First Extension of Stay Based on Marriage - Udon Thani

[ThailandTom1]

A question for Ubonjoe,

 

I usually reside in Thailand via a Multi Entry Non O Visa based on marriage and perform rotation work abroad. However due to covid situation I was stranded away at work, and my current visa ran out. I therefore had to return to the UK to obtain a new visa, for which I was granted a Single Entry Non O Visa based on marriage as Multiple entry visa's are no longer given at the London Thai Embassy.

 

Arrived to Thailand on 1st Sept and currently in ASQ quarantine. A 90 day stay brings me to 29th November, and I intend to apply for a 1 year extension of stay at Udon Thani Immigration.

 

The question is therefore the following:

 

1. At what day in advance of my current visa expiration date do I submit my application for extension of stay, I assume I visit Immigration on or around 30th October?

 

2. At what date shall 400,000 THB be deposited into Thai Bank account, I intend to deposit the required amount on or around 14th Sept which would be 2.5 months prior to visa expiration on 29th November?

 

Any advise will be appreciated, and info on any special requirements to be met at Udon Thani immigration.

 

 

 

 

 

[jackdd]

You can apply up to 30 days (some provinces 45 days) before your permission to stay expires, but your money needs to be in the bank for two months before you can apply for an extension. Theoretically you could apply on the last day of your permission to stay, but i recommend to apply earlier than that (and put the money in the bank as soon as possible), in case there are any problems.

[ubonjoe]

9 hours ago, ThailandTom1 said:

1. At what day in advance of my current visa expiration date do I submit my application for extension of stay, I assume I visit Immigration on or around 30th October?

It is you choice when to apply. You can do it up to 30 days before your permit to stay ends to that day.

I really see no benefit of applying very early since you will get a under consideration stamp with a report back date 30 days from November 29th. Doing it a couple of weeks early is enough time to get it done.

 

9 hours ago, ThailandTom1 said:

2. At what date shall 400,000 THB be deposited into Thai Bank account, I intend to deposit the required amount on or around 14th Sept which would be 2.5 months prior to visa expiration on 29th November?

It needs to be in the bank for 2 months on the day you apply. The account must be in your name only.

[Tanoshi]

12 hours ago, ThailandTom1 said:

2. At what date shall 400,000 THB be deposited into Thai Bank account, I intend to deposit the required amount on or around 14th Sept which would be 2.5 months prior to visa expiration on 29th November?

If your depositing the 400K on 14th Sept, then the first day you can apply will be 16th November after the required 2 month seasoning period.

[ThailandTom1]

Thanks all for the clarifications. 

 

Basically what I am hearing is even through I can apply 30 days before the 29th Nov date, I would still only receive my approved extension 30 days later. 

 

If I am reading you correctly I would report back to Immigration on 29th Dec to collect my extension?

 

Also during that under consideration period is it a requirement to hand in your passport which could be with Immigration for nearly a month and a half?

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, ThailandTom1 said:

If I am reading you correctly I would report back to Immigration on 29th Dec to collect my extension?

 

Also during that under consideration period is it a requirement to hand in your passport which could be with Immigration for nearly a month and a half?

Yes for the 29th but if applying here in Issan it the 30 days would not start until the day you current permit to stay ends.

They do not keep you passport. It is given back to you with a under consideration stamp that has your report back date on it..

[ThailandTom1]

And each day brings a new challenge.

 

It looks like I may now have to return to work at some point during the last week of November just before my visa expires and potentially missing my opportunity to apply for the 1 year extension. I will most likely out of Thailand for 2 months on rotation.

 

Now that means I most likely will have to return back to the UK post work rotation completed and apply for another single entry just to return and start the whole process off again. I don't believe they are giving out multiple entry visa any more based on marriage.

 

Do you know if its possible to get a 60 day extension and leave under re-entry permit and return to Thailand on the same 60 day visa extension if still within date?

[DrPhibes]

Am curious, everyone keeps saying 2 months for seasoning the 400k.  Is it 60 days or two months (as in same date two months later)?  With some months having 31 days... I think you get the idea.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Peter Denis]

10 minutes ago, DrPhibes said:

Am curious, everyone keeps saying 2 months for seasoning the 400k.  Is it 60 days or two months (as in same date two months later)?  With some months having 31 days...

When using the funds-in-bank method when applying for the 1-year extension of stay, the funds have to be seasoned for TWO MONTHS.  Which is not same as 60 days.

Hence it is recommended that the funds are already on your personal Thai bank-account a few days BEFORE applying for the 60-day extension of stay, not only in order to meet the 2 months seasoning requirement but also to give you some spare days in case your extension application is incomplete or IO wants additional evidence.

 

[DrPhibes]

19 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

When using the funds-in-bank method when applying for the 1-year extension of stay, the funds have to be seasoned for TWO MONTHS.  Which is not same as 60 days.

