Going To Los Angeles Thai Consul For Non-imm O Marriage

[johnnymoretti]

My Thai girlfriend and I are now married. She is here with me in the United States (California) and we married two days ago (July 28th, 2007). We do not have a registered marriage in Thailand...yet.

We have booked a hotel room in West Hollywood and we will make the trip to the Thai Embassy to apply for my Non-Immigrant "O" Visa on grounds of marriage. I hope to receive a multiple-entry 12-month visa. I do not plan to work in Thailand. And I do plan to visit the US in early May 2008 and return to Thailand.

Anyone have some RECENT experience at the Los Angeles Thai Embassy with these similar visa criteria?? Would love to hear from you. I am hoping to hear from those that have experience at the LA embassy in case they have some ideosyncracies that I should be aware of. Thanks a bunch!

Aside from the obvious forms and docs...which ones should I take 'just in case'.

Johnny

[dr_Pat_Pong]

My Thai girlfriend and I are now married. She is here with me in the United States (California) and we married two days ago (July 28th, 2007). We do not have a registered marriage in Thailand...yet.

We have booked a hotel room in West Hollywood and we will make the trip to the Thai Embassy to apply for my Non-Immigrant "O" Visa on grounds of marriage. I hope to receive a multiple-entry 12-month visa. I do not plan to work in Thailand. And I do plan to visit the US in early May 2008 and return to Thailand.

Anyone have some RECENT experience at the Los Angeles Thai Embassy with these similar visa criteria?? Would love to hear from you. I am hoping to hear from those that have experience at the LA embassy in case they have some ideosyncracies that I should be aware of. Thanks a bunch!

Aside from the obvious forms and docs...which ones should I take 'just in case'.

Johnny

Her ID Card, Passport, and House Registration Book if she has it. LA has the reputation of being a real tough office to deal with.

[theseveredhead]

yeah .. ive made a few tr's there. they were no problem but the hag with the hair falling out was a real piece of work. speak thai, charm the heck out of her - forget it.

id say ... if you can do it by mail. go that way OR ... try another consulate.

users here have stated that the marriage visa is now more hassle than its worth and just go for retirement visa - have a look.

[lopburi3]

1. You are married here in Thailand as well as in the US.

2. Single entry is likely as much as you can hope for from LA but there is always a chance.

3. If you have 400k (baht equivalent) in a bank account you can obtain a multi entry in Singapore. Or if you have family income of 40k per month you can extend your stay at an Immigration office in Thailand.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

or do a mail application to Houston.

[ytivarg]

I recently received a multi entry non-0 from the LA consulate on the basis of having a thai wife. I really dressed up, got my documents, and went there by myself. First you go to a table in the back corner where your documents are pre-processed. At the time that I went a fat thai guy was doing this job, and he was very professional and nice. After him I was sent to a window where a white guy took my application. He seemed anal and asked some tough questions. I came up with some good bullshit answers and was then sent to another window where I paid. After of few days of nervousness wondering wether they would give me a single of multi, I went back and picked up my multi non-0. But anyways, before you go, check out their website and make sure you have everything they want, and your chances will be good.

[dankrab]

how do i show my wife's 40,000 baht income? We went to the e-revenue office in Sri Bun Ruang (Nong Bua Lamphu province) and they seemed to tell my wife that we needed to pay a tax 1200 baht to them every 6 months. They would then give us a document saying we paid the tax on 40,000 baht for the previous 6 months. My question is: Do we need to form a small business in my wife's name? Does e-revenue require any documentation to prove our income (like the books from the business). Do they just take our word? How does that work exactly??

[Amethyst]

We do not have a registered marriage in Thailand...yet

Can this gentleman get a Non O wihout registering their marriage in Thailand ?

[Lite Beer]

We do not have a registered marriage in Thailand...yet

Can this gentleman get a Non O wihout registering their marriage in Thailand ?

Yes.

[JimGant]

If you're going to LA just to get a visa, bad move. They're historically known as a**holes. All the 'official' Thai Consulates (LA, NY, and Chicago), plus the Embassy in DC, can get too bureaucratic on you for no reason at all. You're dealing with Thais, and since they hold the hammer, they know they can jerk you -- and they often do. Plus, if you're doing this in person rather than by mail, you're talking two trips, with all the logistical/parking problems involved.

