Marriage extensions for wife doing 25 year in Thai prison?

[JeffersLos]

My friends Thai wife got involved with gambling, and was used as a mule to deliver drugs. 

 

She was caught and is now looking at 25 years in prison. They don't have any children.

 

What happens for getting his annual marriage extensions when she is in prison for the next 20+ years?

 

Will the IO visit his home, or will they visit the prison?

 

TIA. 

[ubonjoe]

I am not sure how that could be done. I suspect the extension might not be approved with the wife being imprisoned since it  requires them to be living together as husband wife.

[JoseThailand]

25 years of freedom ahead for your friend!

[JeffersLos]

6 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

25 years of freedom ahead for your friend!

He loves his wife and wants to visit her as many times weekly as permissible. 

[ubonjoe]

A off topic nonsensical post has been removed.

[kwonitoy]

My ex-wife was sentenced to 25 to life in 2013.

I remained married to her until 2019 when I got officially divorced.

Up until that time I got a Non O visa issued to me in Canada on the basis of being married, because I was.

I continued to get retirement extensions on the basis of being married until 2019 and then switched the reason to being a parent.

It's the age old "if they don't ask, don't tell"

If you can show a marriage cert, you're married.

Of course all this depends on the imm office and the IO.

I never had any trouble with visa's,

The little woman however..............................................................

 

BTW 25 years sentence will mean about 8-10 years actually served, discounts for good behavior, kings pardons etc

[couchpotato]

17 minutes ago, kwonitoy said:

My ex-wife was sentenced to 25 to life in 2013.

I remained married to her until 2019 when I got officially divorced.

Up until that time I got a Non O visa issued to me in Canada on the basis of being married, because I was.

I continued to get retirement extensions on the basis of being married until 2019 and then switched the reason to being a parent.

It's the age old "if they don't ask, don't tell"

If you can show a marriage cert, you're married.

Of course all this depends on the imm office and the IO.

I never had any trouble with visa's,

The little woman however..............................................................

 

BTW 25 years sentence will mean about 8-10 years actually served, discounts for good behavior, kings pardons etc

I presume you are under 50, otherwise you don't need a reason for a retirement extension, just the required funds.

[internationalism]

the best would be to divorce gambling drug mule, who after 5 years would be permanently mentally challenged and after 10 years physically disabled, and get a new wife around half his age.

 

[blackcab]

This is a difficult question to answer, and ultimately the decision will be made by the immigration officer.

 

As ubonjoe stated, Thai immigration requires that the marriage be de jure and de facto, which can be roughly translated to mean a marriage both legally and in reality.

 

The legality of a marriage is easy to prove by obtaining a certificate from the District Office. You are either legally married or you are not.

 

Proving the reality of a marriage is a more difficult thing to do, and it is up to the immigration officer to decide what proof they will accept.

 

Normally, this might be pictures of the applicant and his wife at home, and also the wife being physically present during the application.

 

However there are times when this is not possible, for example when the wife is in long term hospital care. In such a case it is up to the immigration officer what alternative evidence they will accept.

 

Clearly, just because the wife is receiving long term medical care it does not mean the couple are any less married.

 

It is a similar case with imprisonment. If the devoted husband really does visit his wife at every opportunity and he also supports his wife financially, are they any less married?

 

There is no one answer that fits here, because every case turns on its own facts. Different officers might view the same evidence and reach different conclusions.

 

At the very least the husband should submit as evidence an official copy of the Court's verdict, records of the visits he made to his wife, and receipts of money paid into his wife's prison account to support her.

 

There are no guarantees of success with this approach, and any application could be denied. A successful application one year should not be taken as an indication that a future application will be successful.

 

Alternatively, the husband could get an OA visa abroad. Ubonjoe will be able to advise whether any other types of marriage visa are still possible from the husband's home country.

 

A very difficult situation indeed, and one that deserves some compassion.

[Surasak]

Just a suggestion, but would it be worth talking to an agent?

They are usually ex IO's and know the ropes.

The problem with a marriage visa, is that the interviewing IO does not have the last word.

[Falcon]

22 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

He loves his wife and wants to visit her as many times weekly as permissible. 

Good for him for supporting her. Shows real love and conviction to do that and to be supportive given the long time of seleration. I hope all the best for them both.

[The Hammer2021]

Most prisoners here are in for drugs and most of them are women and most of them were trapped and exploited in some way. None of them deserve imprisonment. All deserve help. The Thai prison system is shameful. It's very sad.

