Switching from Non-B extension based on work to extension based on marriage

[Brightonman]

I did search but couldn't find anyone who exactly my problem. For the past 14 years I have been teaching either in Bangkok, usually at weekends, or online from my house in Jomtien.  For my extension and work permit address, which has needed to be in the same area as my work, I have been renting an apartment in Onnut. So I have been doing the extensions and work permit in Bangkok. Now my company has decided it does not want to renew my contract this year and told me yesterday. This means I have 6 weeks to switch to a marriage extension (I'm married to a Thai) and I don't have the 400,000 Baht seasoned or even in the country yet. If my financial advisor ever answers his emails I hope to receive it in a matter of weeks. I do get a company pension of just over £1000 but I am from UK so cannot get an embassy letter. 

 

Therefore, I need to know whether I have to do a temporary visa by exiting the country or whether there is a way to switch to an extension based on marriage without leaving the country.

 

As i live in Jomtien I also need to move my extension to the Jomtien immigration at the same time, so I can quit the Onnut room and save the apartment rental fees.

 

Please let me know my best course of action as I am a bit flustered by it all. 

 

Thank you for your anticipated advice

 

 

[BrandonJT]

You need to go to your immigration office and ask them if they will allow you to apply for the 60-day "Visiting Thai Family" extension after you cancel your work extension.  If they will allow you to apply for that, then you will have plenty of time to season your 400,000 baht.  If they will not allow you to apply for it, then you will likely have to leave Thailand and return on a visa exempt status and start fresh from that.

[steve187]

17 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

You need to go to your immigration office and ask them if they will allow you to apply for the 60-day "Visiting Thai Family" extension after you cancel your work extension.  If they will allow you to apply for that, then you will have plenty of time to season your 400,000 baht.  If they will not allow you to apply for it, then you will likely have to leave Thailand and return on a visa exempt status and start fresh from that.

as long as he hasn't used a 60 day extension since his last entry into Thailand excluding re-entry permit entry, I can not see how they can refuse,( but it is Jomtein) he could also apply in Bangkok if the timing is right

[Brightonman]

Thanks guys for your quick replies 

[jojothai]

On 4/29/2025 at 6:40 PM, BrandonJT said:

You need to go to your immigration office and ask them if they will allow you to apply for the 60-day "Visiting Thai Family" extension after you cancel your work extension.  If they will allow you to apply for that, then you will have plenty of time to season your 400,000 baht.  If they will not allow you to apply for it, then you will likely have to leave Thailand and return on a visa exempt status and start fresh from that.

It still needs the 400,000 as well as all the paperwork.
If he has been working and earning enough then last years tax return will be accepted for income, but then there is still the need for the 400,000 baht in the bank from the earnings.
If the OP posting does not have the 400,000 then bhe needs to get it transferred in to get it seasoned the length of time required.
A lot of posts recently that need to be read. I will post to the OP will follow.

[happydreamer]

Good luck on it all bud.  Ive had nothing but issues with marriage visa.  There's a lot of scrutiny at the immigration office in Bangkok especially if you do not own a home and rent.  There's so many ways for them to deny you and make you come back.  So if you go this route make sure that you follow each step to the letter.  I was denied my visa and made to come back last year because my bank account slipped to 398K for a few hours while waiting for a bank transfer to clear from the US.  And mind you that ws the third year I went to renew my spouse visa.  

They look for ways to make you miserable.  Or extort you.  Best of luck.

[jojothai]

On 4/29/2025 at 7:01 PM, steve187 said:

as long as he hasn't used a 60 day extension since his last entry into Thailand excluding re-entry permit entry, I can not see how they can refuse,( but it is Jomtein) he could also apply in Bangkok if the timing is right

From experience and trying, no in bangkok and no in hua hin. 
This is not as easy as some like to think.
I understand that agents can do it but the OP would be looking at two major counts.
One for not normally be allowed to get the non-o from a non-b. 
the second for not having the 400k.
Will be expensive.
A lot of posts recently that the OP should have been able to find and need to be read. I will post to the OP to follow.

[josephbloggs]

4 minutes ago, happydreamer said:

They look for ways to make you miserable.  Or extort you.  Best of luck.

How did they extort you?

[josephbloggs]

On 4/29/2025 at 5:07 PM, Brightonman said:

I did search but couldn't find anyone who exactly my problem. For the past 14 years I have been teaching either in Bangkok, usually at weekends, or online from my house in Jomtien.  For my extension and work permit address, which has needed to be in the same area as my work, I have been renting an apartment in Onnut. So I have been doing the extensions and work permit in Bangkok. Now my company has decided it does not want to renew my contract this year and told me yesterday. This means I have 6 weeks to switch to a marriage extension (I'm married to a Thai) and I don't have the 400,000 Baht seasoned or even in the country yet. If my financial advisor ever answers his emails I hope to receive it in a matter of weeks. I do get a company pension of just over £1000 but I am from UK so cannot get an embassy letter. 

