Change from marriage based non O to retirement based

[moogradod]

Is it possible and easy to change a non-immigrant O visa based on marriage to a non-immigrant visa based on retirement after arrival in Thailand during the first 60 days of stay even if one did not apply for an extension yet ? Or only after the first extension ? Or not at all ?

 

I am meeting both requirements (for the extensions as well) but the marriage based one is easier to apply for with less documents required. But I heard (here on TV) that it might be more difficult to get the 1 year extension for the marriage based one - this is why I ask.

 

Thanks for any info.

 

[elviajero]

It doesn’t matter whether the non ‘O’ was issued based on retirement or marriage. You can apply for an extension of stay for either reason within the last 30 days of the initial 90 day stay.

 

An extension as a spouse requires a bit more paperwork, but it’s nothing to be concerned about. A retirement extension requires higher income or tying up more money in the bank.

[moogradod]

59 minutes ago, elviajero said:

An extension as a spouse requires a bit more paperwork, but it’s nothing to be concerned about. A retirement extension requires higher income or tying up more money in the bank.

Thanks elviajero. Paperwork is nothing that can scare me and I have a sound financial background as well.

 

I am renting a condo from a foreign owner. I have recently read here that people who do that may be regarded as "targets" and presented with all kinds of obstacles when applying for extension of stay based on marriage - although my landlord lives (at least most of the time) in Thailand (besides he has a lot of property around Pattaya and a very helpful Thai assistant). My immigration office will be Jomtien.

 

But it is more easy to get a non-O based on marriage so this is the way I want to go. And my wife is happy about that, too. Have been married as happily as can be for a decade now.

 

It is nice to hear that the horror stories you sometimes read are not necessarily the norm. Thanks again for the positive message. And if anything goes wrong I can still apply for a PE Visa while in Thailand I believe.

[JackThompson]

3 hours ago, moogradod said:

Paperwork is nothing that can scare me and I have a sound financial background as well.

Be aware, that the local office may add things to the list of paperwork which are not found anywhere in an official list.  Some offices are fine - others make life hell for honest married-folks not using agents.  Best to go the full 30-days before the current extension expires, and make your attempt.  If it is successful - great.  If not, you have some time to come up with whatever else they ask for.

[moogradod]

7 hours ago, JackThompson said:

Some offices are fine - others make life hell for honest married-folks not using agents.

My office will be Jomtien. Is this one of the fine ones or belonging to the hell fraction ? Maybe its not the office but even the individuals you talk to that make some difference - making it a matter of luck then. True or is it better now once BJ took over ?

 

I am not against using an agent just to facilitate things and pay for it. But it must be legal. And I do not know an agent. There may be good ones and bad ones as well.

 

Can I change quickly to a Thai Elite Visa when I see that the extension could fail ? Failure is absolutely no option for me. The financials do not matter so much in this case.

[JackThompson]

37 minutes ago, moogradod said:

My office will be Jomtien. Is this one of the fine ones or belonging to the hell fraction ?

That depends.  Start with the officially listed docs, plus pictures, a map to your home, and a witness.  Be sure you have your TM-30 up-to-date (separate desk from where you apply for the extension).

 

Next, do you (or your wife) own your own condo/house?  If so, you should be OK.   Just bring proof of purchase and your ownership-book with the above.

If you rent, be prepared to supply documents from your landlord that they may or may not be willing to provide, and/or from a "we need" list that may change with each attempted submission of your application.  Renters appear to be a subset of people they target to force to agents.

 

Also, tell your wife to be prepared to be questioned in a less-than-friendly way, and be prepared to resist responding in-kind if they are rude to her.

 

38 minutes ago, moogradod said:

I am not against using an agent just to facilitate things and pay for it. But it must be legal. And I do not know an agent. There may be good ones and bad ones as well.

I would try in-person, first.  If that fails, and you decide to use an agent (15-25K Baht/yr), just keep your own copy-set of proof that you met the qualifications when you applied.  If anything ever comes up in the future, you have your bases covered - proof the agent did not have to "fake the money" for you. 

 

If the agent-fee is not a big deal, no need to shop around - just use one of the "big" agents that advertise all over TV, etc.  As well, one outfit is in the same parking-lot (quotes I've heard seem high), another just down the street.  Maybe someone here who uses an agent can advise - but I wouldn't worry about that unless they make a problem for you applying-directly.

