Thai visa… extend or new?

[Kwaibill]

My wife has her US visa approved and the time frame for entry is Mid March, so we will be heading out soon. My problem is that my Thai visa based on marriage expires in mid January. 
Our plans include staying for at least three months stateside then various scenarios of one or both returning to Thai. We will by then have our first grandson here, so there is a natural draw on that front. We are negotiating on a new homestead there which will require some attention, plus I  will exercise my Medicare options for among other things a cataract procedure, one already done.

I seek advice on my visa options; can I get an extension to cover the gap, or just go ahead and renew (get new marriage visa)? Of course some uncertainty arises with the latest US election. Will my dear wife encounter difficulty as a non-white immigrant? Will announced Trump economic goals, such as steep tariffs and cuts to social programs ( about half our income is from Social Security)  sink our tentative plans? I do currently ( and barely)  qualify for some low income programs such as our anticipated local food bank.

All opinions/ thought welcomed. Majors in theology and philosophy perhaps were not the best academic choices in this regard.😀

[DrJack54]

21 minutes ago, Kwaibill said:

I seek advice on my visa options; can I get an extension to cover the gap, or just go ahead and renew (get new marriage visa)?

The only extensions of your current permission of stay is 12 month extension (you refer to as "get new marriage visa"

OR 60 day extension to visit wife.

 

I would obtain 12 month extension prior to travel.

Keep in mind an "under consideration period" is required.

You should do that as soon as possible.

Are you using income method or money in bank method. 

Remember to also obtain reentry permit. 

That can be done at immigration or airport.

Which is office? 

The only other option would be obtain the 60 day extension to cover period to exit Thailand.

Then subsequently return to Thailand visa exempt and obtain a "new" non O at your immigration and then couple months later the 12 month extension 

[Kwaibill]

20 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

The only extensions of your current permission of stay is 12 month extension (you refer to as "get new marriage visa"

OR 60 day extension to visit wife.

 

I would obtain 12 month extension prior to travel.

Keep in mind an "under consideration period" is required.

You should do that as soon as possible.

Are you using income method or money in bank method. 

Remember to also obtain reentry permit. 

That can be done at immigration or airport.

Which is office? 

The only other option would be obtain the 60 day extension to cover period to exit Thailand.

Then subsequently return to Thailand visa exempt and obtain a "new" non O at your immigration and then couple months later the 12 month extension 

Thanks for the advice. I was leaning in that direction anyway as we are not 100% sure of our plans; our first grandchild is due imminently and yay wants to be available here some of the time commensurate with her residency requirements to keep her green card active “ over there”. A whole ‘nother kettle as who knows what the next administration is going to do?

I do worry some about my wife’s status as a non-white immigrant and some of the alarms raised about possible financial repercussions re: tariffs, deportations, etc.

Edited 2 hours ago by Kwaibill

[TheAppletons]

15 hours ago, Kwaibill said:

I do worry some about my wife’s status as a non-white immigrant and some of the alarms raised about possible financial repercussions re: tariffs, deportations, etc.

 

  Once you understand who raised "some of the alarms" mentioned above, you'll realize that - in reality - you have nothing about which to be concerned.  

 

  Your wife with a valid visa isn't going to be deported, tariffs aren't going to directly affect your plans, and Social Security "cuts" - if they happen at all - are many years away.  

 

  I'd renew my existing extension of stay and go from there.

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, Kwaibill said:

A whole ‘nother kettle as who knows what the next administration is going to do?

Easy for folk like me to type "don't worry about it" .....fact is your Thai wife has green card and is married to USA citizen.

 

Thinking the advantage of ongoing extensions is that with a reentry permit you can exit Thailand and return with no worries. 

Some folk, myself included, obtain a multi reentry permit at time of extension renewal

Good luck 

[Phillip9]

22 hours ago, Kwaibill said:

Of course some uncertainty arises with the latest US election. Will my dear wife encounter difficulty as a non-white immigrant?

 

22 hours ago, Kwaibill said:

I do currently ( and barely)  qualify for some low income programs such as our anticipated local food bank.

 

 

No way to know what will happen in the us over the next year.  It will probably be quite a sh_t show.   Best to just extend your current Thai visa for another year and see what happens before committing 100% to the US. 

 

I certainly wouldn't want to be relying on public assistance in anyway.  You did sign an affidavit of support for your wife, and be very careful not to violate that.