Gizmosgolf

An update to my original post. We went back to immigration yesterday. Took everything I had to get the Mrs. to bypass the two ladies at the bottom of the stairs. They said something as we walked by and I almost literally dragged my wife past them. Got upstairs and got our number. Took the paperwork to the IO and he thumbed through it. He rejected my application because apparently the lady we rented the house from signed the paperwork for my visa however the house is actually listed in her husbands name. So back again today to try again. No mention was ever made of needing 800k in the bank so obviously the lady downstairs was wrong. Everything I just wrote is factually correct and here is where the conjecture begins. I am of the belief that she was trying to get me to pay a bribe. (I say this because my originally extension of my TR was done by a bribe so I did not have to stand in line....I believe she remembers this thus the "ploy" on her part. Again, speculation but my best guess.) I want to thank everyone for their helpful comments. (As usual the thread turned into some silly bashing session but all in all I do find this board helpful so thanks to those of you who keep it that way.) Will drop another update after my third try today! Cheers to all!

I really appreciate all the useful info. (Obvious reference to language gripe! 55555) We will return tomorrow, bypass the two ladies downstairs and go upstairs with the paperwork. I am very aware of the "Thai face" issue as well as not losing my cool. I will have the requirements printed out and big hi-light marker checks next to each of them. I will report back on how it goes. Is 1178 "help line" specific to immigration or is this a general help line along the lines of Tourist Police.

I have recently retired/moved to Thailand with my Thai wife and Thai son. I came in on on a Tourist Visa using the Phuket sandbox scheme. I am trying to change my visa to a Thai marriage visa which requires 400,000 baht in the bank. ( I have my bank statements with me) We filled in on the required documents and went to Hua Hin immigration. Before they let us go upstairs with our paperwork they told my wife we needed to transfer ONE TIME 800,000 MORE BAHT into the account. I double and triple checked with my wife as I thought maybe something was lost in translation. My wife told me the women downstairs is telling her that it does not matter how much money you have in the bank you. You need to transfer in, at one time, 800,000 baht in order to get non-O visa to turn into marriage visa. This cannot be right. Any suggestions please!