Liquorice

You could convert your TV to a Non B. https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/issuing-and-changing-type-of-visa/

Absolutely, but nobody checks, not the Embassy/Consulate, ECO at borders points, and you never visit Thai Immigration. I know of 3 that stay this way, 1 for over 10 years, but if caught, deportation and blacklisted.

You can obtain the Non Imm O ME Visa with just a copy of your wife's (or ex) TB and ID card, from Savannahket, if you get my drift.

Have you considered obtaining the Non Imm O ME Visa from Savannahket or HCMC? That would allow you to stay, albeit with border runs every 90 days.

Thanks for that update. Not recommended! Despite warning a friend last year, he gave his documents and Passport to a tout outside the MFA. To cut a long story short, only after the involvement of the Police and parting with 26K did he get his documents returned after 6 weeks-not legalized. He came VE for 30 days to get married, ended up having to apply for a 30-day extension and the additional cost of hotel and changing his return flight date.

To expand on what UJ stated. You can both initially apply for a 30-day extension to your current 60-day permission of stay. If your wife still isn't able to travel towards the end of the 30 day extension, you can both apply for a 90 day extension on medical grounds, (her as the patient, you as the carer), but would need a letter from a doctor stating she is unable to travel, and you are her carer.

A Tourist Visa permits a stay of 60 days on entry, which can be extended for a further 30 days. Arriving by air, there is no written order as to how many times you can enter, it's purely at the discretion of the IO.

You download the appropriate 'affidavit' from the British Embassy (single, divorced, widowed), then type yourself filling in the blanks. There is a translation office in the same building as the Legalization Dept of the MFA, who must legalize the documents. First and foremost, you should check the requirements at your local Amphoe office where you intend to register your marriage. Most Amphoe's will at minimum require an Embassy certified copy of your Passport information page, as well as an 'affidavit' of no impediment to marry, certified by your Embassy. These documents must be translated into Thai, then both the original and translations legalised by the Legalisation division of the Consular department of Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Typical documents required by an Amphoe. Passport. Intended spouses Tabien Baan and ID card. Embassy certified 'affidavit'', Embassy certified Passport copy and Thai translations, legalised by the Legalisation division of the Consular department of the MFA. The marital status of your intended spouse can be checked on their online database for any previous record of marriage, or divorce. If your intended was previously 'widowed', I would recommend she takes her ex husbands Death certificate as proof of her marital status. Next you must swear an 'affidavit' of no legal impediment to marry at your designated Embassy in Thailand. Each Embassy will have it's own procedure, but you will have to provide evidence of your current marital status, either 'single', 'widowed' or 'divorced'. Certain Embassies may have 'templates' for such that they request you download, print and complete the fields with the requested information. Do not sign – the 'affidavit. It must be signed in the presence of an Embassy official qualified to take such statements and witness. You will have to make an appointment at your Embassy to complete the procedure. Your Embassy may request additional documents to verify information stated in the 'affidavit'. I suggest you take the following documents to avoid any disappointment. Passport Completed 'affidavit' (unsigned). Any 'final divorce decree' or 'death certificate' of ex spouse. Intended spouse Tabien Baan and ID card. The Consular building of Thailand's MFA in Bangkok also has a translation office on the floor above from their legalisation office. You can arrange for translations and the legalisation of the documents to be returned to your home address by EMS, rather than wait around in Bangkok. Takes approximately 5 working days for return by EMS. Bangkok Legalisation Division Department of Consular Affairs 123 Chaeng Wattana Road Bangkok 10210 Call Center: Tel: +66 (0) 2572 8442 (Thai language only) OR +66 (0) 2 575 1058, +66 (0) 2 575 1059 (from 8.30 –14.30) E-mail: [email protected]

And both IMO are circuitous suggestions, involving more travel, expense and bureaucracy, when a proven direct procedure is available, that would allow the OP to remain in Thailand for 4-5 months a year without leaving Thailand. Non Imm O (one off) > 1-year extension of stay. In following years, he would only be required to apply for the 1-year extension + re-entry permit.

Yes he did. Incorrect; One visit to apply for a 30-day extension, a second visit to apply for the Non O, and a third to get the stamp when his application has been approved. I believe you may get away with applying for a change of status from Tourist to Non Immigrant once, but trying each and every subsequent year, just so you can stay 5 months, Immigration would regard it as an abuse of the system and deny further Non O applications, unless you intended to thereafter apply for a 1-year extension.

