consigliere

1. Letter does not mention that THB400,000 needs to be seasoned in bank for three months prior to renewal. Previously this was a condition.

I was told it is two months.

2. Needs to provide evidence that the funds were transferred from overseas. Not just show your bank book. Has to be in writing from the financial institution.

Not what I was told - just show the book. They just want to see your name and that you've got the required amount flowing in somehow.

3. Provide copies of children's birth certificates. Never needed before. Does it mean your child or child of your wife from previous relationship as well? What do children have to do with it, you are applying to renew your visa because you are married to a Thai national, with or without children.

I was asked for these. Don't know why, didn't bother asking as it's not a big deal to show them.

4. Copy of passport needs to be legally certified that it is a true copy. Not needed before.

No - I provided copies from my printer.

5. He did mention something about proof of residential address. Sorry, have forgotten what he said.

My wife was with me and she was asked for the rental agreement for our house. I was really surprised and was lucky she had it with her.

I believe there was a misunderstanding as you can never immediately receive a one year extension of stay for Thai wife extension. It always involves an under review period. Suspect they were saying that the non immigrant 90 day entry would have been accepted without first obtaining the 60 day extension of stay (and if you had applied with 15 days or more remaining on permitted to stay it would also have been unneeded). But it does indicate they would accept bank proof on sight and that Embassy letter requires verification (perhaps of signature) taking extra time? Interesting.

First I got the extension. There was a miserable trainee working there and when I asked about the "O" she just said, I don't know, I don't know anything other than extensions, you go to C1." She was one of those "non-smiling Thais."

Then I went to C1 and when I asked why the income verification wasn't acceptable, "Anyone can put anything on this form," he said. Well, I know this but then why does HIS IMMIGRATION department state that it's allowable?!

I can easily provide a bank statement that shows I make enough money but not seasoned. I've got two kids who are in international school, a wife I've been married to for nearly 11 years and have had a marriage visa and non-M in the past. You would think that with the kids in school and the length of time I've been here they would be a little more reasonable but it just seems like they want farang to fly by and drop the bags of cash but not set foot on their land. A bit frustrating at times, for sure, and I may well one day get out of here but for now I will bite my tongue and just say, "Khup, khup." After we got home my wife asked why they were so rude to me and so polite to her. "Why do they have to be like that to you?" were her exact words. If I had the financial means and didn't have two young kids, I would be gone. Where I'm not sure, but it seems that the attitude towards foreigners gets worse and worse.

Yesterday I went to immigration at Chaengwattana to change my visa exemption status to a non-immigrant O. First, because I was on my last day of the 30 days, I neeeded an extension. They gave me 60 day extension for 1900 baht. Then I went over to C1 and gave my application for the "O" based on marriage to a Thai. I provided all the necessary paperwork, a couple of photos of my wife and kids in front of our house, an an income verification from the US Embassy.

The officer informed me that had I brought a bank book in showing 400K or 40K a month instead of the income verification from the Embassy, I would have received the 1 year extension and not a 90 day extension. Now I need to go back to immigration in two weeks to find out the result of my change of visa - which I'm assuming will be no problem - and then after 60 days apply for the 1 year extension. What struck me as strange was that he said I needed the 400k/40k to get the one year immediately however if I got my 90 days and then applied for the 1 year extension, the income verification from the embassy would suffice. It seems to me that immigration ought to make their rules and regulations uniform but then that would be too easy and after all, This is Thailand!

You need to go to Immigration and convert to a Non Imm O Visa (90 days) 2,000 Baht

You can then apply for the 12 month extension. 1,900 baht.

They might even do it all on the same day.

Yes your Wife has to go every year to be spoken to and to fill in forms.

Note that only Bangkok and one or two other offices will do the conversion so you might be sent to Bangkok depending on where you apply.

That's excellent, thank you. I'm in Bangkok so no problem other than the traffic to get to Chaengwattana Road!