[windas]

Hi 

My friends wife did the same thing, gambling in Loas casinos whilst husband visiting UK, and became a drug mule. . Drug dealers gave free trip + gave 200 baht for gambling as an enticement. . .got caught in a police sting in his car.. confiscated his car, she got 15 years cut to 4 due to grassing on the dealers, who got out the brown envelopes.. . He still obtained his visas etc as usual.. .My wife sweet talked an inspector to release the car for no charge (he had wanted 50k)

[poohy]

I would think an agent maybe of some help here

[RichardColeman]

43 minutes ago, Falcon said:

Good for him for supporting her. Shows real love and conviction to do that and to be supportive given the long time of seleration. I hope all the best for them both.

I would say I agree with you, but as most of us are probably 50-60 up, waiting 25 years for your wife will probably lead to you being dead before her release ! Would I guess mean deciding between your love for your wife and wanting to at least have some physical love before you pop your clogs - I love my wife but if I was say 65 now and had to risk waiting till 90 - and possible death - before getting physical contact, I'd probably choose the divorce - unless the wife agreed to me getting some on the side for 25 years !

[ChipButty]

8 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I would say I agree with you, but as most of us are probably 50-60 up, waiting 25 years for your wife will probably lead to you being dead before her release ! Would I guess mean deciding between your love for your wife and wanting to at least have some physical love before you pop your clogs - I love my wife but if I was say 65 now and had to risk waiting till 90 - and possible death - before getting physical contact, I'd probably choose the divorce - unless the wife agreed to me getting some on the side for 25 years !

Im sure a Mia Noi would be acceptable or 2 

[ChipButty]

I just mentioned this story to the Midget she knows everything thats why I dont need Google,

 

She said it happens a lot in Thai families, and if you are married the police can confiscate all the assets, has that happened to guys you know? 

 

Situations where guys buy their properties and cars in their wife's name how do you get round that one? Sheeeeeeeeeet!

[Caldera]

Following with interest. My Thai wife is keen to join the Thai space program. Assuming that she'll get on a flight to Mars, she won't be around for a number of Thai wife extensions as well. Hopefully the competent authorities have got me covered!

[ronster]

Hope immigration don’t ask for photos of the couple together at home and in the bedroom ! ????

[billsmart]

14 hours ago, internationalism said:

the best would be to divorce gambling drug mule, who after 5 years would be permanently mentally challenged and after 10 years physically disabled, and get a new wife around half his age.

 

Best for him, maybe, but not for his wife. ???? 

[Stevemercer]

If your friend is over 50 then he should make preparations to shift to retirement extensions.

 

If she pleads guilt, and cooperates with the police, then she might get 10 - 20 years. This will be cut in half if she pled guilty (5 - 10 years). If she behaves in prison she will be out in half this time (e.g. 2.5 - 5 years).

 

My wife's brother pled guilty on the advice of the family who could afford a lawyer for him. He was caught along with 2 others who could not afford lawyers and who pled guilty.

 

They all received 20 years. He got the full 20. He has not been eligible for any royal pardons etc. because of his not-guilty plea. A year or two ago there was some problem with a mobile phone. He said it was a set-up. My wife's family complained to the Governor of the prison who responded by moving him to a prison 500 km away making it difficult to visit him. 

 

The other 2 guilty parties got their 20 year sentences cut in half because of their guilty pleas. After annual pardons etc they were both out after 4.5 years.

 

 

[ThaiFelix]

1 hour ago, ronster said:

Hope immigration don’t ask for photos of the couple together at home and in the bedroom ! ????

They probably could provide those pics but the bars between them may look suspicious.  The one outside the home showing the house number would be the difficult one lol.

 

[MrJ2U]

What a nightmare.

 

And in someways a blessing.

[kwonitoy]

9 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I just mentioned this story to the Midget she knows everything thats why I dont need Google,

 

She said it happens a lot in Thai families, and if you are married the police can confiscate all the assets, has that happened to guys you know? 

 

Situations where guys buy their properties and cars in their wife's name how do you get round that one? Sheeeeeeeeeet!

The police grab everything they can and you have to fight for it back, Thai's generally don't fight or stand up to the police.

My first truck was in my name.

 

The second one I bought in my wife's name just for conveniences sake, less running around for paperwork.

