Marriage Visa @ Jomtien Immigration

[Vespa]

I am now in the process of converting my Non O to a marriage visa.

Started on visiting Immigration in Jomtien, had plenty of copies of everything I understood were needed.

Was told during the initial interview/review we needed photos of us along with our son in front of our house and had to draw a map of where we live.

Went back with that info the following day, as of now I have a stamp in my passport saying my application for extension of stay is under review.

I supplied more than enough regarding the requested financial information , notarized letter from the US Embassy stating a monthly income in excess of 100,000 baht ( only 40,000 is needed) as well as a bank statement and passbook showing nearly 1 million baht sitting in my Thai bank account.

Initially we sat with a Sgt. Major according to the name placard on his desk , then after review were shuffled behind him to female Capt. She asked me if I had an ATM card from USA that I used to withdraw money from and could she see it. This surprised me but I showed it to her , she wanted a photo copy of it. Wonder if this is normal ? But gave her a copy along with all other copies of documents they requested.

The female Cpt. Kept requesting photo copies of information from my wife also , then questioned her about where she was from ( she is from Bangkok) but owns houses in Pattaya and the Tambien Bahn submitted had this listed as our place of residence.

Then she kept going over the figures listed on my monthly statements ( listed in US Dollars) and converting it into baht - at least 3 times, questioned me about how much money I made in USA , I went low and told her over 2 million baht a year , she also did the math to see what that came out to per month in Thai Baht - afterwards my wife said this was just Thai people being nosy.

Seemed like many lawyers/facilitators where dropping of documents with what appeared to be envelopes.

This will be my first visa of this type as before I always just stayed on a Non O .

Does it seem to be the norm to be issued a stamp saying your application is under review for a marriage visa?

Show have I included a envelope? ,

Does requesting a copy of my ATM from USA sound normal ? Would they want this to pull records within Thailand to see how much I withdraw using said card.

Edited January 25, 2007 by Vespa

[astral]

The map and photos are usual, and they will visit you to check on where you live.

It is good to have another Thai on hand who can vouch that you do live there.

Wives are interrogated for marriage visas.....

I am surprised at the request to see an overseas ATM card.

I would have been inclined to say NO, even if I had one.

None of their business what you do overseas, but yuor wife may be right, Thais are a nosy lot.

Watch your account for unusual transaction.............

No envelope should be needed, for this or any other routine visa application.

[meatgrowler]

I am now in the process of converting my Non O to a marriage visa.

Started on visiting Immigration in Jomtien, had plenty of copies of everything I understood were needed.

Was told during the initial interview/review we needed photos of us along with our son in front of our house and had to draw a map of where we live.

Went back with that info the following day, as of now I have a stamp in my passport saying my application for extension of stay is under review.

I supplied more than enough regarding the requested financial information , notarized letter from the US Embassy stating a monthly income in excess of 100,000 baht ( only 40,000 is needed) as well as a bank statement and passbook showing nearly 1 million baht sitting in my Thai bank account.

Initially we sat with a Sgt. Major according to the name placard on his desk , then after review were shuffled behind him to female Capt. She asked me if I had an ATM card from USA that I used to withdraw money from and could she see it. This surprised me but I showed it to her , she wanted a photo copy of it. Wonder if this is normal ? But gave her a copy along with all other copies of documents they requested.

The female Cpt. Kept requesting photo copies of information from my wife also , then questioned her about where she was from ( she is from Bangkok) but owns houses in Pattaya and the Tambien Bahn submitted had this listed as our place of residence.

Then she kept going over the figures listed on my monthly statements ( listed in US Dollars) and converting it into baht - at least 3 times, questioned me about how much money I made in USA , I went low and told her over 2 million baht a year , she also did the math to see what that came out to per month in Thai Baht - afterwards my wife said this was just Thai people being nosy.

Seemed like many lawyers/facilitators where dropping of documents with what appeared to be envelopes.

This will be my first visa of this type as before I always just stayed on a Non O .

Does it seem to be the norm to be issued a stamp saying your application is under review for a marriage visa?

Show have I included a envelope? ,

Does requesting a copy of my ATM from USA sound normal ? Would they want this to pull records within Thailand to see how much I withdraw using said card.

hi,i am very interested to know the outcome of your application as i am just about to apply for 1 myself,please can you tell me how you show the monthly income in your thai bank,do you have to have the money swift transfered from the usa each month?...or could you carry big cash to thailand and put it into your thai bank each month yourself?.would 3 months of thai bankstatements be enough evidence for them?...many thanks

[Vespa]

I am now in the process of converting my Non O to a marriage visa.

