F K Thornbury

Sooooo... Joe, could you (or anyone with experience) possibly answer a few quick questions on the corollary, which is that I need to get a non-B?

~Where's the best/easiest place to get one.

~Can I get one with multiple entries?

~How much does it cost?

Thanks,

FKT

7 minutes ago, elviajero said:

What the BOI people are asking from you is utterly ridiculous. All that you should be required is a non 'O' visa with proof that you are married. The reason the visa was issued is irrelevant.  

I know, it's absurd. And what you said - "All that you should be required is a non 'O' visa with proof that you are married. The reason the visa was issued is irrelevant" - man, I've been trying to get somebody to grasp this for 4 weeks.

So here's the final verdict: in order to get the Thai Wife stamp you need to extend your visa for a year; in order to extend your visa for a year you need either 400K or 40K... but, since the BOI will not provide supporting docs to show that I have a WP in process, I have only the 400K option.

Or, really, no options because I don't have that money in a Thai bank.

So, for anyone hoping to get a WP through BOI with a non-O marriage and no "Thai Wife" stamp in your passport..... be prepared to show 400K or get a non-B.  End of story.

Thailand, where logic went to die.

39 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Perhaps go back to immigration and see if they will do a stamp or notation that says Thai wife.

I had a feeling this would be an issue because, ya know, so before I left CW I asked for English version. And I was promptly reminded of the critical thinking capabilities of peeps in a place like a Thai government orifice.

On 8/5/2016 at 6:20 PM, ubonjoe said:

I assume you mean applying for an extension based upon working. You should not have a problem with your current non-o visa entry but you would need the work permit first.

If you wanted a non-b visa from an embassy or consulate you could apply for one before your current visa expires.

Just want to update in case anyone has the displeasure of trying to get a WP through the BOI whilst trying to maintain a non-O visa:

~BOI said they need indication that my non-O is of the marriage variety

~Since it is a "fresh" non-O (i.e. had never been extended) it had no indication that it was of the marriage variety (no "Thai Wife" stamp associated to it)

~I went to CW and got a 60-day extension (on my 2nd trip there; first trip they said I didn't have docs that ultimately the lady at the 2nd trip said I didn't need)

~This 60-day extension stamp said ("join spouse" or "support spouse" in Pasa Thai, not "Thai Wife" in Pasa English), so, of course, I was denied by BOI's immigration people

~The reason this is absurd, as far as I can tell, is because the requirements for a 60-day extension stamp ("Supporting Spouse") or 1-year extension stamp ("Thai Wife") are identical.... except for the financial requirement which I have satisfied in the past by showing I had a WP in process, which, duh!!!

So, I guess the answer is you need to have Pasa English "Thai Wife" stamp or 400K or 40K salary (which obviously you wouldn't if you were applying for a WP) in order to get a WP through BOI on a non-O marriage.

Anyone know how I can get that "Thai Wife" stamp without having to go pay 1900 again and provide all the paperwork again and get my company to go up there with me to show I have a WP in progress (this may be the most absurd aspect of the whole thing) etc. etc., keeping in mind that last week I got a 60-day extension?

Thanks,

FKT

Joe, what about if I change gears and just get a non-B...

Do I need to cancel my non-O first?

And when would you recommend I go for the new non-B given that my current visa expires Sept. 9th, my current stamp is through Sept. 1st.? 

Thank you,

FKT

7 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I have never heard of anybody needing the photos for a 60 day extension. The proof of residence is needed to prove you live in Bangkok.

It also does not appear on the list of required documents.

 

"In the case of visiting a spouse or children who are of Thai nationality:

Criteria for Consideration

(1) There must be proof of relationship. (2) In the case of spouse, the relationship must be de jure and de facto.

Documents to be submitted

1. Application form 2. Copy of applicant’s passport 3. Copy of household registration certificate 4. Copy of national ID card of the person having Thai nationality 5. Copy of a marriage certificate or copy of a birth certificate"

Ohhhh, I know, Joe.  I know.

So, FYI.... as usual, just bring everything you can think of and hope you get the laid-back officer.

(There's a hot youngin' in the non-O area now, too.)

On 8/2/2016 at 7:27 AM, ubonjoe said:

A TM7 form is used for all extensions. 

Only picture needed is your for the TM7 form.

