Sri Lankan Marrying Thai

[Raram28]

Dear Members,

 

I am a Sri Lankan working in Thailand at one of the local international schools - on an annual renewable work permit. I am in my mid 30s.

 

My question is : if I get married to my Thai girlfriend. Can I change my work visa to a spousal visa? If that was the case, what happens to my work permit? Would a spousal visa allow me to say indefinitely in Thailand? 

 

What are the benefits of being on a spousal visa? 

 

Thank you all in advance for your input.

 

 

[ubonjoe]

I assume you are on an extension of stay based upon teaching issued by immigration not a visa issued by a embassy or consulate.

If were married to a Thai lady you could change the reason for your extension to one based upon marriage to a Thai lady. Your work permit would not be affected by changing the reason for your extension.

To apply for the extension based upon marriage you would need 400k baht in a Thain bank for 2 months or proof of 40k baht income that can be income from working legally here.

You can apply for a new one year extension every year when the existing one is near ending as long as you can meet the requirements.

If you get a extension based upon marriage it would not end when your job ends like the one based upon teaching does.

[elviajero]

3 hours ago, Raram28 said:

Can I change my work visa to a spousal visa?

Yes.

 

When you’re current permission to stay needs renewing you can request to change the reason for your stay from work to being the spouse of a Thai. There’s no need/benefit of changing until then.

 

Having a permit to stay as a spouse doesn’t affect your work permit.

 

3 hours ago, Raram28 said:

Would a spousal visa allow me to say indefinitely in Thailand? 

No. You only get permission to stay for 1 year and have to reapply each your.

 

If you want indefinite leave to stay you need to apply for a “Residence Permit” (commonly known as “Permenant Residence [PR]”) You don’t need to be married to apply for PR.

 

3 hours ago, Raram28 said:

What are the benefits of being on a spousal visa? 

Your permission to stay is not linked to your work.

[Raram28]

6 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

I assume you are on an extension of stay based upon teaching issued by immigration not a visa issued by a embassy or consulate.

If were married to a Thai lady you could change the reason for your extension to one based upon marriage to a Thai lady. Your work permit would not be affected by changing the reason for your extension.

To apply for the extension based upon marriage you would need 400k baht in a Thain bank for 2 months or proof of 40k baht income that can be income from working legally here.

You can apply for a new one year extension every year when the existing one is near ending as long as you can meet the requirements.

If you get a extension based upon marriage it would not end when your job ends like the one based upon teaching does.

Thank you very much

 

[Raram28]

3 hours ago, elviajero said:

Yes.

 

When you’re current permission to stay needs renewing you can request to change the reason for your stay from work to being the spouse of a Thai. There’s no need/benefit of changing until then.

 

Having a permit to stay as a spouse doesn’t affect your work permit.

 

No. You only get permission to stay for 1 year and have to reapply each your.

 

If you want indefinite leave to stay you need to apply for a “Residence Permit” (commonly known as “Permenant Residence [PR]”) You don’t need to be married to apply for PR.

 

Your permission to stay is not linked to your work.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH