Visit Thailand for just under 90 days with Thai wife. Visa advice please.

[samsingsong]

Visiting Thailand from UK end of November to 23 February with my Thai wife.

We haven't been back for a couple of years so would like advice please on the best visa option.

Is the 60 day tourist visa on entry still available, and how best to extend that for another 28 days?  

Grateful for any advice please.

[bigt3116]

Yes a visa exempt entry will give you 60 days and you can extend once for 30 days at your local immigration.

 

Your problem may be your air carrier not allowing boarding if you do not have proof of onward travel within 60 days.

[Mutt Daeng]

A single entry Non-O based on being married to a Thai would work. That's what I would do. Avoids any kind of hassle. 

[DrJack54]

OP, being UK you could do as @Mutt Daeng suggested and obtain a non O eVisa.

Based on marriage or retirement (if 50+) 

That option would avoid and dealings with immigration.

 

Yes visa exempt entry is currently 60 days and can be extended by 30 days at immigration.

That would require a TM30 and 1900b cost of extension.

Airline at departure may require an onward flight within 60 days.

You have a return ticket (same airline?) should not be an issue with explanation that you are obtaining 30 day extension.

 

[bigt3116]

8 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, being UK you could do as @Mutt Daeng suggested and obtain a non O eVisa.

Based on marriage or retirement (if 50+) 

That option would avoid and dealings with immigration.

 

 

But it would require financials;

 

Retirement

"Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 65,000 THB (£1,500) or having the current balance of 800,000 THB (£18,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings
- Applicant's recent official UK/Ireland bank statement shows your name, address ( Screenshots are not accepted). For monthly income of last 3 months no less than £1,500/ month.

"

 

Marriage

"Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 40,000 THB (£1,000) or having the current balance of 400,000 THB (£10,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings
- Applicant's recent official UK/Ireland bank statement shows your name, address ( Screenshots are not accepted). For monthly income of last 3 months no less than £1,000/ month."

 

The above are from the RTE London.

 

Maybe a 60 visa exempt and a 30 day extension is less hassle?

[DrJack54]

36 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

But it would require financials;

Of course it requires financials.

The OP would need to satisfy those requirements.

Obviously it would be funds in bank.

If that's not possible then he can enter Thailand visa exempt and obtain 30 day extension. 

[bigt3116]

9 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Of course it requires financials.

 

I just mentioned it, because no-one else had.

[Liquorice]

4 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

 

I just mentioned it, because no-one else had.

No, but you could have advised the OP of his 2 options in your first post, but you didn't!

Yet you have a penchant to quote and criticise others that don't, rather than just post any additional information you feel relevant.

 

 

[Chivas]

Recent experience from myself

Intended to (and will hopefully) make use of 60 day visa exempt entry with 30 day extension than trip out of country for a week rinse and repeat

 

Bizarrely I was actually asked for the Visa (in advance) 10 days ago at Heathrow and supervisor initally confirmed it but then relented

 

Even more bizarrely I was asked at immigration at Bangkok "no visa this time" as well  before stamping me in for 60 days

 

Absolute first at both ends !

 

 

[bigt3116]

25 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

No, but you could have advised the OP of his 2 options in your first post, but you didn't!

Yet you have a penchant to quote and criticise others that don't, rather than just post any additional information you feel relevant.

 

 

 

Very true, I could have done, in my first post I advised what I thought was the best option.

 

Once other people posted another option, but failed to mention the financials aspect, I added additional information that I felt was relevant.

 

Can't see any criticism in my above posts? 

 

Don't blame me for others incomplete advice.

 

Have a great day!

 

(PS It would appear that you are stalking and trolling me, posting troll posts nearly every time I make a post. For instance, your post here against me added absolutely nothing to the op's post.)

Edited October 20 by bigt3116
add info

[Liquorice]

1 hour ago, bigt3116 said:

Don't blame me for others incomplete advice.

On 10/19/2024 at 4:35 AM, bigt3116 said:

Yes a visa exempt entry will give you 60 days and you can extend once for 30 days at your local immigration.

 

But omitting the fact he'd need to file a TM30 first, in order to apply for an extension, which entering on a Non Imm O visa and therefore not requiring to extend, a TM30 needn't be filed.

 

Just additional information to your incomplete post.

[DrJack54]

OP, as you can read from all the posts really comes down to non O vs visa exempt entry+ 30 day extension.

