Are retirees moving to the new DTV visa - anybody done it?

[Millian]

I started a new job in Jan 2021, but due to assorted problems such as covid situation, company not having a valid director in the country and useless visa agents, I've been on a covid extension based on I presume my previous company’s visa. (or maybe the extension to stay status has changed, not sure how to tell?)

 

In December, the visa agent said we were ready to apply for the new Visa.  However, we've now been denied on 2 separate occasions because of issues with the company paper work. 

 

I was denied yet again yesterday due to an incorrect name on company paper work. Advice from immigration officer was to get another covid extension with a letter from my embassy, but then I pointed out that's no longer valid for people on Non-B Visa.   Visa agent said we will be successful on our 4th attempt next week

I envisioned this happening again, so I got married a few weeks ago to my long-time partner.

I've found the docs that UrbanJoe has shared to apply for the Non-O and also some other posts with extra information on process at Chaengwattana.  So, I'm using them as a guide to apply for Non-O myself ASAP rather than wait on visa agent to fail again.

Should I expect any issues applying for this, as I've been on a covid extension for 1 year? Few points:

- During last year I had to apply for new visa passport, but I have my old one and the visa was migrated to the new one

- I have a valid work permit from my current company

- Read a reply from UrbanJoe that you need letter from company cancelling current extension of stay. I think this has already been cancelled from my old company and now I'm on the covid extension. Do I still need such a letter? How can I check?

- My covid extension runs out on 1st Mach. If I gathered all docs and went to Chaengwattana on Friday, do you receive the Non-0 same day if successful?

- Also read a reply UrbanJoe about a 60 extension of stay based on seeing wife; so that could be an option if I need more time.  What is the process and documents needed for that, is it different from Non-0 1 year extension?

Thank you

[ubonjoe]

If you have applied for 60 day covid extensions your extension based upon working was certainly canceled before you got the first one.

You apparently have time to apply for a extension of stay based upon marriage. The application is accepted on the day you apply and you will then get a under consideration stamp with a report back date 30 days later.

For 60 day extension to visit your wife she will have to be with you when you apply and all the marriage related documents that is on my list and you wife's house book registry and ID card.

 

[Millian]

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If you have applied for 60 day covid extensions your extension based upon working was certainly canceled before you got the first one.

OK, so the various extensions of stays will prove that, I shouldn't need any other proof.
 

Quote

You apparently have time to apply for a extension of stay based upon marriage. The application is accepted on the day you apply and you will then get a under consideration stamp with a report back date 30 days later.

According to some posts I've just read, you need at least 15 (23 in some cases) days left on an extension for them to grant a 1 year extension based on marriage. So I think I need to apply for the 60 day extension first, as I have less than 12 days left the soonest can apply tomorrow

 

Quote

marriage related documents that is on my list and you wife's house book registry and ID card.

The list:

1. Proof of 400k baht in the bank for 2 months by way of a letter from your bank and
   your bank book. or 40k baht income.proven by a income letter from your embassy.
2. Copies of your passport photo page and every page that has any stamp or visa for
   Thailand on it.
3. Copy of TM6 departure card.
4. Marriage certificate and a updated Kor Ror 2 marriage registry (Kor Ror 22 for
   foreign marriages)
5. Copies of your wife's house book registry and ID card.
6. Photos of you and your wife in and around the house. One must show you both with
   the house number shown in it. The number of photos needed varies by office.
7. Map to your residence from the nearest main road or street.
8. Proof of residence if not living where your wife's house book is for.
9. Some offices may want witnesses when you apply

Are all of these also required for the 60 extension of stay to visit wife?  I presumed some, such as points 1, 6, 7, 8 & 9 were only for the 1 year extension?

Are these extensions being granted at Chaengwattana currently? Read a few posts they were using the temporary visa office, but these posts were from last year.

 

Also read some posts where I need to book online. Is that still current, or can I just walk in and apply?

As ever, thank you Urbanjoe and others.

[Millian]

Is this a Kor Ror 2?

 

[Millian]

Just rang the immigration hotline, and she said I won't be able to get an extension of stay based on visiting wife, as im currently on a covid visa and they cannot change the visa types.

[ubonjoe]

35 minutes ago, Millian said:

Is this a Kor Ror 2?

No

The Kor Ror 2 is form that is 2 pages long.

It has this at the top of it. It has the form number on the right side.

