Switching to O-A Visa based on Marriage ...a detailed report

[streetlite]

The switch:

 

Past: O-A renewal for the past 10 years using Embassy letter (American)

Present: no more Embassy letter, no more O-A extensions without insurance

Immigration Office in Nakhon Sawan

 

Solutions with guidance from ubonjoe:

Leave the Country before expiration of O-A Visa, re-enter on 30 day Tourist Visa and apply for O Visa extension OR

switch to O-A based on marriage (no insurance requirement) plus lower income requirements.

 

I depend on monthly deposit method for income requirement.

 

The journey begins on the first week of Feb. 2020

 

Immigration Office is Nakhon Sawan, 80k from my home.

 

Met with IO officer to find out exactly what was needed.

1. all the normal renewal forms, copies of all passport pages, etc. with application for permission to stay based on marriage.

2. Marriage certificate.

3. Letter from Amphur confirming marriage.

4. Wife’s ID and house book.

5. Picture of both of us outside the home showing address and picture of both of us inside the home.

6. Bank statement showing minimum 45,000 per month as a foreign transfer for 12 months.

7. Bank letter showing present balance.

All In Duplicate

 

Realizing this would require multiple trips of 80k each way the problem became where to begin.

 

Started with the bank considering the closest Bangkok Bank (where I transfer my funds into) is in Nakhon Sawan. I did show the IO a download of my 12 month transfers but she said the documents had to come from the bank.

 

Problem #1- as I was going through my downloaded bank statement to make sure adequate funds were deposited monthly and shown as FTT’s I noticed that my Dec. 2019 deposit appeared as a Smart transfer. OFX messed up this transfer and I didn’t realize until now. The bank said I could order a “credit advise” which would show a foreign transfer into another bank and then redeposited into Bangkok Bank where it appeared as a local transfer. IO had no clue what a Smart transfer was but she said she would talk to her boss when the time came. Now I’m a little concerned.

 

Ordered a “credit advice” document from the bank along with 12 months worth of statements plus a bank letter confirming balance (cost 200 Baht). I was told it would take about a week. Spent over an hour in the bank (small branch in Big C) explaining what I needed. This is apparently something new to them. Patience on both sides prevailed.

 

Next on the agenda was getting pictures taken and developed. No problem. Then onto the Amphur to get marriage certification. No problem

 

Received a call from the bank late on a Friday afternoon Feb. 21^st and they told me my documents were in. I told them I would pick them up the following Tuesday.

 

FYI: my present Visa was about to expire on March 8^th and it was now February 25^th when I picked up the documents from the bank. The bank was gracious enough to make copies of everything for me so that I could have 2 copies for Immigration.

 

Off to Immigration office, all paperwork in order and neatly organized (or so I thought), placed into separate folders, pictures attached to applications, all passport document signed, etc., with my only concern being the “Smart” deposit in December.

 

After a 15 minute wait we were called over to the IO desk to begin dissemination of our documents.

 

She goes through the bank statements first, adding up all the deposits and divided by 12. She tells me why apply for a marriage Visa when I have more than enough funds for a renewal of my old Visa. (*note-she did not look for monthly deposits but rather a sum total divided by 12). I told her that I did not have Thai insurance to qualify for another O-A extension bit I did have insurance from America. She didn’t raise an eyebrow about the insurance issue but said “oh, you have an O-A?” and just resumed going through the paperwork.

 

Problem #2- she kicks out the Amphur document and say she needs the original. I say it is the original and she say no, it’s a copy. Says we have to go back to the Amphur and get an original and bring it back. I’m pleading with her about driving another 160k just to get this document and she says just go to the Visa office in Big C and get another one (apparently you can go to any Amphur regardless of where you were married). Off to Big C and luck was with us. Only a 10 minute wait for the new document. Back to Immigration.

 

Problem #3- I had pre-signed all my passport pages. She says I have to recopy the pages with no signature. We do have a wonderful Immigration office because she went and re copied everything for me. A special stamp was used for my signature and printed name on all the documents plus my wife had to do the same. We are now 15 document in so it’s a tedious chore printing and signing your name on the numerous documents.

 

Problem #4- She kicks out the Marriage certificate and asks where is a copy of the reverse side. I hadn’t even looked at the reverse side of our certificate which I realized sat in a drawer at home. She said she needed that to proceed with the application because a copy of everything is sent to Chiang Mai for final approval. BUT...she gives us a way out:

Tells us that we could mail it to her or else as part of the process is a visit from Immigration to our home within the next week and that we could give them the copy of the marriage certificate to bring back to her. Thank you.

 

She stamps me in for 30 days (March 25^th) and says to return on that date for final conclusion.

 

One week goes by and no call from Immigration regarding visit. Two weeks go by and still no call. Finally on March 11^th we get a call saying they will be at our home the next day around 1PM. Next day Immigration police car pulls up at 2:30PM. I go out to greet them with passport and yellow book in hand. Nope, they don’t want to speak with me they want to interview a neighbor. They select a neighbor who is 70+ years old, take out a stack of questionaires and proceed to speak with her and then have her put her thumbprint on each document as kind of “do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth”? They never asked me a single question. After a 45 minute interview with the neighbor they asked to take a picture with them in front of the house and showing the address. They left as abruptly as they arrived. They were very nice though.

I also forgot to give them the marriage certificate and wound up mailing it to Immigration.

 

I know this is a long winded post but I really wanted to give the details to anyone switching their Visa status.

 

Finally the big day (yesterday March 25^th) arrives and off we go to find out my fate. Thinking that Immigration would be empty due to the Covid situation I was wrong. Immigration was packed solid with everyone sitting apart outside and seating inside was separated and sparse. Handed my passport to the front desk and told them why I was there. About an hour later one of the officers comes over and hands me my passport with a 1 year permission to stay. Since it was a new Visa the old date of March 8 expiration was now replaced with a new Feb. 25^th expiration. I lost 2 weeks but gained another year.

 

Mission accomplished.

 

Don’t forget...everything in duplicate including pictures.