 

Therefore, I need to know whether I have to do a temporary visa by exiting the country or whether there is a way to switch to an extension based on marriage without leaving the country.

 

As i live in Jomtien I also need to move my extension to the Jomtien immigration at the same time, so I can quit the Onnut room and save the apartment rental fees.

 

Please let me know my best course of action as I am a bit flustered by it all. 

 

Thank you for your anticipated advice

 

 

Last year I left my job after many years of having non B extensions based on employment (29 years of them!).  I moved money here but it hadn't been with me for two months. I just flew to Laos, got a single entry 90 day non-O, then did a 12 month extension in Bangkok by which time my funds were seasoned.

I know things have changed and Laos probably isn't the best option now they don't allow in-person applications, but maybe a route to consider if there's somewhere you can visit for a few days to apply for a non-O. The funds don't need to be seasoned for that initial application, only for the extension.

[happydreamer]

14 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

How did they extort you?

I can't really go into details here but it's happened on multiple occasions.  It can be probably be categorized as "VIP Express Service" I guess

[jojothai]

The last post from Josephbloggs is correct matching  my knowledge.
however most embassies need the evisa system and you will have to go outside for 7 to 10 days.
Some places outside do not need the 400 k for the first non-o ninety days,  but you will need to search. 

I did the simplest thing, go out and get visa exempt. its 60 days. then apply here for the first ninety day.
However, to do that you will need the 400k in the bank the length required.
If you get the 400 k transferred quickly now, you may be able to plan going out  and apply when you come back in. You say you have 6 weeks, presume you have to get out then.
You need to read the posts below that also concern what to do at work permit expiry.
If you go out in 6 weeks, and get 60 days visa exempt on return. You could meet the 400k time period.
Be aware that getting the first 90 day here needs  alot of paperwork and can take 3 to 4 weeks from the application. I am still waiting after 3 weeks (but that did include songkran.)
I posted the marriage visa checklists from Chaeng Wattana  and Hua hin in the post justr below.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1352010-simple-question-for-this-idiot-about-non-o-marriage-multi-entry/#comment-19596444
The other recent posts to read are 
https://aseannow.com/topic/1357404-my-situation-can-i-beat-the-system-of-a-marriage-visa/#comment-19726305

https://aseannow.com/topic/1355113-visa-options-after-work-permit-cancellation/page/2/#comment-19726377

https://aseannow.com/topic/1352405-non-imm-o-marriage-vs-retirement-based/#comment-19605957

 

[BrandonJT]

32 minutes ago, jojothai said:

It still needs the 400,000 as well as all the paperwork.
If he has been working and earning enough then last years tax return will be accepted for income, but then there is still the need for the 400,000 baht in the bank from the earnings.
If the OP posting does not have the 400,000 then bhe needs to get it transferred in to get it seasoned the length of time required.
A lot of posts recently that need to be read. I will post to the OP will follow.

The 60-day visiting Thai family extension does not require any funds.  That would be to give him time for the funds to be in the account already for 2 months in order to apply for the 1-year extension.

[jojothai]

1 minute ago, BrandonJT said:

The 60-day visiting Thai family extension does not require any funds.  That would be to give him time for the funds to be in the account already for 2 months in order to apply for the 1-year extension.

Where does not need the 400k?

[BrandonJT]

3 minutes ago, jojothai said:

Where does not need the 400k?

Literally everywhere.  The 400,000 baht is a requirement for the Non-O visa based on marriage to Thai and for a one-year extension based on marriage to Thai.  The 60-day visiting Thai family extension does not have any financial requirement and never has.

[jojothai]

4 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

The 60-day visiting Thai family extension does not require any funds.  That would be to give him time for the funds to be in the account already for 2 months in order to apply for the 1-year extension.

I posted the marriage visa checklists from Chaeng Wattana  and Hua hin in the post justr below.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1352010-simple-question-for-this-idiot-about-non-o-marriage-multi-entry/#comment-19596444

Its the same for the first 90 day Non-O. Unless you can tell the OP where to go to avoid it.

[BrandonJT]

We are not talking about a marriage extension! Stop confusing things! This is the 60-day visiting Thai family extension.  You can use it for a Thai relative, a Thai child, a Thai spouse.  It IS NOT A MARRIAGE EXTENSION.

 

https://piv-phuket.com/60-day-family-extension/

[jojothai]

1 minute ago, BrandonJT said:

Literally everywhere.  The 400,000 baht is a requirement for the Non-O visa based on marriage to Thai and for a one-year extension based on marriage to Thai.  The 60-day visiting Thai family extension does not have any financial requirement and never has.

Your post is irrelevant to the OP.
He is referrring to marriage.

[BrandonJT]

1 minute ago, jojothai said:

Your post is irrelevant to the OP.
He is referrring to marriage.

