Multiple Marriage-visa In Penang?

[fredus]

Hi,

12 month ago I had no problems to get a non-immigrant-o (multiple) in Penang. I am married to a thai. Have somebody been there recently for a marriage-visa? Does they still give the multiple? I am gratefull for any information.

regards

fred

[lopburi3]

They stopped providing multi entry at least 4 or 5 months ago. The best chance now seems to be Kuala Lumpur. At last report Singapore would provide if you could show a bank account with 400k baht or equivalent.

There has also been a major change on extensions of stay for one year from Immigration. You now only have to prove family income of 40k baht per month rather than the amount having to be from foreigner for support. The 400k bank account is no longer an option for new applications.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

If you did not extend your visa in the last 12 months, the Embassy / Consulate will possibly conclude that you are avoiding the financial obligations that attach to support visa's.

[aussiestyle1983]

Getting back to back 1 years Non O visas should be ok. I got one from Singapore 3 months ago only a week after my last one expired, nothing was mentioned about not going for an extension. Having your wife with you will help, but Penang is a no no. Try KL, or Singapore if you can show some money. Contact the embassy or consulate before you go and ask what you will need.

[papakapbaan]

If you did not extend your visa in the last 12 months, the Embassy / Consulate will possibly conclude that you are avoiding the financial obligations that attach to support visa's.

Sorry but...

-Anyway it's NOT a support visa. No more "support" visa since 10/2006 (Police Order 606/2006)

I know/undertand why everybody still say "support" visa but it's NOT anymore a support visa.

(The family must have an income of 40,000/m, not necessarily the farang husband).

And you can be sure the people who wrote Police Order 606/2006 were determined to get rid of all "support visas" of all sorts BTW. (You can still support FARANG children below 20, that's all you can support!!! And you have to be here on another (strong) basis of course)

-Annual extensions of stay are of course more difficult to receive than a visa. "Financial obligations" are just one of the requirements. Many people easily qualify for a NON-O visa and don't qualify for annual extensions. Financial means not the problem.

Edited February 1, 2007 by papakapbaan

[Francis Maube]

Back in August 2006 I applied for a multiple entry Non Immigrant O in the Thai consulate in Penang. That was the second application I made in Penang, the previous one being some 16 months before. I never applied for any extension in Thailand. The clerk in Penang ask me for my wife ID card !!! Fortunately she was with me. I was under the impression that it surprised the clerk and perhaps he wasn't sure what else to ask for. Was he following orders or what he trying to make a quick buck, I will never know.

One thing seems to be peculiar to the Thai consulate in Penang, they are the first one to make it more difficult.

[papakapbaan]

One thing seems to be peculiar to the Thai consulate in Penang, they are the first one to make it more difficult.

I believe Penang is OK, actually.

I believe they used to be quite good for "familiy cases" prior to 10/2006.

Unfortunately, after the new rules and, in the same time, instructions sent to regional Thai embassies/consulates advising against the issuance of multiple entry visa, they no longer issue Multiple entry Non-O.

I'm afraid you will find this to be the case almost everywhere in the region.

It seems multi NON-0 are still issued in Singapore with greater scrutiny and proof of financial means (probably in the case of MARRIAGE only, not child support, note) (Still waiting for an answer to my email sent to the embassy)

[kevc]

Has anyone got a 90day Non O based on marraige from Penang recently and if so did they have to show any bank funds, I got told that now you have to show bank details

[dr_Pat_Pong]

If you did not extend your visa in the last 12 months, the Embassy / Consulate will possibly conclude that you are avoiding the financial obligations that attach to support visa's.

Sorry but...

-Anyway it's NOT a support visa. No more "support" visa since 10/2006 (Police Order 606/2006)

I know/undertand why everybody still say "support" visa but it's NOT anymore a support visa.

(The family must have an income of 40,000/m, not necessarily the farang husband).

And you can be sure the people who wrote Police Order 606/2006 were determined to get rid of all "support visas" of all sorts BTW. (You can still support FARANG children below 20, that's all you can support!!! And you have to be here on another (strong) basis of course)

-Annual extensions of stay are of course more difficult to receive than a visa. "Financial obligations" are just one of the requirements. Many people easily qualify for a NON-O visa and don't qualify for annual extensions. Financial means not the problem.

YOU were warned . BYE.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Has anyone got a 90day Non O based on marraige from Penang recently and if so did they have to show any bank funds, I got told that now you have to show bank details

If you do not have sufficient funds, forget the idea of a new visa in most of the Asian Thai Consulates. The Thai side actually expect that you have sufficient money to support that family. If you don't, I think denial of a visa is fair enough.

[papakapbaan]

If you did not extend your visa in the last 12 months, the Embassy / Consulate will possibly conclude that you are avoiding the financial obligations that attach to support visa's.

