What Happens After 1 Year In Thailand With A Non Immigration Type "0" Visa

[tomuk76]

Hi

I am a 30 year old man married to a thai citizen. We bot currently reside in the UK.

My question is after getting my first type "O" visa and living in thailand for 1 year can i just go and get another type "O" 1 year visa on the conditions i am still married and have 400,000 baht im my bank? or do i need to prove an income of 40,000 baht per month. Does this also have to be my income or our (me & wifes) income.

I would be very grateful for help on this matter.

thanks in advance

[Mahout Angrit]

To get a visa from a consulate in UK you dont need to show any finances. You get a Non Imm O type visa based on being married to a Thai.

You dont say what you want that visa for, do you intend to stay in Thailand now or just visit and for how long? If you intend to live in Thailand now then a multiple entry will allow you to stay in Thailand for 15 months with 4 visa runs to a border to enter for 90 days each time.

If you dont want to do border runs then you can apply for a visa extension while in Thailand but you must show an income of B40,000 per month between you. A bank balance of B400,000 is no longer an option for a visa extension based on being married to a Thai.

You can keep returning to UK and get another Non Imm O as the regulations stand at the moment if you are unable to prove the income.

[tomuk76]

i intend to live there and start a business with my wife.

I guess from what i have read that if i cant prove me finances then i can go to penang and get a non imm "O" visa there right? I hope so as this would save a great deal of travel.

[Mahout Angrit]

i intend to live there and start a business with my wife.

I guess from what i have read that if i cant prove me finances then i can go to penang and get a non imm "O" visa there right? I hope so as this would save a great deal of travel.

You can go anywhere and get a new Non Imm O but if you scan this forum you will see that most neighbouring embassies will only give a single entry Non Imm and it is said that Singapore needs to see B400,000 in a bank account too just to get the visa. The regulations changed in Oct last year so the situation is still very fluid

Unfortunately the regulations seem to be different with every consulate.

If you wish to get an extension based on being married once you are in Thailand then your income from your business will have to be the taxable income so you would have to be official and pay the tax. The income could be combined with income from overseas.

As it is a new business then it'll be some time before you can show the turnover and profit so the Non Imm O would suit you. You can apply for an extension at any time during the validity of the Non Imm O.

[tomuk76]

So do you mean the best thing to do is to travel back to the UK every 15 months and get a non imm O from there in the present climate? atleast until the business establishes itself because as you said the extenstions applied for in thai need proof of earnings to be successful

[Mahout Angrit]

So do you mean the best thing to do is to travel back to the UK every 15 months and get a non imm O from there in the present climate? atleast until the business establishes itself because as you said the extenstions applied for in thai need proof of earnings to be successful

I didn't say that, but as the regulations are at present you are certain to get a multiple entry Non Imm O from UK.

You can get visas from neighbouring countries but circumstances seem to change with the whim of the immigration officer or consulate. You should also be able to stay in Thailand on tourist visas and visa free entries but if you intend to settle and invest in Thailand you will want to be better satisfied that you can stay there.

You can weigh up whether going to Malaysia or nearby to get single entries or back to UK to get multi entries is the most viable until you can show the income required.

[tomuk76]

How long is single entry visa for? 1 year if so what the advantages of the multiple visa over the single, just 3 months extra?

[visarunner]

Single Entry is valid for 90days only . It can be extented at any Immigration Office to a full year , but you have to proof the THB 400k is in yr bank for at least 3 month before you apply .

Once this visa is granted you can extent it yearly here in Thailand , provided you are still able toshow the THB 400k in yr bankaccount.

[tomuk76]

The 400K isnt a problem. But your answer has made me confused as a previous message stated they dont take that into consideration on extending your visa, they take into consideration the 40k per month income for renewals.

[Crossy]

The 400K isnt a problem. But your answer has made me confused as a previous message stated they dont take that into consideration on extending your visa, they take into consideration the 40k per month income for renewals.

That poster was in error. 400k is no longer an option gor extending anon-o on the grounds of marriage.

One point that I don't think has been mentioned is that the 40k income can be offshore (or a combination) so if you've got investment or rental income, you can use that

[naka]

The 400K isnt a problem. But your answer has made me confused as a previous message stated they dont take that into consideration on extending your visa, they take into consideration the 40k per month income for renewals.

400k is an old requirement, it is now 40k/month unless 'grandfathered'.

Naka.

[Mahout Angrit]

How long is single entry visa for? 1 year if so what the advantages of the multiple visa over the single, just 3 months extra?

With a Non Imm Visa on entry to Thailand you will be given 90 days to stay in Thailand. If you have a single entry visa then thats it, if you have a multiple entry then you can enter as many times as you wish for the validity of the visa (1 year).You will be given 90days on each entry. It just means you have to leave Thailand enter another country, turn around and return. If you remain in Thailand for the maximum 90 days after each entry each time and you enter the last time just before the expiry of the visa you can make it last for 15 months with just 4 trips to neighbouring countries.

400k is an old requirement, it is now 40k/month unless 'grandfathered'.

..and before you ask "how can I be grandfathered"........you can't, it only applies to those who were getting extensions based on money in the bank before the regs changed on Oct 1st 2006.

[klymr]

The 400K isnt a problem. But your answer has made me confused as a previous message stated they dont take that into consideration on extending your visa, they take into consideration the 40k per month income for renewals.

400k is an old requirement, it is now 40k/month unless 'grandfathered'.

Naka.