Are you just daft? The OP needs extra time for his money to the in the bank for 2 months. Please learn how to read. How do you get extra time so you can show the money was in the bank? You apply for the 60-day visiting Thai family extension.  That's the exact amount of time that the Op needs.  And it solves the problem.  You are just making things confusing and making a huge issue that doesn't exist.

[jojothai]

1 minute ago, BrandonJT said:

We are not talking about a marriage extension! Stop confusing things! This is the 60-day visiting Thai family extension.  You can use it for a Thai relative, a Thai child, a Thai spouse.  It IS NOT A MARRIAGE EXTENSION.

 

https://piv-phuket.com/60-day-family-extension/

Read the Post heading and the first post.
if you want to tell him  to do something else then make that ckear.

[jojothai]

1 minute ago, BrandonJT said:

Are you just daft? The OP needs extra time for his money to the in the bank for 2 months. Please learn how to read. How do you get extra time so you can show the money was in the bank? You apply for the 60-day visiting Thai family extension.  That's the exact amount of time that the Op needs.  And it solves the problem.  You are just making things confusing and making a huge issue that doesn't exist.

dont be start talking daft. You obviously cannot read english.

[BrandonJT]

2 minutes ago, jojothai said:

dont be start talking daft. You obviously cannot read english.

READ THE POST

 

"and I don't have the 400,000 Baht seasoned"

 

THE PROBLEM IS THE MONEY IS NOT SEASONED.  His permission to stay ends in 6 weeks.  The money needs to be in the bank for TWO MONTHS.  6 weeks is less than two months. So how do you show the money is in the bank for 2 months? You get permission to stay in Thailand for an extra 2 months which gives a total of 3.5 months until needing to apply for the 1-year extension.  I certainly know both how to read, how to understand what the problem is, and how to use the available tools to solve it. You seem to only be able to read a single thing and focus in on it and keep the solution inside a small box.  I have given the exact way for the op to go about not having to leave the country and to get their 1-year extension.  Case closed. I'm done with you.

[jojothai]

If people contribute its best that they read the post, and do not start to insult others.
No point in trying to assist an OP if its going to bring out the worst in some people.

[jojothai]

Just now, BrandonJT said:

READ THE POST

 

"and I don't have the 400,000 Baht seasoned"

 

THE PROBLEM IS THE MONEY IS NOT SEASONED.  His permission to stay ends in 6 weeks.  The money needs to be in the bank for TWO MONTHS.  6 weeks is less than two months. So how do you show the money is in the bank for 2 months? You get permission to stay in Thailand for an extra 2 months which gives a total of 3.5 months until needing to apply for the 1-year extension.  I certainly know both how to read, how to understand what the problem is, and how to use the available tools to solve it. You seem to only be able to read a single thing and focus in on it and keep the solution inside a small box.  I have given the exact way for the op to go about not having to leave the country and to get their 1-year extension.  Case closed. I'm done with you.

Stop making excuses now about your confusing a thai family extension that was not mentioned.

[DrJack54]

32 minutes ago, jojothai said:

If people contribute its best that they read the post, and do not start to insult others.
No point in trying to assist an OP if its going to bring out the worst in some people.

You are out of line.

Won't delete above bickering however be aware that in the OP one issue was to season funds to change reason for extension to based on marriage.

 

An option is to apply for 60 day extension "to visit wife" 

This would enable 400k two month seasoning. 

 

That option was correctly pointed out by @BrandonJT above. 

[jojothai]

To Brightonman
 

what BrandonJT was alluding to, is that there is another way to try to deal with the situation.
I have no idea whether the family extension qualifies as a NON-O to then switch to marriage.
I also have no  idea wherther going from a non-b will be allowed. Its bad enough that from my expereience you cannot go to marriage.
Dr Jack may be able to give advice.
However, you need to think carefully about the sixty days.
As i pointed out before, you have time to get the money transferred if you do it fairly quickly now and get another sixty days from going out and back in visa exempt. Or the family extension may provide it, but timing is critical.
Giving a visa extension with no financial requirements seems far fetched. How are you going to live?
Some posts i see suggest that for a family extension you may need to show proof of financial status.
Easy for immigration to expect that you have have the money to support you and your wife.
 

[DrJack54]

13 minutes ago, jojothai said:

I also have no  idea wherther going from a non-b will be allowed. Its bad enough that from my expereience you cannot go to marriage.

You would be changing to what the extension is based on. It's not an extension of the visa but rather extension of stay.

Covered in this thread.

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, jojothai said:

Giving a visa extension with no financial requirements seems far fetched. How are you going to live?

60 day extension "to visit wife" does not require financials.

Wife needs to attend and some docs provided. 

[DrJack54]

14 minutes ago, jojothai said:

Some posts i see suggest that for a family extension you may need to show proof of financial status.

To obtain a 12 month extension based on marriage you require 400k seasoned in Thai bank account in your name only for two months. 

Hence the suggestion of the 60 day extension to "buy time" to season funds

[Brightonman]

Thanks everyone for your ideas and thoughts. I will look into, either the family visit, or out in method.