 

Where you will be staying comes into play to some extent. 

Access to immigration office etc.

 

One advantage of the non O is zero dealing with immigration after you arrive..

Also possible requirement from airline to have onward flight within the 60 days would not be necessary with a Visa

Granted there are ways around that.

Google "onwardticket.com"

[bigt3116]

2 hours ago, Liquorice said:

which entering on a Non Imm O visa and therefore not requiring to extend, a TM30 needn't be filed.

 

According to section 38 of the 1979 immigration act, “House owners, heads of household, landlords or managers of hotels who accommodate foreign nationals on a temporary basis who stay in the kingdom legally, must notify the local immigration authorities within 24 hours from the time of arrival of the foreign national.

 

A TM30 according to the law would require filing in either case.

 

🙂

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

A TM30 according to the law would require filing in either case.

True, however in reality visitors to Thailand  only need a TM30 if having dealings with immigration.

Common one for tourists is extension.

In the OP situation if obtaining a non O he would do nothing regards TM30 unlike extending a visa exempt entry which require a TM30 printout 

[samsingsong]

Thanks very much for all your replies. I'm very grateful for all the info.

 

I think maybe best if I go for the Non O. The thought of being knocked back (however  unlikely) at Heathrow, wife in tears etc., is too much of a worry.

 

The Royal Thai Embassy info/ application seems to have changed since last time I applied. I'm certain before there was a classification for 'travel with Thai spouse'  (or similar wording) . Now it's 'Staying with Thai family', which sort of fits - my wife is Thai and is  my family! But I'm not really going to Thailand to visit a Thai family who live there. Although we will see her family.  I think the previous 'travel with Thai spouse' more truly fitted the situation.

 

I don't know if I hit on an old page of The RTE, but according to the info I read today, it's saying 30 days tourist entry, not 60! Also the 'Thai family visa' image that I clicked on, sent me to the wrong page.

 

I guess I had better do the e-visa application as I did a couple of years ago, but I found it a bit of a struggle then, I doubt it's improved and my brain has deteriorated!

[Liquorice]

38 minutes ago, samsingsong said:

Also the 'Thai family visa' image that I clicked on, sent me to the wrong page.

Open this link https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/other-purposes-visa then click on 'Spouse and Family visa' for the requirements.

(Top RH corner)

 

38 minutes ago, samsingsong said:

I guess I had better do the e-visa application as I did a couple of years ago, but I found it a bit of a struggle then, I doubt it's improved and my brain has deteriorated!

All applications must be completed online via www.thaievisa.go.th

It's improved and very straightforward these days.

 

Edited October 20 by Liquorice

[kiwikeith]

On 10/19/2024 at 10:35 AM, bigt3116 said:

Yes a visa exempt entry will give you 60 days and you can extend once for 30 days at your local immigration.

 

Your problem may be your air carrier not allowing boarding if you do not have proof of onward travel within 60 days.

You can get a sixty day extension from immigration but it costs more,

I am currently doing this and applied for a non O at the same time my person handling this works at immigration she is not an agent but does visa work from home and does all the forms and photo copies for you, she told me two prices for extension and the sixty day was about five k the 30 day 2 k.

Your correct that stupid airlines do not know the visa rules, to compensate for this I bought a cheap ticket to Cambodia less than 100 dollars to avoid the hassle , he could always use it and get a sixty day extension but it's cheaper to pay immigration for the extension ,rather that pay hotel fees and transport back to the LOS.

[Liquorice]

29 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

You can get a sixty day extension from immigration but it costs more,

OP is staying less than 90 days, so a Non Imm O visa accommodates that length of stay, he won't have to visit an Immigration office.

 

32 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

I am currently doing this and applied for a non O at the same time my person handling this works at immigration she is not an agent but does visa work from home and does all the forms and photo copies for you, she told me two prices for extension and the sixty day was about five k the 30 day 2 k.

You are currently doing nothing, an Immigration officer is doing it on your behalf.

[Mukdahan Mark]

Retirement

"Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 65,000 THB (£1,500) or having the current balance of 800,000 THB (£18,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings
- Applicant's recent official UK/Ireland bank statement shows your name, address ( Screenshots are not accepted). For monthly income of last 3 months no less than £1,500/ month.