Hi everyone, FYI I was rejected at CW today for the 60-day non-O extension because I didn't have pics of my wife and I at the condo and didn't have a copy of my landlord's Thai ID (because both of these prove something important and neither can be fudged in any way!!)

LOL Thighlandzzzzz!

PSA/mild rant over.

Hi Joe,

TM7 for this, chai mai?

Do I need pics of me and my wife?

Thanks, FKT

No financial proof is required to apply for the 60 day extension. Your wife will need to be with you when you apply.

So... no financial proof, wife needs to be in attendance, anything else you can think of besides the obvious?

And, as I may have mentioned, my current visa expires Sept. 9th, my current stamp is through Sept. 1st... So what are acceptable answers if asked why I'm asking for 60-days extension?

I mean, if I had the dough I'd ask for a 1-year extension, and if BOI didn't have this "Thai Wife" extension stamp formality I'd just go to Savannakhet for a new non-O... so why would someone get the 60-days if they already live here with their wife?

Thanks,

FKT

No financial proof is required to apply for the 60 day extension. Your wife will need to be with you when you apply.

Thank you.

Thanks for the info everyone, but what's this business about proving my non-o is based on marriage (which my HR dept is saying BOI needs to see)?

HR keeps referring to the "Thai Wife" stamp, which I'm pretty sure are in my old passport from 60-day extensions during WP processing or the actual extension of stay.

I mean, a non-o is a non-o insofar as its supporting a WP in concerned, right?

Thanks,

FKT

A non 'O' is not a non 'O' if it's an extension of stay based on your marriage.

You need to have entered the country with a non immigrant visa that would need to be a category 'B', or 'O' as you are married. Non 'O' visas do not usually have the reason the visa was issued stamped on them. So if you entered recently using a non 'O' visa, and have a 90 day permit to stay granted when entering the country, you will need to supply a copy of your marriage certificate.

If you entered with a non immigrant visa, and subsequently extended your initial 90 day stay based on marriage, you will have a permit stamped in your passport confirming your extension of stay. Immigration will have hand written or stamped (in Thai or English) the reason (married) the extension was granted on or next to the permit of stay. Even with that annotation a copy of your marriage certificate may also be requested.

Thanks. I visited BOI today to get some clarification.

Since my current non-o (marriage) has never been extended, and therefore there is no "Thai Wife" stamp in my passport, BOI has no proof that my visa is actually based on marriage (and BOI only issues WPs on non-o visas if they are marriage-based).

So, I need to go to CW to get an extension stamp stating "Thai Wife". So, here are my questions:

~in order to get the extension stamp, must I meet any financial requirements? (I don't have 400K in a Thai bank)

~is it possible to switch my non-o to a non-b without leaving the country?

Thanks,

FKT

Did you show them your marriage certificate? That should really be all you need.

It seems the one year extension stay is not possible since you do not have the 400k baht in the bank or proof of 40k baht income. You could apply for a 60 day extension to visit your wife and make sure they mark it as being based upon marriage.

Non immigrant visa classes cannot be changed at immigration. Only a tourist visa or visa exempt entry can be changed to a non immigrant visa.

Yeah, BOI has my marriage cert, as well as all my wife's ID stuff, land paper, etc.

The logic, I guess, is that showing the marriage cert doesn't actually prove that my visa was awarded based on marriage... so BOI needs me to go to CW to get that "proof" in the form of a fresh extension stamp stating "Thai Wife".

You think they will do a 60-day extension without financials?

Thanks Joe.

Thanks for the info everyone, but what's this business about proving my non-o is based on marriage (which my HR dept is saying BOI needs to see)?

HR keeps referring to the "Thai Wife" stamp, which I'm pretty sure are in my old passport from 60-day extensions during WP processing or the actual extension of stay.

I mean, a non-o is a non-o insofar as its supporting a WP in concerned, right?

Thanks,

FKT

A non 'O' is not a non 'O' if it's an extension of stay based on your marriage.

You need to have entered the country with a non immigrant visa that would need to be a category 'B', or 'O' as you are married. Non 'O' visas do not usually have the reason the visa was issued stamped on them. So if you entered recently using a non 'O' visa, and have a 90 day permit to stay granted when entering the country, you will need to supply a copy of your marriage certificate.

