Extension Of Stay Based On Married To Thai Woman

[Bartman]

Quick question for all of the posters that have been asked to provide happy couple photos: Do you have Thai children?

As I understand it, photos have always been a requirement for childless couples (albeit not often enforced), but waived for those who've had children.

Hey guys

I have a question about this non-

O married to thai one year visa. I'm a canadian guy ,46, in chiang mai , just legally registered with my thai wife at the local Ampher here. I entered the country on a tourist visa, now expired. I want to apply for the one year(multiple entry?) visa based on status as married to a thai. It is a first time application. Do you know or know anyone who knows what docs I we will need to be successful? I have a bank account, and a house in my wife's name.And where should we do it? Penang? Another consulate? The immigration dept. in Bkk?

All details appreciated

Jim

Hey. I just got it. In the begining of this post i tell already what you need:

Marriage lincence

copy of wifes id card (signed)

two passport photos

your passport.

Thats it. Atleast if you use an agent. I myself used an agent called eddy chia (www.banananewguesthoese.com) and he was very good.

Others on the forum recomend other agents which is probably fine to.

This voisa is easy to get and does not require any money at all. No money in the bank. No monthly income. This i know for a fact since i got it 1 month ago in penang and what i stated above is all i showed. FOR SURE.

Hello mattias33,

Thanks for the Interesting information. your weblink does not work it should be www.banananewguesthouse.com.

I am in a very similar situation.

Live in samui, married to Thai. My first visa was a "non-imigrant B'' and when that expired i got a "non-immigrant O". After the first 90 days of this "O" visa I went to the immigration office in Nathon (Samui) as I had been told that I did not have to leave the every 90 days. But the immigration office told me that I could only get my 90 day stamp there if I could show an income from outside Thailand (as on an O visa work is not permitted). In the end it was easier just to leave and re-enter the country (usually Burma). So I have always had to leave and re-enter the country every 90 days..... Now about to do my last 90 day stamp in Burma 1 day before the visa expires then I will need to renew my O visa and the whole process starts again....I originally obtained my O visa in Australia (home country) as that was the requirement then and it cost me about 6000 Baht and had to show 400,000 baht in Thai bank account.

I now read that you say it was free it Penang. Do you mean that you did not have to show money or income to the immigration office? and how much was the visa including agent fees..???

Thanks

Nick

If anyone has accurate/different information of how to renew an O visa it would be greatly appreciated...

Yep. Never (so far) showed any money.

Visa fee was 550 ringit (5500 baht) and the agent fee was 60 ringit. I was in a sticky situation since my wife was waiting in a hotel in sedao, i arrived late (10 in the morning maly time) so i had to pay another 40 ringit to make sure the agent got it back the same evening. But hes normal fee was 60 ringit. (dont have a clue where the extramoney went, brags or simply the fact that he had to wait around longer in ambassy??)

(there is a slight possibillity i turned the figures 60, 40 around but the whole fee in my case was 100 ringit).

The agent was very proffesional and you can either stay in his guest house overnight, arrive late evening and hand in all your papers, he go up in the morning and go to the embassy himself and come back in the afternoon. You dont have to bother. Or as in my case wait in his restaurant and he have a travelagent next door that drive minivans back to the border for 200 baht. Eddy himself organize it all while you enjoy your holiday!!

As for the immigration thing, i never done it and it is becoming clearer that i wloud have to do border-runs i guess.........

If the will be the case its not to bad either. Julias border van is ok and a quick thing. By the way, how did you go too burma, and why? Is it cheaper or faster or did you just siply enjoy the nice roads with the good view?? (fantastic between choumpon and ranong).

And, thanks for editing my spelling on the website, my fingers are still to big for the laptop even though im getting there slowly, hahaha.

Thanks Mattias,

I have emailed the Banana Guest House to ask if when renewing my O visa what documents are required as I think it will be a bit different to getting the first O visa. Will post there reply here...

I have always gone to Burma via Ranong as I drive and have found it very easy and a pleasant view. I also combine it with a drive to BKK to visit friends and family..

Nick

[mattias33]

Yeh, good bartman, do post the reply. This will be my situation a year from now i guess........

Your right, it is a fantastic drive and nature to ranong. The burmasituation now i guess it wont be possible...?

If you go to penang its not to bad either. Highway all the way. And i can also recommend a nice hotel in sadao, south Thailand.

