Married To A Thai Citizen

[Explorer]

Greetings,

I am sure my questions have been brought up before by other posters, but i just want to make sure of my situation. Please help..

I am legally married to a Thai citizen and planning to stay in Bangkok (where my wife is now) next month. I am still seeking work in Bangkok but currently still under my "old" company.

1) What type of visa can i get? To stay longer in Bangkok.

2) What is the duration of this visa?

3) What papers do i need when i apply? Other papers beside the marriage certificate.

4) How long is the process to get this visa done?

5) Anyone knows how much it cost?

BTW i am a Malaysian working in Malaysia now and there is a Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

6) Can i apply my visa there?

7) Is this a multi-entry visa or not?

8) Do i need to go back to my country to get a working permit or change the visa later when i get a job?

Thank You

[whattodo]

1) What type of visa can i get? To stay longer in Bangkok.

2) What is the duration of this visa?

Non immigrant o or b visa on production of your marraige certificate.

Lasts for 12 months renewable. Problem is the O now requires 400k TB security,but not sure about the B if thats the same case.?

[astral]

As you are married ask for the single entry O, at the Thai embassy in KL. This will allow you to enter for 3 month, but can be extended.

It will be easy, all you need is your marriage certificate, and preferably a copy of you wife's passport or id card.

You can also work on the O, provided you have a Work Permit.

The financial requirement does not come in until you need to extend the visa (toward the end of the initial 3 months), and is a lump sum of 400K or 40K per month income. By that time you should be working and able to show the income.

The work permit is issued in Thailand and the visa extension will also be done there.

If you need to go back to your own country be sure to ask the immigration office for a Re-Entry permit, then you can come back on the existing visa.

I think that covers all you questions.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Greetings,

I am sure my questions have been brought up before by other posters, but i just want to make sure of my situation. Please help..

I am legally married to a Thai citizen and planning to stay in Bangkok (where my wife is now) next month. I am still seeking work in Bangkok but currently still under my "old" company.

1) What type of visa can i get? To stay longer in Bangkok.

2) What is the duration of this visa?

3) What papers do i need when i apply? Other papers beside the marriage certificate.

4) How long is the process to get this visa done?

5) Anyone knows how much it cost?

BTW i am a Malaysian working in Malaysia now and there is a Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

6) Can i apply my visa there?

7) Is this a multi-entry visa or not?

8) Do i need to go back to my country to get a working permit or change the visa later when i get a job?

Thank You

You can apply for a multiple entry Non-Immigrant O class visa in KL ( tell 'em you need a multi entry because you will be travelling in and out of Thailand and Malaysia until you get work ) or at any Thai Consulate in Malaysia. Once you get a job, you will get a work permit in Thailand. The information about a B visa in another post is totally wrong. Ignore it.

[Explorer]

Greetings,

Thank you to dr_Pat_Pong, astral and whattodo for replying my questions.

Another thing here that i wonder, i read a posting regarding the "visits" at your home from the immigration when applying the "O" visa, does this applys to me too? Or this is only for extensions of the "O" visa?

Oh! yeah, and is this Non Immigrant O Visa valid for 3 months or 12 months?

And i need to show them that i earned more than 40K a month when extension right?

Thanks

Explorer

[Up2U]

As you are married ask for the single entry O, at the Thai embassy in KL. This will allow you to enter for 3 month, but can be extended.

It will be easy, all you need is your marriage certificate, and preferably a copy of you wife's passport or id card.

You can also work on the O, provided you have a Work Permit.

The financial requirement does not come in until you need to extend the visa (toward the end of the initial 3 months), and is a lump sum of 400K or 40K per month income. By that time you should be working and able to show the income.

The work permit is issued in Thailand and the visa extension will also be done there.

If you need to go back to your own country be sure to ask the immigration office for a Re-Entry permit, then you can come back on the existing visa.

I think that covers all you questions.

Sorry, Astral, but at Pattaya Immigration they would not extend my single-entry three-month visa. I needed to extend because the wife has decided to build a house and gone and spent the money I was saving to show Immigration.

What they did do was to change the single-entry to a multiple entry, because I am travelling frequently to Singapore. I propose now to get a one-year, Non-Imm O visa with multiple entry on my next trip. Horefully the house will be finished soon and I can start saving again.

Also thinking of trying the B visa, but my business is outside Thailand more than in here, so would be difficult, especially as all the money is paid abroad.

Basically the three-month visas, O or B, are single entry. The one-year visas should be multiple entry, but you still have to do visa runs or go outside LOS for a day or two every three months. When you have the yearly 'Extension to remain in Thailand' to that visa, then you may just visit the Imigration office near your home.