Her name, proceeds of crime even though it was bought 4 years prior. Gone

 

Kubota tractor bought the same way for convenience, bought 3 years before. Gone

 

My jeep was in my name and the police wanted very badly to take it and were VERY upset when I showed the blue book in my name, told me not to drive it. As soon as they left I moved the jeep to a far away house.

 

The house I had built in the village did not have an official chanod, we were working on getting it. If it had a chanod in her name it would have been confiscated. Lucky on that one.

 

About a month after her arrest a very very angry looking official showed up at the house, he had found out that she had chanod's for a rubber plantation that I had been starting. He did not ask for them he came barging in and demanded them be put in his hand. I told him they had been FedEx'd to my brother in Canada. He was visibly unhappy. 

 

About another month later another nice official showed up and sat and talked, very nice man. He finally says to me, you can get your wife back for 5 million baht. I just said no thanks, you can keep her. He was quiet shocked

 

The truck and tractor I hired a lawyer to get returned, It took about 3 years of back and forth to the courts, police, agency that handles corruption and I finally won the right of return.

 

BUT it required my wife to sign a document releasing the vehicles as they were her legal property.

She refused and said she'll sign it when she gets out

 

She could have gotten out of prison 2 years ago if her cousin had signed an agreement to be responsible for her conduct.

I talked the cousin out of this.

Should have signed for the truck and tractor honey bunny

 

Before I left I sold 20 baht of gold jewelry and kept a 2 karat diamond ring, Karma little girl.

 

I'm now relocated to Canada with my son and life is much better

 

Edit:  Just FYI, I was with this woman as my girlfriend and legal wife for 17 years, she had been to Canada twice to see my family. You'd think after that time you know someone, but

 

 

Edited December 22, 2021 by kwonitoy

[Andycoops]

On 12/22/2021 at 5:11 AM, blackcab said:

This is a difficult question to answer, and ultimately the decision will be made by the immigration officer.

 

As ubonjoe stated, Thai immigration requires that the marriage be de jure and de facto, which can be roughly translated to mean a marriage both legally and in reality.

 

The legality of a marriage is easy to prove by obtaining a certificate from the District Office. You are either legally married or you are not.

 

Proving the reality of a marriage is a more difficult thing to do, and it is up to the immigration officer to decide what proof they will accept.

 

Normally, this might be pictures of the applicant and his wife at home, and also the wife being physically present during the application.

 

However there are times when this is not possible, for example when the wife is in long term hospital care. In such a case it is up to the immigration officer what alternative evidence they will accept.

 

Clearly, just because the wife is receiving long term medical care it does not mean the couple are any less married.

 

It is a similar case with imprisonment. If the devoted husband really does visit his wife at every opportunity and he also supports his wife financially, are they any less married?

 

There is no one answer that fits here, because every case turns on its own facts. Different officers might view the same evidence and reach different conclusions.

 

At the very least the husband should submit as evidence an official copy of the Court's verdict, records of the visits he made to his wife, and receipts of money paid into his wife's prison account to support her.

 

There are no guarantees of success with this approach, and any application could be denied. A successful application one year should not be taken as an indication that a future application will be successful.

 

Alternatively, the husband could get an OA visa abroad. Ubonjoe will be able to advise whether any other types of marriage visa are still possible from the husband's home country.

 

A very difficult situation indeed, and one that deserves some compassion.

To my knowledge all marriage extensions require the wife to be present as she has to sign documents in the presence of the IO.

This has happened in all of my past 13 extensions and those of my friends who use marriage extensions.

[ChipButty]

5 hours ago, kwonitoy said:

The police grab everything they can and you have to fight for it back, Thai's generally don't fight or stand up to the police.

My first truck was in my name.

 

The second one I bought in my wife's name just for conveniences sake, less running around for paperwork.

Her name, proceeds of crime even though it was bought 4 years prior. Gone

 

Kubota tractor bought the same way for convenience, bought 3 years before. Gone

 

My jeep was in my name and the police wanted very badly to take it and were VERY upset when I showed the blue book in my name, told me not to drive it. As soon as they left I moved the jeep to a far away house.

 

The house I had built in the village did not have an official chanod, we were working on getting it. If it had a chanod in her name it would have been confiscated. Lucky on that one.

 

About a month after her arrest a very very angry looking official showed up at the house, he had found out that she had chanod's for a rubber plantation that I had been starting. He did not ask for them he came barging in and demanded them be put in his hand. I told him they had been FedEx'd to my brother in Canada. He was visibly unhappy. 