I drove there with my wife, left samui 8 o clock ferry, and we took it nice and easy, alot of stops, and still we arrived 4:30 in the afternoon. Had time for shower, a nap, and a nice dinner in the evening. Wake up early and go myself to the border (5 minuites from the hotel) and took a taxi to embassy where eddy met me since i called him and said i want it back the same day. With eddys fantastic help i was back in sedao 7 in the evening. And all i did in the day was sittin in the restaurant speeking with others on a visarun!! Nice evening and sedao again (lots of great restaurants and everything very cheap for a samui-expat, hahaha) and a slow drive home the next day to join the 5 0 clock ferry.

Now when we (also my wife) found sadao this nice we might even do this when the border trip comes up. Take it as a holiday. The diesel for my car cost me 1500 baht and the whole trip (ex. visa) was about 7000. And there is always variation-options to maybe take one night in nakhom si thammarat or something the next time.

I stayed in a hotel called "oliver hotel" in sadao. Very nice hotel and easy to find. I think it was 700/night. If you drive to the border any motorbike taxi guide you there for 40 baht.....

[lopburi3]

Either that agent is extra expensive, a mistake was made on the fee or there has been a serious inflation problem in Penang as the normal price for an agent to hand carry passport for visa was always 20 ringit.

[mattias33]

Either that agent is extra expensive, a mistake was made on the fee or there has been a serious inflation problem in Penang as the normal price for an agent to hand carry passport for visa was always 20 ringit.

I think there still is agents for 20 ringit....... not sure though.

Eddie has a hotel, 24 hour service, you hand in your papers in the middle of the night and sleep as long as you want the next morning. All you have to do is wake up not later than 3 in the afternoon. He arrange the bus home, whit me he drove me to atm since i needed money and he have westernfood in his restaurants.

I would guess he is not the cheapest alternative.

Theres agents and theres agents...........

I think he is good. But like is said, theres is probably many more and cheaper to choose from. One that others reccommend is nrj books, apparently also very good....

[Lite Beer]

Once again, If anyone has a MULTI ENTRY NON IMM O VISA you MUST exit the country at least every 90 days.

You CANNOT get it stamped at an immigration office. Whatever Samui Immigration says.

[mattias33]

Once again, If anyone has a MULTI ENTRY NON IMM O VISA you MUST exit the country at least every 90 days.

You CANNOT get it stamped at an immigration office. Whatever Samui Immigration says.

no matter what immigration says???????????????????

Are you now claiming that what YOU say is more important that what IMMIGRATION say?? Who are you? Head of state?

Anyway, i do beleive you are right, many people seem to have had this visa many years with similar experience. Im getting more and more convinced that i will have to leave the country every 90 days. But for me i think immigration will always be the attority to ask and not a public forum when it comes down to it. It is interresting with all different experiences. And i still wonder if all the immigrationoffices in Thailand have the same rules. Sometimes it seems like they do different services in different offices??

Anyway, i do read and try to learn as much as possible on the forum, and speaking to expats. But a week before my visa expires i always go to immigration to be sure i do the right thing. No matter what lite beer seem to think, what immigration says is what matters, at least to me. And going there is a good idea since the rules and regulations about visa issues seem to change very often.

[Lite Beer]

Once again, If anyone has a MULTI ENTRY NON IMM O VISA you MUST exit the country at least every 90 days.

You CANNOT get it stamped at an immigration office. Whatever Samui Immigration says.

no matter what immigration says???????????????????

Are you now claiming that what YOU say is more important that what IMMIGRATION say?? Who are you? Head of state?

Anyway, i do beleive you are right, many people seem to have had this visa many years with similar experience. Im getting more and more convinced that i will have to leave the country every 90 days. But for me i think immigration will always be the attority to ask and not a public forum when it comes down to it. It is interresting with all different experiences. And i still wonder if all the immigrationoffices in Thailand have the same rules. Sometimes it seems like they do different services in different offices??

Anyway, i do read and try to learn as much as possible on the forum, and speaking to expats. But a week before my visa expires i always go to immigration to be sure i do the right thing. No matter what lite beer seem to think, what immigration says is what matters, at least to me. And going there is a good idea since the rules and regulations about visa issues seem to change very often.

Up to you. Good Luck.

[Sunny Valentine]

If money is earned in Thailand it will require tax receipts for 3 months or annual filing. For income from outside Thailand Embassy letter and perhaps other requirements.

They turned me down earlier this Year at Pattaya as I could only show 4 month of paid taxes. They wanted a full Year ....

Sunny

[Bartman]

If money is earned in Thailand it will require tax receipts for 3 months or annual filing. For income from outside Thailand Embassy letter and perhaps other requirements.