[lopburi3]

58 minutes ago, moogradod said:

Failure is absolutely no option for me. The financials do not matter so much in this case.

Not sure why - many people married to Thai do not even bother to extend but just exit country every 90 days or less (can be an hour or a vacation week).  When married you have always been able to obtain one year multi entry non immigrant O visas from a Thai Consulate in the region (even without financials).  The specific Consulate may change but there has always been at least one choice.  But there is no reason an immigration extension of stay would fail if financial conditions are met.  

[moogradod]

37 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Not sure why - many people married to Thai do not even bother to extend but just exit country every 90 days or less (can be an hour or a vacation week).  When married you have always been able to obtain one year multi entry non immigrant O visas from a Thai Consulate in the region (even without financials). 

No idea why they would do that. I would never consider this method as my standard exept in a case of abolute emergency. Contradicts the idea of a hassle free life in retirement without constant worries.

 

I would then rather opt for a TE (PE) Visa. I am not getting one right now since I am not sure they will provide it until we will have to leave in late January 2019. When in Thailand I would be closer to the action.

[moogradod]

57 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

That depends.  Start with the officially listed docs, plus pictures, a map to your home, and a witness.  Be sure you have your TM-30 up-to-date (separate desk from where you apply for the extension).

 

Next, do you (or your wife) own your own condo/house?  If so, you should be OK.   Just bring proof of purchase and your ownership-book with the above.

If you rent, be prepared to supply documents from your landlord that they may or may not be willing to provide, and/or from a "we need" list that may change with each attempted submission of your application.  Renters appear to be a subset of people they target to force to agents.

 

Also, tell your wife to be prepared to be questioned in a less-than-friendly way, and be prepared to resist responding in-kind if they are rude to her.

 

I would try in-person, first.  If that fails, and you decide to use an agent (15-25K Baht/yr), just keep your own copy-set of proof that you met the qualifications when you applied.  If anything ever comes up in the future, you have your bases covered - proof the agent did not have to "fake the money" for you. 

 

If the agent-fee is not a big deal, no need to shop around - just use one of the "big" agents that advertise all over TV, etc.  As well, one outfit is in the same parking-lot (quotes I've heard seem high), another just down the street.  Maybe someone here who uses an agent can advise - but I wouldn't worry about that unless they make a problem for you applying-directly.

Thanks for these valuable hints ! Looks like an agent is my option from the very beginning. We rent the condo, but the assistant of the foreign owner is more than helpful. I have never met the landlord in person - he seems to be a big investor in Pattaya. If some docu is needed and it is possible to provide it then it will be provided I think.

 

To be questioned in a less-then-friendly way is not acceptable either.

 

But applying for a TE (PE) visa while in Thailand is definitely an option. In this case it must be possible to obtain it within 2-3 weeks, but I do not know if this is realistic nor if this is possible at all. If yes I am tempted to apply already within the first 60 days of our arrival for a TE membership. This would combine all the advantages if it can be done.

[JackThompson]

2 hours ago, moogradod said:

Thanks for these valuable hints ! Looks like an agent is my option from the very beginning. We rent the condo, but the assistant of the foreign owner is more than helpful. I have never met the landlord in person - he seems to be a big investor in Pattaya. If some docu is needed and it is possible to provide it then it will be provided I think.

If they have many foreign-rented units, it is possible they will be prepared.  You will need signed (by the landlord) copies of his/her personal house-book, and ID, the house-book where you are living, and the "chanote" (document of sale) of where you are living.

 

If using an agent, you may not need to worry about these landlord-docs.  But if any are needed, they can advise.

 

If you have submitted a TM-30 (or one was submitted for you), then you have already complied with address-reporting.  Additional landlord-docs are not in the list of legal requirements for an extension - just something used by corrupt IOs to force a percentage of applicants to use agents.  Therefore, if you are not required to submit these "extras" by using an agent, you have not broken any laws.  

 

2 hours ago, moogradod said:

To be questioned in a less-then-friendly way is not acceptable either.

I can understand - it really burned me up.  But I wasn't about to reward them with a kickback from an agent, after that.  You are starting fresh, so understandably have a different perspective.

 

2 hours ago, moogradod said:

But applying for a TE (PE) visa while in Thailand is definitely an option. In this case it must be possible to obtain it within 2-3 weeks, but I do not know if this is realistic nor if this is possible at all. If yes I am tempted to apply already within the first 60 days of our arrival for a TE membership. This would combine all the advantages if it can be done.