A print out of it can be requested at any Amphoe or Khet (Bangkok). 

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, Millian said:

Just rang the immigration hotline, and she said I won't be able to get an extension of stay based on visiting wife, as im currently on a covid visa and they cannot change the visa types.

I think you got a person on the hotline that did not know what they were talking about or did not understand your question.

If you told them it was a visa that might be the problem. They can only change the reason for a extension of stay.

Go to immigration and ask them.

[Millian]

I also got the impressions it may not be correct info she gave me.

 

For the 60 day extension to visit wife, should I be applying at Muang Thong Thani rather than Cheangwattana?

 

On what's needed for 60 day extension:

 

1.Proof of 400k baht in the bank for 2 months by way of a letter from your bank and

your bank book. or 40k baht income.proven by a income letter from your embassy.

2.Copies of your passport photo page and every page that has any stamp or visa for

Thailand on it.

3.Copy of TM6 departure card.

4.Marriage certificate and a updated Kor Ror 2 marriage registry (Kor Ror 22 for

foreign marriages)

5.Copies of your wife's house book registry and ID card.

6.Photos of you and your wife in and around the house. One must show you both with

the house number shown in it. The number of photos needed varies by office.

7.Map to your residence from the nearest main road or street.

8.Proof of residence if not living where your wife's house book is for.

9.Some offices may want witnesses when you apply

 

Are all of these also required for the 60 extension of stay to visit wife? I presumed some, such as points 1, 6, 7, 8 & 9 were only for the 1 year extension?

 

Thanks

 

Edited February 16, 2022 by Millian

[sometimewoodworker]

2 hours ago, Millian said:

According to some posts I've just read, you need at least 15 (23 in some cases) days left on an extension for them to grant a 1 year extension based on marriage.

You are confusing the requirements for issuing an Non-O visa at immigration where the information of time needed on your permission to stay is correct, and issuing an extension of stay based on marriage.
 

With the extension of stay your original visa must be a Non immigrant visa (a non-B is a non immigrant visa but I don’t know if it qualifies, in the past I have known of people told to exit Thailand and get a Non-O however COVID has allowed some changes.) 

 

with the extension of stay applying with 1 day remaining on your permission to stay is OK though you are pushing it as you may not have all the paperwork perfectly in order.

[ubonjoe]

2 hours ago, Millian said:

According to some posts I've just read, you need at least 15 (23 in some cases) days left on an extension for them to grant a 1 year extension based on marriage. So I think I need to apply for the 60 day extension first, as I have less than 12 days left the soonest can apply tomorrow

You can apply for a extension of stay on the last day. The 15 days before is only non immigrant visa applications donne at immigration.

 

2 hours ago, Millian said:

Are all of these also required for the 60 extension of stay to visit wife?  I presumed some, such as points 1, 6, 7, 8 & 9 were only for the 1 year extension?

2. Only a copy of your passport photo page, visa. entry stamp and current extension stamp.

3, 4, and 5 And 8 but that could probably be a TM30 report receipt.

[Millian]

Ok that's all clear now, thank you very much.

 

Last question is where should I be applying for 60 extension, Muang Thong Thani, or Cheangwattana?

[ubonjoe]

29 minutes ago, Millian said:

Last question is where should I be applying for 60 extension, Muang Thong Thani, or Cheangwattana?

Chaeng Wattana

[shady86]

Yes, it's possible. Make sure you meet all requirements, the easiest would be 400k in bank for at least 2 months since you have trouble with documents from company. 

[mrwebb8825]

7 hours ago, shady86 said:

Yes, it's possible. Make sure you meet all requirements, the easiest would be 400k in bank for at least 2 months since you have trouble with documents from company. 

IIRC, money isn't needed for the 60 day visit wife extension as it's mostly used to give money in the bank time to season. Also, I don't believe there's an "under consideration" period for this. It's a yes or no on the spot.

1 thing I haven't seen mentioned is to make sure the account you're keeping the money in (or depositing it in for monthly income) is in your name only. And, when using the monthly income method, you need a tax receipt. Again, this is IIRC as I've been on married extensions for 16 years and may be fuzzy on "the 1st time". 

[Millian]

21 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Chaeng Wattana

In this following report of 60 day extension for wife, he was told he needed to go to Muang Thong Thani instead of Chaeng Wattana:

Is that because he was originally on a Tourist Visa with 30-day extension, and I need to go to Chaeng Wattana as I've been on a long term non-B?

