Changing B To O . .

[simon43]

My multi non-B visa issued by Hull expires in March. This is the 4th consecutive year that they have issued me with this visa. This has always been on the basis of 'investigating' employment/business opportunities in Thailand. I have never worked in LoS throughout these 4 years and have relied on my overseas income from my software business.

Now I am legally married to a Thai lady and have a young son. Together we have recently opened a hotel in Phuket (via a ltd partnership company). I am obtaining a WP for employment as the hotel manager and will be paying taxes on a 100k salary etc etc.

When my B visa expires in March, I would like to obtain an O visa (based on my marriage) - and then apply to extend this.

My reasons for getting a job(!) and paying taxes, AND getting an O visa based on marriage etc etc, is to put myself in a good position to apply for PR in a few years time...

I think I meet all the criteria for O visa extension. But I'm a little concerned about proof of income etc. I don't want to rely on my overseas income. That is an offshore income and the British Embassy would probably not want to certify it!

So what is the best route re the 40k income? I suppose it would be to base this on my 100k salary as hotel manager. Would a new business/new WP user be able to provide the necessary financial documents that are required? (I'm thinking of recent visa rules where the company has to be able to show a profit, annual tax return etc)

Thanks for any advice

Simon

[lopburi3]

You do not need to change any visa as you are already here on a non immigrant visa entry - that can be extended on the basis of your marriage and the requirement is 40k family income per month with a record of 3 months tax payments if from Thailand. As far as I know only the tax paperwork will be required by immigration and your extension will be marriage so company will not factor into that.