RE: 60 day extension to visit your wife

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, BananaBandit said:

So if I'm an American based in SEA and have a Thai wife ... Each year, on two separate occasions, I can cross a land border into Thailand, get a 30-day visa-exempt, and then extend 60 days?    That's like a combined 180 days each year.   Can do?

Yes one 60 day extension to visit wife per entry.

Forget the 180 day limit.

No such thing. 

[FARANG KIWI]

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes one 60 day extension to visit wife per entry.

Forget the 180 day limit.

No such thing. 

And that initial 60 day extension can then be extended for a further 30 days ( once only )

[madisongy]

Last March, we spent just an enormous amount of time running around to collect all the documents required for the 60 day extension based on visiting Thai spouse.  We originally brought all the documents shown as required on the immigration website, but the immigration officers told us that the website requirements were incorrect.  The most notable hassles were getting the $50 notary stamp at the embassy on an affidavit saying your marriage certificate is real.  (Ironic since this stamp only indicates that YOU are saying the marriage cert is real.   The embassy specifically notes that they do not certify the marriage certificate.)  copy of affidavit=>   blank-affidavit-bangkok-january-2019.pdf (usembassy.gov)  Earliest embassy appt we could get was about 3 weeks.   

The second hassle was the translation of that affidavit.  800 baht..  You take the embassy stamped affidavit to the translator Upon completion, you take the original and the translation over to the "Legalization Department" which is at MBK.   The Legalization Dept found one word they said was not properly translated so you run that back to the translator to get it fixed.  That process was about a week.  Can't remember price, but they will stamp the translation as being accurate when done.   

The next item was more of a surprise than a hassle..... the English marriage cert translation.  2000baht, and just a day or two.   

You then take those documents to the District Office, we used Thong Lor, and you need to drag along a couple of witnesses.   We did not have anyone, so we found a couple of the cleaning ladies over there and tipped them 250 baht each to be our witnesses.  The document processing had no charge.  I did not like the fact that they kept the embassy affidavit and translation since they were expensive and a hassle to get, but oh well. 

We then had the Khoror 22....our marriage is now recognized by the Thai govt.   We took that, our condo info, passports and pictures and headed back up to immigration and got the 60 day extension.  I got the 30 day extension on our first trip up since they would not process the 60 day until we had the "correct" documents. Interestingly, they processed the 60 day extension from the date we applied for it..........and not 60 days from the expiration of the 30 day extension.   

Tomorrow, we're going again.   I'm planning to take the following documents:

1.  My US passport.  Wife Thai national ID and Thai passport. Copies of info pages and stamped pages.

2.  Original and copy of condo documents.

3.  Khoror 22.   We will also bring the original English marriage cert, but they wouldn't even look at that last time.

4.  I'll do the TM7 application form when we arrive there.

5.  Passport photos.

6.  Bottle of oxygen to help revive me in the event they actually issue the extension on the first try.

 

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, madisongy said:

Bottle of oxygen to help revive me in the event they actually issue the extension on the first try.

And yet others find it simple process. 

[madisongy]

21 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

And yet others find it simple process. 

Yeah, sure hoping that's the case now that the registration with govt is complete.    We shall see !

[athousand]

Does anyone know if I would be able to apply for the 1 year non o marriage extension after extending a single entry non o spouse using the 60 days to visit thai wife extension? Ie apply after five months rather than 3?

 

I'm leaving rented accomodation in the UK and may need to use the deposit as part of the 400,000 baht needed for 1 year extension. It seems in worst case scenario it can take up to 3 months if you have an uncooperative landlord. If that were to happen could I extend my single entry non O for the further 60 days (to visit Thai wife) and then apply for the 1 year? 

[madisongy]

Left the condo today at 10am, got home at 7:30pm, extension in passport.   This included a minor detour to pick up a new koror 22,  (I did try to use the original koror 22 we got in March, but it was rejected since it was an original and not a copy.)  and a trip to the main immigration building for a TM30.

