Thai Spouse Extension - Changes.

[Upnotover]

2 minutes ago, johng said:

Yes unreadable to me @Upnotover must have superman's eyes 😋

I have had the same issue trying to post scanned images of very high quality  but mangled by the forum software..doesn't help that you can no longer upload PDF files.

Not superman, here's a screenshot....

[johng]

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

Not superman, here's a screenshot....

 

It is incredibly difficult to read the English

and the Thai impossible for me.

Try printing that out on a A4 piece of paper and submitting it to immigration.

 

The op has said that his uploaded images are very clear   so the problem remains  why is the forum rendering a horribly low resolution image ?

[Rob Browder]

3 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Without going into great detail, they did state they were encountering many problems with so called 'de jure' and 'defacto' marriages.

(I read into that 'arranged' or 'sham' marriages, for the purpose of a foreigner remaining in Thailand).

Living out in the sticks?  Are Indians moving up there on fake-marriages to work illegally, now?  I doubt it.  And they can / often do make a home-visit, which would erase all doubt.
 

And, if one is over 50, they know one can "buy" an agent-extension based on retirement from their partners, for a fraction of the cost of paying for a fake Thai wife (plus 2 witnesses for the home-visit).   They know the source of "scams" are primarily of their own organization's origin.

 

2 hours ago, Magictoad said:

So things have changed a bit? If you are worried about someone who live a long way then I suggest they use an agent.

 

Only a few agents will do them, and the cost was quoted at something like 50K Baht, last report I saw - a big piece of the action going to the district-level official, for their sign-off. 

[zz4096]

1 hour ago, johng said:

It is incredibly difficult to read the English

and the Thai impossible for me.

Try printing that out on a A4 piece of paper and submitting it to immigration.

 

The op has said that his uploaded images are very clear   so the problem remains  why is the forum rendering a horribly low resolution image ?

 

Disk space doesn't grow on trees big chief.

[Liquorice]

2 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

Living out in the sticks?  Are Indians moving up there on fake-marriages to work illegally, now?  I doubt it.

Well, just from those locals I do know, two who obtain extensions based on Thai spouse live separately.

Marriages of convenience - pay the wife 10K to attend Immigration at that time of year.

 

2 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

And they can / often do make a home-visit, which would erase all doubt.

Only home visit is for the very first extension application, non thereafter.

 

2 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

And, if one is over 50, they know one can "buy" an agent-extension based on retirement from their partners,

No agents up this next of the woods.

[OJAS]

15 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Only home visit is for the very first extension application, non thereafter.

 

Maybe so at Roi Et. But not necessarily at other offices.

 

[johng]

Every year in Chonburi.

[DrJack54]

Off topic post removed (again) 

[Stocky]

23 hours ago, Liquorice said:

The real 'ball-breaker' though was the fact they handed the completed STM 10 (Affidavit) form back to the wife and told her it must now be signed by a witness along with 2 signed copies of the witnesses ID card.

Fortunately, we live a 10-minute drive from the Immigration office, but for anyone living on the boundary of the Province, it could be a 90-minute drive to the office.

Encountered the same changes to the forms last month when I submitted my application. But thankfully Songkhla immigration (Hat Yai) supplied a witness, so no drama.

[Liquorice]

15 hours ago, Stocky said:

Encountered the same changes to the forms last month when I submitted my application. But thankfully Songkhla immigration (Hat Yai) supplied a witness, so no drama.

The only other occasion we've required a witness was during the home visit for the very first extension application.

I did suggest if requiring a witness was to become the norm then we could bring one along the following year, but they stated we shouldn't bother as the procedure could change again in-between. They also insisted the witness had to be a personal friend, not a family member.

[happydreamer]

To add my 2 cents to the mix...I have my legal counsel file all the paperwork for me so that I can be sure everything is done per immigration spec and there's no surprises on the day of.  The day of the visit I was informed that there was now a "deposit" that was required until the application was processed visa was approved the following month.  I was absolutely livid but my wife just told me to keep calm and let the lawyer handle everything.

 

Begrudgingly paid the deposit (12K).  Was told by IO that there were a bunch of people who would come to file for long term visas, get the extension, and then not come back the following month for the actual visa.  The "deposit" was to make sure I came back.

 

I didn't think id get the deposit back but it was actually refunded in full.  Always an experience with Immigration