Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:27 pm Post subject: Immigration boss explains new visas
PATTAYA: -- Head of Pattaya’s immigration bureau, police colonel Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai, has announced that the foreign holders of some long visas will no longer have to provide mountains of paperwork every year. Once registered, they will be cleared for entry and exit for up to five years on a case by case basis. However, they will still need to obtain a re-entry permit if they do decide to leave the country.
To qualify for the new fast track facility, foreigners must hold a non immigrant visa, any type, and show that they have been “living” in Thailand for the past three years. The most obvious way of demonstrating this is to have held consecutive one year extensions authorized by the immigration bureau. Police colonel Ittipol said there were six categories of people eligible to transfer. These included farangs with a Thai spouse, those with a Thai dependant, retirees, substantial investors, work permit holders and special categories including diplomatic personnel.
Ittipol added it was not compulsory for eligible people to change to the multiple years’ option. They could continue making annual applications as in the past. Although the detail is still settling down, it is understood that applications for the multiple year visa can be made only in the Bangkok immigration headquarters in Soi Suan Plu (Sathorn). However, Pattaya immigration officers will be able to provide further details of the new system which bears some similarity to “green card” options operating in some parts of the world.
Applications have to lodged in the second half of December 2004. Otherwise you have to wait until late next year. Police colonel Ittipol explained that the fast track notion was designed to simplify visa life for long term farangs who had shown by their immigration record that they were contributing significantly to Thai economic and financial strength or had ongoing family responsibilities. He concluded that it was the aim of the immigration bureau to create a safe environment for all foreigners in the kingdom and that included a privileged status for the long stay residents as defined.
What was that Cuba Gooding, Jr. line in the movie, Jerry Maguire?.... oh yeah.... it was,
"Hey baby, show me the visa!.... show me the visa!"
seeing is believing with this latest story.
Apparantly there is little coordianation between Pattya and BKK immagration.--Can they each make their own rules?? _________________ Asia Expats Forum Expat Friends Dating
going to see a consultant this Monday on how to get a visa via marriage. He mentioned that I would not have any problems in opening an account with BAY since the bank knows their profession.
It's not difficult to obtain a visa that way on your own...but some do feel more comfortable going through a consultant/agent.
And yes, the "five year visa" has been declared officially a dead horse. It actually turns out that ALL the discussion was based on Permanent Residency (PR). Something that people have always been able to apply for every December and that is far from being what the "new" "five year visa" plan was going to be about.
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