Hey

 

Wanted to leave this up, especially because it could help anyone in a similar position in future. I have asked and searched for this info previously, but found it a bit hard to come by.

 

First up, applying a a visa for a foreign spouse. I am a foreigner, working in Thailand, I want my Hong Kong wife to stay here with me. This visa process was relatively easy to sort out, with a couple of pitfalls.

 

First and foremost, your foreign spouse absolutely must apply for this visa whilst outside of Thailand.

 

All other documents are pretty much as expected

 

- work permit and passport stamps of working spouse 

- letter from spouse's sponsoring company confirming employment dates/visa and acknowledgement of spouse visa application

- marriage certificate (must be stamped by authorities of home/marriage country)

- bank statement showing 30k THB of funds (screenshot of online bank page is fine, but must include name/date)

 

Plus all the usual stuff like photos, passport page etc

 

Onto the experience with Taiwan. It's an interesting one, as according to the E-Visa website, the application goes to the "Thai Economic Something or Other Office, Taipei (Manila Embassy, Philippines)".

 

I suspect this relates to Taiwan's weird status as a de-facto independent country. Not really relevant either way, but interesting nonetheless.

 

I suspect there is one individual in the Manila Office dealing with enquiries coming in from Taiwan, and that person is extremely fast and efficient. Upon applying we immediately had a reply asking for extra documents within 3-4 hours. Once those docs were obtained, the visa was processed within another 2-3 hours after uploading them.

 

Don't forget to print the visa paper that they send to your email, as airline and immigration officers both asked to see it.

 

If you are looking for a quick visa run turn around, Taiwan is a great destination. Especially, as I have heard, trying to get things done in Laos apparently can take weeks.

 

Finally, E-Visa applicants are asked for 'Proof of current location' usually, which is very confusing and seems to differ from country to country. In the UK for instance they demand something more akin to proof of residence, like a bank statement or phone bill, while in KL , Malaysia a hotel booking is accepted.

 

The Taiwanese already have a document called a 'Certificate of Entry and Exit' - and this will be needed if applying for a Thai E-Visa from there. You can pick it up at any Immigration Office in Taiwan. We went in on a Monday morning and we're out again with the document within about 10-15 minutes. Remarkably efficient system over there, compared to the all day odyssey we usually get in LOS

 

 

@mankindmatt5 excellent report and of great assistance to others. 

 

So to be clear your spose obtained a Non O as your dependent. 

You mentioned needs to be obtained outside of Thailand. 

Some folk are incorrect in thinking this can be obtained from visa exempt or tourist visa entry. 

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

@mankindmatt5 excellent report and of great assistance to others. 

 

So to be clear your spose obtained a Non O as your dependent. 

You mentioned needs to be obtained outside of Thailand. 

Some folk are incorrect in thinking this can be obtained from visa exempt or tourist visa entry. 

 

That's right. I have a Non - B (Work Permit), my spouse then applied for a Non - O (Visiting Foreign Worker in Thailand) - or some wording like that.

 

As you said, this type of visa must be obtained outside of Thailand, unlike other some of the other Non-Os

Surprisingly, or not 😮  There is actually NO rule that says a "trailing spouse" Non-O (visa for a foreign spouse of a foreigner legally working in thailand on a Non-B visa/extension) must be gotten outside of thailand.
 

Chaengwattana issues them no problem at all AFTER the primary visa holder has their yearly extension from the initial 90 day Non-O. They do it from both a visa exempt entry AND a tourist visa entry as long as you have the documentation and the required days left on your current stamp.

The reason people go out of the country to get it is because the spouse has to figure out a way to stay until the primary visa holder has their year extension.

At most consulates will issue the 90 day Non-O visa to a trailing spouse while the primary visa holder is still on the initial 90 day Non-O

I think the confusion on whether they will or won't issue the Non-O trailing spouse of a foreigner legally working in thailand comes from the fact that you CANNOT get a trailing spouse Non-O issued in country based on being the spouse of a "retirement visa/extension" (Non-O visa/extension) holder. That is one category that immigrations won't issue Non-O's for the trailing spouse..

Taipei is a good, organized and fast consulate to use as long as you remember to go to the immigration office once you're there and get that "Certificate of Entry and Exit" to upload with your application 

14 hours ago, mankindmatt5 said:

As you said, this type of visa must be obtained outside of Thailand, unlike other some of the other Non-Os

Explained somewhat in this thread by ubonjoe.

If the husband (you) has a Non O retirement. (which is not the case)