NorthernRyland

I'm going to apply for a non-o in the US for the first time and I have a question regarding one of the requirements. From https://thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-o-family-member they state: I think it may just be a written/typed letter which states we are married and she's inviting me but I'm not 100% certain it's that informal. Does anyone have any example of what they want? Otherwise the requirements are actually much lower than all the stuff I had to submit in country so that's a pleasant surprise. Thanks!

Nice plan good luck. If they let you off 6 months a year that's already pretty good though. Not sure how many companies would even let you get away with a month or two.

I haven't looked at the bill in a while but isn't 5 baht already about average?

This is exactly the problem the person who made that visa doesn't understand. If you're making 80k/year you're kind of a valuable asset and I don't see why your boss would let you live in another country unless you were 100% remote. I'm surprised it would be hard to find a job in Thailand. Don't they need high skilled programmers and the likes?

Nailed it. I honestly don't think they have any idea at all what types of people earn that kind of money and what their employment terms are. They literally could have plucked that 80k figure out of thin air because it "sounds about right". From all my experience in the country the vast, vast majority of people are here because it saves them money and provides them a way to get by with less. I just can't see people earning a high wage in Western countries being able or willing to relocate full time to a country like Thailand. Sounds like a total fantasy to me but what do I know...

That's a good point. I guess a remote working in that region could save money living in Thailand and it may make sense. Not sure about the wages there but 80k sounds really steep. I don't understand why Thailand needs to set the bar so high as if a person making 60k USD is somehow not good enough. It must be an ego trip or something.

Most likely if you make 80k/year you're going to be based near your place of work or in the case you're fully remote they probably need you in the same timezone as them at least. I know there's some people who are self employed and make that kind of money but how rare is this going to be and are why do they want to live in Thailand instead of any number of other countries? Seriously how many people per year are going to be using this visa? I wouldn't be surprised if it was in the hundreds. It seems like another really poorly thought out plan by the out of touch government.

If that IO doesn't like the fact I'm leaving the country after getting a 60 day extension getting the re-entry permit may be a problem also. If I lived close I would just go and ask but it's a serious hassle to get anywhere near that place.

Just talked to my wife and I may have missed some detail. I thought I understood but the IO said the problem is when he issues the visa I won't be in the country (August 7th) and THAT was his problem. Who cares if I'm here or not? My problem may have been because I told the guy I was leaving and if I would have just said nothing and asked for an extension it would have been fine. I don't understand Thai logic but maybe he though he was doing me a favor or something.

What is this thing even called? I just told the IO some guys on a forum said you could get a 2 month extension to visit a Thai wife. Maybe I totally confused him but you're saying for a fact there is a 2 month extension available for a non-O? If I go back just to argue with him I'll come back empty handed again.

The bigger problem is the processing time. It will take longer than 1 week and I'll be gone then and won't be able to get the stamp. Maybe they would have allowed that but I doubt it since my visa would be expired by then. I didn't think to ask and he didn't suggest it. Going back to ask that question is another half day lost.

Going there wastes half a day (I live on the north side of the city). Wife was <deleted> today she wasted another day off for nothing. If I go back I need to have a good plan. ???? This could all be solved by asking a question by phone but they never answer in my experience so we gave up trying.

because 1) it's probably too early (some people said 45 days earlier could be ok but didn't ask) and 2) I'm leaving in 1 week and the process takes longe then that. If that was an option I would think the IO would have let me know?

I don't know what I can do about this then. I showed him my passport and told him I was leaving for 2 months. Even if we had a misunderstanding he should have known I needed some kind of extension but he said just let it lapse and start over. I'm telling you this man is senior and I've seen him there since at least 2008. The visa expires August 7th so maybe it was too early? He didn't say so though. I don't get it either.

The non-O I got in Chiang Mai expires August 7th. I leave for the US July 7th for 2 months.

He said I'm already in country so what's the point. My visa is expired August 7th so I'm basically asking for this in advance when I get back in early September but I don't "need" it now. Yes I now I don't need it now, but I will need it later. This guy has been working their for over 10 years so I don't think he's lacking information.

This guys pretty good. Proven professional over a long career with Symphony X.

Earlier I I asked about my situation where I've just converted to a non-O based on marriage but I will be leaving the country for 2 months with not enough time to request the 12 month extension in advance and return it before I leave. @ubonjoe suggested I could get an extension based on visiting a Thai wife and they would extend 2 months from the expiration date of the visa, thus giving me enough time to return to Thailand and complete the 12 month extension. Anyways I went to immigration this morning and the guy said there was no point for getting this kind of visa because I was already in the country. I told him my situation and he suggested to just let the visa expire and re apply for it later. I thought it made sense to give me the extension so it would be ready by the time I got back the IO didn't seem to think so. Can I get this extension when I'm outside of Thailand or do I simply need to apply for the non-O at the embassy in the US or when I get back to Thailand? I almost think it may be easier in the US since I just send it visa post and wait instead of 2 doing trips to CM immigration which wastes half a day each time. Not sure about how the Ko Ro 2 and the bank book though. I mainly just wanted to report that in case it was useful for anyone in CM. Other offices may allow this but maybe it's not worth trying in CM.

yes.

I know the prices changed but nothing structural has actually changed. When people start flying again flight patterns will resume and prices will come down. I just got a flight to Colorado USA for $1300/USD. The path was not normal but not actually a terrible flight and the prices is about $250 more than usual, plus I need to get to BKK from Chiang Mai which is another annoying thing. it will take some time for normal procedures to resume but that doesn't the mean "the days of ___ are over" like some global think tanks would like you to believe.

what happened to all the old employees? I hear these stories often but I don't understand how people can decided to simple go home and not work as if that's ever been an option at any point in human history.

Nothing changed why are you saying that? I've heard this in the news media so maybe you're repeating it from them but this kind of propaganda is like magic spells, if you repeat it over and over again it becomes true.

Considering the current situation in the US I looked last night if abortion was legal in Thailand and I found it was just made legal in 2021. Honestly I'm surprised the current government would allow this now when birth rates are falling and age is rising. Land feels overpriced in Thailand so maybe population is too high but governments tend to look at the new people as new tax payers so again the timing of this law change is curious.

Then it never ends. The idea is to break the habit people have formed so we don't have to run around in masks for the literal rest of our lives.

I go to Mae Sa in Mae Jo (north east part of the city) if that's a good location for you. Google "483, Chiangmai-Maejo rd.,, Moo 5, San Sai District, Chiang Mai 50290" and it should popup.