They turned me down earlier this Year at Pattaya as I could only show 4 month of paid taxes. They wanted a full Year ....

Sunny

Hello Sunny,

Are you on an O visa?

It is my understanding that you con not work in Thailand on an O visa?

Is this not true??

[lopburi3]

They turned me down earlier this Year at Pattaya as I could only show 4 month of paid taxes. They wanted a full Year ....

Sunny

They wanted to see your annual filing. The below "requirements" leave the exact proof up to the office involved.

5. According to the Criterion No. 6,

the applicant is required to attach the

certificate of having the savings in the

bank account of any Bank in Thailand

and copy of the bank account, or

evidences of personal income of either

party or both that shows the total

income of both parties not less than

40,000 Baht per month, such as the

evidence of the personal income tax

filing and the receipt, evidence of being

a pensioner, credentials of receiving the

interest of the saving money, or the

evidences of having other income from

other related organizations.

[qualtrough]

Quick question for all of the posters that have been asked to provide happy couple photos: Do you have Thai children?

As I understand it, photos have always been a requirement for childless couples (albeit not often enforced), but waived for those who've had children.

Yes, waived, but if you are planning any additional children you must submit a photo showing you trying to accomplish that.

OK, on a more serious note, we have been married 12 years and have two kids. I recently changed over to the marriage visa. We had to provide a picture of our house and the street number, but none of the other silly photos. At first we were told to take photos of each of us in front of our wardrobe!

[lopburi3]

If money is earned in Thailand it will require tax receipts for 3 months or annual filing. For income from outside Thailand Embassy letter and perhaps other requirements.

They turned me down earlier this Year at Pattaya as I could only show 4 month of paid taxes. They wanted a full Year ....

Sunny

Hello Sunny,

Are you on an O visa?

It is my understanding that you con not work in Thailand on an O visa?

Is this not true??

You can only work with a work permit and you can obtain a work permit with an O visa so yes you can work having an O visa.

[Sunny Valentine]

If money is earned in Thailand it will require tax receipts for 3 months or annual filing. For income from outside Thailand Embassy letter and perhaps other requirements.

They turned me down earlier this Year at Pattaya as I could only show 4 month of paid taxes. They wanted a full Year ....

Sunny

Hello Sunny,

Are you on an O visa?

It is my understanding that you con not work in Thailand on an O visa?

Is this not true??

No problem with working on an O Visa!

[Sunny Valentine]

They turned me down earlier this Year at Pattaya as I could only show 4 month of paid taxes. They wanted a full Year ....

Sunny

They wanted to see your annual filing. The below "requirements" leave the exact proof up to the office involved.

5. According to the Criterion No. 6,

the applicant is required to attach the

certificate of having the savings in the

bank account of any Bank in Thailand

and copy of the bank account, or

evidences of personal income of either

party or both that shows the total

income of both parties not less than

40,000 Baht per month, such as the

evidence of the personal income tax

filing and the receipt, evidence of being

a pensioner, credentials of receiving the

interest of the saving money, or the

evidences of having other income from

other related organizations.

If money is earned in Thailand it will require tax receipts for 3 months or annual filing. For income from outside Thailand Embassy letter and perhaps other requirements.

So, it is "both" then?

I applied in February, with taes paid for October through January.

I was turned down. My understanding is that the annual filing is done in April, so was not ready early February.

Well, what sense does the 3 moth rule then make? In case you apply at a time where the annual filing is done, you will almost inevitably have more than 3 month of taxes paid.

On another note: Will I run into problems next Year, as last Years filing showed I had no taxes to pay (only 3 month working), and I got my prepaid taxes back. Again, this Years filing will not be done yet ....

Sunny

Edited October 7, 2007 by Sunny Valentine

[Bartman]

Yeh, good bartman, do post the reply. This will be my situation a year from now i guess........

Your right, it is a fantastic drive and nature to ranong. The burmasituation now i guess it wont be possible...?

If you go to penang its not to bad either. Highway all the way. And i can also recommend a nice hotel in sadao, south Thailand.

I drove there with my wife, left samui 8 o clock ferry, and we took it nice and easy, alot of stops, and still we arrived 4:30 in the afternoon. Had time for shower, a nap, and a nice dinner in the evening. Wake up early and go myself to the border (5 minuites from the hotel) and took a taxi to embassy where eddy met me since i called him and said i want it back the same day. With eddys fantastic help i was back in sedao 7 in the evening. And all i did in the day was sittin in the restaurant speeking with others on a visarun!! Nice evening and sedao again (lots of great restaurants and everything very cheap for a samui-expat, hahaha) and a slow drive home the next day to join the 5 0 clock ferry.

