Recent Change of Extension status - retire to marriage (jomtien 09/18)

[Peterw42]

I thought I would post recent (sept 2018) requirements/documents/experience to change from a retire extension to a marriage extension at Jomtien. 

 

I have done 3 retire extensions (one using an agent) at Jomtien and due for a forth, decided to switch to a marriage extension, can get a WP,  easier path to PR etc.

 

I started by getting the list of documents for marriage extension "WRONG", lol. The change of extension status is all those documents and more. its not done at the regular extension counter.

 

Documents, 2 complete sets of the following. (sign every page of every document)

 

TM7 and passport photos, including phone numbers (both original filled in, not one and a photocopy)

Overstay warning document (both original filled in, not one and a photocopy)

Copy of passport and every page in your passport

Copy of TM6 arrival card

Copy of recent 90 day reciept

Copy of TM30 receipt

Copy of marriage documents, (kor lor 2 and 3 front and back)

Copy of freedom to marry declaration even though you got married years ago (you get it back when you marry)

Copy (A3 reduced to A4) of chanote (I presume if you rent it would be rental lease etc)

Copy of blue book where you live.

Copy of wife's Thai ID and bluebook (often still bluebook at mums)

Income letter from Consulate or bank deposit letter/books (original plus copy, not 2 copies)

Hand drawn map, immigration to your house (cannot print out google maps etc)

Photos, at least 2 different photos of each, you and wife outside your house/condo showing number, inside condo/house sitting on lounge at kitchen table etc. (you cannot use selfies, someone else has to take them).

 

The process,

get ticket and present at counter 6, documents need to be presented as 2 sets otherwise handed back.

Documents are checked off against a list, a few questions directed to wife in Thai, when did you meet, why does husband want to change from retire extension etc.

If everything is in order, photo taken, pay 1900 and get a receipt. A pending stamp in your passport, 1 month extension, instructed to return on expiry date of extension.

 

Later that day (this would vary) immigration officer calls for the home visit. The immigration officer initially said he would be an hour but turned up 5 minutes later, my wife suspects this is some sort of check, sits down the road to see if wife comes from another place etc. Something they dont mention is they want someone that knows you (Thai with ID card) available at the visit, neighbour, condo office staff etc. A couple of questions and photos with the person who knows you, and their ID details taken. A quick look inside your condo/house and a photo.

 

Thats it, wait until the date, return to immigration and hopefully get new extension/ stamps. I will update if it doesn't go through or any other details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Thaidream]

Good information- but I am curious why you would provide a copy of the Chanote.  In almost 5 decades of extensions both marriage and  retirement- I have never been asked for a Chanote. My wife is the owner of the house and I provide her ID Copy and T ambien Ban (Blue Book).

 

Were you asked for the Chanote or did you just provide it as part of the packet? It seems a strange request by Immigration when the other documents prove marriage and address.

[gamini]

These checks are necessary because many foreigners have "arranged" marriages with Thai women just in order to stay here. So you should not complain.

[Thaidream]

58 minutes ago, gamini said:

These checks are necessary because many foreigners have "arranged" marriages with Thai women just in order to stay here. So you should not complain.

Hardly a complaint-  A Chanot proves who owns the property/house-  It is no value to anyone  to prove whether the marriage is legitimate. The affirmation for marriage- the trip to the Amphur for registration and the documents in Thai prove the marriage exists.  then they make a home visit to make sure the marriage is legitimate

 

  At one time- Immigration asked me to provide my old passport  to prove I was in Thailand at the time of my marriage- even though I had been married for 25 years and had  the complete marriage packet required by Thai authorities.  The passport was 25 years  old when I gave it to them and then they questioned why my  entry was stamped as 15 days instead of 30 days.  When I informed them that was the Thai Immigration law 25 years ago- they stopped the interrogation and gave me the extension. 

 

 

[Peterw42]

1 hour ago, Thaidream said:

Good information- but I am curious why you would provide a copy of the Chanote.  In almost 5 decades of extensions both marriage and  retirement- I have never been asked for a Chanote. My wife is the owner of the house and I provide her ID Copy and T ambien Ban (Blue Book).

 

Were you asked for the Chanote or did you just provide it as part of the packet? It seems a strange request by Immigration when the other documents prove marriage and address.

They asked for chanote, it seemed odd to me as well but a unique situation changing extension, not just renewing. We had all the documents so maybe she just wanted to show some power and ask for something we didnt have, I had it with me so wife just ran outside and copied it.

[Thaidream]

Thanks for the response- give 'em what they want- and get the extension.....see them next year!

[TerryLH]

8 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

easier path to PR etc.

Why would you want PR when for basically the same requirements you can apply for citizenship?

[Peterw42]

11 minutes ago, TerryLH said:

Why would you want PR when for basically the same requirements you can apply for citizenship?

Yes, will probably try for Citizenship rather than PR, PR was less letters to type, lol. Hopefully marriage extension is the start of the process.

[JackThompson]

On 9/7/2018 at 11:44 AM, Peterw42 said:

Copy (A3 reduced to A4) of chanote (I presume if you rent it would be rental lease etc)

At that office, if you rent, you need, instead, the rental-lease, the landlord's ID-Card, his house-book, the house-book for where you live, plus the chanote for where you live - all signed by the landlord.  The house-books cannot be "too old" (no age specified), or it will be requested you have your landlord go to an amphoe for new copies (hope he lives nearby / in-country, and has plenty of spare time for such things).

 

On 9/7/2018 at 6:27 PM, Peterw42 said:

They asked for chanote, it seemed odd to me as well but a unique situation changing extension, not just renewing. We had all the documents so maybe she just wanted to show some power and ask for something we didnt have, I had it with me so wife just ran outside and copied it. 

They will be coming to your house anyway, so will be confirming where you live.  So, yes, it's about finding something you don't have - or cannot get before your current extension expires - hoping you will give up and pay an agent, because we know where some of that 10x of the actual extension-cost goes.

Edited September 8, 2018 by JackThompson

[Peterw42]

2 hours ago, JackThompson said:

At that office, if you rent, you need, instead, the rental-lease, the landlord's ID-Card, his house-book, the house-book for where you live, plus the chanote for where you live - all signed by the landlord.  The house-books cannot be "too old" (no age specified), or it will be requested you have your landlord go to an amphoe for new copies (hope he lives nearby / in-country, and has plenty of spare time for such things).

I have never come across them wanting Chanote before but have only ever done retire extensions,,I did one when I was renting and they only wanted lease document. It maybe has something to do with changing type of extension.

[JackThompson]

16 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

I have never come across them wanting Chanote before but have only ever done retire extensions,,I did one when I was renting and they only wanted lease document. It maybe has something to do with changing type of extension.

If referring to Jomtien, based on reports I have read from those applying for retirement-extensions, that desk seems to have a completely different attitude and process than that which applicants experience at conversions and family. 

[Media1]

On 9/7/2018 at 4:35 PM, gamini said:

These checks are necessary because many foreigners have "arranged" marriages with Thai women just in order to stay here. So you should not complain.

Lol