Wongkitlo

48 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

If it were me, I would border-bounce for another 90-day entry before your "Visa" expires (22nd April), then start seasoning the 400K. 
Use a re-entry permit to keep that 90-day "permitted stay" alive until you return, at which point your current "permitted stay" is still good through mid July. 

Apply for the 1-year extension upon return, with the money already seasoned, and with you in-country to deal with the "under consideration" home-visit.

 

If you are doing your marriage extension at Jomtien, you are (bleeped) in terms of "their attitude," no matter what - 60-days or 12-months.  They will likely be as rude to your wife as possible, and look for any reason to deny the extension.  That said, you can get it done with persistence, and if you can watch them abuse your wife without exploding.  I used the Non-O-ME from Savannahkhet specifically for this reason, for years.

 

I don't know if Trat is friendly with marriage-extensions.  It is a hassle at any office, really - even in places where they are at least "civil" about it.  In Bangkok, they told my wife I was a "criminal" for having used a Non-O-ME Visa in the past - though that experience was far less-bad than Jomtien, in that they didn't literally "make up" fake requirements to block me.  Out in the sticks it was better - they were even polite - but it took all day, every year. 

 

I now use a retirement-extension from Jomtien, which is EASY there.  You mentioned the money-thing, so not ideal for you.  And, your first 12-month extension from a Non-O Visa must be for the same reason as the visa, so would need to be for marriage.  The next year, could use retirement via agent for a 12,500 Baht fee - just keep in mind, if the marriage-extension is too painful. 

 

I don't think this is in your plan - but, be forewarned - the one thing you MUST avoid in Jomtien, is trying to get a Non-O 90-day stamp from a visa-exempt entry for either Retirement OR Marriage.  They break the money-seasoning rules, and demand a 15K baht payoff via an agent for that 90-day stamp - for over 10 years.  The IO has some "deal" worked out with higher-ups, so no appeal is possible. 

Thanks.  Since the  ME visa expires on the 21st April  I do not think I can use it to get the extension.  I thought to apply for the extension I must have a valid non o visa. 

I am working  months of the year so the retirement visa is not an option. 

Yes. I do not want to speak bad of anyone but the extension desk at Jomtien is a nightmare. I don't want to go there. The last 60 day extension at Trat was very friendly. She even gave my wife her phone number and,a list of papers needed to get the Non o and extension. It is just a long journey from Pattaya so I avoid it in low season. 

Thanks for your advice 

19 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Being outside of Thailand for the first two months of the 90 day stamp from the Non O will not affect the process. 

 

Do whatever you want.

The Non O marriage e-Visa from Saigon will take days to obtain.

Seems a convoluted option.

However go for it.

Do whatever. 

Thank you for the advice. There are other considerations which I did not mention - I am happy to go on a holiday for a few days, I am staying in Pattaya but want to deal with Trat office so I avoid a trip in a van then taxi from Pattaya to Laem Ngop,  and I prefer  to deal with Thai immigration as little as possible. 

Regardless the main motivation is getting access to my money within 3 months, rather than waiting till I get back from Australia then 3 months afterwards from the date I arrive back. Again thank you for taking the time. 

42 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, by now you should be aware of some basic facts. In no particular order: 

1. To "buy time" you can obtain "60 day extension to visit wife".

That may have issues as wife needs to attend immigration with you.

 

2. You can obtain a Non O at Thai embassy/consulate. That includes Australia. Think you misunderstand the 90 day count. That stamp of 90 days would be given on entry to Thailand.

Furthermore the 12 month extension can at the EARLIEST be applied for in the last 30 days of that 90 day stamp. 

Whatever you do the Non O (e-Visa) + application for 12 months extension+ under consideration period will take minimum 3 months.

 

Obviously the money is the issue. .

Long term you could consider income method as an alternative. 

Thank you. If I take option 2 and  get the Non-O from HCMC as soon as possible then re enter Thailand and get the 90 day stamp on entry I can exit Thailand on a re-entry permit  and re enter within the first 60 days of the stay.

If I then apply for the extension it will hopefully be approved within 30 days and I can access my money again. 

I understand the Non o  and application for extension will take a minimum 3 months. I am just hoping to get the process started ASAP instead of waiting till I return from Australia. 