"

 

Marriage

"Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 40,000 THB (£1,000) or having the current balance of 400,000 THB (£10,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings
- Applicant's recent official UK/Ireland bank statement shows your name, address ( Screenshots are not accepted). For monthly income of last 3 months no less than £1,000/ month."

 

The above are from the RTE London.

 

Is it correct that you are able to use income that is generated overseas when coming to show evidence of income for Marriage visa extension?  I was told the income had to be shown coming into the Kingdom.

On 10/19/2024 at 6:34 PM, bigt3116 said:

 

But it would require financials;

 

Retirement

"Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 65,000 THB (£1,500) or having the current balance of 800,000 THB (£18,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings
- Applicant's recent official UK/Ireland bank statement shows your name, address ( Screenshots are not accepted). For monthly income of last 3 months no less than £1,500/ month.

"

 

Marriage

"Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 40,000 THB (£1,000) or having the current balance of 400,000 THB (£10,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings
- Applicant's recent official UK/Ireland bank statement shows your name, address ( Screenshots are not accepted). For monthly income of last 3 months no less than £1,000/ month."

 

The above are from the RTE London.

 

Maybe a 60 visa exempt and a 30 day extension is less hassle?

 

[Liquorice]

42 minutes ago, Mukdahan Mark said:

Retirement

"Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 65,000 THB (£1,500) or having the current balance of 800,000 THB (£18,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings
- Applicant's recent official UK/Ireland bank statement shows your name, address ( Screenshots are not accepted). For monthly income of last 3 months no less than £1,500/ month.

"

 

Marriage

"Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 40,000 THB (£1,000) or having the current balance of 400,000 THB (£10,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings
- Applicant's recent official UK/Ireland bank statement shows your name, address ( Screenshots are not accepted). For monthly income of last 3 months no less than £1,000/ month."

 

The above are from the RTE London.

That quote is for the Non Imm O visa based on Thai spouse obtained from the Thai Embassy, London.
The financial requirements can be from either your UK or Thai bank accounts.

 

44 minutes ago, Mukdahan Mark said:

Is it correct that you are able to use income that is generated overseas when coming to show evidence of income for Marriage visa extension?  I was told the income had to be shown coming into the Kingdom.

It's an extension of your permission of stay based on Thai spouse. Visas cannot be extended.

For a 1 year extension of stay using the income method, then this financial evidence has to be from a Thai bank account by way of 12 x 40K monthly overseas transfers, OR, by way of an Embassy Income letter.

[bigt3116]

5 hours ago, Liquorice said:

For a 1 year extension of stay using the income method, then this financial evidence has to be from a Thai bank account by way of 12 x 40K monthly overseas transfers

 

I think you can use local income to satisfy the 40k per month too, it does not have to come from overseas, (same as if you get an in-country Non-O based on marriage, that money does not have to have come from overseas).

 

If you are applying for a 1-year extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national, the Thai immigration authorities will accept proof of income from within Thailand, provided that it meets the financial requirements.

Here are the basic requirements for the marriage visa extension:

1. Financial Requirements:

   • You must show a monthly income of at least 40,000 THB.
   • Alternatively, you can show a bank balance of 400,000 THB in a Thai bank account, held for at least 2 months before the application.

2. Proof of Income:

   • If you are using Thai income, you must present proof such as:
     • Pay slips from a Thai employer.
     • A letter from your employer confirming your salary.
     • A tax return (Por Ngor Dor 91) showing your income.
     • Proof of self-employment income if you run your own business.

3. Certification:

   • The income must usually be certified by the relevant government agencies in Thailand, such as the Revenue Department if it is derived from employment or self-employment.

4. Other Documents Required:

   • Marriage certificate (Kor Ror 2).
   • Marriage registration documents (Kor Ror 3).
   • Copies of your spouse's Thai ID card and household registration (Tabien Baan).
   • Photos of you and your spouse together at home, in different areas of the house, to prove cohabitation.

Make sure you check the latest requirements with the local immigration office, as rules and processes can vary slightly depending on the province.

 

 

 

[Liquorice]

12 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

Here are the basic requirements for the marriage visa extension:

1. Financial Requirements:

   • You must show a monthly income of at least 40,000 THB.
   • Alternatively, you can show a bank balance of 400,000 THB in a Thai bank account, held for at least 2 months before the application.

