Is Non-o (marriage) The Right Visa For Me?

[SNGLIFE]

I am one of the ex-pats with a more unique situation than the usual. My Thai wife and I have been married for over 2 years. We own a house in Isaan, but are never there (too close to her family for me, and it's in the boonies). We rent and stay in houses elsewhere (same city, different areas) along with my step-daughter (5yrs).

I am a consultant and thus travel to work in the USA for work (typically 3-6 month contracts), and return to Thailand when the contract is complete. My family joins me in the USA on a tourist visa after I have been there for a month (I get things settled in before they arrive in USA), and returns to Thailand a month before the contract ends (she gets things settled in before I arrive in Thailand).

There may be times when I am not working (by choice - cost of living is MUCH cheaper in Thailand) and remain in Thailand for several months. Until last year, I just did monthly visa runs and life was wonderful. That way of life is over with the 10/06 changes.

We are in the USA now, and my current contract is coming to an end. The USA INS is nit-picking the paperwork I submitted for my wife's and daughter's application for residency (getting that so we can do away with having to renew the visitor visas and the stay limitations, and get USA passports), and I want to have a game plan for the possibility that #1 things don't work out with INS, and #2 now or in the future having the option to continue life as before in Thailand.

I think the above is a good background. I got the information below from another post, so I understand the documentation required, etc.

My concerns are:

• If we give the (owned) home address in Thailand, and we are never there, immigration may frown if they choose to pop over for a check up (her father lives in the house with his newest chick, and they would likely screw up any cover story if he is in another drunken stupor at the time).
  I do not work or earn income in Thailand at all and I am independent. My income is far, far beyond the minimum, but I choose to not work several months during the year (great quality of life!). What documents should I show to meet the support requirements? A letter from my employer (me) is acceptable?
  

What I want to know is:

1. Is getting a "marriage visa" (non-Imm O) the best/right way to remain in Thailand without hassles while I am there, and the best/right way to freely commute between USA and Thailand without hassles?

2. What documents should I show to meet the support requirements?

-----------------------BELOW IS FROM A SUNBELT ASIA GROUP POST----------------------

List of Documents for Non-Immigration Visa type O

at the EMBASSY / CONSULATE

1. Copy of Household Registration of Thai Wife.

2. Copy of Identification Card of Thai Wife.

3. Copy of Marriage Certificate

Remark : Please Bring all Originals and copies

Then you need to apply for the extension of stay inside Thailand.. with around 30 days left on this visa.

List of Documents for Marriage Visa (Extension of stay based on marriage)

You will need the following:

1. Copy of Household Registration of Thai Wife.

2. Copy of Identification Card of Thai Wife.

3. Copy of Marriage Certificate

4. Statement of guarantee of pension income from your Embassy that you have an income of at least Baht 40,000 per month. Bring this letter and proof or letter of guarantee from a foreign employer, that you are a employee, salary, position, years worked along with letter from the Embassy or proof of this Thai income by you or your wife with the last three months of Phor Ngor Dor.1 (Personal Income tax form filed on a monthly basis) and Phor Ngor Dor.91 ( Filed on a yearly basis in March)

5.Copy of birth certificates of children. (if any)

6.Photo of place of residence. (show house’s number)

7.Map and telephone’s number of place of residence.

8.If working, a letter of guarantee from your employer. A copy of work permit as well if working in Thailand.

9. Photos of your wife clothes and your clothes in the same closet, picture of your wife and you sitting on a living room sofa and pictures of the wedding. (This is not required if you have a birth certificate of children together.)

10. Application form TM 7 with 2x2 inch square photo’s attached.

11. A valid passport

12.If married overseas, the marriage certificate must be certified at the local Embassy of the country where the marriage took place, and it must be translated and certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This must then by certified by the District Office where the Thai spouse has their household registration.

13. If granted the extension of stay prior to 1st Oct 2006, the applicant can use the option of 400,000 Baht in the bank.

14. In the case of the foreigner who has entered Thailand and has been granted to stay temporarily before Oct 1st 2006, they may be eligible for an exemption to the new rule of 40K income per month but this is only on a case by case basis.

Our professional fee is 6,500 Baht plus 7% Vat. Government fee is 1,900 Baht.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[Maestro]

SNGLIFE, because you need to be able to freely travel the multiple-entry non-O visa is the best for you. With this, you can enter Thailand for an unlimited number of times during the visa’s one-year validity. You can apply from any Thai consulate in the USA, even by mail if you wish.

The other option would be that when in Thailand you apply for an annual extension, but this would mean that afterwards you would have to be in Thailand about the same time every year, during the last 30 days of this annual period, to apply for a new extension, and wait 30 days or longer for the approval. This would run counter to your need to able to fly back to the USA at any time and stay there for several months for your work.

--

Maestro

[Crossy]

Yep, as Maestro suggests, a multi-entry non-o is the way to go. Get it in the US with minimal paperwork and just get another each year when it runs out.

Mucking about with extensions probably won't work as you're in and out so much.