Marriage extension - witness needed?

[Farang99]

I have seen reports saying some Immigration offices require one or more witnesses when applying for an extension based on marriage. Please can anyone confirm if this is the case at Phuket.

[LazySlipper]

True in Maptaput immigration,Rayong. Might as well be prepared and get someone ready rather than have to scramble like I had to.

[mike787]

How many do you need, 1,2,3,5,10 people?  So ridiculous.  It depends on the office, and the mood of the officer that holds your life in their hands. 

[Moonlover]

Surely the ones to ask are your local office. It is well known that there are variations around the country.

[bert bloggs]

Are they needed in Jomtien ,Pattaya ?

[mike787]

2 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Surely the ones to ask are your local office. It is well known that there are variations around the country.

Do you know why there are variations around the country?  Is that normal? It's like people make stuff up as they feel like it going along with major implications, and severe consequences on foreigners lives, their families, children, etc.  Visa Russian roulette.

[seajae]

we needed one the first year I applied I think it was so we got our cop neighbor  to do it(he worked in the same building), they havent worried about it since, we are in Surat Thani

 

[alan grice]

You never had visits or witness nonsense years ago.We have the Mongers who wed a tart to get a Marry Visa, then wander about like a free Monger to thank for that.


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[johng]

Are they needed in Jomtien ,Pattaya ?

Yes...one was acceptable this year,they didn't want to see the witness at the office but during the home visit + copy of witness ID card and house book.

[Bob12345]

In Phuket they require 1 witness the first time you get an extension based on marriage (at least 3 years ago when i got mine they did). After that no more.

 

It can basically be anyone with an ID card and blue book (living anywhere in Phuket i presume). The process of the "interview" (typing the statement with personal info that needs to be signed) is rather quick, but the waiting times can be notoriously long depending on how busy it is.

[Moonlover]

1 hour ago, mike787 said:

Do you know why there are variations around the country?  Is that normal? It's like people make stuff up as they feel like it going along with major implications, and severe consequences on foreigners lives, their families, children, etc.  Visa Russian roulette.

I don't think there are just variations around the country, there are also variations within offices. And I suspect it that this the because IO is required to assess whether the applicant's claim to be married and cohabiting is legitimate.

 

Last year, our first year with Sakon Nakhon, A house visit was required and a witness had to be procured. This year, this month in fact, no witness and no house visit. required.

 

My nearest falang neighbour, a German has had 2 house visits in 3 years.

 

It's my guess that it's all down the IO using his 'copper's nose' to decide whether witnesses and house calls are necessary.

 

 

[tweedledee2]

  During the IO's first visit 3 ext ago, they asked for a witness. My wife rode her m/c to a neighbors house and brought one back. We sat at kitchen table answering question while they drank Pepsi. Each officer took pictures of us and the witness with his mobile phones. 

That has been their only visit

[Briggsy]

3 hours ago, alan grice said:

You never had visits or witness nonsense years ago.We have the Mongers who wed a tart to get a Marry Visa, then wander about like a free Monger to thank for that.


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That is where you are so wrong. The reason is more closely related to tie-ups between provincial Immigration offices and South Asian networks who brought South Asians to Thailand and bribed the Immigration Office and possibly district offices to approve documentation which gave the applicant an extension based on a fake marriage. All this was done often without the knowledge of the Thai woman who effectively had her identity stolen. 

 

This forced Immigration to have all marriage extensions approved at Head Office and the evidence for them to be far more onerous including witnesses, home visits and photos. 

 

Nothing to do with mongers at all. Everything to do with South Asian human traffickers and corrupt Immigration officials in the provinces.

[chilly07]

6years of marriage extensions at Chonburi/Jomtien-never had a home visit. Probably because all 90 days authorized by same office

[TG911]

7 hours ago, bert bloggs said:

Are they needed in Jomtien ,Pattaya ?

Yes, before they had to come with you together to the Immigration Office. Last time, earlier this year, not (even the witness was there, no need, wouldn't talk to her). And that was our 5th extension in a row ... same people, same wife, same house, definitely not a scam marriage.

 

All in their books/archive of history, which no one acknowledged or seem to care about.

 

4 officers came to our house and wanted to see the witness right there at our place ... a bit of organization to get the witness in on time before the IO's come, without much notice of time/date.

