Marriage visa extensions and/or residency in Pattaya. Please share your experiences

[sikishrory]

Last year I tried to get NON- O based on marriage extended for the first time in the Jomtien office.

Extension was refused but I read some comments that it is notoriously difficult at Jomtien office and some people have actually moved to other provinces because of it.

I am thinking of buying a condo in Chonburi or Rayong and want to get 3 extensions together to perhaps apply for residency in future.

If it is that difficult to get extensions (or residency) at the Jomtien office then I would perhaps look to buy in another nearby jurisdiction.

Would be helpful to hear other peoples experiences doing the extensions/residency at Jomtien office.

[ivor bigun]

Last year I tried to get NON- O based on marriage extended for the first time in the Jomtien office.
Extension was refused but I read some comments that it is notoriously difficult at Jomtien office and some people have actually moved to other provinces because of it.
I am thinking of buying a condo in Chonburi or Rayong and want to get 3 extensions together to perhaps apply for residency in future.
If it is that difficult to get extensions (or residency) at the Jomtien office then I would perhaps look to buy in another nearby jurisdiction.
Would be helpful to hear other peoples experiences doing the extensions/residency at Jomtien office.

Why was it refused?

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[johng]

I have done "a few" marriage extensions at Jomtien, yes there are hoops to jump...not too difficult but you must remember when she says "jump" you reply "how high" with a smile

[ivor bigun]

If you dont mind ,me asking what paperwork do you need and what hoops ,ive always done retirement,but dont fancy parking money in the bank i can never touch

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[ivor bigun]

I have done "a few" marriage extensions at Jomtien, yes there are hoops to jump...not too difficult but you must remember when she says "jump" you reply "how high" with a smile

Sorry see my question.

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[sikishrory]

1 hour ago, ivor bigun said:

Why was it refused?

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It's been awhile but it was something like she needed more documents like passport and tabian bahn of the japanese landlord we rent from. We brought them to her about an hour later. From memory I think her issue was because the tabian bahn was in his companies name. It was something like that

[johng]

2 hours ago, ivor bigun said:

If you dont mind ,me asking what paperwork do you need and what hoops

from my notes

 

Quote

October 2016 Jomtien
    Original Passport
    x2 copies of the form TM.7 (must print on one sheet double sided, attach two passport-sized pictures)
    x2 copies of your Passport Main Page, Visa Page (Non-Immigrant O), Entry Stamp Page and Departure Card;
    x2 copies of your KhorRor.2 and KhorRor.3 ( double sided )( took originals but not asked to show )
    x2 copies of the Thai ID Card of your wife
    x2 copies of the House Registration of your wife ( took original but not asked to show )
    2 Original Photos showing you and your wife Together in your residence  one inside and one outside showing
    house number   stuck on A4 sheet + 1 copy
    x2 copies of a Map to your Residence;
    1900 baht

As a reminder for me  if using the 400,000 baht in bank method
Jomtien want to see a transaction in the bank book from the day you are applying, even though this will mean that the
amount shown on the letter from the bank is now incorrect ( they can never be correct because the letter always shows amount from yesterday..... don't argue just do it )

1 x statement from bank showing  at least 400,000 baht for  2 months  + 1 copy
2 x copies of latest bank book page with transaction on that day.
2 x copies of bank book first page ( name,office acount number )
Special case just for me as I came into Thailand on Tourist visa and then changed to Non O in Bangkok
2 x copies of Tourist Visa page
2 x copies of last entry into Thailand with Tourist visa page.
2 x copies of all  previous marriage extension stamps ( new for 2016 ? )

as we don't have children we needed to provide a "witness"
( they didn't ask for a witness  years 2 or 3 but did on the first occasion )
Witness had to be someone who isn't a family member needed to bring
2 x copies of their ID card and house registration ( tabien bahn)
2 photos of witness, wife and myself  1 outside of our home with house number clearly visible 1 inside house
stuck onto an A4 piece of paper and  then copied

sign all pages except house map, marriage docs and wife's docs
wife to sign ID and house book docs.
witness to sign their document copies
sign more bits of paper  come back for answer next month

2018  new TM7  form    no need for witness as  this is "new" extention
before had ongoing extenion  so next year 2019 will most likley want a witness again
2 days later they wanted to interview us at home with witness

@maxcorrigan  visa-extension-jom-chien
they wanted to see was two outside one with house number visible, and three inside two of which show husband and wife together in different places plus one family shot

for me they wanted 4  photos 2 per A4 sheet  me and wife in house and with house number

make sure money is in the bank for more than 2 months  2019 was short by 2 days  dooooooh