I understand the re-entry permit does not affect the length of the visa. I can not see how not being in Thailand while I  wait for the  last 30 days of the visa to come up, will affect the process of applying for the 1 year extension as soon as I return to Thailand, unless somebody knows otherwise.  Thank you again for your help. 

9 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Just how can you apply for the 1 year extension on 1st July, as in your own words you'll depart Thailand 21st May returning 2 months later, which will be around 21st July.

Thanks. The dates are pretty flexible. I was just trying to explain how it would save  my money being in the bank  for a longer time hopefully. Even if I don't return till the 21st July,  I can apply for the extension immediately I arrive back and hopefully have it approved by 21st August. 

17 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Understood.

Your ME Non O visa expires 22nd April.

Your current permission of stay expires 1st May

You plan to depart Thailand 21st May returning 2 months later.

 

However, I think your proposed plan is time-consuming and more costly than needs to be.

Just my opinion, but in your situation I would just apply for a 60 day extension to visit Thai spouse at your local Immigration office, which will extend your permission of stay from 1st May to 30th June. Limited travel and costs 1,900 BHT.
I would then apply for the Non Imm O visa based on Thai spouse online from the comfort of an armchair https://www.thaievisa.go.th/visa/non-immigrant-o whilst back home in Australia to re-enter Thailand. On entry, you'll be granted permission of stay for 90 days, transfer the 400K then (or before you depart) then 60 days after arrival apply for the 1 year extension.

 

Absolutely no need to run around to local Countries or obtain re-entry permits.
Waste of time and money with your current plan.

All you require is a 60 day extension - 1,900 BHT > Non Imm O 120 AUD > 1 year extension 1,900 BHT.

 

 

Thank you for the reply. I understand what you are saying but I am trying to avoid having my 400,000 tied up for too long. If I get the 90 day Non O as soon as possible(1st Of May when my current stay expires)  then 60 days after  the visa is granted(1st July) I can apply for the extension and 30 days later (1st August) have my 400,000 available. If I wait till I arrive back from Australia (1st July) I will need to wait two months to apply for the extension (1st September) then 30 days for approval(1st October). This is on the understanding that the extension can only be applied for in the last 30 days of a 3 month visa. I know 400,000 is probably not a lot to some but I have a small business and having it tied up till October is difficult. 

I did avoid answering about what immigration office I use because I did not want to complicate things too much but I live 6 months in Pattaya (low season) and 6 months in Trat (High season). My work permit and tm30 is in Trat. I would apply for the extension there  but getting the visa out of the country  would avoid one  trip from Pattaya to Trat.  I have also dealt with Jomtien immigration in the past  and, unless things have changed, visiting the woman who does the 60 day extension to visit your wife is something that should be avoided. 

Just now, DrJack54 said:

@Wongkitlo have read your post above this several times.

Have zero idea what your plan is.

There are better alternatives.

Read all the MANY posts and understand your options.

 

Sorry. I thought I was following your advice. Go to a neighboring country and get a 90 day  non o visa at the embassy and then apply for the extension in the last 30  days of the visa. 

Am really grateful to @DrJack54 and @Liquorice for advice. I think my best plan is to leave Thailand  before my permission to stay ends on 1st May. By then my visa will have expired (21 April). If  I put the 400,000 into my account now I can go to a neighboring country and apply for a non o visa, married to a Thai. If I leave Thailand for Australia on 21 May I can get a reentry permit and then return in time to apply for the 1 year permission to stay. By the time I return my 400,000 will be seasoned and I should be in the required  last 30 days of the 90 days of the visa and able to apply for the 1 year extension. After the consideration period my 400,000 will be free to use. I think this is the easiest way without having my money tied up too long. 

I was hoping just 1 last question. Which neighboring embassy do you think is the friendliest to apply for a non o - Kuala Lumpur, HCMC, Hanoi, Vientiane,  Savannakhet or any other suggestions? I did look through the forum but couldn't find much about this.  Thanks. 

23 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Options.

As your permission of stay expires on May 1st, and you state you intend to leave for 2 months on 22nd May, then as an alternative rather than exit/re-enter for a further 90 day stay, you could just apply for a 60 day extension at Immigration based on Thai spouse. I assume you married in Thailand?