Now when we (also my wife) found sadao this nice we might even do this when the border trip comes up. Take it as a holiday. The diesel for my car cost me 1500 baht and the whole trip (ex. visa) was about 7000. And there is always variation-options to maybe take one night in nakhom si thammarat or something the next time.

I stayed in a hotel called "oliver hotel" in sadao. Very nice hotel and easy to find. I think it was 700/night. If you drive to the border any motorbike taxi guide you there for 40 baht.....

Transcript of my communication with Visa Agent in Penang...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q: Can you please tell me what documents are required for renewal of "non immigrant O Visa"

A: 1. original married certificate

2. wife ID (copy)

3. house documents (own or rent)

4. Thailand bank account book

Submission time : 9am - 12noon

Collection time : 2pm - 4pm (next working day)

Q: What does the Thai Bank Book need to Show? Income or 400,000 Baht?

A: As for the bank book there is no certain sum of money needed to be shown.

This is just a supportive document

Q: Does my Thai wife need to come?

A: No

Q: Please understand this is not my first O visa.

A: With these documents that you have, no matter for the first time or not we are able to

arrange for 1 year visa with multiple entries.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All the above questions where answered by a visa agent in Penang. I will not be doing this renewal for another 3 months so hope the rules do not change.

Edited October 7, 2007 by Bartman

[Lite Beer]

Yeh, good bartman, do post the reply. This will be my situation a year from now i guess........

Your right, it is a fantastic drive and nature to ranong. The burmasituation now i guess it wont be possible...?

If you go to penang its not to bad either. Highway all the way. And i can also recommend a nice hotel in sadao, south Thailand.

I drove there with my wife, left samui 8 o clock ferry, and we took it nice and easy, alot of stops, and still we arrived 4:30 in the afternoon. Had time for shower, a nap, and a nice dinner in the evening. Wake up early and go myself to the border (5 minuites from the hotel) and took a taxi to embassy where eddy met me since i called him and said i want it back the same day. With eddys fantastic help i was back in sedao 7 in the evening. And all i did in the day was sittin in the restaurant speeking with others on a visarun!! Nice evening and sedao again (lots of great restaurants and everything very cheap for a samui-expat, hahaha) and a slow drive home the next day to join the 5 0 clock ferry.

Now when we (also my wife) found sadao this nice we might even do this when the border trip comes up. Take it as a holiday. The diesel for my car cost me 1500 baht and the whole trip (ex. visa) was about 7000. And there is always variation-options to maybe take one night in nakhom si thammarat or something the next time.

I stayed in a hotel called "oliver hotel" in sadao. Very nice hotel and easy to find. I think it was 700/night. If you drive to the border any motorbike taxi guide you there for 40 baht.....

Transcript of my communication with Visa Agent in Penang...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q: Can you please tell me what documents are required for renewal of "non immigrant O Visa"

A: 1. original married certificate

2. wife ID (copy)

3. house documents (own or rent)

4. Thailand bank account book

Submission time : 9am - 12noon

Collection time : 2pm - 4pm (next working day)

Q: What does the Thai Bank Book need to Show? Income or 400,000 Baht?

A: As for the bank book there is no certain sum of money needed to be shown.

This is just a supportive document

Q: Does my Thai wife need to come?

A: No

Q: Please understand this is not my first O visa.

A: With these documents that you have, no matter for the first time or not we are able to

arrange for 1 year visa with multiple entries.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All the above questions where answered by a visa agent in Penang. I will not be doing this renewal for another 3 months so hope the rules do not change.

Good info.

Have been waiting for someone to report the latest situation in Penang.

[Sunny Valentine]

As usual on this site ... a post that complicates and gives incorrect information ..... why do i bother reading i wonder .... it's a shame one of the people who think that they know about visa requirements cant do a definitive post about the requirements ..... i read this site when trying to get a marriage visa, but it was useless, half truths and the like ....why didnt it say that i needed two copies of everything, and all the others things that i needed to know ... i got the information (very limited) from elsewhere on the net .....

I got my visa, no thanks to this site, but why make it difficult for all the other people wanting a marriage visa ..... publish the requirements (double copies, maps, photos, local office, consolate stamped proof on 40,000 bht income etc)

The requirements change from day to day, office to office, officer to officer, moon phase to moon phase .....