2019 no need to take witness to the office

3 immigration police came to interview  us and witness at home   witness papers required id and house book x 2  signed by them

 

[JackThompson]

4 hours ago, sikishrory said:

It's been awhile but it was something like she needed more documents like passport and tabian bahn of the japanese landlord we rent from. We brought them to her about an hour later. From memory I think her issue was because the tabian bahn was in his companies name. It was something like that

That is the same sort of routine they used to block my extension there.  In my case, the housebook for our residence was deemed "too old".   Like you, nothing to do with whether the application was based on a genuine marriage to a Thai, etc.

 

6 hours ago, sikishrory said:

I am thinking of buying a condo in Chonburi or Rayong and want to get 3 extensions together to perhaps apply for residency in future. 

If it is that difficult to get extensions (or residency) at the Jomtien office then I would perhaps look to buy in another nearby jurisdiction.

 

If you own your own condo, you can avoid the "landlord docs" pitfall - but do expect 2 or 3 trips to get things like the photos just right, etc. 

 

Or, you can pay an agent about 25K Baht, and then it's all done quick with a smile - no need to actually meet many qualifications (money), etc.   It could be less if you actually do meet the financials - worth agent-shopping. 

 

Retirement is reported to be only 15K there via an agent (again, should be less if you actually have the funds) but, if going for PR, you would be working with a work-permit for those 3 years (and until PR is granted years after you qualify) - so a retirement-extension will not work.

Edited May 3, 2019 by JackThompson

[pagallim]

OK, firstly I can't be objective about what happens in Jomtien.   However, in my very recent experience of doing  a marriage extension elsewhere, it's pretty straight forward as long as you have the copies of the required documentation (none of which is a problem if legally married) and M'Sahib is there to provide originals of whatever.   In fact, it's a lot less hassle than the current Retirement Extension.

[maxcorrigan]

19 hours ago, pagallim said:

OK, firstly I can't be objective about what happens in Jomtien.   However, in my very recent experience of doing  a marriage extension elsewhere, it's pretty straight forward as long as you have the copies of the required documentation (none of which is a problem if legally married) and M'Sahib is there to provide originals of whatever.   In fact, it's a lot less hassle than the current Retirement Extension.

Jomtien is pretty straight forward using ubonjoe's printed requirements, if you are using money in the bank method you need a letter from the bank stating the correct amount is in the bank, the letter must not be more than 2 days old or will be rejected, no witness required, but will be needed for home interview as they call it, for checking and photos which they will take with their own camera etc. virtuall the same photos you take to the their office in the first place, crazy or what!

[connda]

On 5/3/2019 at 7:53 PM, johng said:

from my notes

 

 

Next they will require you to juggle three bowling pins while balancing a stack to pie tins on your head as you jump up and down on a Pogo Stick while singing all the words of Chaat Thai.  Any failure to accomplish that task will be rewarded by refusing your extension. 

[johng]

6 minutes ago, connda said:

Next they will require you to juggle three bowling pins

Yes I'd better start practising ????

[simon43]

October 2016 Jomtien
    Original Passport
    x2 copies of the form TM.7 (must print on one sheet double sided, attach two passport-sized pictures)
    x2 copies of your Passport Main Page, Visa Page (Non-Immigrant O), Entry Stamp Page and Departure Card;
    x2 copies of your KhorRor.2 and KhorRor.3 ( double sided )( took originals but not asked to show )
    x2 copies of the Thai ID Card of your wife
    x2 copies of the House Registration of your wife ( took original but not asked to show )
    2 Original Photos showing you and your wife Together in your residence  one inside and one outside showing
    house number   stuck on A4 sheet + 1 copy
    x2 copies of a Map to your Residence;
    1900 baht

As a reminder for me  if using the 400,000 baht in bank method
Jomtien want to see a transaction in the bank book from the day you are applying, even though this will mean that the
amount shown on the letter from the bank is now incorrect ( they can never be correct because the letter always shows amount from yesterday..... don't argue just do it )

