Visa Exempt to 90-Day Non O Spouse Visa conversion in Thailand <---Is this still possible?

[KruAlastair]

Hello I have been told that this is no longer possible.  These are the words of a commenter when I asked on another forum if anyone had any info regarding the information needed for the Samut Prakan immigration office to convert a visa exempt to 90-day non-o spouse visa.

"when done inside Thailand it is called an extension as you can not get a visa inside Thailand. Also you need to buy either a single entry, or a multi-entry re-entry permit to be able to leave the country, and come back on the same extension type. What you did before no longer exists so get all of that out of your head. You need bt400,000+ in your bank account. There are no longer any exceptions to this."

 

I don't want to argue with him, he is either ill informed or correct.  So which is he? 

[Upnotover]

Some useful info in this thread....(there maybe be something more recent).

 

[KruAlastair]

11 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Some useful info in this thread....(there maybe be something more recent).

 

I saw that, but couldn't find anything more recent.  

[DrJack54]

33 minutes ago, KruAlastair said:

I have been told that this is no longer possible. 

I have not heard/read that.

Big change so doubt it's genuine claim. Guess it could be some more scrutiny on sham marriages. 

 

36 minutes ago, KruAlastair said:

when done inside Thailand it is called an extension as you can not get a visa inside Thailand.

This is what you quoted from some random poster.

That is rubbish. You can obtain a Non O in Thailand from visa exempt or tourist visa entry.

That's why they have TM86 and TM87 forms for. To obtain Non O from tourist visa (TM86) or from Visa Exempt entry (TM87)

 

[Tod Daniels]

You can indeed go from a visa exempt entry to FIRST a 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage to a thai and then after that a year extension for the same reason

In Samut Prakan you need a MINIMUM of 15 days left on your current visa exempt entry stamp OR 30 day extension from that stamp 

You have the 400K baht in a thai bank account in your name only, you have the required documentation, TM30, lease, owners thai i/d, house book, wife's i/d, marriage certificates, bank letter, bank statement, updated bank book, photos, filled out TM86 application for visa and 2000baht

You apply, they will give you a receipt showing you come back for the "results" in 2 weeks

On that date you go back with the passport, they will ink in the Non-O visa stamp it used, and then a new 90 day stamp 
THEN you wait
Until you have 30 days or less left on that 90 day stamp AND your 400K baht is seasoned in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months,

You go back with all new documentation (same stuff you used before but a new set) and a filled out TM7 application for extension, pay the 1900baht, 

You will get a 30 day under consideration stamp,

You go back on that date and get the year extension inked into your passport <- THEN you buy a re-entry permit if you want to leave the country during this coming year's extension period