 

As it's your intention to visit Australia for 2 months, I would be tempted to just apply for the 60 day extension.

 

Regarding staying long term in the future, you can apply for a 12-month extension of stay based on Thai spouse.
The financial requirement is 400K THB deposited in a Thai bank account in your sole name for 2 months prior to the date of application. 
You must have a non Imm O type visa to apply for the 12 month extension.
On application, you will receive a 30-day under consideration stamp.
Once the application is approved, you can withdraw and use the full 400K THB.

Repeat the following year.

 

When you intend to return to Thailand, you have the option of applying for a new Non Imm O single entry visa from the Thai Embassy.
On entry, this will grant a stay of 90 days.
When the 400K THB funds have been seasoned for 2 months you can apply directly for the 12 month extension based on Thai spouse.
Alternatively, you could enter visa exempt and apply for the Non O at your Immigration office. (Requires at least 15 days permission of stay remaining).
For the Non O application, the 400K THB only needs to be in your Thai bank account on the day of application.
You are granted a further stay of 90 days.
Then apply for the 12-month extension when the funds have been seasoned for 2 months.

 

It may assist if you can state which Immigration office you use.

 

 

Thanks Liquorice.  Just trying to work out what to do😁

23 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OK...That plan will work and you will be stamped in for 90 days when you enter Thailand prior to April 22.

That can also be extended by 60 days to visit wife.

You will require a reentry permit for trips abroad after Visa expires (April 22).

Ongoing consider annual extensions.

You do realize that the 400k can be used after final stamp for annual extension. 

 

Am really grateful for the information. Just trying to work my way through it. 

38 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Just to avoid any confusion, what was the issue date on your Non Imm O visa?
What date did you last enter Thailand?

 

The validity of a visa and the permission of stay are different and some do confuse the issue, hence I ask the above two questions.

Thanks. I hadn't checked it for a while.  The visa expires 22 April. My last entry was 2 Feb so I will  leave and enter again before the 22nd April. If I converted the multi entry I would do next week but since I don't have the funds seasoned I will go for either reentry permit or visa free then apply for the non o. Thanks

17 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I haven't seen a report of ME Non O from Laos since e-Visa introduced.

 

Also regards HCMC read first post from @Tod Daniels in this thread 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1334937-is-a-one-year-multi-entry-marriage-visa-still-available-from-hcmc/#elControls_19129277_menu 

 

Thinking your best option in future is to do annual extensions based on retirement.

Obviously requires reentry permit for travel abroad. 

 

I am weighing keeping the business open and paying myself an income but the old ME visa made things a lot easier 

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I haven't seen a report of ME Non O from Laos since e-Visa introduced.

 

Also regards HCMC read first post from @Tod Daniels in this thread 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1334937-is-a-one-year-multi-entry-marriage-visa-still-available-from-hcmc/#elControls_19129277_menu 

 

Thinking your best option in future is to do annual extensions based on retirement.

Obviously requires reentry permit for travel abroad. 

 

I actually have a work permit and work for my wife's (read between the lines as Thais own everything) business for high season. I go to Australia for 2 months as the business shuts for 6 months so retirement is not an option. I am mainly trying to avoid having my 400,000 baht tied up for 5 months( now, trip to Australia, 2 months  seasoning) but from reading is not an option. Thank you forcall your help. 

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

The ME Non O is a visa with a validity of 1 year. You can enter Thailand and will be given 90 day stamp every entry while visa is valid.

By exiting Thailand and reenter just prior to expiry of Visa you will be given a 90 day stamp.

Once visa (not the stamp) has expired you would need to obtain a reentry permit to exit and reenter Thailand. 

 

You have most likely read previously that a ME Non O can provide stay of almost 15 months.

That's due to what is outlined above

I was hoping could ask another question. Steve187 suggested another Savannakhet ME Non O  but from following the forum I thought that option was no longer available.  If possible would consider HCMC also. 

Thank you

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Good point. Overlooked that.

If the visa expires May 21 ...he could exit/reenter Thailand for another 90 day stamp prior to May 21

May be possible to complete his trip in that time.

Obviously would need a reentry permit 

Thanks. I did not realize a re-entry permit was possible with a Multi Entry visa. 

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

To apply for 12 month extension of stay based on marriage you require the 400k in bank for 2 months prior to application.

