Chiang mai Immigration

[Maybole]

Due to the flood last year I am unlikely to have the ฿400K in account when my extension for Marriage to a Thai citizen expires in a few months. I will therefore have to try using the income method.The proof of income requirement does not state what constitutes proof. Has any member obtained an extension recently using this method?  What documents were required and accepted? I am aware that different each clerk may have her own criteria, Therefore as many many recent experiences as possible are welcome. Please note this applies specifically to Chiangmai Immigration.

[TheAppletons]

Realizing you specified marriage extension, my only experience is with a retirement extension - though the requirements should be similar.  (If not, I'm certain others will be along to correct me.)

 

In addition to the basic extension request form, I needed 12 monthly bank statements (from the previous 12 months) showing that I transferred at least 65k THB per month from an overseas account.  For a marriage extension, I believe it's 40k THB per month.

 

I also needed to obtain a letter from the bank showing the amount deposited from a foreign bank each month (yes, even though I provided the statements, the letter was still required.)

 

Also need to provided the bank book for the account in question.  Copies of passport pages, etc.

 

For your initial switch from one method to another, might be prudent to engage the services of a reliable agent.  

 

 

[Captain Flack]

I have moved this topic, so hopefully the OP will get some replies.

[DrJack54]

On 5/13/2025 at 8:07 PM, Maybole said:

I will therefore have to try using the income method.The proof of income requirement does not state what constitutes proof.

OP, seems that you have a UK pp (from another thread). 

You will need to show 12 monthly transfers of min 40k per month. 

If you haven't been doing that then subsequent advice is irrelevant. 

 

You can (if not done previously) obtain a 60 day extension "to visit wife".

This is sometimes done to buy time to have the 400k in bank seasoned for two months. 

[Equatorial]

On 5/13/2025 at 8:07 PM, Maybole said:

Due to the flood last year I am unlikely to have the ฿400K in account when my extension

 

I would treat this option with extreme caution, but I have used it before (for a different purpose): You (actually, your wife), can borrow locally the money needed to show the required 400k. 

 

First of all, only do it if you are 100% certain you can repay the loan. The loan sharks here are nasty people! 

 

Secondly, the interest is high. Let's say 5% per month. So make sure to repay as soon as you can. 

 

But, say you need to borrow 100k for two months. The fee for that service would be 10k. Very expensive, by out Western standards. But, in special circumstance, it may be worth it. 

[Equatorial]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

You can (if not done previously) obtain a 60 day extension "to visit wife".

 

 

The OP says he's already on an EOS (vs the original 90-day visa). Can a 60-day extension be granted at the expiration of an EOS? If the answer is "yes," can an extension "to visit wife" be granted at the expiration of the retirement EOS (of course, assuming one is married to a Thai)? 

[novacova]

2 minutes ago, Equatorial said:

 

I would treat this option with extreme caution, but I have used it before (for a different purpose): You (actually, your wife), can borrow locally the money needed to show the required 400k. 

 

First of all, only do it if you are 100% certain you can repay the loan. The loan sharks here are nasty people! 

 

Secondly, the interest is high. Let's say 5% per month. So make sure to repay as soon as you can. 

 

But, say you need to borrow 100k for two months. The fee for that service would be 10k. Very expensive, by out Western standards. But, in special circumstance, it may be worth it. 

OP, please don’t even begin to consider such nonsense.

[DrJack54]

27 minutes ago, Equatorial said:

 

The OP say he's already on an extension (vs the original 90-day visa). Can an extension be granted at the expiration of an EOS? If the answer is "yes," can an extension "to visit wife" be granted at the expiration of the retirement EOS (of course, assuming one is married to a Thai)? 

Yes the OP has an extension. 

It's a permission of stay that has an expiryexpiry date. 

Since he is married to Thai national he can apply for a 60 day extension to visit wife (provided not done previously from this Non O) 

That does not have the financial requirements. 

 

The next step would be to obtain a 12 month extension so this is just to buy time. 

 

The OP would be aware that the 400k only needs to be held in bank for 2 months + under consideration period. 

If the financials cannot be met the OP has issues. 

A switch to agent for extension retirement would be an option. 

 

Edit: last resort option for OP is to exit Thailand. 

He can reenter Thailand visa exempt and receive (currently) a 60 day stamp. He can obtain a 60 day extension to visit wife every time he does this. 

He can effectively push back the timeframe to eventually obtaining a Non O. 

Messy (very) 

[Equatorial]

Let me try to summarize the OP situation and options. 

 

The OP is on marriage-based EOS. The renewal comes up within a few months. The OP expects not to have 400k seasoned for 2 months at the time of application for the next EOS. 

 

Options: 

 

1/ Switch to income method. This will NOT work because it would need to be retroactive for the full 12 month period, starting since the last EOS. 

 

2/ Get a 60-day extension "to visit wife," to give himself additional 60 days to get the seasoned 400k for the next EOS application.

 

3/ Get an agent, which involves switching to a retirement-based EOS. That can be reverted back to marriage-based the following year EOS, assuming the financial requirements are met by that time. 

 

4/ Exit Thailand, reenter visa exempt followed by 60-day extension "to visit wife." Repeat if necessary, until such time that the finances are in place to meet the requirements for a Non O. 

[BKKKevin]

I would talk to a visa agent before borrowing money form a local loan shark!…

[DrJack54]

15 minutes ago, Equatorial said:

3/ Get an agent, which involves switching to a retirement-based EOS. That can be reverted back to marriage-based the following year EOS, assuming the financial requirements are met by that time.

Your options work apart from 3.

To "revert back" from retirement to marriage he would need to show financial compliance for the previous 12 months. 

He would need start over.