 

Pain in the bum. Silly change. Hope they cool down with this one again. It was easier to bring the witness to the Immigration Office before.

 

So much paper work that marriage extension, and always there is something wrong and changes. Especially the pictures. One time they want an act of 4 pictures in the house, in front of the house, with witness, without witness, only wife and me, only me and witness etc. 

 

The following year they 'don't' want 'acting' pictures, it must be natural, like on a bike together etc.

 

A year later I bring natural pictures, but they want 'acted ones again'. Always something to run up and down that day ????

 

Can't wait to change to a retirement visa. Only me, 3-4 documents signed, some money in the bank, no witness, no one to bother.

 

 

 

[NoshowJones]

7 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Surely the ones to ask are your local office. It is well known that there are variations around the country.

What you local IO tells you one day could change the next, so you can really only go by what happens when you arrive there.

[TG911]

45 minutes ago, chilly07 said:

6years of marriage extensions at Chonburi/Jomtien-never had a home visit. Probably because all 90 days authorized by same office

No, I had 4 years no visit, the 5th year, yes. I wouldn't have thought it, but it happened.

Same IO's doing our papers, and 90 days, for years and know us.

 

You could very well have 6 years without a visit ... and next year a visit. Who knows!

 

[sometimewoodworker]

6 hours ago, mike787 said:

Do you know why there are variations around the country?  Is that normal?

1) It is because that is the Thai system. 

2) it's completely normal and applies to many other things in Thailand.

[TG911]

For the past 2 years, I helped a friend (75 years old, can't read english very well), to get his papers together for his retirement extension, go to the immi office, fill in 3-4 docs, some copies and done, within 3 hours in the morning. Here your number and pick up your passport a few days later. What a breeze ... and then I get my own paperwork for a marriage extension. 

What a mountain of work and pain in the bum + a witness (topic of this thread).

 

But maybe that's the price you have to pay for not being old enough and being married ????

 

[DrPhibes]

Please, does anyone know if a witness is required for Chiang Mai for non-O based on marriage extension?  The Thai Consulate in Los Angeles only gave me 6 months Visa instead of the normal year based on marriage and having to do the extension for the first time (go back to the US every year for 3 mo each yr and get a new non-O each year).  I think the consulate rep saw too many Non-O's in the passport over the years and decided to make me go through the extension process to verify we are really married.  Thanks in advance.

[CharlieH]

Just now, DrPhibes said:

Please, does anyone know if a witness is required for Chiang Mai for non-O based on marriage extension?  The Thai Consulate in Los Angeles only gave me 6 months Visa instead of the normal year based on marriage and having to do the extension for the first time (go back to the US every year for 3 mo each yr and get a new non-O each year).  I think the consulate rep saw too many Non-O's in the passport over the years and decided to make me go through the extension process to verify we are really married.  Thanks in advance.

With offices varying, it might be better to ask this directly in the Chiang Mai forum for local knowledge.

[Kalasin Jo]

8 hours ago, seajae said:

we needed one the first year I applied I think it was so we got our cop neighbor  to do it(he worked in the same building), they havent worried about it since, we are in Surat Thani

 

Same for me at Sakhon Nakhon, 1 witness first time only. We  rang to check exactly what they wanted before going and for the following year too. We also had to produce document written and stamped by the village head honcho, this every time. Had a home visit first time too, which was funny as it was Mother in law's house and I wasn't staying there, but 2 plots down in an empty place owned by relatives with just a few stick of furniture. I had few clothes then here either. The IO rocked up with a camera and took some photos at Mum's place, also the offer of food and drink, though he didn't eat much so perhaps being polite. By the next extension we had moved in to our own new house 5 minutes walk away, as the required photos showed. No visit, same each subsequent extension. But fresh photos needed every time, one in bedroom, one in living room, one outside in front of house.

[TG911]

2 hours ago, DrPhibes said:

Please, does anyone know if a witness is required for Chiang Mai

Did you really take the time and read what people are posting?

 

Today it's this, tomorrow it's that. People are posting different experiences from the same Immigration Office, at the same time. Even after years of same marriage extension applications.

 

No one can tell you what is exactly required and necessary on that day. It all depends ... on the day and the moon and the stars.