That is an option that is not going away, and no need in your case.  If you are legally-married to a Thai, live with your spouse, and meet the financial requirements, then you are "in the right" with an extension based on this, as far as the law is concerned. 

 

So, if you simply want to stay here hassle-free, the agent-solution will take care of both the extension and 90-day reporting for you.  If at some point it no longer does, the elite will still be around, and you will have the ROI on your savings in the mean-time to for enjoyment of other things, and/or to donate to a worthy charity, etc.

[moogradod]

10 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

So, if you simply want to stay here hassle-free, the agent-solution will take care of both the extension and 90-day reporting for you.  If at some point it no longer does, the elite will still be around, and you will have the ROI on your savings in the mean-time to for enjoyment of other things, and/or to donate to a worthy charity, etc.

I cannot thank you enough JackThompson. You have definitely made my day. Very much appreciated !!

[moogradod]

On 10/29/2018 at 2:24 PM, JackThompson said:

If at some point it no longer does, the elite will still be around.

It seems that if you already hold some type of visa it may not be cancelled and exchanged for a TE (PE) Visa. I read this in the fine print somewhere, but it did not say which types.

 

1. Does anybody know if the Non-immigrant-O based on marriage is one of them ?

 

2. If applying for a TE Visa from scratch - is it better to use the offical site thailandelite.com or the site thai-elite.com (sales agent) ? thai-elite.com is more straight forward and lets you already download passport and pictures and application form. Not so thailandelite.com. But they have a 24h call center instead which thai-elite.com does not have.

 

3. If entering Thailand without any visa with 30 days stay granted, can you apply for a TE (PE) visa from within Thailand and have a chance to get it before the 30 days are expired ?

 

Sorry to ask these more Thai Elite related questions on top.

[ParadiseLost]

One point not mentioned; as a married person you are 'entitled' to a 60 day extension once every new entry into the country.

 

No financials, just show up with your wife and wedding cert.

 

Always, proof of address notification (by your landlord) may be requested.

 

1,900 baht.

[moogradod]

29 minutes ago, ParadiseLost said:

One point not mentioned; as a married person you are 'entitled' to a 60 day extension once every new entry into the country.

Thanks, and this applies to an entry without visa ?

If yes you mention that obviously because it would give more time to apply for a TE. Right ?

 

Because I doubt this will be a method to stay (very) long term. Entry would be denied at the border after 3 attempts or so I suppose.

 

I will post my questions regarding TE (PE) in a seperate thread because it does not fit in here exactly and will maybe not read by someone with TE experience. But of course answers are very more than welcome.

[elviajero]

28 minutes ago, moogradod said:

Thanks, and this applies to an entry without visa ?

Yes. You can extend any type of entry by 60 days.

 

28 minutes ago, moogradod said:

If yes you mention that obviously because it would give more time to apply for a TE. Right ?

Yes it would.

 

28 minutes ago, moogradod said:

Because I doubt this will be a method to stay (very) long term. Entry would be denied at the border after 3 attempts or so I suppose.

You can only enter -- by land -- twice per calendar year (Jan - Dec) using visa exemption.

[moogradod]

32 minutes ago, elviajero said:

You can only enter -- by land -- twice per calendar year (Jan - Dec) using visa exemption.

Thanks to you elviajero and ParadiseLost. Now that I am just before making my big step to immigrate to Thailand I learn a lot that I did not know.

 

2018 I entered 3 times, once without Visa and twice with the same METV. All by air. So entering without visa in 2019 would be no issue if needed I suppose.

[JackThompson]

On 11/3/2018 at 5:16 PM, moogradod said:

Because I doubt this will be a method to stay (very) long term. Entry would be denied at the border after 3 attempts or so I suppose.

If staying longer-term - married to a Thai can get a Non-O Multiple Entry Visa in Savannakhet (no financials) for 5000 Baht, which allows indefinite stay for almost 15 months using visa-runs (~17-months, including the 60-day extension on the last entry).  This would be the way to go if "buying more time" before switching to something else. It is probably also available at the Thai-consulate in your home-country.  If you just needed 90-days time, you could also get the single-entry version of the Non-O for 2000 Baht in Savannakhet or Vientiane.

 

TE has it's own thread, and I am sure there are reps posting there who can answer any questions about it.