1 Year Visa Extension

[RueFang]

Hi All

I've been living in Thailand for about 3 years now. Up until marrying my Thai husband I survived on monthly visa runs to Malaysia. After marriage I got a 1 year Non-B (working) visa followed by a 1 year Non-O visa both of which I applied for in Australia and got with no dramas. At the end of my first visa I unfortunately didn't even think about applying for a one year extension (to help with residency).

My questions is, do the same rules apply to female foreigners applying for residence/yearly extensions? Sounds like a crazy question but I have been told by several different Thai people working at Immigration and at the border where I do my visa runs that I don't have to prove my income to apply for permanent residency (one lady even told me all I have to do is sing the national anthem!!) Is this the case for the one year extension too? I believe you have to show 40k per month, which we don't make combined! It is almost impossible to get straight answers from anyone at Thai Immigration in Bangkok, so anyone with answers would be greatly appreciated.

Also, those who aren't on a retirement visa and married to Thai, what do you do about visas? Do you send the TM47(?) to immigration or do a border run every 3 months??

Thanks for your replies.

[lopburi3]

There has never been any financial requirement for a woman married to a Thai (it was not support Thai husband). The husband was expected to support the wife but there was no fixed requirement. With the new rules one would expect the playing field to be level and all would have to meet the 40k family income. But I do not believe it has changed in practice. Go with your husband and his home register and see what they want other than the TM.7 form with 4x6cm photo and 1,900 baht fee. There is a phone number that some people have had success using - 1111 and ask for immigration.

As for your last question don't understand if you are asking about those married but not retired or those that have neither status.

[sbk]

One year extension for foreigner married to Thai man: you must have a non-imm O visa. you must go in with your husband as he is required to sign a document requesting permission for you to stay in the country. two photos, copies of : marriage license, tabien bahn, your passport, his id card. You also need a letter from your puyai ban stating your address and that you live together as husband and wife. We used to have to supply tax documents, business license etc, but not anymore.

He is vital to this, as he is requesting permission from immigration to allow you to stay.

[RueFang]

Very informative!! Thanks so much for the info. Lopburi...not sure why I excluded retirees from my question sorry! Just wanted feedback from anyone regarding the 90 day reporting...whether the standard thing was to send the form to immigration or do a border run. I ask because I always do a border cross (because it's so close) and haven't ever sent the form in personally.

SBK, very helpful info Do you have residency here after all these years or do you still do the yearly visa?

[lopburi3]

You only cross a border if you have a multi entry visa (90 day permitted to stay stamp). If you have a one year extension of stay you make address reports using the TM.47 to an immigration office or by mail and these can be made by someone you send or a travel type office. Once you obtain a one year permitted to stay stamp you can not cross a border without a re-entry permit or you will lose the one year stay.

[RueFang]

I have a multi-entry Non-O visa, not an extension. Does that mean that only people with a visa extension can post their 90 day reporting? Does that mean that I have to continue leaving the country every 90 days???

Thanks so much for the input

[lopburi3]

As long as you are using visa entry (90 day or less stays) you do not make TM.47 address reports. Only those on extensions of stay do that.

Until you apply for a one year extension of stay from Immigration you will have to make border runs to remain in Thailand longer than 90 days at a time.

SBK gave you the details - the process only costs 1,900 baht so will be paid for by not having to do next border crossing. Apply for extension of stay.

[sbk]

RueFang, use up your multi-entry visa. With that, you don't need to bother with the reporting. Just before the end of the last 90 days, go to Immigration and apply for your one year extension. Once applied for the 90 day reporting kicks in and they will staple the completed form in your passport with the notice of the next reporting date. Don't be late!

No, no PR. Too expensive for what you get. I would like to get citizenship (it is possible for farang women without PR--at least for now). But, it is difficult and even more difficult to get hubby moving. Like many Thais he has a near phobia of bureaucrats and bureaucracy

[RueFang]

My visa doesn't expire until February next year so won't be applying for the extension til then, as you suggest SBK The border's only an hour from me and Malaysia is free so only have to pay petrol...and gives an excuse to pai tiow duay!!

Have you been reporting your existence every 90 days for the last 18 years?????

[sbk]

No, just the past few years. It was never required before that, although may have been on the books.

[antant]

Hello all,

I'm a malaysian, below age 50 and working in thailand full time with a work permit.

I have a similar scenario with RueFang. I am holding a 1 year multiple-entry Non-Imm B visa, recently got married to my thai husband.

I was thinking of changing the Non-Imm B visa to Non-O so that i do not have to make the visa run every 3 months. However, the lawyer adviced me NOT to take the Non-O visa as I will be dependent on my husband. She was explaining to me things like if I am divorced (which i hope will not be that case) I will loose my work permit and visa in 7 days. But if I hold a Non-B visa and divorce, then I can still keep my business visa.

The problem is, with the Non-B visa I must make the visa run every 3 months. Is there any way I can avoid this? Can I report myself to the immigration at suan plu (bangkok) when my "permission to stay" is about to expire? Do i really have to go to the border?

Also, I am not so sure if the lawyer is right. So which one? Non-B or Non-O visa? She did mention another kind of visa called "One year extension visa based on business". Is that kind more expensive to get than the Non-O visa?

I really appreaciate some insight information, as it is not very convenient for me to have to travel out of thailand every 3 months.