You are not going to sit there and argue against an Immigration Officer on that day. Especially not when they only talk to your wife, and not to you. You are in a state of 'ignored modus' in front of that desk, however you feel or want to turn that fact around.

 

But a witness is always required for a marriage extension. One way or another. Be prepared for this.

 

Just get your very basic minimum papers in order. Have your witness ready to jump into your process, a local Thai who knows you and your spouse, with their house book & signed passport copies, and an explanation for how long they know you and your wife and how genuine it is.

 

They will tell you whether they want to see your witness at the Immigration office at time of application, or if they decide to visit you, together with your witness at your house.

 

No one on here can give you an exact answer what is going to happen. It's different for everyone all the time.

 

Don't be disappointed later only because someone tells you don't need a witness, just because he/she didn't need one (hard to believe).

 

Prepare yourself with a witness ... as simple is that! It always has been a big part to complete marriage extension applications successfully.

 

 

 

 

[billd766]

I live in rural Khampaeng Phet.

 

If I need a neighbour as a witness my neighbour is 25 metres away and has known me since 1993 and known my wife for longer than that.

 

If they need her on a home visit she is usually working with my wife in their shop about 50 metres away.

 

The Pu Yai Ban is a nice guy and lives about 3 km away and has known us for years as we have lived here for 15 of them.

[brianthainess]

20 hours ago, johng said:

23 hours ago, bert bloggs said:

Are they needed in Jomtien ,Pattaya ?

Yes...one was acceptable this year,they didn't want to see the witness at the office but during the home visit + copy of witness ID card and house book.

Only one is asked for at Trat I O, wanted to see on home visit also,some offices so i am told need 2 witnesses . I might also add that when i first enquired  about the marriage visa this year i was shown a list of what was needed, it was in Thai, i pointed out that it is not Thais who have to apply. On returning a few weeks later with all appropriate paperwork, The young woman who i spoke to before approached me and with a big smile, and said,"i listened to what you said" and produced the list in english from the many copies she had made. well done lass ! 

[alan grice]

I am sure that You are Right, and am equally sure that my post info that came from the Head Im Lady in Mae Sot about 15 ish years ago.We lost 2 boasting Mongers in no time when neighbors told imo they rented a hovel in Pats n hardly came here. So thats my take..


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[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

Only one is asked for at Trat I O, wanted to see on home visit also,some offices so i am told need 2 witnesses . I might also add that when i first enquired  about the marriage visa this year i was shown a list of what was needed, it was in Thai, i pointed out that it is not Thais who have to apply. On returning a few weeks later with all appropriate paperwork, The young woman who i spoke to before approached me and with a big smile, and said,"i listened to what you said" and produced the list in english from the many copies she had made. well done lass ! 

Just a quick update i was due to go to immigration tomorrow, to see if i had been "Approved" LOL well i am gobsmacked, did they read my post ? coz they, for the first time after 10 yrs of having my phone num they just phoned Me to say my visa is ready. ????

[alan grice]

That is where you are so wrong. The reason is more closely related to tie-ups between provincial Immigration offices and South Asian networks who brought South Asians to Thailand and bribed the Immigration Office and possibly district offices to approve documentation which gave the applicant an extension based on a fake marriage. All this was done often without the knowledge of the Thai woman who effectively had her identity stolen. 
 
This forced Immigration to have all marriage extensions approved at Head Office and the evidence for them to be far more onerous including witnesses, home visits and photos. 
 
Nothing to do with mongers at all. Everything to do with South Asian human traffickers and corrupt Immigration officials in the provinces.

I replied but its on its on another page pushed the wrong ting.!


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[sandyf]

On 8/7/2019 at 4:54 PM, TG911 said:

No, I had 4 years no visit, the 5th year, yes. I wouldn't have thought it, but it happened.

Same IO's doing our papers, and 90 days, for years and know us.

 

You could very well have 6 years without a visit ... and next year a visit. Who knows!

 

Quite. i have been doing extensions at Sri Ratcha, which is also Chonburi, since 2014 and in November had a home visit for a retirement extension.

The wind of change is getting stronger.

[Peterw42]

I did my 1st marriage extension at Jomtien last year, no witness required at the office. Later during the 5 minute home visit they wanted someone as a witness, took them to the condo office and one of the staff was witness, a copy of their ID and a quick photo together.

 

2nd extension is due next week so will report what happens.