My application was not accepted on the first pass, because I didn't have the TM30.  TM30 is not a requirement on the website. https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/visa-extension/#1610937437663-90b1feab-b48a  In March 2023, they accepted  condo ownership proof for the 60 day extension, which is required per the website  They never asked for TM30.  Paid the 800 baht fine today and got the TM30.  I'm no TM30 expert yet, but apparently you need that within 24 hours of arrival in Thailand to avoid the fine.  Website says you can apply online.

 
Since the website requirements do not fully reflect what was requested by immigration, I'm going to answer the originally posted question with great specificity today.   Documents are listed in the sequence used by the first gal who checks the application.  

Just a quick note on the IT Square immigration office....the three gals in the first queue who check documents, were supposed to close down at 3:30.   They stayed until almost 4 and took care of everyone in line, and were exceptionally cheerful about it.  Immigration officers were there extra late as well, and took care of everyone with a number.  Pretty amazing of them.

OK, here's what the document list they asked me to produce in December 2023:
1.    TM7.  Application for Temporary Stay in the Kingdom
2.    Photo.   Attach photo in the required format to the back of the TM7.
3.    STM2.  Acknowledgement of Terms and Conditions For Permit of Temporary Stay
4.    The Acknowledgement of Penalties for a Visa Overstay (no form number listed)
5.    Copy of applicant passport information pages, and page with current entry stamp.
6.    Copy of Original (English language) Marriage License.
7.    An Original (English language) Marriage License.   (They compared it to the copy and     returned it to us.)
8.   Koror 22 copy.  Our officer would not accept an original.  Copy only.
9.   Translated copy of the English version Marriage License.
10.  Copy of Thai spouse national ID.
11.  Thai spouse house book registration.   (I don't fully understand this document.  It's her parents' house, and she hasn't lived there for 30 years.)
12.  TM30 for foreigner only.    Don't include Thai /spouse/citizens on this form.

And that's it.  They will also ask you to sign most of these copies.   Numbers 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 12 are not listed as requirements on the website.  Additionally, I was not asked to provide 6, 7 or 12 when I completed this process for the first time in March 2023.   So keep in mind the requirements seem rather fluid.

 
This is my guideline for future applications, and I hope this helps someone else out there.

[madisongy]

4 hours ago, athousand said:

Does anyone know if I would be able to apply for the 1 year non o marriage extension after extending a single entry non o spouse using the 60 days to visit thai wife extension? Ie apply after five months rather than 3?

 

I'm leaving rented accomodation in the UK and may need to use the deposit as part of the 400,000 baht needed for 1 year extension. It seems in worst case scenario it can take up to 3 months if you have an uncooperative landlord. If that were to happen could I extend my single entry non O for the further 60 days (to visit Thai wife) and then apply for the 1 year? 

Hey athousand......you know, Ubonjoe who's one of the huge authorities on all things related to immigration, responded to someone else here back on Oct 24, 2019 and said "Yes" to the same question.  You get the 60 day extension, and then you can get the one year.   I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the 60 day extension, but hopefully someone can provide you with more precise guidelines on applying for that one year extension.    Best of luck !!   

[DrJack54]

26 minutes ago, madisongy said:

This is my guideline for future applications, and I hope this helps someone else out there

Excellent work. Very helpful.

[athousand]

madisongy - that's great news. And thanks for the detailed report. Looks like I might be using it in a few months time !

 

Like many here I received a lot of helpful advice from Ubonjoe over the years. He's sorely missed.

[athousand]

Does anybody know whether, after getting the 60 day extension, it's possible to apply for the year non-o spouse extension earlier than the 60 days? I experienced a delay in opening my bank account as I wasn't expecting the Residence Letter to take a week. This means that even if I put the 400,000 in now I'll miss by a few days the 2 month mark and I'll have to apply for the 60 days. However I'd like to get the yearly one done asap. Could I apply for the 60 days and then as soon as the 400,000 has been in the account for two months, apply for the year, even if that might be after 30 days of the 60 day extension?

 

As a sidenote, has anybody managed to get online banking/pay by phone working with Bangkok Bank on the 3 month non-o? They told me that would only be available to me once I can show them the year extension.