 

About another month later another nice official showed up and sat and talked, very nice man. He finally says to me, you can get your wife back for 5 million baht. I just said no thanks, you can keep her. He was quiet shocked

 

The truck and tractor I hired a lawyer to get returned, It took about 3 years of back and forth to the courts, police, agency that handles corruption and I finally won the right of return.

 

BUT it required my wife to sign a document releasing the vehicles as they were her legal property.

She refused and said she'll sign it when she gets out

 

She could have gotten out of prison 2 years ago if her cousin had signed an agreement to be responsible for her conduct.

I talked the cousin out of this.

Should have signed for the truck and tractor honey bunny

 

Before I left I sold 20 baht of gold jewelry and kept a 2 karat diamond ring, Karma little girl.

 

I'm now relocated to Canada with my son and life is much better

 

Edit:  Just FYI, I was with this woman as my girlfriend and legal wife for 17 years, she had been to Canada twice to see my family. You'd think after that time you know someone, but

 

 

Thats a Mad story for sure Im glad things worked out ok for you, Just shows you how deep corruption can go here

[ChipButty]

5 hours ago, kwonitoy said:

The police grab everything they can and you have to fight for it back, Thai's generally don't fight or stand up to the police.

My first truck was in my name.

 

The second one I bought in my wife's name just for conveniences sake, less running around for paperwork.

Her name, proceeds of crime even though it was bought 4 years prior. Gone

 

Kubota tractor bought the same way for convenience, bought 3 years before. Gone

 

My jeep was in my name and the police wanted very badly to take it and were VERY upset when I showed the blue book in my name, told me not to drive it. As soon as they left I moved the jeep to a far away house.

 

The house I had built in the village did not have an official chanod, we were working on getting it. If it had a chanod in her name it would have been confiscated. Lucky on that one.

 

About a month after her arrest a very very angry looking official showed up at the house, he had found out that she had chanod's for a rubber plantation that I had been starting. He did not ask for them he came barging in and demanded them be put in his hand. I told him they had been FedEx'd to my brother in Canada. He was visibly unhappy. 

 

About another month later another nice official showed up and sat and talked, very nice man. He finally says to me, you can get your wife back for 5 million baht. I just said no thanks, you can keep her. He was quiet shocked

 

The truck and tractor I hired a lawyer to get returned, It took about 3 years of back and forth to the courts, police, agency that handles corruption and I finally won the right of return.

 

BUT it required my wife to sign a document releasing the vehicles as they were her legal property.

She refused and said she'll sign it when she gets out

 

She could have gotten out of prison 2 years ago if her cousin had signed an agreement to be responsible for her conduct.

I talked the cousin out of this.

Should have signed for the truck and tractor honey bunny

 

Before I left I sold 20 baht of gold jewelry and kept a 2 karat diamond ring, Karma little girl.

 

I'm now relocated to Canada with my son and life is much better

 

Edit:  Just FYI, I was with this woman as my girlfriend and legal wife for 17 years, she had been to Canada twice to see my family. You'd think after that time you know someone, but

 

 

Out of curiosity did you ever visit your wife in jail?

[kwonitoy]

13 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Out of curiosity did you ever visit your wife in jail?

I did for a couple of years when she was in the Udon Thani womans prison

I quit after that although I did give her cousin money for food in her prison account, I didn't like her any more, but I've seen the conditions inside and I kept her fed anyhow.

[brianthainess]

Gambling seems to be the biggest problem of mainly Thai women, who then get into debt with loan sharks. I've been ripped off by one, just so she could pay her mothers debt. sorry if I drift off subject but;

My disabled mate has lost everything to his wife, house, car, M/C, 400 k for his marriage visa, all household goods. kept doing runners to avoid the mafia who always found her, eventually abandoned him and left him alone with no funds left except for his meagre disability pension unable to do ANYTHING for himself, and she has now forked off to Dubai, via an agent. As his only friend here we had to go rescue him, to live 2 min away from me and we found him a day carer. I organised an agent to get him a retirement visa. BITCH ! 

[blackcab]

3 hours ago, Andycoops said:

To my knowledge all marriage extensions require the wife to be present as she has to sign documents in the presence of the IO.

This has happened in all of my past 13 extensions and those of my friends who use marriage extensions.

 

In normal circumstances, I agree. However immigration have the ability to vary most evidentiary requirements as they see fit.

 

The great difficulty is that the ability to significantly vary the requirements on a case by case basis is held by very senior officers, and it is not always easy to petition these people.