There are the published requirements, but I have yet to see one case where these were sufficient ..... Maybe that's the reason you get confused with the information on thaivisa.com - "Because this is Thailand, and there are no rules as we know in the west."

Sunny

[Maestro]

...I had a non-b since i do have a company. But i was on the low tax (1500/month, and i not have employees) so i had double entrie. Immigration said that since we now are married, me and my thaiwife, i should bring the marriage licence or whatever its called to ambassy on my next visarun.

I will then get a Non-o visa with multiple-entie that can be stamped every 3 months in immigration. I was already here confused, because entry for me (not englich orig) means border.

The fact that the immigration official specifically referred to your now being married to a Thai seems to indicate that he meant that you now qualify for an extension of stay to live with your Thai wife. While the marriage certificate plus signed copy of wife’s ID card are usually enough to get a non-O visa from a Thai consulate, a few additional requirements will have to be met for the extension of stay.

Normally, you would apply for an extension of stay for one year but I am sure that your Samui immigration official will be happy to give you an extension of only 90 days at a time if that is what you apply for. After all, immigration can collect a fee for every application. The official fee is 1,900 Baht but some members have posted that the Samui immigration office likes to collect 5,000 Baht if they can get away with it.

To conclude, the immigration official was correct when he said that if you have a multiple-entry non-O visa he can stamp your passport and you do not have to leave and re-enter Thailand every 90 days. But you have to meet the requirements for the extension of stay, sometimes incorrectly called “visa extension” by immigration officials.

--

Maestro

[mattias33]

Yeh, good bartman, do post the reply. This will be my situation a year from now i guess........

Your right, it is a fantastic drive and nature to ranong. The burmasituation now i guess it wont be possible...?

If you go to penang its not to bad either. Highway all the way. And i can also recommend a nice hotel in sadao, south Thailand.

I drove there with my wife, left samui 8 o clock ferry, and we took it nice and easy, alot of stops, and still we arrived 4:30 in the afternoon. Had time for shower, a nap, and a nice dinner in the evening. Wake up early and go myself to the border (5 minuites from the hotel) and took a taxi to embassy where eddy met me since i called him and said i want it back the same day. With eddys fantastic help i was back in sedao 7 in the evening. And all i did in the day was sittin in the restaurant speeking with others on a visarun!! Nice evening and sedao again (lots of great restaurants and everything very cheap for a samui-expat, hahaha) and a slow drive home the next day to join the 5 0 clock ferry.

Now when we (also my wife) found sadao this nice we might even do this when the border trip comes up. Take it as a holiday. The diesel for my car cost me 1500 baht and the whole trip (ex. visa) was about 7000. And there is always variation-options to maybe take one night in nakhom si thammarat or something the next time.

I stayed in a hotel called "oliver hotel" in sadao. Very nice hotel and easy to find. I think it was 700/night. If you drive to the border any motorbike taxi guide you there for 40 baht.....

Transcript of my communication with Visa Agent in Penang...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q: Can you please tell me what documents are required for renewal of "non immigrant O Visa"

A: 1. original married certificate

2. wife ID (copy)

3. house documents (own or rent)

4. Thailand bank account book

Submission time : 9am - 12noon

Collection time : 2pm - 4pm (next working day)

Q: What does the Thai Bank Book need to Show? Income or 400,000 Baht?

A: As for the bank book there is no certain sum of money needed to be shown.

This is just a supportive document

Q: Does my Thai wife need to come?

A: No

Q: Please understand this is not my first O visa.

A: With these documents that you have, no matter for the first time or not we are able to

arrange for 1 year visa with multiple entries.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All the above questions where answered by a visa agent in Penang. I will not be doing this renewal for another 3 months so hope the rules do not change.

Thanks Bartman, good information.

And yeah, you should probably e-mail him again before you are about to leave. These advanced rules seem to change often.

[stepenwolf1958]

Not any of us here making confusion...it is not about us,that's because immi officers doing things in their own way and quite different ways,in alot of things...even should not...that's the facvt...one more fact...YOU NEVER should count on what they(anyone)said as SURE...i was stucked in Laos because SO SURE information in immi office in Mukdahan...Here are all relevant information but here we can see differences...No any bad willing here,i am sure about that,that are our expiriences and differences are thanks to FREELY interpreting Thai law in any single immi office...THAT'S the fact...THEY made confussion...Some of them even don't know to read passport documents,i was scared on s***t how long officer was looking at my passport and when he explained,asked me about one paer he saw,i was shocked that he don't know his own job to make...listening skill is a SPECIAL story,famous dissability about to understand English...some other time more about it...There is just ONE exception...BKK immi officers...They are REALLY good in work,my expirience...