1 x statement from bank showing  at least 400,000 baht for  2 months  + 1 copy
2 x copies of latest bank book page with transaction on that day.
2 x copies of bank book first page ( name,office acount number )
Special case just for me as I came into Thailand on Tourist visa and then changed to Non O in Bangkok
2 x copies of Tourist Visa page
2 x copies of last entry into Thailand with Tourist visa page.
2 x copies of all  previous marriage extension stamps ( new for 2016 ? )

as we don't have children we needed to provide a "witness"
( they didn't ask for a witness  years 2 or 3 but did on the first occasion )
Witness had to be someone who isn't a family member needed to bring
2 x copies of their ID card and house registration ( tabien bahn)
2 photos of witness, wife and myself  1 outside of our home with house number clearly visible 1 inside house
stuck onto an A4 piece of paper and  then copied


sign all pages except house map, marriage docs and wife's docs
wife to sign ID and house book docs.
witness to sign their document copies
sign more bits of paper  come back for answer next month

2018  new TM7  form    no need for witness as  this is "new" extention
before had ongoing extenion  so next year 2019 will most likley want a witness again
2 days later they wanted to interview us at home with witness

@maxcorrigan  visa-extension-jom-chien
they wanted to see was two outside one with house number visible, and three inside two of which show husband and wife together in different places plus one family shot

for me they wanted 4  photos 2 per A4 sheet  me and wife in house and with house number

make sure money is in the bank for more than 2 months  2019 was short by 2 days  dooooooh

2019 no need to take witness to the office

3 immigration police came to interview  us and witness at home   witness papers required id and house book x 2  signed by them

 

 

Sigh..... and some people wonder why many expats have said 'enough is enough' and voted with their feet by relocating to a different country.......

[brianthainess]

6 hours ago, connda said:

Next they will require you to juggle three bowling pins while balancing a stack to pie tins on your head as you jump up and down on a Pogo Stick while singing all the words of Chaat Thai.  Any failure to accomplish that task will be rewarded by refusing your extension. 

Sounds easier than all the paperwork. 

[brianthainess]

 

On 5/3/2019 at 7:53 PM, johng said:

3 immigration police came to interview  us and witness at home   witness papers required id and house book x 2  signed by them

4 came to interview us from Trat 2 cars 2 pleasant females 1 grumpy obese male 1 drunk male, 11 am. the photo in the bedroom,told to sit on the bed with our arms around each other (3 cameras ) this was last aug and two weeks after i had made my RETIREMENT extension ! 

[OJAS]

On 5/3/2019 at 3:23 PM, sikishrory said:

I am thinking of buying a condo in Chonburi or Rayong

I would definitely advise against buying a condo in Rayong if you're primarily after a reasonably smooth passage at marriage extension of stay time. The process is a right PITA at the local immigration office there, with witnesses and home visits being the strict order of the day for not only an initial extension application but also for all subsequent applications. They also insist on bank passbooks, statements and letters being updated or obtained on the day when an application is submitted.

 

Looks like the marriage extension of stay process is a walk in the park at Jomtien by comparison!

[johng]

19 minutes ago, OJAS said:

Looks like the marriage extension of stay process is a walk in the park at Jomtien by comparison!

Looks about the same PITA to me.

[jacko45k]

15 hours ago, OJAS said:

The process is a right PITA at the local immigration office there,

Yes I have heard the same, someone I know having to march the wife and kids in and out of there a few times!

[OJAS]

17 hours ago, johng said:

Looks about the same PITA to me.

Yep, on reflection you’re probably right. I gather that marriage extension applications submitted at both Jomtien and Maptaput are referred to Bangkok for final approval during the “under consideration” period. I wonder, therefore, whether we might be talking about a general divisional HQ issue here? If so, the marriage extension process is presumably also a PITA at other offices in the Central region such as Si Racha. Maybe the OP needs to buy a condo elsewhere in Thailand if his main concern is with a (relatively) smooth passage at marriage extension of stay time??

[essox essox]

On 5/3/2019 at 7:53 PM, johng said:

from my notes

 

 

wow all this just for renewing marriage visa....need to cut down a forrest for all the paperwork !!!

[ivor bigun]

I really cannot understand why a marriage visa is so complicated ,you would think as there are so many married couples with homes and familly who have lived hete for years ,it would be far easier,but then this is Thailand ,still baffles me after 25 years.

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[sikishrory]

Thanks for all the posts. That is handy to know that Rayong is worse if anything.

For above post. I agree it is all a pain in the ass but I try to look at it from different perspectives for my own sanity...

My wife applying for a visa in oz is probably gonna be a pain also.

The other thing is if it were much easier every farang and his dog would be living here. It seems like anyone who comes for a couple weeks wants to live here. Without regulation the place would be over run.

They really could streamline lots of the immigration processes though and ease the pressure on the offices a lot... But nope