahter. Then you will be recorded as the legal fahter. For some reason most immigraiton offices will not accept this, but consulates will for a visa.

The birth certificate alone is not enough. But you can try with a small note from the mother confirming you are the father and are living witht her and taking care of the children. No guarantee on success, but it might work at some consulates.

I usually send the birth certs of my children one is 5years old and one just turned 1 year old and I also provide evidence of money transfers showing support while I'm overseas working as well as a letter from my partner stating our relationship. Reading this thread says this is no longer available, I cannot find any info of this and would like to know if this is accurate

[Mario2008]

The information is accurate. Consulates have been told to not accpet the birth certtificate only anymore. But some seem to accept an extra note from the mother confirming you are the legal father and taking care of the children.

Best is to legalize the children through court. That gives much more certainty, also makes you the legal father and opens the way to an extension of stay if you ever need one.

[Qauvorka]

The information is accurate. Consulates have been told to not accpet the birth certtificate only anymore. But some seem to accept an extra note from the mother confirming you are the legal father and taking care of the children.

Best is to legalize the children through court. That gives much more certainty, also makes you the legal father and opens the way to an extension of stay if you ever need one.

Thanks for your reply. Excuse my ignorance but how exactly do go about legalizing my chidren through court? What is the process

[Mario2008]

See: http://www.thaivisa....ts-as-a-father/


Basically you will have a lawyer file a pettion to the court for you to be recognised as the legal father and the process is set in motion. You and the mother and maybe the child might be interviewed and if all agree, a judge will recognise you and you get a court decision. This you take to the amphur, where the court decision is entered into the records.

For immigraiton the court decision is important.

[Qauvorka]

See: http://www.thaivisa....ts-as-a-father/


Basically you will have a lawyer file a pettion to the court for you to be recognised as the legal father and the process is set in motion. You and the mother and maybe the child might be interviewed and if all agree, a judge will recognise you and you get a court decision. This you take to the amphur, where the court decision is entered into the records.

For immigraiton the court decision is important.

Once again thanks for taking the time to help, cheers

[brizzle]

Just a quick update. Today I received my multiple entry non O visa from Hull based on being over 50 with a view to retirement.

So if you are over 50 and have at least £20,000 in a UK savings then this is the way to go.
Do not waste your time with Cardiff who are interpretating the rules differently.

Lucky I am over 50, although not lucky in practically every other way! As an unmarried father this has been a lifeline for me,I now have the self same visa that I previously got on account of my Thai child. Funny how things turn out in all matters Thailand !

Edited by brizzle, 2012-09-28 17:32:26.