That application will then have an under consideration period (perhaps a month).

The funds should remain in the account till final stamp is entered.

Depending on immigration office you would/may  also have a home visit.

 

The thing with annual extensions based on marriage is that travel during this time can be problematic due to home visit.

 

I did not examine your dates...expiry and planned trip to check if feasible.

As mentioned the 60 day extension to visit wife could be used to buy time and push back the extension date application.

 

Plan B: Yes if after your trip you enter Thailand visa exempt you could obtain a Non O marriage at your local immigration office and then obtain 12 month extension. 

That process is explained here and that thread has links to similar thread.

Take note of TM87 form required.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1315828-visa-exempt-to-90-day-non-o-spouse-visa-conversion-in-thailand/

 

Thank you for your concise  explanation 

2 hours ago, steve187 said:

does your actual visa expire on 21st may, or the latest 90 day permission to stay stamp you received on entry into Thailand'

 

another option would be another visa from savannakhet

The visa expires 1st May so would do a border run /holiday before then. If I applied for a 12 months extension before then a border run would not be needed. I understood ME at Savannakhet was not available anymore.  Thanks for your help. 

Thank you for the concise explanation. 😁

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

To apply for 12 month extension of stay based on marriage you require the 400k in bank for 2 months prior to application.

That application will then have an under consideration period (perhaps a month).

The funds should remain in the account till final stamp is entered.

Depending on immigration office you would/may  also have a home visit.

 

The thing with annual extensions based on marriage is that travel during this time can be problematic due to home visit.

 

I did not examine your dates...expiry and planned trip to check if feasible.

As mentioned the 60 day extension to visit wife could be used to buy time and push back the extension date application.

 

Plan B: Yes if after your trip you enter Thailand visa exempt you could obtain a Non O marriage at your local immigration office and then obtain 12 month extension. 

That process is explained here and that thread has links to similar thread.

Take note of TM87 form required.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1315828-visa-exempt-to-90-day-non-o-spouse-visa-conversion-in-thailand/

 

On 4/4/2025 at 10:57 PM, Cryingdick said:

 

Do they have any plans to retaliate?

They are pretty heavy people from all accounts. Descended from British navy mutineers and intermarried for generations. I had a friend from there who was the singer in a punk rock band. Maybe he will go there and <deleted> on Donald Trump's front lawn. 

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

You would not be obtaining a single entry Non O.

You could apply for a 12 month extension based on marriage.

That would require 400k seasoned for 2 months.

Also has an under consideration period.

Have you obtained 60 day extension "to visit wife".

Keep in mind that you can reenter Thailand visa exempt and obtain a single entry Non O at local immigration office. 

That would require 400k in bank on day of application.

Subsequently you could obtain 12 month extension. 

Thank you Dr Jack. If I apply for the 12 month extension based on marriage does the money need to be in the bank for 2 months before application or can the money just stay there during the under consideration period?

I did not realise I could get a single entry Non o in Thailand,. I thought it had to be outside. Thank you for info. 

Hi. I have a Savannakhet multibentry non o married to a Thai. I am hoping I can go to the office and change it to a single entry long stay visa before it expires 1st May. I can put the 400,000 baht in the bank. I want to leave the country on the 21st May for 2 months but understand I can get a re-entry permit at the airport, and then go to immigration and again show the 400,000 baht balance. Thanks for any help.

5 hours ago, Dan O said:

You need to have the existing roots cleaned out first. The copper sulfate will help prevent new root growth but will do nothing to the existing roots already there. Won't hurt the toilet as you said, your flushing it straight thru

Thanks for the info. It is an older Thai style of construction. They build a square of bricks and lay concrete beams on top. Fill the floor in and leave the hole for the waste. The only way to access it would be to demolish the building. It is only used in high season. The problem was the roots had blocked off the hole in the picture. The picture is taken after I removed them 🤩

I have an old fashioned underfloor septic with no rings or tanks. The toilet blocked and we removed the bowl and cistern to find it is blocked by roots. Somebody advised me to (carefully) use copper sulphate.  The only entrance to the septic is through the toilet and I have read the copper sulphate could damage the toilet(don't see how if I just wash it straight through). I can close the toilet for a period after I pit in the copper sulphate as I heard it can be harmful. Thanks for any advice