Sorry but...

-Anyway it's NOT a support visa. No more "support" visa since 10/2006 (Police Order 606/2006)

I know/undertand why everybody still say "support" visa but it's NOT anymore a support visa.

(The family must have an income of 40,000/m, not necessarily the farang husband).

And you can be sure the people who wrote Police Order 606/2006 were determined to get rid of all "support visas" of all sorts BTW. (You can still support FARANG children below 20, that's all you can support!!! And you have to be here on another (strong) basis of course)

-Annual extensions of stay are of course more difficult to receive than a visa. "Financial obligations" are just one of the requirements. Many people easily qualify for a NON-O visa and don't qualify for annual extensions. Financial means not the problem.

YOU were warned . BYE.

This post above was posted yesterday evening.

Your "warning" was posted today afternoon (and no PM).

What did I do anyway? Please explain. You quoted me a saying "I rant". But actually no. All my recents posts were almost purely technical/factual discussions.

I am not alone in my situation. I think it's natural to stand up and complain in our circumstances. And yet, I am just basically doing my mind and exchange advises/suggestions here.

So that's it? Banishment?

[manutd]

Hi,

12 month ago I had no problems to get a non-immigrant-o (multiple) in Penang. I am married to a thai. Have somebody been there recently for a marriage-visa? Does they still give the multiple? I am gratefull for any information.

regards

fred

i always get my thai wife visa in bangkok immigration office......never leave the country

[Maestro]

i always get my thai wife visa in bangkok immigration office

To avoid possible misunderstanding and to use the correct terminology: at the immigration office you obtain an annual extension of permission to stay for the reason of living with your wife.

The immigration website calls it “Visa extension” but it is in fact an extension of permission to stay.

But thank you for your contribution, manutd. I hope the original poster, fredus, can meet the requirements for annual extension and if he does, will apply for it, as it is becoming increasingly more difficult to get a multiple-entry non-O visa in the region for visiting family.

--

Maestro

[astral]

If you did not extend your visa in the last 12 months, the Embassy / Consulate will possibly conclude that you are avoiding the financial obligations that attach to support visa's.

That sounds like a reasonable assumption,

hence the requat for 400K in the bank, just like the old regs.

[TAWP]

No, it isn't resonablt to require 400K for a 1year multiple non-O VISA. In some cases it's the wife that is wealthy.

[lopburi3]

No, it isn't resonablt to require 400K for a 1year multiple non-O VISA. In some cases it's the wife that is wealthy.

And in that event there would be no need for a multiple non immigrant O visa as spouse could obtain extension of stay based on her 40k monthly income.

[TAWP]

Incorrect, that would require an income, as you say. A wealth could be a gathered amount, hence it's fully possible to land between two chairs.

In anyway, it's kinda funny that it's acctually easier to get an extension then a multiple non-O VISA...seems it should be the other way around.

[lopburi3]

And if you had wealth how hard would it be to divert some of that into income? Not exactly rocket science if the need presented itself.

[TAWP]

And if you had wealth how hard would it be to divert some of that into income? Not exactly rocket science if the need presented itself.

Yes, well, I meant legally...I know it's fully possible to 'create' the required income.

[lopburi3]

So what would make it illegal to pay 40k for work? We complain all the time about paying too much.

[kriswillems]

The point is that foreigners with some money are forced to convert their savings into income, paying almost 10% income tax on it (32000 Baht/year). Further on setting up a construction only to convert savings to income also costs money, and in my opinion it's also not really legal.

Many young married foreigners will now start paying income tax on money that they don't really get only to be able to stay with their family. I and many other think that is not fair. Especially not if you take into account that retired people that have no relation with Thailand at all are allowed to stay only by showing 800K on their own bank account.

It seems like being old is a better reason to stay in Thailand that having a Thai wife and Thai children.

[TAWP]

So what would make it illegal to pay 40k for work? We complain all the time about paying too much.

I'm not sure what you are proposing. But it doesn't sound like something that was intended with the laws.

[kriswillems]

So what would make it illegal to pay 40k for work? We complain all the time about paying too much.

I'm not sure what you are proposing. But it doesn't sound like something that was intended with the laws.

I believe he's thinking about constructions as these:

- you pay your wife an income via your (fake) Thai business and she pays tax on it.

- you wife claims she's self employed (fake) and get's 40K income and pays tax on that.

- you claim you get 40K income from rent in Thailand and pay tax on that but you're actually getting much less.

- your wife employs you (with work permit) in her own (fake) business and you both of you pay tax.

There are many ways to make an income and pay tax and nobody in Thailand will complain about it (why would they?, They are getting tax money). But I think it's not really fair to force people to convert savings into income (taking part of their savings away).

Edited February 7, 2007 by kriswillems