Started on visiting Immigration in Jomtien, had plenty of copies of everything I understood were needed.

Was told during the initial interview/review we needed photos of us along with our son in front of our house and had to draw a map of where we live.

Went back with that info the following day, as of now I have a stamp in my passport saying my application for extension of stay is under review.

I supplied more than enough regarding the requested financial information , notarized letter from the US Embassy stating a monthly income in excess of 100,000 baht ( only 40,000 is needed) as well as a bank statement and passbook showing nearly 1 million baht sitting in my Thai bank account.

Initially we sat with a Sgt. Major according to the name placard on his desk , then after review were shuffled behind him to female Capt. She asked me if I had an ATM card from USA that I used to withdraw money from and could she see it. This surprised me but I showed it to her , she wanted a photo copy of it. Wonder if this is normal ? But gave her a copy along with all other copies of documents they requested.

The female Cpt. Kept requesting photo copies of information from my wife also , then questioned her about where she was from ( she is from Bangkok) but owns houses in Pattaya and the Tambien Bahn submitted had this listed as our place of residence.

Then she kept going over the figures listed on my monthly statements ( listed in US Dollars) and converting it into baht - at least 3 times, questioned me about how much money I made in USA , I went low and told her over 2 million baht a year , she also did the math to see what that came out to per month in Thai Baht - afterwards my wife said this was just Thai people being nosy.

Seemed like many lawyers/facilitators where dropping of documents with what appeared to be envelopes.

This will be my first visa of this type as before I always just stayed on a Non O .

Does it seem to be the norm to be issued a stamp saying your application is under review for a marriage visa?

Show have I included a envelope? ,

Does requesting a copy of my ATM from USA sound normal ? Would they want this to pull records within Thailand to see how much I withdraw using said card.

hi,i am very interested to know the outcome of your application as i am just about to apply for 1 myself,please can you tell me how you show the monthly income in your thai bank,do you have to have the money swift transfered from the usa each month?...or could you carry big cash to thailand and put it into your thai bank each month yourself?.would 3 months of thai bankstatements be enough evidence for them?...many thanks

I showed them a document issued by the US Embassy stating my monthly income , as I keep the bulk of the funds in an American bank.

[lopburi3]

1. For overseas income you must present an Embassy letter and have supporting documents (letter from employer/pay statements/pension statements or some such).

2. Marriage extensions of stay (they are not visas) always require at least one under review period of 30-45 days and often up to 3 months for final approval.

3. Photos/maps/phone number and such are always required for first application as your marriage status will be checked and they help to prove your relationship.

4. If your bank account does not show wire transfers (SWIFT) from overseas and you use ATM card can understand them wanting to have that evidence. Wire transfer is normal requested method of bringing money into Thailand. Under new regulations I suspect in fact they did want to confirm outside source of funds to explain your bank account as you were not using local employment of you or wife.

[meatgrowler]

I am now in the process of converting my Non O to a marriage visa.

Started on visiting Immigration in Jomtien, had plenty of copies of everything I understood were needed.

Was told during the initial interview/review we needed photos of us along with our son in front of our house and had to draw a map of where we live.

Went back with that info the following day, as of now I have a stamp in my passport saying my application for extension of stay is under review.

I supplied more than enough regarding the requested financial information , notarized letter from the US Embassy stating a monthly income in excess of 100,000 baht ( only 40,000 is needed) as well as a bank statement and passbook showing nearly 1 million baht sitting in my Thai bank account.

Initially we sat with a Sgt. Major according to the name placard on his desk , then after review were shuffled behind him to female Capt. She asked me if I had an ATM card from USA that I used to withdraw money from and could she see it. This surprised me but I showed it to her , she wanted a photo copy of it. Wonder if this is normal ? But gave her a copy along with all other copies of documents they requested.

The female Cpt. Kept requesting photo copies of information from my wife also , then questioned her about where she was from ( she is from Bangkok) but owns houses in Pattaya and the Tambien Bahn submitted had this listed as our place of residence.

Then she kept going over the figures listed on my monthly statements ( listed in US Dollars) and converting it into baht - at least 3 times, questioned me about how much money I made in USA , I went low and told her over 2 million baht a year , she also did the math to see what that came out to per month in Thai Baht - afterwards my wife said this was just Thai people being nosy.