Hence it is recommended that the funds are already on your personal Thai bank-account a few days BEFORE applying for the 60-day extension of stay, not only in order to meet the 2 months seasoning requirement but also to give you some spare days in case your extension application is incomplete or IO wants additional evidence.

 

Thanks, just trying to time a trip for when the kids are out of school on Dec 19th for winter break.  Funds should show in 2 days to start the clock.  Apply Nov 16th, 30 days on Dec 16th.  Will be heading to IO in CM the day after arriving in CM to get TM30 filed and find out exactly what they want to see for that particular office for the marriage extension.  Only 4 more days of ASQ, whoopeee!

[Peter Denis]

9 minutes ago, DrPhibes said:

Thanks, just trying to time a trip for when the kids are out of school on Dec 19th for winter break.  Funds should show in 2 days to start the clock.  Apply Nov 16th, 30 days on Dec 16th.  Will be heading to IO in CM the day after arriving in CM to get TM30 filed and find out exactly what they want to see for that particular office for the marriage extension.  Only 4 more days of ASQ, whoopeee!

Also please note that IO recently issued a nation-wide Announcement that ANY extension applied for will have 27 September as start-date.  Applying for a 60-day extension of stay for reason of visiting your thai wife or thai dependant children, will thus provide you with a permission to stay till 25 November, so ample time to meet the 2 months seasoning requirement.

Also good to know that this 2 months seasoning requirement is only applicable when applying for the 1-year for reason of marriage.  When applying for reason of dependent children, the 400K only needs to be on your personal thai bank-account (a joint one is not accepted) at the moment of application.

[MagnumForce]

42 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Also good to know that this 2 months seasoning requirement is only applicable when applying for the 1-year for reason of marriage.  When applying for reason of dependent children, the 400K only needs to be on your personal thai bank-account (a joint one is not accepted) at the moment of application.

Really? Is this true of all IO's? Do you have a link to this in Immigration's own rules? Fantastic, if true and if adhered to by all IO's.

[Peter Denis]

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

Also good to know that this 2 months seasoning requirement is only applicable when applying for the 1-year for reason of marriage.  When applying for reason of dependent children, the 400K only needs to be on your personal thai bank-account (a joint one is not accepted) at the moment of application.

 

29 minutes ago, MagnumForce said:

Really? Is this true of all IO's? Do you have a link to this in Immigration's own rules? Fantastic, if true and if adhered to by all IO's.

Yes, fully correct and standard procedure at all IOs nationwide.

See attached link > clause 2.18

Order327-2557(2014)-extensioncriteriaconditionsEng.pdf

[Tanoshi]

3 hours ago, ThailandTom1 said:

It looks like I may now have to return to work at some point during the last week of November just before my visa expires and potentially missing my opportunity to apply for the 1 year extension. I will most likely out of Thailand for 2 months on rotation.

Your Visa was 'used' the minute you entered Thailand.

It's your 90 day permission of stay granted on entry that matters, which you stated is valid until Nov 29th.

The first day you can apply is Nov 16th, when your funds have seasoned for the required 2 months.

Two options;

1. Your application for a 1 year extension has to be approved at regional level, hence the 30 day consideration period. However if you speak to Udon Thani, it may be possible to 'fast track' your application, but that greatly depends on the day you'd depart.

2 Apply for a 1 year extension based on retirement.

You would need to be 50 years of age and deposit 800K in a Thai bank.

These are processed while you wait.

 

3 hours ago, ThailandTom1 said:

Now that means I most likely will have to return back to the UK post work rotation completed and apply for another single entry just to return and start the whole process off again. I don't believe they are giving out multiple entry visa any more based on marriage.

What is your shift rotation?

If returning for 2 months, you can enter VE and obtain a 60 day extension (90 days), without the need to return to the UK for a Visa. Correct, they no longer issue the Non Imm O ME in the UK.

 

3 hours ago, ThailandTom1 said:

Do you know if its possible to get a 60 day extension and leave under re-entry permit and return to Thailand on the same 60 day visa extension if still within date?

An extension does not extend the Visa, it extends the permission of stay granted on entry.

You'd still have to start the process again and obtain a new Non O Visa.

 

I have a friend, also an offshore worker, also from the UK, who had the same issue, never spending sufficient time in Thailand to obtain a 1 year extension. I advised him on his next return to enter VE, then apply for the 1 year Non O ME Visa at Savannakhet, Lao (2 day trip).

Unfortunately due to the Covid and closed borders that isn't an option for now.

[starky]

Does anyone know of any visa agents in Udon who would help me circumvent the 400k seasoned money? I have a Thai bank account and a forex account but I prefer to transfer my money to my account when I need it not be stood over by Thai Immigration to have an arbitrary amount sitting in an account that I basically can't access for a few months.

