Rejected Non O marriage visa application at CW because "haven't been married long enough".

[michael888]

Hello everyone.  MyNon O marriage visa application was rejected at CW because we "haven't been married long enough".  Has anyone ever experienced this before?  The IO said we must be married for "two or three months before applying for a marriage visa".   She also mentioned:  "If you had a child I could approve".

 

Also, just wondering if anyone has been denied a visa (marriage or otherwise) and made a new appointment to get a new IO?  Was it successful?   Many thanks.  

[terryq]

Do not know what you are on now but if  exempt or tourist could apply for additional 30 days. Also as you are now married you could apply for 60 days

to 'visit wife' , then  marriage visa / extension after that.

 

 

[UWEB]

3 minutes ago, terryq said:

Do not know what you are on now but if  exempt or tourist could apply for additional 30 days. Also as you are now married you could apply for 60 days

to 'visit wife' , then  marriage visa / extension after that.

 

 

He has applied for a one year Extension of Stay based on Thai Wife.

[kiwikeith]

16 minutes ago, michael888 said:

Hello everyone.  MyNon O marriage visa application was rejected at CW because we "haven't been married long enough".  Has anyone ever experienced this before?  The IO said we must be married for "two or three months before applying for a marriage visa".   She also mentioned:  "If you had a child I could approve".

 

Also, just wondering if anyone has been denied a visa (marriage or otherwise) and made a new appointment to get a new IO?  Was it successful?   Many thanks.  

If you came in on a 60 day then get one month extension you should be OK 

[terryq]

1 minute ago, UWEB said:

He has applied for a one year Extension of Stay based on Thai Wife.

Yes I  understand thati, but it was refused. Just thinking of relatively easy ways round the problem

 

 

[michael888]

3 minutes ago, terryq said:

Do not know what you are on now but if  exempt or tourist could apply for additional 30 days. Also as you are now married you could apply for 60 days

to 'visit wife' , then  marriage visa / extension after that.

 

 

What I am on about?  Just stating facts to see if anyone else was ever denied a marriage visa on the grounds of "not being married long enough". 

Also, to find out if anyone has successfully made a new appointment after a rejection (to try an application with a new IO), and if that was successful.  Not sure how I can state it any differently.  

I'm aware of the "visit wife" extention.

[sandyf]

12 minutes ago, michael888 said:

Hello everyone.  MyNon O marriage visa application was rejected at CW because we "haven't been married long enough".  Has anyone ever experienced this before?  The IO said we must be married for "two or three months before applying for a marriage visa".   She also mentioned:  "If you had a child I could approve".

 

Also, just wondering if anyone has been denied a visa (marriage or otherwise) and made a new appointment to get a new IO?  Was it successful?   Many thanks.  

You need to clarify a bit better your status and what actually transpired.

The assumption would be that you tried to convert either visa exempt or tourist visa to a non o extension based on marriage.

The rejection may well have been with the documents and misunderstood what the IO was saying. It could have been advice and that an extension based on dependent children wouldn't have the same problem.

The root problem needs to be addressed before making another attempt.

[michael888]

5 minutes ago, UWEB said:

He has applied for a one year Extension of Stay based on Thai Wife.

Nope.  Original application.  

[michael888]

7 minutes ago, sandyf said:

You need to clarify a bit better your status and what actually transpired.

The assumption would be that you tried to convert either visa exempt or tourist visa to a non o extension based on marriage.

The rejection may well have been with the documents and misunderstood what the IO was saying. It could have been advice and that an extension based on dependent children wouldn't have the same problem.

The root problem needs to be addressed before making another attempt.

I'm on a 60 day visa exempt, already have the 30 day extension- starts neek week.  No, it had nothing to do with the documents.  She said they were all in order.  Her entire issue was that we have only been married for 3 weeks.   

Her mention of approval (visa approval) if we had a child together was a totally random statement by her.  Quite strange.    

[dinsdale]

Why didn't you ask how long you need to be married for? Rather odd you didn't.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 minute ago, michael888 said:

I'm on a 60 day visa exempt, already have the 30 day extension- starts neek week.  No, it had nothing to do with the documents.  She said they were all in order.  Her entire issue was that we have only been married for 3 weeks.   

Her mention of approval if we had a child together was a totally random statement by her.  Quite strange.    

Her bringing up the subject of your having children was not "totally random", nor "strange", it could have been particularly relevant and she was, perhaps, just trying to assist you.

 

In view of marriage extensions being heavily abused in the past by some nationalities, she may have seen your application so soon after the marriage as a red flag (and the IOs may be under instructions to be wary of 'new' marriages).

[norsurin]

With all marriage scams in Thailand i understand the officer.

[sandyf]

4 minutes ago, michael888 said:

I'm on a 60 day visa exempt, already have the 30 day extension- starts neek week.  No, it had nothing to do with the documents.  She said they were all in order.  Her entire issue was that we have only been married for 3 weeks.   

Her mention of approval if we had a child together was a totally random statement by her.  Quite strange.    

There has never been an issue over time married. The possibility of marriage of convenience is addressed by using witnesses and having home visits.

What you say may well be true and a wind of change is blowing but I have to say I doubt it.

There are many issues that arise with first time applications and usually something that needs to be addressed. Hope your next attempt has a better outcome. 

[michael888]

5 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Why didn't you ask how long you need to be married for? Rather odd you didn't.