Reagardings...

[Maestro]

...i read this site when trying to get a marriage visa, but it was useless...

There is no marriage visa. The different visa types and the official requirements for each type of visa are listed on the web site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is recommended that you inquire from the Thai consulate where you plan to apply for your visa about their requirements, as some consulates do not ask for everything listed on the Ministry's web site.

--

Maestro

[CosmicSurfer]

Hello Sunny,

Are you on an O visa?

It is my understanding that you con not work in Thailand on an O visa?

Is this not true??

You CAN get a Work permit on "O" MARRIED Visa...

But NO Working on "O" Retirement Visa.

I hope this is Clear.

CS

[CosmicSurfer]

For Some Reason this Forum Crashed while trying to edit my last post to add Clearer and more Detailed Information.. so here is the Edited post to replace the last one.

Hello Sunny,

Are you on an O visa?

It is my understanding that you con not work in Thailand on an O visa?

Is this not true??

There is no marriage visa. The different visa types and the official requirements for each type of visa are listed on the web site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is recommended that you inquire from the Thai consulate where you plan to apply for your visa about their requirements, as some consulates do not ask for everything listed on the Ministry's web site.

--

Maestro

As Usual, the Information on The Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site, like other Government Sites and offices (http://www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php) is either out-of-date, incomplete, or just plain Screwed-up... Choose your favorite excuse.

There Are 2 "O" Visas.. I KNOW.. I HAVE ONE - Look at your Visa in your Passport.. Does it say "O" or "O-A" ????

"O-A" - Retirement Visa for "long Stay".... Age over 65 AND Proof required of 800,000 Baht in THAI Bank account for minimum of 3 months.

and

"O" - Married Visa... Good for Visa periods same as "B" Visa... 3 month increments... up to a maximum, mupltiple Entry Visa for One-Year.... a 3-month or 6-Month can be extended by an "EXTENSION of Stay" for a maximum of One Year.. If NO Extension of Stay, then you do Visa Runs for a stamp, every 90 days. At End of Multiple Entry visa, you must go to an Embassy and get a new Visa. (An extension has a Fee, CHARGE of 1,900 Baht (I think??? and Lots opf Silly requirements in documentation and Photos... plus "COMBINED" income of not less than 40,000 Baht per month, supported by Tax documents, BUT if supported by Letter from Embassy, I'm sure Imm will request Proof of deposit from bank.)

If you have an "Extension of Stay", then you MUST renew the extension every Year. .. AND Every Three months you need to report your address to Immigration. (Free.. No Charge)

YES, You CAN get a Work permit on "O" MARRIED Visa... Same as "B" Visa.

But NO Working on "O-A" Retirement Visa.

I hope this is Clear.

CS

[LivinLOS]

Once again, If anyone has a MULTI ENTRY NON IMM O VISA you MUST exit the country at least every 90 days.

You CANNOT get it stamped at an immigration office. Whatever Samui Immigration says.

no matter what immigration says???????????????????

Are you now claiming that what YOU say is more important that what IMMIGRATION say?? Who are you? Head of state?

Anyway, i do beleive you are right, many people seem to have had this visa many years with similar experience. Im getting more and more convinced that i will have to leave the country every 90 days. But for me i think immigration will always be the attority to ask and not a public forum when it comes down to it. It is interresting with all different experiences. And i still wonder if all the immigrationoffices in Thailand have the same rules. Sometimes it seems like they do different services in different offices??

Anyway, i do read and try to learn as much as possible on the forum, and speaking to expats. But a week before my visa expires i always go to immigration to be sure i do the right thing. No matter what lite beer seem to think, what immigration says is what matters, at least to me. And going there is a good idea since the rules and regulations about visa issues seem to change very often.

Many times Phuket immigration have given clearly illegal and or incorrect advice..

It was phuket immigration that ran the whole illegal padangbasar stamps years back.. Just leave your passport and 1000 baht per month was the advice back then.

Trust them.. Not an inch.

[LivinLOS]

...I had a non-b since i do have a company. But i was on the low tax (1500/month, and i not have employees) so i had double entrie. Immigration said that since we now are married, me and my thaiwife, i should bring the marriage licence or whatever its called to ambassy on my next visarun.

I will then get a Non-o visa with multiple-entie that can be stamped every 3 months in immigration. I was already here confused, because entry for me (not englich orig) means border.