I dont know what paperwork i need to take with me so any info will be gratefully received.. Best wishes David

1. Two application forms T.M. 7 with two photographs size 4x6 cm. and Visa Fee 1900.-Baht

2. Copy Marriage Certificate

3. Copy Kor Ror 2 from amphur office (not older than six months)

4. Child's birth certificate (if any)

5. Copy wife’s house registration

6. Copy wife’s identity card

7. Copy passport, non-Im visa, arrival card.

8. Interview the husband and wife for confirming status of husband and wife

9. Map to residency (names of roads and house marked in Thai)

10. Picture of house and family, in house and outside showing house number.

With money in bank option.

1. Letter from bank same day or day before stating bank records, make a transaction just before to get it up to date.

2. Bank account must be in Husbands name, joint accounts will not qualify.

With Income in Thailand option

1. A copy of work permit

2. Personal Corporation income Tax (PND.1) in latest 3 months and personal income tax for previous year with receipt

With Income from abroad.

1. Embassy letter stating your income.

All of the above in two copies, if not in BKK

So I have all of the above but right now I am visa exempt. Can I change it to a Non-Imm O, which would be 90 days or do I need to get an extension for 60 days? If I get the 90 days, do I then need to go outside the country to get a multiple entry O? I had a non-imm M for many years but before this had a O - for the life of me I can't remember all the details and since the requirements change every other day, I'd appreciate any help I can get! I do remember that my wife DID NOT go with me in the past so I'm not sure why they want her to go but if she needs to go she needs to go.

I'm sorry but I would take very little from this at all.

There is no mention of the code for the Non immigrant visa though we assume it's a Non-0 visa.

This is hardly a new rule anyway, if you arn't married to the mother of the child what right should you have to get the visa anyway.

Seems like the only reason why you got the email in the first place was because some guy knocked up a girl in Pattaya and thought it would be a good way to get a visa.

Oh and to those who think it's racist go back and ask your own consulate if this would fly in your country, it wouldn't. have a kid in america to an unwed mother good luck if you think you'll get a green card.

I think this issue is deeper than what you're thinking. I've been here for 16 years and married for a little more than 12 years and have two children, both over 7. What would happen if my wife were to pass away? I wouldn't be married - does that then mean I would need to go out of the country to renew my visa on a regular basis or would I still be allowed to have a one year Non-Imm O?

What about people who choose not to marry?

What about Farang women married to Thai men? Will this rule apply to women too?

Does an unmarried father not have the same rights as a married one? Like it or not, if an unmarried person is supporting his child, they ought to have the same rights as a married father.

Well, this wouldn't apply to me as 1) I'm not applying in the UK and 2) I'm legally married to a Thai and have been for many years.

As far as what I'm doing: I really do not want to leave the country at this time, if at all possible as I'm a quite busy at the moment. Since I have all my marriage paperwork, I'm looking to simply extend my 30-day visa exempt stay for another 60 days. In the next 3-4 weeks I will then have time to go out of the country for a few weeks for a bit of a holiday while at the same time applying for my non-imm O. Not sure of the order that everything needs to be done but it is my understanding, and I may be wrong, that I can not simply go to immigration when I don't have a visa and ask to change to a non-imm O. If I'm simply getting an extension, will they require the paper from the US Embassy? It's a bit of a haul for me to go there and thus, if I don't need it, I'd rather not go there to get it!

So Friday I'm going to immigration to get my extension based on my marriage to a Thai. I'm just wondering, as I haven't had a marriage visa in many years, what will they require?

I have her ID card, House Registration, marriage certificate/paperwork, Thai birth certificates for our two children and all necessary copies, etc, etc. My money is earned outside of Thailand tho (US) so I'm wondering if I need to go to the US Embassy before going Friday to get the paperwork notarized stating I make X amount of dollars per month? Or can I wait for this until I go to whererever I'm going (Phnom Penh, Laos, or KL) for my 1 year MULTIPLE entry extension. I've had problems before with the embassy in Cambodia but I'm assuming they shouldn't have a problem to give me the one year extension if I have all the necessary paperwork. We've been married for almost 12 years and have two kids so I'm hoping it will be a simple matter!