I came to Thailand from the US with a single entry, non imm. "O" visa to stay with my Thai wife. I came on Nov. 29 last year. Friday I extended to a 1 year multiple entry with a notarized letter of income from the US Embassy with no problems. The US Embassy required no proof of income for this leter. Immigration told me I was to report my address to imigration every 90 days, no need for a border run. They stapled a form into my passport with a date stamp of when I'm due to report my address to immigration again. Very helpful indeed. I was also told if I leave the country and wish to return, I need a re-entry stamp before I leave or my 1 year visa is invalid and I then need to re-apply for the 1 year visa before returning to stay.

[lopburi3]

On Friday you extended or made application to extend your stay for one year. What was the new permitted to stay date put into your passport? Normally there is an under review period and you did not mention that.

This is not a visa.

There is no such thing as a multiple entry extension of stay as the talk about a re-entry permit confirms. Your stay will end the moment you exit Thailand unless you obtain a re-entry permit first. That can be either single entry at 1,000 baht or multi entry at 3,800 baht. Either type is valid until the current permitted to stay date in your passport.

The address report is due every 90 days if you are in Thailand on the date due. If you leave your return entry starts a new 90 day count and next report would be due 90 days from entry.

[Bill]

You can go anywhere and get a new Non Imm O but if you scan this forum you will see that most neighbouring embassies will only give a single entry Non Imm and it is said that Singapore needs to see B400,000 in a bank account too just to get the visa. The regulations changed in Oct last year so the situation is still very fluid

Unfortunately the regulations seem to be different with every consulate.

My 1-year non-O visa is expiring in a month. If I travel to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to get a new one (marriage-based), can I show a bank statement from a US bank account with at least B400,000 in it (US dollar equivalent)? If I must show a Thai bank account with the funds in it, will they care if the funds were just transferred in a short time before I apply for the visa?

If the consulates in Singapore and KL are anal retentive, where is the nearest consulate that will give me a 1-year non-O visa without any hassles? Hong Kong? Seoul? It seems ridiculous to take a 16-hour flight back to the US just to get a new visa!

[Iamemjay]

From my recent experience this information is incorrect in one important detail.

When in December I attempted to obtain such an extension at the Chiangmai Visa centre I was refused for the sole reason that I did not have the B400,000. I had Australian Embassy certified proof of income in excvess of B40,000 pm, but on advice that I did not now require the money in the bank I had used it to buy a car in Thailand.

When I protested - this advice had prevously been given by an Immigration Dept official - I was granted an interview with the officer in charge of the centre who clearly advised me that everything else was in order and there would be no reason for their not issuing the 12 month extension next time I applied, PROVIDED I HAVE THE B400,000 PLUS THE B40,000pm INCOME.

She further advised that provided I maintain the monthly income the B400,000 in the bank requirement would be for the first 12 month extension only.

To get a visa from a consulate in UK you dont need to show any finances. You get a Non Imm O type visa based on being married to a Thai.

You dont say what you want that visa for, do you intend to stay in Thailand now or just visit and for how long? If you intend to live in Thailand now then a multiple entry will allow you to stay in Thailand for 15 months with 4 visa runs to a border to enter for 90 days each time.

If you dont want to do border runs then you can apply for a visa extension while in Thailand but you must show an income of B40,000 per month between you. A bank balance of B400,000 is no longer an option for a visa extension based on being married to a Thai.

You can keep returning to UK and get another Non Imm O as the regulations stand at the moment if you are unable to prove the income.

[astral]

Cutting through some of the cr*p in previous posts, if you previously qualified for a one year extension based on 400K in the bank then you are "grandfathered".

The 400K will be OK.

Otherwise you will have to show the 40K a month income.

[tomuk76]

Thanks all

Your comments and answers have been very helpful.

What a great wealth of information this site is.

[lopburi3]

Imemjay:

Besides those under grandfather rules the 400k can still be used to convert your visa to non immigrant (old rules) but it is not a requirement for extension of stay (new rules). Thus there has been confusion because of the two issues.

Have you talked with immigration since December?

[klymr]

On Friday you extended or made application to extend your stay for one year. What was the new permitted to stay date put into your passport? Normally there is an under review period and you did not mention that.

This is not a visa.

There is no such thing as a multiple entry extension of stay as the talk about a re-entry permit confirms. Your stay will end the moment you exit Thailand unless you obtain a re-entry permit first. That can be either single entry at 1,000 baht or multi entry at 3,800 baht. Either type is valid until the current permitted to stay date in your passport.

The address report is due every 90 days if you are in Thailand on the date due. If you leave your return entry starts a new 90 day count and next report would be due 90 days from entry.

Sorry. I was mistaken. I did make application, but was told to come back March 23rd to learn the decision. The officer at immigration told my wife the new visa would allow me to stay until Nov. 28th and I think this is why I mis-understood. Thanks for letting me know.

[tracer]

Imemjay:

Besides those under grandfather rules the 400k can still be used to convert your visa to non immigrant (old rules) but it is not a requirement for extension of stay (new rules). Thus there has been confusion because of the two issues.

Have you talked with immigration since December?

Worth doing as from what I experienced many officers also arent to clear what current situation is.

Normally consider that money in the bank helps as its a lot easier for them to verify. I put my 800000 in one of those 4.5% interest bearing ones. Not what I normally would use but its great to get a renewal in 2 hours without arguments or immigration officer taking an original statement from an embassy so a friend has to get that again next year. Also keep in mind that any of these amounts can be changed any time they feel like it so its better not to plan with minimum amounts quoted...

[thaigene2]

Right then.

So now hands up. Who wants to buy a home or invest a sizeable amount of money in Thailand given the revolving-door of Thai Immigration policies?