Visa advice

[Payanak212]

Hello all, looking for some advice on visa options for my situation.

 

I am married to a Thai and visit Thailand every other month or so and used to live in Thailand for a few years. I normally just use a 30 or 60 days stamp and stay a few weeks at a time.

 

i wondering what my options are for getting a long term visa of one sort or another. My main reason would be to allow my to set up bank accounts and renew driving licenses etc. I am also unsure how me staying only a few weeks at a time and not 90 days might prevent me from getting a TM30, residence certificate etc. 

 

thanks

[DrJack54]

22 minutes ago, Payanak212 said:

i wondering what my options are for getting a long term visa of one sort or another.

You should have a Non O marriage and subsequent extensions. 

You will need a multiple reentry permit. 

The issue would be the under consideration period if you are month on/off.

Roster workers have similar problem. 

Are you over 50 

[Payanak212]

Thanks, I’m not over 50 so can’t get a retirement visa. 
 

what does under consideration period mean and does that prevent me from getting a TM 30 and residence letter?

[DrJack54]

49 minutes ago, Payanak212 said:

what does under consideration period mean and does that prevent me from getting a TM 30 and residence letter?

If you have a Non O based on marriage then every 12 months you obtain an extension. 

Immigration send your papers to head office for approval. 

That process takes often approx one month. 

Your travel habits may find that difficult. 

You also may have home visit. 

[Rob Browder]

On 5/25/2025 at 10:21 AM, Payanak212 said:

does that prevent me from getting a TM 30 and residence letter

The owner of where you stay are legally-required to file a TM-30 within 24 hours of your arrival.  But, if you do not interact with a local immigration office, this is not enforced at entry/exit points.  So, you can definitely get a TM-30 w/o issue. 

After that, you can apply a residence certificate - though that policy may vary by immigration-office and/or require an agent. 

 

To get an annual extension based on marriage to a Thai in the shortest time "in-country," enter with a Non-O 90-day Visa based on marriage, get a re-entry permit for your next monthly in/out, returning before that visa / re-entry expires, then apply for the 1-year extension. 

 

Depending on the immigration office, the "under consideration" may run starting 30 days after the last extension's permitted-stay (was at my office), OR, may start on the day of application.  To work-around that, you could leave/return on re-entry permits twice in the 90-days (separate re-entry permit for each departure/return), returning with a short-time left on the Non-O Visa's permitted-stay, so that your application can be submitted just before the Non-O Visa's 90-days is over.  But beware, some offices hate marriage-based extensions, and may ask for "extra documents" to screw you out of it - delighting in the fact you won't have time to comply before your permitted-stay runs out.

 

Alternatively, you could apply for a Non-O Visa before entering Thailand every visit - avoiding the risk of being denied-entry for "coming too much/often as a tourist" at the airport.

[Maestro]

On 5/27/2025 at 4:33 AM, Rob Browder said:

The owner of where you stay are legally-required to file a TM-30 within 24 hours of your arrival...

 

These are the relevant provisions of an English translation of the Immigration ACT:

Quote

 

Section 4. In this Act,

...

“Householder” means any persons who is the chief possessor of a house,
whether in the capacity of owner, tenant, or in any other capacity whatsoever in accordance
with the law on civil registration.

 

Section 38. The householder, the owner or the possessor of a dwelling
place or a hotel manager, who takes in, as a resident, an alien with permission to
temporarily stay in the Kingdom, shall notify the competent official at the immigration office
located in the locality in which the house, dwelling place, or hotel is located within twenty
four hours from the time the alien has taken residence...

 

Source: 

https://aseannow.com/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=991237&key=afcda8a9154676f45da42331902f33c8

 

Therefore, for a rented property,

• householder means the chief possessor in the capacity of tenant
• possessor means the tenant
• owner means the owner (as evidenced by the land title deed)

 

This is important for a the tenant to know lest he believe that he cannot be fined if the required notification of arrival of the foeigner is not made.