  I am in a similar position as the OP previous to this as an offshore worker it was all multiple entry non-o this will be my first time going for the 1 year extension. Thanks .

[ubonjoe]

18 minutes ago, starky said:

I have a Thai bank account and a forex account but I prefer to transfer my money to my account when I need it not be stood over by Thai Immigration to have an arbitrary amount sitting in an account that I basically can't access for a few months.

It only has to be in the bank for 2 months and then another 30 days or so. That is not a lot of time for it to be in the bank.

The going rate for an agent is about 40k baht for an extension based upon marriage.

[starky]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

It only has to be in the bank for 2 months and then another 30 days or so. That is not a lot of time for it to be in the bank.

The going rate for an agent is about 40k baht for an extension based upon marriage.

40k? Lol seems a little over the odds. Guess Ive been lucky 11 years of marriage and always coasted on multiple entries. Is there any other workaround? Is there not also a way you can show money regularly entering an account or is strictly the 400k for 2 months deal? 

[Peter Denis]

1 hour ago, starky said:

Does anyone know of any visa age1-yearnts in Udon who would help me circumvent the 400k seasoned money? I have a Thai bank account and a forex account but I prefer to transfer my money to my account when I need it not be stood over by Thai Immigration to have an arbitrary amount sitting in an account that I basically can't access for a few months.

  I am in a similar position as the OP previous to this as an offshore worker it was all multiple entry non-o this will be my first time going for the 1 year extension. Thanks .

UJ has already responded, and of course he is fully correct that the 400K needed for a 1-year extension of stay for reason of marriage, only needs to be seasoned for TWO months on your personal Thai bank-account (a joint one is not accepted by IO) at the day of application.  You would then need to keep the 400K there also during the 3-4 week 'under consideration' period but afterwards you are free to use the funds as you please.

When you are over +50 years of age you can also apply for a 1-year extension for reason of retirement.  The financial requirements are higher (800K) and the funds need to stay on your personal account the full year (can lower to 400K during the 7 intermediate months).  But reason I mention it, is that a Fixer Agent would be able to circumvent that financial requirement, and the fee for such retirement extension fix is somewhere between 15.000 and 25.000 THB.  Also it does not invoke an 'under consideration' period (so no house-visit check).

In case you are interested in that option, do PM me for more details and co-ordinates of a reliable Fixer Agent for doing such application.

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, starky said:

Is there not also a way you can show money regularly entering an account or is strictly the 400k for 2 months deal? 

If you can show proof of 40k baht income going into Thai bank from abroad that is another option. The written rules show only 2 or 3 months for the first application but many offices insist on 12 months of transfers. Or if from a country whose embassy still issues proof of income immigration will accept it instead of transfers.

 

[starky]

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

If you can show proof of 40k baht income going into Thai bank from abroad that is another option. The written rules show only 2 or 3 months for the first application but many offices insist on 12 months of transfers. Or if from a country whose embassy still issues proof of income immigration will accept it instead of transfers.

 

So I havent been back to Thailand since March but have transferred @100 000 a month from my ozforex account to my Thai bank account would that suit? I suppose I could ask when I land as I would still have 90 days to season 400k.

[ubonjoe]

46 minutes ago, starky said:

So I havent been back to Thailand since March but have transferred @100 000 a month from my ozforex account to my Thai bank account would that suit? I suppose I could ask when I land as I would still have 90 days to season 400k.

You show immigration what you have transferred and ask if they will accept it. You will need proof they were transferred from abroad by way of bank statements or credit advises you can get from your bank

[starky]

32 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You show immigration what you have transferred and ask if they will accept it. You will need proof they were transferred from abroad by way of bank statements or credit advises you can get from your bank

Thanks Joe for all the advice. Its worth a crack  ????

[MagnumForce]

10 hours ago, starky said:

Does anyone know of any visa agents in Udon who would help me circumvent the 400k seasoned money? I have a Thai bank account and a forex account but I prefer to transfer my money to my account when I need it not be stood over by Thai Immigration to have an arbitrary amount sitting in an account that I basically can't access for a few months.

  I am in a similar position as the OP previous to this as an offshore worker it was all multiple entry non-o this will be my first time going for the 1 year extension. Thanks .

Do you have any half-Thai kids with your Thai wife? I seem to remember posts about the 400K only having to be in the account on the day you apply for a Non-Imm 'O' visa extension based on your children, as opposed to the 2 months before et al for the extension based on marriage. Others, far more knowledgeable in these matters than I, could clarify that for you.

[starky]

11 hours ago, MagnumForce said:

Do you have any half-Thai kids with your Thai wife? I seem to remember posts about the 400K only having to be in the account on the day you apply for a Non-Imm 'O' visa extension based on your children, as opposed to the 2 months before et al for the extension based on marriage. Others, far more knowledgeable in these matters than I, could clarify that for you.

Yes mate I do. Something to look into. Thanks.