Seemed like many lawyers/facilitators where dropping of documents with what appeared to be envelopes.

This will be my first visa of this type as before I always just stayed on a Non O .

Does it seem to be the norm to be issued a stamp saying your application is under review for a marriage visa?

Show have I included a envelope? ,

Does requesting a copy of my ATM from USA sound normal ? Would they want this to pull records within Thailand to see how much I withdraw using said card.

hi,i am very interested to know the outcome of your application as i am just about to apply for 1 myself,please can you tell me how you show the monthly income in your thai bank,do you have to have the money swift transfered from the usa each month?...or could you carry big cash to thailand and put it into your thai bank each month yourself?.would 3 months of thai bankstatements be enough evidence for them?...many thanks

I showed them a document issued by the US Embassy stating my monthly income , as I keep the bulk of the funds in an American bank.

so does your american bank have to wire your thai bank 40k bht each month, to enable the usa embassy in bangkok to give you a valid proof of income letter???or how else do you show the embassy proof??thanks

[Vespa]

I am now in the process of converting my Non O to a marriage visa.

Started on visiting Immigration in Jomtien, had plenty of copies of everything I understood were needed.

Was told during the initial interview/review we needed photos of us along with our son in front of our house and had to draw a map of where we live.

Went back with that info the following day, as of now I have a stamp in my passport saying my application for extension of stay is under review.

I supplied more than enough regarding the requested financial information , notarized letter from the US Embassy stating a monthly income in excess of 100,000 baht ( only 40,000 is needed) as well as a bank statement and passbook showing nearly 1 million baht sitting in my Thai bank account.

Initially we sat with a Sgt. Major according to the name placard on his desk , then after review were shuffled behind him to female Capt. She asked me if I had an ATM card from USA that I used to withdraw money from and could she see it. This surprised me but I showed it to her , she wanted a photo copy of it. Wonder if this is normal ? But gave her a copy along with all other copies of documents they requested.

The female Cpt. Kept requesting photo copies of information from my wife also , then questioned her about where she was from ( she is from Bangkok) but owns houses in Pattaya and the Tambien Bahn submitted had this listed as our place of residence.

Then she kept going over the figures listed on my monthly statements ( listed in US Dollars) and converting it into baht - at least 3 times, questioned me about how much money I made in USA , I went low and told her over 2 million baht a year , she also did the math to see what that came out to per month in Thai Baht - afterwards my wife said this was just Thai people being nosy.

Seemed like many lawyers/facilitators where dropping of documents with what appeared to be envelopes.

This will be my first visa of this type as before I always just stayed on a Non O .

Does it seem to be the norm to be issued a stamp saying your application is under review for a marriage visa?

Show have I included a envelope? ,

Does requesting a copy of my ATM from USA sound normal ? Would they want this to pull records within Thailand to see how much I withdraw using said card.

hi,i am very interested to know the outcome of your application as i am just about to apply for 1 myself,please can you tell me how you show the monthly income in your thai bank,do you have to have the money swift transfered from the usa each month?...or could you carry big cash to thailand and put it into your thai bank each month yourself?.would 3 months of thai bankstatements be enough evidence for them?...many thanks

I showed them a document issued by the US Embassy stating my monthly income , as I keep the bulk of the funds in an American bank.

so does your american bank have to wire your thai bank 40k bht each month, to enable the usa embassy in bangkok to give you a valid proof of income letter???or how else do you show the embassy proof??thanks

I went to the embassy with notarized documents from home to present as proof of income , was told it was not needed and only to fill out a from and have it notaraized by a consular officer.

[barryofthailand]

I am also from the USA, and have been living here for four years with my wife, and adopted son.

You still have a non o visa, all you are doing is applying for a one yr. extension. The man at table number seven is just a paper shuffler, and the Capt. Female officer that sits behind him is the person that interveiw you and your wife. I hav never been asked for a copy of an ATM card, and here in Thailand I would not give anyone a copy of secure cards or documents. If you are fifty years old you can get a retirement visa that can be approved in Pattaya. The extension to support a Thai family can only be approved in Bangkok, that's why they stamped your passport under consideration, with a 30 day stamp. The next time you go back they will give you the same stamp, but only good for 2 weeks.

With this type of extension they are giving everyone a problem that has filed aftr the 1rst of October.

The letter from the Enbassy witha copy of a Thai bank book with only 10,000 baht in the account is all you need.