The fact that the immigration official specifically referred to your now being married to a Thai seems to indicate that he meant that you now qualify for an extension of stay to live with your Thai wife. While the marriage certificate plus signed copy of wife’s ID card are usually enough to get a non-O visa from a Thai consulate, a few additional requirements will have to be met for the extension of stay.

Normally, you would apply for an extension of stay for one year but I am sure that your Samui immigration official will be happy to give you an extension of only 90 days at a time if that is what you apply for. After all, immigration can collect a fee for every application. The official fee is 1,900 Baht but some members have posted that the Samui immigration office likes to collect 5,000 Baht if they can get away with it.

To conclude, the immigration official was correct when he said that if you have a multiple-entry non-O visa he can stamp your passport and you do not have to leave and re-enter Thailand every 90 days. But you have to meet the requirements for the extension of stay, sometimes incorrectly called “visa extension” by immigration officials.

--

Maestro

Is it possible that he felt the OP was initially not earning enough on his WP per month.. But that now he is married he can get the reduced rate for marriage ??

So that he is basically getting the extension not purely based on his marriage situation but on the fact he gets a lower threashold on married to a Thai national ??

[mattias33]

...I had a non-b since i do have a company. But i was on the low tax (1500/month, and i not have employees) so i had double entrie. Immigration said that since we now are married, me and my thaiwife, i should bring the marriage licence or whatever its called to ambassy on my next visarun.

I will then get a Non-o visa with multiple-entie that can be stamped every 3 months in immigration. I was already here confused, because entry for me (not englich orig) means border.

The fact that the immigration official specifically referred to your now being married to a Thai seems to indicate that he meant that you now qualify for an extension of stay to live with your Thai wife. While the marriage certificate plus signed copy of wife's ID card are usually enough to get a non-O visa from a Thai consulate, a few additional requirements will have to be met for the extension of stay.

Normally, you would apply for an extension of stay for one year but I am sure that your Samui immigration official will be happy to give you an extension of only 90 days at a time if that is what you apply for. After all, immigration can collect a fee for every application. The official fee is 1,900 Baht but some members have posted that the Samui immigration office likes to collect 5,000 Baht if they can get away with it.

To conclude, the immigration official was correct when he said that if you have a multiple-entry non-O visa he can stamp your passport and you do not have to leave and re-enter Thailand every 90 days. But you have to meet the requirements for the extension of stay, sometimes incorrectly called "visa extension" by immigration officials.

--

Maestro

Is it possible that he felt the OP was initially not earning enough on his WP per month.. But that now he is married he can get the reduced rate for marriage ??

So that he is basically getting the extension not purely based on his marriage situation but on the fact he gets a lower threashold on married to a Thai national ??

So you mean having less shares of a company would give you benefit??

The non-o i got in penang is completely not depending on the company. I did not show any companypapers. Only marriage certificate.

Get it straight now. Multiple entries. After 3 months i need an entry stamp, right?? This is what immigration say they do, but i take it if they dont do it i do a border-run. When do i (if ever) need extension??

I was under the impression that i get a entrie stamp every 90 days and after the last one (expires after i had my visa 15 months) i go to penang and get a new multiple entrie visa on same conditions like the last one??? Is that correct??

Extension (photos of home, neighbours and everything) sounds just to be more hassle than just take a 3 days holiday and get the new visa.

[gavstah]

"I was under the impression that i get a entrie stamp every 90 days and after the last one (expires after i had my visa 15 months) i go to penang and get a new multiple entrie visa on same conditions like the last one??? Is that correct??

Yes, you may stay a maximimum of 90 days, then you have to do a visa run. There is no way immigration can just stamp you for another 90 days - you have to go out then in again.

I had to do visa runs every 90 days for the past year. Immigration gave me a 30 day extension to my current stamp while they do their thing for the one year extension, which I'm currently waiting on.

As for the "same conditions" for getting another Non-O: not really, as it has been reported here that many embassies and consulates are now requiring you to show at least 400k in the bank before they will issue you a new Non-O based on marriage. When I did mine in Singapore last year, no such info was required.

[robint]

afaik

for a marriage visa, over 50 age

you need prroof of income of 40,000 pm

OR

400,000 deposit in thai bank 3 moths prior to renewal

NOT BOTH

Photos of your cohabitation have always been required but not always requaested.