Thank you all, and wish you a lovely weekend.

[lopburi3]

1. If you are here on 90 day visa of a multi entry visa entry loss of job will have no effect. Lawyer is wrong.

2. There is a 12 month extension of stay and if you qualify you would not have to exit country with that. You must meet minimum wage for your nationality and company paperwork must allow.

3. If you were on such a 12 month extension of stay the loss of work permit would require exit of Thailand within 7 days.

4. The non immigrant O visa itself would only provide 90 day stays - but it would be relatively easy for you to extend on a yearly basis being married to a Thai male. If you divorce you would lose the extension of stay but could easily return to non immigrant B visa use.

5. The cost for a 12 month extension of stay is only 1,900 baht.

[RueFang]

So, as a female married to a Thai guy, I still have to provide proof of my monthly income or bank balance to get the one year extension? If so, I'm screwed and destined to border runs the rest of my life !!

I was under the impression that you could only work with a Non-B visa??

[lopburi3]

So, as a female married to a Thai guy, I still have to provide proof of my monthly income or bank balance to get the one year extension? If so, I'm screwed and destined to border runs the rest of my life !!

I was under the impression that you could only work with a Non-B visa??

And where did we say that? My post number 2 reads "

There has never been any financial requirement for a woman married to a Thai (it was not support Thai husband). The husband was expected to support the wife but there was no fixed requirement. With the new rules one would expect the playing field to be level and all would have to meet the 40k family income. But I do not believe it has changed in practice.

Then SBK provided very current information that you would not need to provide monthly income or bank balance.

[RueFang]

"You must meet minimum wage for your nationality and company paperwork must allow"

Read the post too quickly and misinterpreted...dododo

[antant]

1. If you are here on 90 day visa of a multi entry visa entry loss of job will have no effect. Lawyer is wrong.

2. There is a 12 month extension of stay and if you qualify you would not have to exit country with that. You must meet minimum wage for your nationality and company paperwork must allow.

3. If you were on such a 12 month extension of stay the loss of work permit would require exit of Thailand within 7 days.

4. The non immigrant O visa itself would only provide 90 day stays - but it would be relatively easy for you to extend on a yearly basis being married to a Thai male. If you divorce you would lose the extension of stay but could easily return to non immigrant B visa use.

Thanks for the answers. I thought a Non-O visa will give you 180 days' stay?

So which one is better? Non-B or Non-O visa?

Lawyer also told me that a Non-B visa is more, err.., priviledged? Is that true? In what way? She was not being very clear about my questions whenver I ask her. I think I'm gonna have to change a new lawyer...

Edited July 2, 2007 by antant

[antant]

So, as a female married to a Thai guy, I still have to provide proof of my monthly income or bank balance to get the one year extension? If so, I'm screwed and destined to border runs the rest of my life !!

I was under the impression that you could only work with a Non-B visa??

Rue Fang,

The first time I ask the lawyer about the Non-O visa, she told me that I cannot work if I have that marriage visa. I was wondering what do people do then if they want to get married and work in Thailand??

But later that week I spoke to another lawyer she told me that I can work (with Non-O). So I don't really know who is right and who is wrong. I have known a farang man married to a thai lady working full time in a creditable company holding Non-O visa.

So I guess it's allowed then?

[lopburi3]

Yes you can work on a non immigrant O visa if issued for family visits. You can not work on the non immigrant O retirement extension of stay (although earlier they were making exceptions).

If married it is to your advantage to use a non immigrant O visa and extend your stay on the basis of family income as you then would not lose your extension because of loss of job (at least not immediately).

[antant]

Yes you can work on a non immigrant O visa if issued for family visits. You can not work on the non immigrant O retirement extension of stay (although earlier they were making exceptions).

If married it is to your advantage to use a non immigrant O visa and extend your stay on the basis of family income as you then would not lose your extension because of loss of job (at least not immediately).

Oh I see now...

So they will give me only 90 days stay if I change my Non-B to Non-O? Will they give 180 days stay, if I have been holding Non-O for more than a year? I assume that I can report myself (in person or by post) at the immigration at Suan Plu rather than going to the border, is that right?

Another question, with my Multiple-Entry Non-B visa for one year + work permit, I get the 90 days stamp at the immigration upon arrival in Bangkok. Can I report to the immigration office at Suan Plu instead of going to the border for visa run?

[lopburi3]

A visa entry is 90 days regardless of it being a B or O type non immigrant visa. You can not obtain another 90 days from Immigration - you either exit/enter country (multi entry visa) or you obtain a one year extension of stay (you must qualify for that). Or you leave and obtain a new visa/90 day entry.

If you stay here on a one year extension of stay you have to make 90 day address reports to immigration.

[antant]

A visa entry is 90 days regardless of it being a B or O type non immigrant visa. You can not obtain another 90 days from Immigration - you either exit/enter country (multi entry visa) or you obtain a one year extension of stay (you must qualify for that). Or you leave and obtain a new visa/90 day entry.

If you stay here on a one year extension of stay you have to make 90 day address reports to immigration.

I am qualified for the one year extension of stay based on business (lawyer checked documents). I thought that if I use the advantage of my marriage I can get the 180 days stay easier. I didn't know I will get the 90 days from a Non-O visa...