They always want to know if you met your wife in pattaya and irf you did, they highly assume in a bar. then they put this info in a computer, and if ever apply for a Visa to go outside thailand will have problems.

Barry

[Maestro]

They always want to know if you met your wife in pattaya and irf you did, they highly assume in a bar. then they put this info in a computer, and if ever apply for a Visa to go outside thailand will have problems.

I doubt that very much, Barry. To travel outside Thailand, the lady will have to apply for a visa at the embassy of the country to which she wishes to travel, and this embassy has no access to the information stored in the database of the Immigration Bureau.

--

Maestro

[Vespa]

The next time you go back they will give you the same stamp, but only good for 2 weeks.

And after the 2 weeks what happens ?

ANd then the following year when applying ?

[Badbanker]

I have had a number of Non Imm O extensions over the past 18 + years I have lived in Thailand and the first year they drilled the wife and asked many embarasing questions.

The problem one of my "now" close friends at immigration told me is that they do get a lot of people coming in with a marriage of convenience, trying to put things on them for the Non Imm O marriage visa.

Actually my friends have told me that they really want to give to visas to everyone (which is shown by the approval rate) but they have a problem that people do try to get around the system.

Yes they will want to see 400,000 baht transfered from abroard that has been in your bank for the past 3 months or a regular amount close to 40,000 baht before they will agree to give you the visa extension.

The under consideration stamps are normal while the committee looks at your application. I think you will get approved no problem!

Badbanker.

[Phil Conners]

This will be my first visa of this type as before I always just stayed on a Non O .

You're still on a Non-O. A "marriage visa" is Non-O with extension based on marriage.

Show have I included a envelope? ,

Absolutely not, that would be bribery

Does requesting a copy of my ATM from USA sound normal ? Would they want this to pull records within Thailand to see how much I withdraw using said card.

I have never been requested a copy of my foreign ATM card, though I have for years used that to take money into Thailand - it's by far the least expensive method, even if a little inconvenient running all the time due to the low withdrawal limits (~30K baht/day). I always just provided the 400K cash in the bank though, so it may have something to do with your 40K/month route. I'd still keep a very close eye on my bank balance if I was you.

They always want to know if you met your wife in pattaya and irf you did, they highly assume in a bar. then they put this info in a computer, and if ever apply for a Visa to go outside thailand will have problems.

Bull.

[ernieK24]

For the "what it's worth department":

Last Oct. I went in for my 90 day reporting of my current address, (It's always the same so it's a little redundant.....we bought a house, but you know the rest).

I'm a pretty friendly guy, and talk a lot, and I've been pretty friendly with the fella' that sits there at the desk on the left as you enter, the one right in front of the writing application desk, there in Jomtien Immigration with all the forms on it. I gave him my address paper, and I told him that we, me and my wife were married in Sept., last year, and asked him if it would be prudent, (I didn't use that particular word........!), for us to, now, apply for a marriage visa. He stood up, shook my hand, congratulated me and my wife, and asked me how much retirement income I had declared and I gave him the figures, almost 2,000 U. S. a month, plus we've got about 600 K in BKK Bank, and his reply was....."stick with the NI-O visa.....the marriage visa is a lot of trouble, takes a long time to get and you have to make a couple trips into BKK". Don't have to tell ya' which way I'll go.

Also, went in last week to Jomtien to report, and while I was at it, I got a single entry re-entry permit. Took less than five minutes for the report, and about twenty minutes for the re-entry permit, fifteen of it waiting, cost one thousand baht, and two days later we were off for five days in Borneo, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, with a side trip to Tauwau, across the island on the other side from Kota Kinabulu, all on Air Asia.....without a single hitch of any kind. Service at the new airport was trouble free, quick, and professional. The worst part was in Borneo, where it was raining cats and dogs.....( I know, I stepped in a poodle).

"Sorry 'bout that one.......but things do go right once in a while. Cheers. ErnieK

[Vespa]

"stick with the NI-O visa.....the marriage visa is a lot of trouble, takes a long time to get and you have to make a couple trips into BKK".

Nothing was mentioned about having to go to Bangkok , as least not by me , the paperwork does.

[Phil Conners]

I'm on a non-o-marriage visa here 4th year going and have NEVER had to go to Bangkok.

He probably meant the paperwork has to go to Bangkok whereas they can process retirement visas right here (I think).

[oooooo]

I am now in the process of converting my Non O to a marriage visa.

Started on visiting Immigration in Jomtien, had plenty of copies of everything I understood were needed.