We did, she said 2 or 3 months.  "Or" lolz

[michael888]

A bit more info.  My wife and I are both middle-aged , we have been together for about 15 years (evidence of which was in the photos we submitted).  I have worked and lived in Thailand for about 17 years, teaching most of that time (not working currently).  There is no marriage "scam" going on and I'm not sure how anyone could surmise that.  It didn't seem like the IO was questioning the legitimacy of our relationship/ marriage.  

[NativeBob]

My guess is IO was "free-wheeling" - making her own rules and requirements. Probably she heard something from somewhere and made a wrong assumption that "you should be married 2 or 3" months. 

[michael888]

1 minute ago, NativeBob said:

My guess is IO was "free-wheeling" - making her own rules and requirements. Probably she heard something from somewhere and made a wrong assumption that "you should be married 2 or 3" months. 

Seems as such, as I haven't heard of this happening to anyone else.  Hence the reason for my post.  I'm baffled.  

[NativeBob]

3 minutes ago, michael888 said:

Seems as such, as I haven't heard of this happening to anyone else.  Hence the reason for my post.  I'm baffled.  

About -8 years ago my good friend got marriage visa on the third week of marriage. Took few hours. Just make another appointment, won't hurt. Right? 
I met some "creative" IO at CW and Samui. 

[WorriedNoodle]

When I went thro the process at CW many years ago, before I could apply for a Non Imm O based on marriage I had to first get a 60 day extension of my existing permit to stay based on marriage. Was always like this wasn't it?

[michael888]

2 minutes ago, NativeBob said:

About -8 years ago my good friend got marriage visa on the third week of marriage. Took few hours. Just make another appointment, won't hurt. Right?

I guess it can't hurt.  I'm just concerned with getting the same IO.   Or seeing her when we go to The "C" department at CW and having her overrule another IO, and /or get incensed because we didn't follow her directions.  It consists of two "offices" about 3x3 meters each, with maybe 4 or 5 IOs in each office.  So I think there is a good chance she would notice us if we were to give another appointment a shot.   That's why I'm inquiring to find out if anyone has tried a new appointment.   

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, WorriedNoodle said:

When I went thro the process at CW many years ago, before I could apply for a Non Imm O based on marriage I had to first get a 60 day extension of my existing permit to stay based on marriage. Was always like this wasn't it?

Possibly you did not have the minimum 15 days validity remaining that is required.

The io most likely directed you to the 60 day extension as a work around. 

[michael888]

2 minutes ago, WorriedNoodle said:

When I went thro the process at CW many years ago, before I could apply for a Non Imm O based on marriage I had to first get a 60 day extension of my existing permit to stay based on marriage. Was always like this wasn't it?

Thanks for your reply.  So, many years ago it was standard (or at least you were directed to) first get a 60 day extension (to visit spouse), then apply for the Non O while on that extension?  

[flexomike]

1 hour ago, UWEB said:

He has applied for a one year Extension of Stay based on Thai Wife.

applied but not approved the question that was asked is what is your present visa status

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, michael888 said:

Thanks for your reply.  So, many years ago it was standard (or at least you were directed to) first get a 60 day extension (to visit spouse), then apply for the Non O while on that extension?  

No. I posted above a possible reason.

[michael888]

3 minutes ago, flexomike said:

applied but not approved the question that was asked is what is your present visa status

Nope.  This is the original application for the Non O, not an extension.   

[bkkniko]

Try talking with an agent, as they have connections with IO's, can probably do something for you

[Rob Browder]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

...

In view of marriage extensions being heavily abused in the past by some nationalities, she may have seen your application so soon after the marriage as a red flag (and the IOs may be under instructions to be wary of 'new' marriages).

 

1 hour ago, norsurin said:

With all marriage scams in Thailand i understand the officer.

 

Is he from India, or a similarly poor country, where "working illegally in Thailand" would be a step-up?   Otherwise, why would the IO factor in something like this?   If he was a "marriage scammer," what difference would 2 months wait make?

 

What is the worst that could happen, from the IO's POV?  He gets divorced, his permit-to-stay is immediately invalidated, and ... or, worst case, he stays in Thailand and spends money into the economy a bit longer, until the extension expires?

 

As this was the initial 90-day Non-O step, he will be back submitting the phone-book of paperwork again, in 90-days, for the 1-year extension.

 

This report matches a long-standing pattern of harassment and abuse of those extending by reason of marriage at some offices.  Immigration HATE doing marriage-visas, and generally hate the Thais who marry us.  Granted, the IOs in Issan, tend to be at least "civil" about it, in my experience.

[cjinchiangrai]

Did you apply for the 90 day based on marriage or retirement? That has been a problem before.

 

[Rob Browder]

7 minutes ago, bkkniko said:

Try talking with an agent, as they have connections with IO's, can probably do something for you

Few agents will touch a marriage-based extension, and those who do ask for a PILE of money - because Marriage-based extensions must get district-approval, who want their fat-cut of the "action," for that sign-off.  It's all "in house" at CW, but still goes to a higher-up.

[Will B Good]

In Thailand, there is no official minimum duration that a couple must be married before applying for a marriage-based visa extension (Non-Immigrant O visa extension based on marriage to a Thai national). However, there are practical considerations that can affect approval.

 

No Legal Minimum Marriage Duration: The law does not require you to be married for a specific number of months before applying. Technically, you can apply as soon as you’re legally married and meet the other requirements.

 

If you apply shortly after getting married (e.g. just 3–4 weeks), immigration officers may scrutinise your application more closely to ensure the marriage is genuine and not solely for visa purposes.

 

While it’s legally possible to apply soon after marriage, waiting a couple of months and collecting strong documentation can significantly increase your chances of approval.