As already suggested, use (via mail) the honorary consulate at Houston (several others, like Dallas, El Paso, and Portland also have good reputations, but I personally know Houston is topnotch). Call ahead or email for confirmation of what you need; but from personal experience, you'll need: application (they'll send you one after you contact them per above); two photos; copy of marriage certificate (your US marriage certificate suffices; copy of wife's Thai ID or Thai passport; $150 for multi entry visa; and a self-addressed, postage-paid return envelope (I used registered mail to make sure the mailman didn't leave the returned passport in my leaky mailbox). Several days later, the passport will be returned with your visa. The only legwork for me was the 5 minute trip to the postoffice for the initial send.

I used to use the Embassy, which was a stonesthrow away, but an hour -- twice -- in traffic. Last time I used them, they charged me full price for a multi entry Non Imm O, but it was only vald for 6-months, vice the normal one-year. Thus, my a**hole designation. Have used Houston ever since.

All the honorary consulates are staffed with locals, as the "honorary consulate" function is just a side attraction (Houston, like many, is a law office in real life). So, dealing with them eliminates the language and cultural barriers (well, ok, they are in Texas .) Here are the Houston particulars, and contact:

Julie M. Richardson

Honorary Vice Consul for the Kingdom of Thailand

c/o Tindall & Foster

600 Travis, Ste. 2800

Houston, TX 77002

PH: 713-335-3907

Email: [email protected]

And, like USAA (info I sent you in another thread), these folks are a pleasure to deal with (maybe it's the Texas connection......).

Good luck.

Edited August 3, 2007 by JimGant

[johnnymoretti]

Jim Gant,

Thanks for your info. Quite informative. I am torn between Houston and LA, and since I already booked a room (via Priceline, which they don't refund) I think I'll make the pilgrimage to LA. Also, I feel it might have a bit of advantage since my wife is here with me, and will accompany me to the Embassy. Yeah, we'll put on some nice duds and look like we're Wall Street gurus, and our documents will be in order. So worse case scenario:

1. They don't give me a multiple-entry visa. What is to stop me from applying once I arrive back in Thailand?? Perhaps we can go to Penang, Singapore or Kuala Lampur. Is this a viable option for me if I'm denied here in the US?

2. They offer me a Tourist Visa, which is unlikely, and then still apply for Non-Imm O on basis of marriage.

My wife is saying that I can change a tourist visa to a Non-Imm O at Bangkok Immigration after paying the fee.

What are you thoughts on this one???

[JimGant]

The worst that can happen would probably be getting only a single entry Non Imm O. This happened to me the first time I got a Non Imm O at the Thai Embassy in DC. Others that day fared the same. Reason: Just because they can do it.

. They offer me a Tourist Visa, which is unlikely, and then still apply for Non-Imm O on basis of marriage.

My wife is saying that I can change a tourist visa to a Non-Imm O at Bangkok Immigration after paying the fee.

What are you thoughts on this one???

Only if you qualify otherwise for an extension of stay based on either marriage (meaning, you and wife have a monthly cash inflow of 40K baht) or retirement (at least age 50, 65k monthly cash flow or 800k in bank). Hopefully you qualify for one of these extensions, otherwise, even with a multi entry Non Imm O, you'll have to do border runs every 90 days. You're not too explicit with your plans, but I doubt 90-day runs fit nicely into whatever they are.

Plenty of info on extensions on this forum, as this subject is a popular moving target.

[ernieK24]

If you're going to LA just to get a visa, bad move. They're historically known as a**holes. All the 'official' Thai Consulates (LA, NY, and Chicago), plus the Embassy in DC, can get too bureaucratic on you for no reason at all. You're dealing with Thais, and since they hold the hammer, they know they can jerk you -- and they often do. Plus, if you're doing this in person rather than by mail, you're talking two trips, with all the logistical/parking problems involved.

As already suggested, use (via mail) the honorary consulate at Houston (several others, like Dallas, El Paso, and Portland also have good reputations, but I personally know Houston is topnotch). Call ahead or email for confirmation of what you need; but from personal experience, you'll need: application (they'll send you one after you contact them per above); two photos; copy of marriage certificate (your US marriage certificate suffices; copy of wife's Thai ID or Thai passport; $150 for multi entry visa; and a self-addressed, postage-paid return envelope (I used registered mail to make sure the mailman didn't leave the returned passport in my leaky mailbox). Several days later, the passport will be returned with your visa. The only legwork for me was the 5 minute trip to the postoffice for the initial send.

