O visas from Hull in UK

To the envy of Thailand visitors from other countries the Hull Consulate in the UK has always had a reputation for being an easy supplier of visas to UK Thailand visitors.
It would appear that the requirements have now been tightened though.
A new set of visa application instructions have been issued on 18th. February which are here:
http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/downloads-and-visas.aspx
The specific attachment is this first one..

But the second is worth reading too.
I had some difficulty opening the documents, but I managed using Word in the end (they are suppose to be pdf files). So the interesting thing is this page that used to refer to the issue of a multiple entry o visa for visiting family & friends. It sort of still exists but documentary evidence is noe required to back up the claims - as per below...

Certainly a serious change. I have not checked the other consulates in UK yet, but Hull are usually 'on the ball' about the latest information..

I have had a quick look at the other Thai Consulate sites in England & Wales...
In summary there requirements for the 'o' visa are as follows.

Birmingham - production of marriage certificate the only reason for them issuing one.
Liverpool - as Birmingham or :

A British family visiting husband working in Thailand. Visas are required for each family member including children and the maximum stay on this visa is 90 days for a single entry. A multiple entry visa entitles you to a 12 month stay, conditional on leaving Thailand for 48 hours every 90 days.

Cardiff - same as Birmingham or for Business purposes in which case these are the conditions:

When applying for this type of visa the usual documentation must be accompanied by a letter detailing the reason for the visit and an undertaking from the Company, Organisation etc., that they will be responsible for the applicant during their stay in Thailand and their eventual repatriation, should this be necessary.
This type of visa allows anyone employed to work in Thailand the opportunity of staying for up to 90 days whilst the employers obtain the necessary work permit for a longer period of residency, if this has not already been granted.

Maybe going down the (ED visa) route would be an option? anyone got any thoughts on this,just how hard would it be getting a letter for a language course and what would it involve?

I believe that AUA used to supply the supporting letter for students learning Thai with them.
I am very unsure about the details involved though - maybe Nick can give some sort of update on the requirements..
AUA excepted there are not really much in the way of educational institutions for Falang in the immediate Udon area. I seem to remember that someone mentioned a place doing TEFL courses in/near Khon Kaen which is another option maybe.
I seem to remember some newspaper stories from a while ago about Immigration in the South getting rather 'uppity' about long term Thai language students with zero Thai language skills, but I cannot remember what the final outcome was..

might be an option,its about time i brushed up on my thai it even mentions boxing ,diving courses and becoming a budhist monk,don,t like the look of the water in non prajak lake and i don,t fancy getting up at 4am to pray and ring a bell any info nick?

Rajabhat University also do Thai language classes for Foriegn Devils.

That's where I'll be going.


Here is their website.


http://www.udru.ac.th/eng/footlight-04t ... iners.html

Looks like the Thai Government are clamping down the issue of the 1 year 'O' Multi entry visa.

red67 wrote:Maybe going down the (ED visa) route would be an option? anyone got any thoughts on this,just how hard would it be getting a letter for a language course and what would it involve?

thai immigration, should take action on the abuse of the education visa .
and the people that issue them . this scheme has been abused and mis used , for far too long.
it,s only a matter of time , you have been warned .

the over 50 TYPE O mutlie entry category , will cause big problems , for many farangs living in thailand .
proof of income of £900. a mouth minimum. is now required .
this is only the begining ,
bye bye , cheap charlies .

LOL

I think that any country that issues Education visas (& so that is most in the world) have problems 'policing' them.
In the UK there have been many cases where the schools providing the teaching have turned out to be nothing more than accommodation addresses with no facilities what so ever.
In Australia I have read where many schools are actually advertising (covertly) in India as it being a method of avoiding the long waiting queue for other forms of visa.
However there is also a great deal of money involved in the foreign education industry & money talks.

On the general tightening up on the rules under which visas are issued..
I think there has been a real belief by some in authority for some time that many foreigners are working illegally in Thailand. I think this is just another step on the road to ensuring that the authorities know exactly how visitors are financing their stay in the country.

hangsaboot wrote:
the over 50 TYPE O mutlie entry category , will cause big problems , for many farangs living in thailand .
proof of income of £900. a mouth minimum. is now required .

Disagree. There are 5 other criteria that can be met before the the 900GBP income comes into effect. The vast majority of British expats living here on an 'O' visa easily meet one of the other 5 criteria.


To me, this is nothing new. last June when I was in the UK renewing my "O" visa I realised I required a copy of my marriage certificate, which i did not have. I rang Hull, who told me to include a covering letter quoting date of marriage and home address. Visa was issued with no further problem.

i went back u.k last week , posted my non imm multy entry type O . off to hull monday lunch NO extra info about where i live or what i do in thailand it was back first thing wed morning same as always , no call from them to ask any extra questions .

Indeed Galee.
Item 5 actually seems to suggest that no matter how much you are receiving as a pension you can still get a 'o' visa.

Visiting Thailand as Pensioner
Evidence required: Copy of bank statement showing receipt of pension

Although I think it would be wise for anyone seeking a visa under that provision to contact the Consulate first just to clarify.

Getting a visa via the pension of over £900 a month is still a less onerous route than complying with the income requirements internally in Thailand.

martynsnowman wrote:i went back u.k last week , posted my non imm multy entry type O . off to hull monday lunch NO extra info about where i live or what i do in thailand it was back first thing wed morning same as always , no call from them to ask any extra questions .

The two documents have a date of 18th. February 2011 on their web site Martyn, although there does not appear to be any 'applicability' date on them.
I think you were very lucky...
From early August last year I know that people who physically turned up at the Consulate and had a number of consecutive 'o's for visiting 'family & friends' in Thailand have been asked a number of questions about why they were doing that rather than getting an extension based on retirement in Thailand. While I have not heard of anyone actually being refused I do think that was part of push by the Thai Authorities that has now resulted in this change..

BobHelm wrote:
From early August last year I know that people who physically turned up at the Consulate and had a number of consecutive 'o's for visiting 'family & friends' in Thailand have been asked a number of questions about why they were doing that rather than getting an extension based on retirement in Thailand. While I have not heard of anyone actually being refused I do think that was part of push by the Thai Authorities that has now resulted in this change..

Seems logical if people are over 50 years of age why the retirement option is not being used,saving them having to return every year to their home country costwise.But as mentioned if can get proof from the friend/relative expat then that seems to still be an option.At least they are, as said before, finally waking up to the fact that how do people continually stay here for long periods of times without showing income or funds.If they do not have the minimum to cover marriage or retirement,why are they living here for years on end.Looks like your passport stamps are going to become an obsession with immigration.

.Looks like your passport stamps are going to become an obsession with immigration.[/quote]
yep , thats for sure .

i reckon there will be long queues in bangkok , taking the vows
and having the wedding certificte.
in a village wedding,you are not officially married.
marriage,is probably the easiest option.
maybe that explains why young steve , of the sports bar , recently got married ,
congrats steve ,,, good thinking,

LOL

Congrats Steve,so he no longer needs to sell his bar now?

O visa always said 'visiting' not living here longtime and tourist just visiting for tourist purposes not living here longtime without an income and presumably the education visa is short term not continuously renewed yearly to live here under the claim that the language is too complex.
And the O visa,fair enough for people still working in the UK and their bride is in Thailand to visit not live with.