(The VISA is issued by the Consulate abroad - the EXTENSION is issued by the Royal Thai Immigration Police in-country. Neither interferes in the business of the other)

[astral]

Well UP2U, you cannot expect an extension for a year if you cannot meet the requirements of 400K in the bank or 40K a month income.

You have to plan these matters.

Believe me I know.

It sounds as though we are in similar situations.

I do contract work outside Thailand, and it is difficult to show a regular income, so I have to plan to have the 400K in the bank when the Immigration extension time comes round. The old 200K was much easier. The fact that I can show the exhange records for 1 million from overseas during the course of a year does not suffice. TIT

It is good to know that Pattaya immigration were flexible enough to change a Single Entry Visa (presumably stamped USED) to a multi-entry. It is novel approach. How much did they charge you?

Dr PP have you ever come across that one?

As a person married to a Thai the "O" visa is the correct one for you, even if you decide to work here in Thailand.

The "B" will not help if your business is outside the country.

I wish you luck applying for a multi-entry visa in Singapore.

The consular official in Singapore are not renowned for their helpfulness.

They will probably offer you a single entry and tell you to extend it here in Thailand.

You will be better off applying in Penang.

Edited July 17, 2004 by astral

[zapatero]

Does the 400k THB have to be in a Thai bank, or can one show an equivalent amount in an home country account? Or, alternatively, does one have to prove a significantly larger amount in a home country account?

[mbkudu]

Must be in a Thai bank and in Thai Baht as far as I know. There have been inquireries here about foreign currency accounts in Thailand, but I haven't seen any answers to these.

[lopburi3]

Must be in a Thai bank and in Thai Baht as far as I know. There have been inquireries here about foreign currency accounts in Thailand, but I haven't seen any answers to these.

As mbkudu says this money is for living (supporting your wife) and thus must be here in an accessible account (not a fixed account).

[mbkudu]

Explorer, keep in mind that you 'being married to a Thai citizen,' sounds very official and grand, but in actual fact this status gives you very little as far as rights or priviledges are concerned. In the past it would even take away the right of land ownership for the Thai wife. The government has now changed this law.

[royar2002]

You can apply for a multiple entry Non-Immigrant O class visa in KL ( tell 'em you need a multi entry because you will be travelling in and out of Thailand and Malaysia until you get work ) or at any Thai Consulate in Malaysia. Once you get a job, you will get a work permit in Thailand. The information about a B visa in another post is totally wrong. Ignore it.

Mr. PP can you tell me about following questions. I am a little confused. I been

on my 3rd 1year ex based on a non o single entry. I herd about that is possible to change your visa in suan plu. Can I change my single entry to multiple entry, and with a m-entry visa, can I then report different adress when I arrived, because I like to travel a lot in and out Thailand with my wife and we don't like to live at the same place. With my single entry I have to stay home and if the police show up, the neighbour will tell them "they are not often here". That will make problem for my next extension. Will it be different with a multple entry. I am not 50 but have pension (70k) rest of my life with garanti from my embassey that the money will go to my wife when I am dead. So in fact I have noe reason to get multiple entry like bussiness. Only like to travel and dont want to stay home only because that the police can come and check if we stay together.

[regpye]

Go here and they will answer all your questions directly on their Forum

Cheers,

Reg

[astral]

I been on my 3rd 1year ex based on a non o single entry. I herd about that is possible to change your visa in suan plu. Can I change my single entry to multiple entry, and with a m-entry visa, can I then report different adress when I arrived, because I like to travel a lot in and out Thailand with my wife and we don't like to live at the same place. With my single entry I have to stay home and if the police show up, the neighbour will tell them "they are not often here".

If you already have a one year extension, the original "single entry status is irrelevant. Just ask for a Re-entry Permit if you want to leave Thailand. Multiple if necessary, then you can come and go as many times as you like during the year.

Each time you re-enter you can give a different address, if you need to.

However you need a definite address when you ask for the annual renewal.

It is not a matter of whether you are there all the time, but you need people who can vouch for the fact that you are man and wife. Make an arrangement with a friend and phone them to come round when the police to come to visit. If you are away your wife can handle it alone. Mine has done so when I have been away.

If you are simply moving around in Thailand, remember you are required to report your new address to Immigration or the local police, each time you move. If you stay in a hotel they should do this for you.

Make sure the house owner where you stay also reports your return to Thailand each time.

Constantly changing address may raise questions about what you are doing, so have some sensible answers ready.

I was once asked why I have a PO box?

The postman was loosing my mail - he was dumping the letters.........

[royar2002]

Astral Thanks for your easy and informative answerd. I rent my house from a teacher and she is married to a policeman from another amphur, and I already told them that if we not are home when or if police come for check then called me. I also make a sign to the local police to call the owner. I nailed it to the door everytime we leave for several days.