If you entered with a non immigrant visa, and subsequently extended your initial 90 day stay based on marriage, you will have a permit stamped in your passport confirming your extension of stay. Immigration will have hand written or stamped (in Thai or English) the reason (married) the extension was granted on or next to the permit of stay. Even with that annotation a copy of your marriage certificate may also be requested.

Thanks. I visited BOI today to get some clarification.

Since my current non-o (marriage) has never been extended, and therefore there is no "Thai Wife" stamp in my passport, BOI has no proof that my visa is actually based on marriage (and BOI only issues WPs on non-o visas if they are marriage-based).

So, I need to go to CW to get an extension stamp stating "Thai Wife". So, here are my questions:

~in order to get the extension stamp, must I meet any financial requirements? (I don't have 400K in a Thai bank)

~is it possible to switch my non-o to a non-b without leaving the country?

Thanks,

FKT

Thanks for the info everyone, but what's this business about proving my non-o is based on marriage (which my HR dept is saying BOI needs to see)?

HR keeps referring to the "Thai Wife" stamp, which I'm pretty sure are in my old passport from 60-day extensions during WP processing or the actual extension of stay.

I mean, a non-o is a non-o insofar as its supporting a WP in concerned, right?

Thanks,

FKT

You just need to submit a copy of your marriage certificate to prove your non-o visa was based upon marriage when it was issued. That is the normal procedure when applying for a work permit when applying with a non-o visa.

The BOI does no issue work permits the Labor Ministry still does them but under special rules. You can certainly get a work permit with a non-o visa.

Thanks Joe! What are the "special rules" you're referring to? Do you mean there are special rules for the Labor Ministry when processing WPs for companies going through the BOI?

Thanks!

Hello,

I'm on a non-o marriage that is valid through 9th September 2016.

My company is, I believe, getting bad information from BOI. Seems like BOI is saying I need to have a stamp in my passport alluding to my being here to support my wife (although I believe this is implicit in having received a non-o marriage).

I guess my questions are thus:

~can I get a WP on a non-o marriage through the BOI?

~if so, am I missing something in my passport, or do I just need my valid visa and all the "employer/employee" stuff as support

Thanks,

FKT

Any ideas on how to get from Mukdahan to Ubon after I've picked up my passport? I want to avoid the bus, which last year was obscenely crowded.

Anyone ever paid a taxi for this commute?

excellent, thx!

Which form is used for applying for Non-O based on marriage?

Hi Joe,

I guess one thing I should add is that my Non-O expired on July 8th, but I made my final 90-day entry on June 27th, so I'm stamped until Sept. 24th.

Will that change how they handle me when I go out this time?

Thanks.

Thanks a lot Joe.

Just got new US Passport (old one expiring soon), and a letter accompanying it asking Thai Immigration to transfer my Non-O to my new passport, etc. Anyone have experience doing this? I ask for two reasons:

1. Is an appointment necessary, or can I show up in Changwattana and take a number?

2. Do you think it will cause me any problems when I go to Savannakhet next week for a new Non-O (I don’t anticipate this being the case, but wondered if anyone had any horror stories from this situation)?

And regarding Savannakhet for a Non-O, they’re still giving them without financials, right? And are they returning them same-day or next-day?

A recap of what paperwork’s needed would be sincerely appreciated, too.

Thanks,

FKT

It actually applies to any topic.

I'll rephrase: "Why, after I asked a completely open-minded, diplomatic question in the OP do you come out all smug and dismissive; is it bc you're a crabby old man?"

(You should feel free to answer for yourself as well)

OP.

Take a Thai cooking class.

Yes. I did.

You don't peel Thai garlic.

You leave the herbs in soup.

Maybe you just don't like Thai food.

Next ...

lol

how old are you?

No idea how old he is but he definitely seems to be more mature than you.

is that a difficult question to answer?

Also, if you want Thai food done a certain way, why not cook it yourself?

genius

This is Thailand, not Italy.

Even more on point. It's about the Thai garlic vs. the garlic used in Italian cooking. If making Thai food in Italy with THAI garlic that also should not be peeled but should be smashed. If making a garlic Italian pasta in Thailand with western style garlic (here we get that from China) than those cloves should be (and would be) peeled and likely minced.

They are both called garlic but they are very different foods with different properties.

the relevant property from the diner's perspective is that garlic skin in the mouth is not pleasant or delicious.

go to a thai restaurant in Thonglor, which is in Thailand, with a Thai chef, cooking Thai food.... s/he'll have removed the skins.