I used to use the Embassy, which was a stonesthrow away, but an hour -- twice -- in traffic. Last time I used them, they charged me full price for a multi entry Non Imm O, but it was only vald for 6-months, vice the normal one-year. Thus, my a**hole designation. Have used Houston ever since.

All the honorary consulates are staffed with locals, as the "honorary consulate" function is just a side attraction (Houston, like many, is a law office in real life). So, dealing with them eliminates the language and cultural barriers (well, ok, they are in Texas .) Here are the Houston particulars, and contact:

Julie M. Richardson

Honorary Vice Consul for the Kingdom of Thailand

c/o Tindall & Foster

600 Travis, Ste. 2800

Houston, TX 77002

PH: 713-335-3907

Email: [email protected]

And, like USAA (info I sent you in another thread), these folks are a pleasure to deal with (maybe it's the Texas connection......).

Good luck.

Listen to what Jim says, he knows what he's talking about. Denver and Portland, are also good. (You'll have to look them up)

I'm in my 2nd year , I got my original NI-O visa from Denver.....not a hitch, took eight days, including a week-end, from me, back to me, didn't use registered mail, used regular mail, used a P.O. money order for the fee, ($50, single entry). I have the necessary amount retirement income, in addition I had earlier opened an account at Bangkok Bank on one of my previous trips, nominal amount. At that time you didn't have to have the money in the bank for 90 days before application for an extension. I applied for my extension during the last 2 wks. of my 90 day visa, and things could not have gone any smoother.

In less than an hour I had my extension, had to come back at 1300 to pick up my passport, went to the cafe next door, had some lunch, and when I came back, picked up my passport with the stamp inside. Second extension, same thing, 30 mins. in Immigration, have lunch, come back and pick up my passport at 1 pm. Regardless, you have to report to Immigration every ninety days and give them your current address on a pre printed form available at the office.

I got pretty friendly with the gentleman at the front desk and asked him, this second time, since I am now married, if I should apply for a marriage visa. He asked me if I had the sufficient funds in pension, or funds in the bank, or a combination of each.

I told him yes.....his reply was to stay with the one I had, the marriage visa is a lot of hassle, and takes weeks to get, and more than one visit to Bangkok is required. (For that information I bought his lunch, he was happy.....so was I).....I forgot to say, all this was at the Pattaya/Jomtien Immigration, we live in Banglamung, and it's just minutes to the office for us. Very nice service, very nice people, very cooperative and congenial, nothing but praise.

You don't need a medical certificate any more.....I'll confirm that. Before you can apply for an extension, you have to go to the American Embassy in Bangkok and fill out a form stating how much retirement income you have, take the form back to the cashier, pay $35 then take the form, with the reciept, back to the window and turn it in. You then sit and wait till they call your name, go up to the window, she/he asks you if the statements are true to the best of your knowledge.....you grunt, you sign the statement in their presence, they sign it, stamp it, and you're on your way. You then make a copy of that letter, give the copy to immigration when you apply, along with your other paperwork, (they will accept a copy but they want to see the original letter from the Embassy). I used the same letter two years, making a copy for them each time and showing them the original.

BUT NOW THAT IS ALL CHANGED.....as of October, after you get your letter from the Embassy, you have to present it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, way out in Laksi, who will verify the signature, the seal, and the amount I suppose, Just how they propose to do this is not clear yet, but I don't go in again until February for my next renewal, based on retirement, and by then I'll find out what the score is. I will ask them on my next report day later this month. Maybe by then THEY will know.

You can draw your own conclusions as to why they are doing this, but my take on it is that they found some counterfiet letters, or some mis-reported income statements. So we all have to suffer because of a few idiots. ErnieK

[salween]

Just to echo what's been said about the Honorary Consulates. I just received a multi-entry, non-immigrant visa (marriage) from Portland by mail in just seven days. Copy of marriage certificate, wife's ID, flight itinerary, and recent bank statement showing at least $1,000 along with the application, 2 photos and money order. Only needed to travel as far as my local post office. Very efficient.