That is not the intent of changing status from Tourist to Non Immigrant just so you can stay 5 months without leaving Thailand. The OP obviously intends to stay several months each year. Your advice would be to enter VE each year, extend his stay for 30 days, then apply for the Non O. That's 3 visits to an Immigration office within the space of 60 days each year. Not to mention an outbound ticket within 30 days, entering VE.

That involves a lot of bureaucratic procedures to follow, when the OP has stated he could obtain the Non O before entering Thailand. The intention of applying for the Non 0 in Thailand is a prelude to applying for a 1-year extension, not to stay 5 months.

Obtaining a Non Imm O Visa to enter Thailand would grant a stay of 90 days. If you have an income of more than 40K THB per month, you could obtain an Income certificate letter from the German Embassy, which would then allow you to apply for a 1-year extension of stay. Purchase a re-entry permit, which protects any permission of stay granted, and this will allow you to re-enter Thailand again the following year - then repeat. This is the only way you could stay for 4-5 months continuously each year without having to leave Thailand.

They should initially be checking the Thai Embassy websites for availability of Visa types. By the order of the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Thailand dated 1 October B.E. 2564 (2021), a Special Tourist Visa (STV) has been extended to 30 September 2022. Please kindly be informed that the STV visa will not be continued thereafter. https://thaiembdc.org/visas/

You can apply for a 60-day extension of stay to visit your Thai spouse if you so wish. Looking forward, if/when you return to the UK, and the time is right for you to return permanently, you can apply for the Non Imm O Visa from the Thai Embassy London to enter Thailand.

There are some differences in documentation, but especially financial requirements, applying for either the Non Imm O Visa and then applying for 1 year extensions of stay.

@Kevin1908 Firstly, you state you entered Visa exempt (without a Visa). To apply for a 1-year extension of stay based on either retirement or Thai spouse, you must have Non Immigrant status (Non Imm O Visa). Your first objective is to change your Tourist status to Non Immigrant status, before you can apply for a 1-year extension of stay. Secondly, you need to decide if you want to apply for both the Non Imm O and 1 year extension based on either retirement or Thai spouse. Reading between the lines, the Immigration officer has been giving you too much forward information regarding all the financial options available for extensions based on both retirement and Thai spouse, which has obviously caused your confusion. One step at a time. Because you entered Visa exempt as a Tourist, you need to first apply for a change of status and apply for the Non Imm O Visa at your Immigration office. What date did you enter Thailand, and when does your current permission of stay end?

A word of caution. It's often reported a 'ticket out' is acceptable, whether by air, train, or road. It's the airline that insist on an onward ticket when entering VE, as if refused entry, it's they who are responsible to return you to your point of departure as well as being fined. A friend, whose previous extension had lapsed, planned to enter VE > Non O > 1 year extension again. Aware of the requirement for an outbound ticket, booked an outbound flight to Phnom Phen within the 30 days. His leg from the UK to Thailand was with Emirates, arriving at Suvarnabhumi. Ar check-in, he was asked if he had an outbound ticket, which he had. However, they noted the outbound flight was from Don Muang to Phnom Phen. They asked, if refused entry at SV, how he intended to travel to DM to catch his outbound flight. He was denied boarding until he rebooked an outbound ticket departing SV. The same would apply to train or road travel outbound tickets. If refused entry, how would you travel to the train or coach station to catch that outbound transport. Of course, the chances of being refused entry are low, but it then becomes the airline's responsibility if you're unable to use any outbound ticket.

From PC https://extranet.immigration.go.th/fn24online/

If it's a valid multiple entry Visa, then you don't require a re-entry permit.

Yes you can.

Did you enter Thailand on a Non Imm O Visa? You must file a new TM30 at CM prior to applying for any services.

As per @sandyf. No expiry date for translations.

The reasons being the Non O-A is applied for solely on the basis of retirement, as opposed to the Non O, which can be applied for numerous reasons. The Non O-A also has the mandatory Insurance for extensions. I've witnessed Immigration telling foreigners on the Non O-A but married to Thais who attempted to change the reason of stay from retirement to Thai spouse, they need to get a Non O Visa. Of course, this was almost impossible last year. I'm sure there have been previous reports before on this same issue.

A potential problem he may face is Immigrations refusal to allow an extension based on Thai spouse (no Insurance requirement) when he originally entered on a Non O-A Visa, which is specifically based on retirement and has an Insurance requirement. I'm aware of a couple on Non O-A's who were told to get a Non O if they wanted to apply for an extension based on Thai spouse.