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

 

 

 

 

Edited August 19, 20205 yr by joseph88

Removed an off-topic post (false information)

 

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.