Was told during the initial interview/review we needed photos of us along with our son in front of our house and had to draw a map of where we live.

Went back with that info the following day, as of now I have a stamp in my passport saying my application for extension of stay is under review.

I supplied more than enough regarding the requested financial information , notarized letter from the US Embassy stating a monthly income in excess of 100,000 baht ( only 40,000 is needed) as well as a bank statement and passbook showing nearly 1 million baht sitting in my Thai bank account.

Initially we sat with a Sgt. Major according to the name placard on his desk , then after review were shuffled behind him to female Capt. She asked me if I had an ATM card from USA that I used to withdraw money from and could she see it. This surprised me but I showed it to her , she wanted a photo copy of it. Wonder if this is normal ? But gave her a copy along with all other copies of documents they requested.

The female Cpt. Kept requesting photo copies of information from my wife also , then questioned her about where she was from ( she is from Bangkok) but owns houses in Pattaya and the Tambien Bahn submitted had this listed as our place of residence.

Then she kept going over the figures listed on my monthly statements ( listed in US Dollars) and converting it into baht - at least 3 times, questioned me about how much money I made in USA , I went low and told her over 2 million baht a year , she also did the math to see what that came out to per month in Thai Baht - afterwards my wife said this was just Thai people being nosy.

Seemed like many lawyers/facilitators where dropping of documents with what appeared to be envelopes.

This will be my first visa of this type as before I always just stayed on a Non O .

Does it seem to be the norm to be issued a stamp saying your application is under review for a marriage visa?

Show have I included a envelope? ,

Does requesting a copy of my ATM from USA sound normal ? Would they want this to pull records within Thailand to see how much I withdraw using said card.

nah u got scammed and then not. sometimes it's cool to use a lawyer. all u do is sit at home and enjoy ur self as opposed to sweating away in a govt bldg. normally u pay about 150 US for that kind of service and they do it all. and u dont get asked about ur US Atms or the color of ur/wives underwear

good luck

[oooooo]

I am now in the process of converting my Non O to a marriage visa.

Started on visiting Immigration in Jomtien, had plenty of copies of everything I understood were needed.

Was told during the initial interview/review we needed photos of us along with our son in front of our house and had to draw a map of where we live.

Went back with that info the following day, as of now I have a stamp in my passport saying my application for extension of stay is under review.

I supplied more than enough regarding the requested financial information , notarized letter from the US Embassy stating a monthly income in excess of 100,000 baht ( only 40,000 is needed) as well as a bank statement and passbook showing nearly 1 million baht sitting in my Thai bank account.

Initially we sat with a Sgt. Major according to the name placard on his desk , then after review were shuffled behind him to female Capt. She asked me if I had an ATM card from USA that I used to withdraw money from and could she see it. This surprised me but I showed it to her , she wanted a photo copy of it. Wonder if this is normal ? But gave her a copy along with all other copies of documents they requested.

The female Cpt. Kept requesting photo copies of information from my wife also , then questioned her about where she was from ( she is from Bangkok) but owns houses in Pattaya and the Tambien Bahn submitted had this listed as our place of residence.

Then she kept going over the figures listed on my monthly statements ( listed in US Dollars) and converting it into baht - at least 3 times, questioned me about how much money I made in USA , I went low and told her over 2 million baht a year , she also did the math to see what that came out to per month in Thai Baht - afterwards my wife said this was just Thai people being nosy.

Seemed like many lawyers/facilitators where dropping of documents with what appeared to be envelopes.

This will be my first visa of this type as before I always just stayed on a Non O .

Does it seem to be the norm to be issued a stamp saying your application is under review for a marriage visa?

Show have I included a envelope? ,

Does requesting a copy of my ATM from USA sound normal ? Would they want this to pull records within Thailand to see how much I withdraw using said card.

[/quot

also, if she "owned houses" as u say, she and u would never been subjected to this kind of treatment. wake up dude.

and good luck.

[Vespa]

also, if she "owned houses" as u say, she and u would never been subjected to this kind of treatment. wake up dude.

and good luck.

How many times have you been through this process ?

You seem like an expert.

[Vespa]

nah u got scammed and then not. sometimes it's cool to use a lawyer. all u do is sit at home and enjoy ur self as opposed to sweating away in a govt bldg. normally u pay about 150 US for that kind of service and they do it all. and u dont get asked about ur US Atms or the color of ur/wives underwear

good luck

Really ? , gheez I wonder how you get past the interview part when sitting back home as you suggest.