2. Proof of Income:

   • If you are using Thai income, you must present proof such as:
     • Pay slips from a Thai employer.
     • A letter from your employer confirming your salary.
     • A tax return (Por Ngor Dor 91) showing your income.
     • Proof of self-employment income if you run your own business.

3. Certification:

   • The income must usually be certified by the relevant government agencies in Thailand, such as the Revenue Department if it is derived from employment or self-employment.

4. Other Documents Required:

   • Marriage certificate (Kor Ror 2).
   • Marriage registration documents (Kor Ror 3).
   • Copies of your spouse's Thai ID card and household registration (Tabien Baan).
   • Photos of you and your spouse together at home, in different areas of the house, to prove cohabitation.

Make sure you check the latest requirements with the local immigration office, as rules and processes can vary slightly depending on the province.

Copying and pasting from which site, obviously with no personal experience yourself, otherwise you'd spot the errors.

[bigt3116]

6 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Copying and pasting from which site, obviously with no personal experience yourself, otherwise you'd spot the errors.

 

Totally cut and pasted, but you seem to have missed my point;

 

"I think you can use local income to satisfy the 40k per month too, it does not have to come from overseas, (same as if you get an in-country Non-O based on marriage, that money does not have to have come from overseas)."

 

I don't see any errors in that statement.

[BritManToo]

60 day waiver on entry then 60 day to visit wife.

Only requirement for 60 day wife extension is your Thai marriage cert.

Edited October 21 by BritManToo

[Liquorice]

21 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

"I think you can use local income to satisfy the 40k per month too, it does not have to come from overseas, (same as if you get an in-country Non-O based on marriage, that money does not have to have come from overseas)."

You can use a personal income tax form and payslips from employment, but I'm nor personally aware of anyone that has used that method.

 

21 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

I don't see any errors in that statement.

Other Documents Required:

• Marriage certificate (Kor Ror 2).

Kor Ror 2 is the registration document. You require an updated KR2 from the Amphoe each year, or if a foreign registered marriage a KR22.

• Marriage registration documents (Kor Ror 3).

Kor Ror 3 is the marriage certificate

• Copies of your spouse's Thai ID card and household registration (Tabien Baan).

That's assuming your wife owns the property, what if it's rented.

 

The topic isn't about requirements for an extension.
I only mentioned it in reply to a member who appears to be confused between a Non O (Thai Embassy, and the non-existent Marriage visa from Immigration.

Edited October 21 by Liquorice

[chris carre]

On 10/20/2024 at 3:01 AM, Chivas said:

Recent experience from myself

Intended to (and will hopefully) make use of 60 day visa exempt entry with 30 day extension than trip out of country for a week rinse and repeat

 

Bizarrely I was actually asked for the Visa (in advance) 10 days ago at Heathrow and supervisor initally confirmed it but then relented

 

Even more bizarrely I was asked at immigration at Bangkok "no visa this time" as well  before stamping me in for 60 days

 

Absolute first at both ends !

 

 

What Airline asked you that at Heathrow please

[DrJack54]

Off topic bickering re non O requirements removed. 

[Chivas]

10 hours ago, chris carre said:

What Airline asked you that at Heathrow please

 

Air India at Heathrow

There is a trip report in the Travel Section that I did about 12 days ago tells you more

[bigt3116]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Off topic bickering re non O requirements removed. 

 

Sir, can you perhaps please explain to me how pointing out incorrect information is "off topic" or "bickering", giving correct information is what this forum is about surely?

 

 

For a 1 year extension of stay using the income method, then this financial evidence has to be from a Thai bank account by way of 12 x 40K monthly overseas transfers Incorrect

 

I think you can use local income to satisfy the 40k per month too, it does not have to come from overseas, (same as if you get an in-country Non-O based on marriage, that money does not have to have come from overseas). Correct

[DrJack54]

On 10/20/2024 at 11:58 PM, samsingsong said:

I think maybe best if I go for the Non O. The thought of being knocked back (however  unlikely) at Heathrow, wife in tears etc., is too much of a worry

OP, here is a thread with discussion of obtaining Non O marriage eVisa in UK.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1315309-non-o-marriage-visa-from-uk-e-visa/ 

 

Disregard posts in your thread regarding requirements for extension. That is not required.

 

Your choice is simple.

Obtain the non O in UK  (providing stay up to 90 days)   ....OR

Enter Thailand visa exempt + 30 day extension (also covers 90 days)