Kap Choeng immigration.

[bigphill5 baht]

Hello everyone. Just like to say I went to immigration today for the first time. Reason was just to get information as to what I needed to extend my tourist visa another 30 days. As only ever been on visa exemption trips before. And with all the talk and scare mongering about visas. I thought it best to get a tourist visa before I came to Thailand as I am hoping to retire next year and thought I would see what things are like and get into the system so to speak. Having read and heard countless stories from jomtien and Bangkok immigration being problematic and not a pleasant experience. I was very pleased with my trip today. I asked about documents I required and they simply wanted a photograph and my passport. Which I had. They filled in all the forms and we're very friendly and super proficient. Paid my fee. Which was 2300 baht an extra 400 than I expected but I was happy to pay no running about getting photo copies of passport . Proof of residency etc. they did all that and simply looked at my girl friends yellow/blue book took copy's of her id card etc. sat down for 10 mins back to counter few signatures and video of me holding my passport. Stamped and out of the office in less than 30 mins. It was very quiet only 2 other people there. But a big thank you to the immigration staff super proficient and relaxed calm friendly atmosphere. Will definitely be going back next trip hopefully to start my retirement visa. In all a pleasant day out then quick look to see chom jom market. Was a sad sight. I hadn't been since COVID and border troubles place was a mere shadow of what it used to be only a few stalls open. Then went to sangkha got some bits in the market before going back to prassat area cheers.

 

[Deerculler]

Hello everyone. Just like to say I went to immigration today for the first time. Reason was just to get information as to what I needed to extend my tourist visa another 30 days. As only ever been on visa exemption trips before. And with all the talk and scare mongering about visas. I thought it best to get a tourist visa before I came to Thailand as I am hoping to retire next year and thought I would see what things are like and get into the system so to speak. Having read and heard countless stories from jomtien and Bangkok immigration being problematic and not a pleasant experience. I was very pleased with my trip today. I asked about documents I required and they simply wanted a photograph and my passport. Which I had. They filled in all the forms and we're very friendly and super proficient. Paid my fee. Which was 2300 baht an extra 400 than I expected but I was happy to pay no running about getting photo copies of passport . Proof of residency etc. they did all that and simply looked at my girl friends yellow/blue book took copy's of her id card etc. sat down for 10 mins back to counter few signatures and video of me holding my passport. Stamped and out of the office in less than 30 mins. It was very quiet only 2 other people there. But a big thank you to the immigration staff super proficient and relaxed calm friendly atmosphere. Will definitely be going back next trip hopefully to start my retirement visa. In all a pleasant day out then quick look to see chom jom market. Was a sad sight. I hadn't been since COVID and border troubles place was a mere shadow of what it used to be only a few stalls open. Then went to sangkha got some bits in the market before going back to prassat area cheers.

My recent experiences with both Kap Choeng and Surin Immigration have been excellent.

 

[DaryDane]

Will definitely be going back next trip hopefully to start my retirement visa.

For retirement visa, you have to apply at the Embassy in your homecontry

 

[CO-CO]

For retirement visa, you have to apply at the Embassy in your homecontry

That is not strictly true.

Whilst it is said that a VISA must obtained outside of Thailand (doesn't have to be your home country - look at all the visas previously obtained in, say, Laos) the reality is somewhat different (please see below).

I think Phil is referring to an EXTENSION rather than than visa (even Immigration officers will use incorrect terminology......and I imagine he will enter Thailand on a VISA.


For example.....I recently obtained a Non-Immigrant 'O' single entry visa, based on marriage to a Thai citizen, from the UK.

I entered on 16th July and was granted permission to stay for 90 days (note, the VISA is "used" at that point - a VISA cannot be extended).

Next month I will submit a TM7 'Application for extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom' for a 12 month period, based on marriage.


Another option for me was to enter on a VISA EXEMPT basis which would have given me permission to stay for 60 days. Within that time I could go to my Immigration office and ask them to issue a Non-Immigrant O VISA (giving me a further 90 days) and then allow me to apply for the 12 month EXTENSION after that.

NOTE: Phil didn't extend his Tourist VISA (you can't do that) - he applied to extend his permission to stay.

I know that Buriram and Jomtien will convert VISA exempt entries into Non-Imm 'O' visas, I don't know about Surin.

In Phil's case he may have been able to convert from the Tourist Visa to a Non-Imm O, to an extension of stay. I know that has been done at other offices.

The caveat to all this is that you have the necessary funds (400k marriage/800k retirement) seasoned for 2 months before making the 12 month extension application.

I hope that made sense.

 

[Rice]

To obtain an O Non Immi visa in Australia they made me prove I had 400,000 Baht in a bank before issue.
@CO-CO do they do that for the same visa issued in Thailand as you mention? In the past it was some arbitrary decision on funds you showed them. But now they ask for the 400K. I sneakily manipulated the Thai embassy in Australia to specifically ask for an amount. Because they did not specify. In the end I produced my Thai bank account.

 

[CO-CO]

Yes. It is

To obtain an O Non Immi visa in Australia they made me prove I had 400,000 Baht in a bank before issue.
@CO-CO do they do that for the same visa issued in Thailand as you mention? In the past it was some arbitrary decision on funds you showed them. But now they ask for the 400K. I sneakily manipulated the Thai embassy in Australia to specifically ask for an amount. Because they did not specify. In the end I produced my Thai bank account.