I always renew in bkk, very professional

take wife along, we both suitably dressed and we chat away in village lao while the officer processes thpapers

in a jiff

It works for me

[exexpat]

I strongly disagree with this whole lack of "rules" for visas.   Rules are not heresay and such, atleast not for Thailand.  They are promulgated from the top, and officers have little say but to simply obey.

All rules are the same, but consular fees may differ in different places.

Also, if you ask an immigration officer as I have in Suan Phlu about the rules, he will explain them.  If it wasn't clear, its upon YOU to have it clarified, by asking the right questions.  I never had problems understanding the new visa rules about maximum of 3 transit visas when the laws changed in 2006, and after asking, I was vindicated that they said nothing of tourist visas.

If you don't qualify, it doesn't matter what suit u have on, how much thai u can speak, etc etc. You must follow the rules exactly and have all the paperwork done to qualify. If in the past they let u slide, but no more, it was simply cuz they were nice, or forgot to verify some requirement.

Like all consular offices and embassies, they have the "right" to refuse anyone to visa extension.  However, this right not based on their bias.  They have specific exact guidelines to reject applicants, like a terrorist, a convict etc.  They cannot reject you cuz ur ugly or fat or don't look like someone they want in their country.

I do admit though that it seems that you can get a visa through non-legal means.  This may be the case in Rayong vs Penang.  This evidently means getting a visa from a consular officer working under the table, and collecting the fee along with friends instead of going to the government.  Also, gov't officials will "ask" for more money as in the case of Cambodia, such as 1000 baht vs 20 dollars.  This asking can be quite forceful, but if you know the laws, you can insist, and they have to give u a visa.  To date nobody else I've seen has gotten it for 20 dollars and no more, cuz everyone caves in in front of demands of an officer. I've been told by consular officers I would have to wait all day in Camby for not giving into bribery, not once in 10 times have I had to wait more than 10 mins.

In poor nations immigration officials are cheats, but as officials are limited to what they can do.

Edited October 8, 2007 by exexpat

[Sunny Valentine]

I strongly disagree with this whole lack of "rules" for visas. Rules are not heresay and such, atleast not for Thailand. They are promulgated from the top, and officers have little say but to simply obey.

All rules are the same, but consular fees may differ in different places.

Also, if you ask an immigration officer as I have in Suan Phlu about the rules, he will explain them. If it wasn't clear, its upon YOU to have it clarified, by asking the right questions. I never had problems understanding the new visa rules about maximum of 3 transit visas when the laws changed in 2006, and after asking, I was vindicated that they said nothing of tourist visas.

If you don't qualify, it doesn't matter what suit u have on, how much thai u can speak, etc etc. You must follow the rules exactly and have all the paperwork done to qualify. If in the past they let u slide, but no more, it was simply cuz they were nice, or forgot to verify some requirement.

Like all consular offices and embassies, they have the "right" to refuse anyone to visa extension. However, this right not based on their bias. They have specific exact guidelines to reject applicants, like a terrorist, a convict etc. They cannot reject you cuz ur ugly or fat or don't look like someone they want in their country.

I do admit though that it seems that you can get a visa through non-legal means. This may be the case in Rayong vs Penang. This evidently means getting a visa from a consular officer working under the table, and collecting the fee along with friends instead of going to the government. Also, gov't officials will "ask" for more money as in the case of Cambodia, such as 1000 baht vs 20 dollars. This asking can be quite forceful, but if you know the laws, you can insist, and they have to give u a visa. To date nobody else I've seen has gotten it for 20 dollars and no more, cuz everyone caves in in front of demands of an officer. I've been told by consular officers I would have to wait all day in Camby for not giving into bribery, not once in 10 times have I had to wait more than 10 mins.

In poor nations immigration officials are cheats, but as officials are limited to what they can do.

Sorry, but your post is nothing but wishful thinking, at least in Thailand.

1.) The rules are published in a way that leaves open a lot for interpretation .....

2.) The October 2006 Visa rules (in paper) limit not the amount of 30 Day stamps (not transit Visas, this is something completely differen!), but the time spent in Thailand on these, to 90 withing 180 Days. Your immigration officer was misinformed. Most of them are, so no big deal.

3.) If you follow all by the dots and commas of the rule, you can be sure you will be rejected for some document missing, that is not in the rule book but it demanded by the officer on that very day.

4.) They have full authority to admit or reject anybody as they feel like. No rule book here.

4.) Youre probably right, there are Visas to get by paying Tea Money. And your point is?

5.) For Thai officials there seems to be little limitations as to what they can do to extort bribes. It seems to be in their culture, as recently has been openly stated by a prominent contender of the next elections.

Sunny