Thanks

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, Millian said:

In this following report of 60 day extension for wife, he was told he needed to go to Muang Thong Thani instead of Chaeng Wattana:

Things have changed since September of 2020 when that topic was posted.

The have been doing the 60 day extensions to visit your Thai wife for some time now at Chaeng Wattana.

[Millian]

Thanks for all for the help @ubonjoe

[Millian]

Denied! (kind of, read to end for the good part)

Here's quite a long story on how it got to that conclusion

Got to Cheang Wattana nice and early today, first in line to see an immigration officer, with all my documents in order.

 

First official we saw was very nice, but said I cannot change a Non-B to Non-0 after being on a Non-B for over 10 years.  I explained I don't want to change to Non-O visa, I want a 60 day extension of stay based on marriage.

 

She thumbed through my supporting docs, then back through my old and new passport. She noted that I had multiple covid extensions for more than one year and was concerned about this.

We explained the various issues with company director not being in the country, delay in appointment of new director, covid situation, change of office address, and so on that made it difficult to apply for a new Non-B; so our visa agent had suggested covid extensions till these were corrected.

 

After sending us away for 20 mins to consult some other officers, she called us back in and said, yes, they will be able to grant a 60-day extension based on visiting my wife.  We just need to see the officer in the booth next door.

We wait 30 mins then go and see the other officer, who wasn't so nice.  She again had major issues with the multiple covid extensions, we spend more time explaining the reasons. She suggested we come back another day with the visa agent, however we said we don't want to use them anymore, because they are incompetent, we just want to apply and get this sorted today ourselves if possible.

She told us to go sit down again.

Another 30 mins or so pass and she calls us in again, with the same grilling on why so many covid extensions, why have I had only 1 Non-B in 10 years and why so many different extensions of stays from different companies (I've worked for 4 in that time). She also keeps asking us to come back with the visa agent the next day.

Then some random visa agent comes into the booth to drop someone's docs in and she starts discussion our situation with him at length.  He then starts questioning the Mrs on the same things, trying to give advice, or if he can help - drumming up some business no doubt

We are told to leave the booth again. Sit there for another 30 mins. The not very nice officer goes into the corner with our paper work on two occasions to speak to what looks like her Superior at length.

 

We get called into the booth again, the officer keeps going over and over about the multiple covid extensions and how they aren't acceptable, so they will not be granting me a 60-day extension based on marriage because of this.

She then asks me to leave the booth but my wife to stay.  Wife comes out after 10 mins more of discussion and said the officer told her if we come back with the proof of finical requirements, they will grant me a 12-month extension of stay based on marriage if we pay them ฿12,000!

We leave.

I think I understand why they kept insisting we come back with the visa agent, I presume they only suggest bribes to them, rather than direct to the public.  So, the next best thing was to my wife and not to me.

 

I also presume much of the nearly 3 hours of being passed around multiple officers, being made to wait and continued questioning on the same subject was possibly to wear us down and make us desperate enough to pay the bribe.

So now I have a few options:

a. Current Visa agent get <deleted> in gear with correct paper work, I get a Non-B next week (I don't hold much hope been in progress 13 months)

b. I use the services of a more competent visa agent, but I fear it may be too late as my final extension runs out in 12 days.

c. I pay the bribe and get a 12 months extension for marriage.  (not ideal because I don't want to succumb to their demands, plus they said in 12 months I will have to leave the country to get a new Non-O, or Non-B.  If I just get a Non B I can renew in country.)
d. I leave by the 1st March to avoid overstay, deportation, banishment from the kingdom
e.  Are there any other options?

Hope you have more fun reading this, then we did experiencing it today!

Edited February 18, 2022 by Millian

[ubonjoe]

31 minutes ago, Millian said:

So now I have a few options:

Now sure what the best option is.

You might want to considera a trip to Cambodia to apply for a non-o visa based upon marriage at the embassy in Phnom Penh. I aware of person that recently done it during a 5 day trip out of the country.

[Millian]

Yes, was pondering this today, but wasn't sure on status of neighbouring borders. I'll look into options.

 

Perhaps a silly question, but does my wife need to be present at the embassy in another country when applying?

[ubonjoe]

13 minutes ago, Millian said:

Perhaps a silly question, but does my wife need to be present at the embassy in another country when applying?

She does not have to be with you.