Yes.

It is written.. .... 400k.

In subsequent years I can show income of 40k pm.

For the visa from the Thai embassy in London I submitted all the marriage paperwork and my K Bank statement showing 400k+.I was asked for the following additional documents:-

With regards to your e-Visa application, Reference No. LON001-202605-5536935, the Royal Thai Embassy/ The Royal Thai Consulate-General would like to request for additional documents as follows:

• Other request documents: - Your February 2026 UK/Ireland current bank statement showing your name, UK/Ireland address and monthly income/pension transactions (Please highlight) total of no less than (approx. 1,000 GBP).
• Other request documents: - Your March 2026 UK/Ireland current bank statement showing your name, UK/Ireland address and monthly income/pension transactions (Please highlight) total of no less than (approx. 1,000 GBP).
• Other request documents: - Your April 2026 UK/Ireland current bank statement showing your name, UK/Ireland address and monthly income/pension transactions (Please highlight) total of no less than (approx. 1,000 GBP).

 

[Rice]

Yes. It is

Yes.

It is written.. .... 400k.

In subsequent years I can show income of 40k pm.

For the visa from the Thai embassy in London I submitted all the marriage paperwork and my K Bank statement showing 400k+.I was asked for the following additional documents:-

With regards to your e-Visa application, Reference No. LON001-202605-5536935, the Royal Thai Embassy/ The Royal Thai Consulate-General would like to request for additional documents as follows:

• Other request documents: - Your February 2026 UK/Ireland current bank statement showing your name, UK/Ireland address and monthly income/pension transactions (Please highlight) total of no less than (approx. 1,000 GBP).
• Other request documents: - Your March 2026 UK/Ireland current bank statement showing your name, UK/Ireland address and monthly income/pension transactions (Please highlight) total of no less than (approx. 1,000 GBP).
• Other request documents: - Your April 2026 UK/Ireland current bank statement showing your name, UK/Ireland address and monthly income/pension transactions (Please highlight) total of no less than (approx. 1,000 GBP).

Australian embassy never asked me for my Australian bank account details. Mind you, do you think they are going a bit too far?. It is too excessive as we are only asking to stay 3 months (at that stage) for goodness sake. It is not a 5 year or even 1 year visa.
If they want too they should make it incredibly hard to get an extension. When they do, I won't be coming back. I have already permanently postponed building a proper house. Expecting this to come.

 

[CO-CO]

Australian embassy never asked me for my Australian bank account details. Mind you, do you think they are going a bit too far?. It is too excessive as we are only asking to stay 3 months (at that stage) for goodness sake. It is not a 5 year or even 1 year visa.
If they want too they should make it incredibly hard to get an extension. When they do, I won't be coming back. I have already permanently postponed building a proper house. Expecting this to come.

If you think that Thailand is going too far, try getting a 3 month Schengen visa.

For example, for a 90 stay in Spain you would need to evidence EUR 112.10 per day ie EUR 10,089. PLUS travel insurance of EUR 30,000, confirmed flight tickets and hotel bookings.




As a generalisation, I wish that the UK adopted Thailand's stance on Immigration rules.

 

[FERRET]

Australian embassy never asked me for my Australian bank account details. Mind you, do you think they are going a bit too far?. It is too excessive as we are only asking to stay 3 months (at that stage) for goodness sake. It is not a 5 year or even 1 year visa.
If they want too they should make it incredibly hard to get an extension. When they do, I won't be coming back. I have already permanently postponed building a proper house. Expecting this to come.

Yes, there are a lot of GREY areas particularly now with the Farang hating Anutin in power.
The Australian embassy wanted nothing to do with varifying anything to do with visa's etc and flatly refused to supply any support.
" We are forbiden to interfere in a foreign domestic policy " was the exact wording from the embassy.
The fact of the matter is the reason I endeavour, where possible, to comply with Thailands ever changing and half arsed policies.

 

[Rice]

If you think that Thailand is going too far, try getting a 3 month Schengen visa.

For example, for a 90 stay in Spain you would need to evidence EUR 112.10 per day ie EUR 10,089. PLUS travel insurance of EUR 30,000, confirmed flight tickets and hotel bookings.




As a generalisation, I wish that the UK adopted Thailand's stance on Immigration rules.

Hmm 385,000 THB is less then the 400,000 for Thailand. There is a cost of living factor you have not accounted for something like 60%.
If Schengen was equitable with Thailand they would be asking for 16142 Euro which would make it 616843 THB. Thailand's 400,000 is a bit unfair in comparison.
How about those 60,000 Moroccans? all those others that turn up in Europe for a hand out. They are really tough to get a visa, but not if you just walk in.
It is laughable.

But yeah, Yeah I get your point.

 

[wildoates]

Schengen visa requirements is that for Thais?

 

[CO-CO]

Hmm 385,000 THB is less then the 400,000 for Thailand. There is a cost of living factor you have not accounted for something like 60%.
If Schengen was equitable with Thailand they would be asking for 16142 Euro which would make it 616843 THB. Thailand's 400,000 is a bit unfair in comparison.
How about those 60,000 Moroccans? all those others that turn up in Europe for a hand out. They are really tough to get a visa, but not if you just walk in.
It is laughable.

But yeah, Yeah I get your point.

You miss part of the point.......the Schengen requirement is only the daily 'spending money'.....


...and the refugees you speak of fall outside the normal Immigration rules.