can ED Visa be changed to marriage visa?

[joseph88]

hey all ill keep this short and sweet.

 

Can an ED visa be changed/converted to marriage visa without leaving the country? from what i understand both types are on a non o visa

 

anyone done this?

 

i'm in Chiang Mai

 

cheers

 

 

 

 

[Maestro]

Removed an off-topic post (false information)

 

[ubonjoe]

You cannot change from a non-ed to a non-o visa while in the country. Immigration cannot change non immigrant visa categories.

It should though be possible to apply for a extension of stay based upon marriage with a non-ed visa or from a extension of stay based upon attending a school.

[joseph88]

36 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You cannot change from a non-ed to a non-o visa while in the country. Immigration cannot change non immigrant visa categories.

It should though be possible to apply for a extension of stay based upon marriage with a non-ed visa or from a extension of stay based upon attending a school.

i see. but then would i have to eventually leave Thailand and re enter in order to change to non o?

or would it be allowed to continue extending non ed based upon marriage?

thanks

[ubonjoe]

12 minutes ago, joseph88 said:

i see. but then would i have to eventually leave Thailand and re enter in order to change to non o?

No.

You just keep applying for new extensions of stay every year.

[JackThompson]

9 hours ago, joseph88 said:

Can an ED visa be changed/converted to marriage visa without leaving the country? from what i understand both types are on a non o visa

Both types are "non-immigrant".  Non-O and Non-Ed are different types of "non-immigrant" visas.  Visas issued "Based on Thai Family" and "Based on Retirement" are both in the "Non-O" grouping ("O" = "other").

 

Tourist-Visas (TR) are an example of a visa-type which is not non-imm, so if changing to a non-imm reason for an extension of stay, you have to first do a "change of visa" process, which involves a 90-day "visa" stamp (done at immigration), then apply for the 1-year stay when that is ending.

 

When you enter the country, you receive a "permitted stay" based on your Visa (or "tourist-exempt" = "no visa").  You recieved a "non-imm" type of entry-stamp, with a Non-Ed visa, and were given a permitted-stay based on "non-immigrant category ed" (aka "non-ed").

 

So, in your case, you would be applying for a different reason for continuing a "non-imm" based permitted-stay.  This is perfectly do-able under the law.  The only question, is if your particular immigration office will do it, or will insist you "must go out for a new visa" to change the reason for a new permitted-stay.  That usually means, "We only do this with an agent/lawyer payoff." 

 

You should be able to get the 60-day "visit Thai wife" extension - especially if your non-ed permitted-stay is still running now (you are not using the amnesty - though some offices will also do it while on amnesty).  After receiving that stamp, they might be more inclined to let you apply for the 1-year Thai-family extension - or they might suggest you go straight to a 1-year w/o the 60-days first.

 

The reason for the guesswork, as each office is allowed to make up their own rules of what they will do w/o agent-money (which is shared up the chain) - and the per-office 'invented rules' change over time.  CM has a well-established ("infamous") agent-system, somewhat "less-bad" after the last Imm-Boss told them to stop being so blatant about it.  I would always try to do things w/o an agent, first - just keep your cool, and don't be shocked/surprised or show anger, if they lie straight to your face.

[joseph88]

6 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

Both types are "non-immigrant".  Non-O and Non-Ed are different types of "non-immigrant" visas.  Visas issued "Based on Thai Family" and "Based on Retirement" are both in the "Non-O" grouping ("O" = "other").

 

Tourist-Visas (TR) are an example of a visa-type which is not non-imm, so if changing to a non-imm reason for an extension of stay, you have to first do a "change of visa" process, which involves a 90-day "visa" stamp (done at immigration), then apply for the 1-year stay when that is ending.

 

When you enter the country, you receive a "permitted stay" based on your Visa (or "tourist-exempt" = "no visa").  You recieved a "non-imm" type of entry-stamp, with a Non-Ed visa, and were given a permitted-stay based on "non-immigrant category ed" (aka "non-ed").

 

So, in your case, you would be applying for a different reason for continuing a "non-imm" based permitted-stay.  This is perfectly do-able under the law.  The only question, is if your particular immigration office will do it, or will insist you "must go out for a new visa" to change the reason for a new permitted-stay.  That usually means, "We only do this with an agent/lawyer payoff." 

 

You should be able to get the 60-day "visit Thai wife" extension - especially if your non-ed permitted-stay is still running now (you are not using the amnesty - though some offices will also do it while on amnesty).  After receiving that stamp, they might be more inclined to let you apply for the 1-year Thai-family extension - or they might suggest you go straight to a 1-year w/o the 60-days first.

 

The reason for the guesswork, as each office is allowed to make up their own rules of what they will do w/o agent-money (which is shared up the chain) - and the per-office 'invented rules' change over time.  CM has a well-established ("infamous") agent-system, somewhat "less-bad" after the last Imm-Boss told them to stop being so blatant about it.  I would always try to do things w/o an agent, first - just keep your cool, and don't be shocked/surprised or show anger, if they lie straight to your face.

thanks for all the great info. 

 

the reason i ask this is because i will be officially married in October, and right now i have to choose what visa to use up until then, ideally it would be one that i can easily change to marriage.

 

one option is ed visa

 

second option is to get the non o visa that they are calling "volunteer visa" 

as this is already a non 0 is it easier to change to marriage after october?

 

thanks again for the help

[JackThompson]

14 minutes ago, joseph88 said:

the reason i ask this is because i will be officially married in October, and right now i have to choose what visa to use up until then, ideally it would be one that i can easily change to marriage.

 

one option is ed visa

 

second option is to get the non o visa that they are calling "volunteer visa" 

as this is already a non 0 is it easier to change to marriage after october?

Got it.  Unfortunately, I cannot say what policy would be - a 'guess' would be non-o to non-o would be easier - changing the reason for your extension only - not the non-imm type - but that is ONLY a guess as to what your office might do. 

 

It could depend on how the office views your "volunteer" stamp; best if it came from the same office - not some province far-away, where some agent has "connections" - because offices can be very jealous about other offices getting "their gibs" (payoffs).  They will (explitive) like crazy about "agent" this and that, when it's the "other office's agents" - or even your previous stays issued from entering with visas from the MFA - instead of their own agents.