First Time application for Marriage Extension

[GuyFawkes]

Since submitting application for change from Retirement to Marriage Extension my wife received a call from Immigration instructing that in addition to the 4 domestic pics of ourselves, 4 additional pics showing the two witnesses with us.   We have complied using the village headman and a senior Nurse.   IO also require house book and ID card of witnesses.   Not told whether visit to house will take place or if witnesses required to accompany us to Immigration.. Note we live about 50 kms from Immigration office.

 

Is the additional info requested normal or should we have cause for concern?

[ubonjoe]

It seems they decided not to do a home visit and are now wanting the witnesses instead of doing it.

Nothing to worry about.

[GuyFawkes]

Thank you UJ - re-assuring to have your input.

[Peterw42]

It does sound like they have elected not to do a home visit. The photos of you and witness's and their blue book/ID is usually what they collect/do at the home visit

[GuyFawkes]

The Saga Continues with my Request to change Retirement status to one of Marriage.

Having submitted all documentation last Wednesday to the satisfaction of the receiving IO, we received a call on Friday 10th as per my previous blog above.

 

Today 13th January we (my wife and I) travelled the 50kms to Immigration  to hand in the 4xpics, Blue Book details and ID cards of the 2 witnesses (village Headman and a Senior Nurse).    This took around an hour to accomplish

 

Then asked why I was changing and I explained that I three of my monthly payments made by Transferwise had NOT come in as FTT and Bangkok Bank/Kaisakorn said they couldn't remedy the mistake which rightly was made by Transferwise.  This appeared to be accepted by the IO.

 

At the end of the hour the IO (an affable Police Captain (Deputy Inspector) told us that he had 10 further cases to deal with and that having got to him first, I would now go to No 1 spot and I must return at 1000 hrs on Wednesday 15th with the Two witnesses and following that a house visit would be made and I would receive a decision by 7th February.

 

The mind boggles at the bureaucracy not to mention the inconvenience caused by 100 kms round trips and witnesses having to take time off from work.  I was also told that this procedure would be necessary every renewal of extension.

 

Maybe the procedure is a deterrent designed to 'persuade' foreigners from applying and I am beginning to think a trip to Vientiane might have been a better option.