Marriage extension

So Bangkok bank letter, 400k frozen for 4 months before they give me the letter.

They wanted to give me a load of BS about why they had to do it.

I told them I've signed the agreement, so no need for the BS, just give me the letter.

Along with a 6 months statement.

 

Immigration the next day

Packed out, but they've done away with the volunteer document checkers so much quicker.

Lots of new silly forms (4 outside) to fill out and sign, mostly in Thai, they insisted I fill them in even though I didn't have a clue, no problem they just want random stuff written.

8 photos now required (2 inside house, 2 outside house with house number visible x2)

 

Arrived 8:15 for outside number, had my inside number by 9:30 ..... come back after lunch at 1pm.

After lunch at 1pm seen first, 2 more nonsense forms to fill, one for her, one for me, all the new (4 x2) Thai forms got whited out, and the immigration officer filled whatever nonsense she liked on them.

Didn't like my passport photos, want bigger ones now on a white or blue background, but OK for this time.

Didn't like the map I drew, not pretty enough, but OK for this time.

Out by 1:35pm

 

Other new rule, 90 day ends when last extension ends, new 90 day required for under consideration period in person only, not online.

But at least the in person can be done using the drive through ...... the extra visit to immigration is a pain!

 

Improvements,

They didn't make me update my bank book, day before was good enough ........ was surprised!

They didn't want to keep the original KS2, handed it back, made a copy themselves, said I can use the KS2 again next year ..... was surprised!

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Marriage extension

So Bangkok bank letter, 400k frozen for 4 months before they give me the letter.

They wanted to give me a load of BS about why they had to do it.

I told them I've signed the agreement, so no need for the BS, just give me the letter.

Along with a 6 months statement.

NOT a CM Immigration requirement. NO CHANGE FROM B4.

 

Immigration the next day

Packed out, but they've done away with the volunteer document checkers so much quicker.

Lots of new silly forms (4 outside) to fill out and sign, mostly in Thai, they insisted I fill them in even though I didn't have a clue, no problem they just want random stuff written.

CANNOT understand if this represents any CM Immigration change since you’re unable to provide specifics. Just as well could be be you signed before but don’t remember. 

 

8 photos now required (2 inside house, 2 outside house with house number visible x2)

AGREE; double what CM Immigration required last year.

 

Arrived 8:15 for outside number, had my inside number by 9:30 ..... come back after lunch at 1pm.

After lunch at 1pm seen first, 2 more nonsense forms to fill, one for her, one for me, all the new (4 x2) Thai forms got whited out, and the immigration officer filled whatever nonsense she liked on them.

NO IDEA what you’re writing about so no valuable information.

 

Didn't like my passport photos, want bigger ones now on a white or blue background, but OK for this time.

DON’T understand why you include this as a new CM Immigration requirement. What size photos did you present and what color was the background?

 

Didn't like the map I drew, not pretty enough, but OK for this time.

NO INFORMATION of value to understand why you claim this is a new CM Immigration requirement. 

Out by 1:35pm

 

Other new rule, 90 day ends when last extension ends,

NOT a new CM Immigration practice as far as I recall.

 

new 90 day required for under consideration period in person only, not online.

AGREE this was new to me this year. 

 

But at least the in person can be done using the drive through ...... the extra visit to immigration is a pain! 

AGREE

 

Improvements,

They didn't make me update my bank book, day before was good enough ........ was surprised!

FOR FIX DEPOSITS I continue to use having a passbook update and bank letter affirming the account no later than 7 days before applying for the extension. No depositing activity required.

 

They didn't want to keep the original KS2, handed it back, made a copy themselves, said I can use the KS2 again next year ..... was surprised!

 

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Didn't like the map I drew, not pretty enough

 

the hand drawn map is pure clown world. You could give them a GPS coordinate which is infinitely more useful but that would make too much sense.

Well, if I have to change visa I'll put 800K in a fixed term Bank account and do retirement extension, definitely not marriage. Actually it would be a good idea to open such account some months ahead of an LTR renewal, just in case...

 

Can an FCD be used?

11 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

the hand drawn map is pure clown world. You could give them a GPS coordinate which is infinitely more useful but that would make too much sense.

Yeah, my hand drawn clown map has the GPS coords on it, they want a pretty drawing.

To be fair, I believe that those silly new forms are not new at all. They are the same ones that immigration used to fill in on your behalf and then give you the sign. 
I made a point of taking some home so I have them for next year.
 

Anyone who has been doing this for many years will remember sitting with an immigration officer while they filled in lots of additional forms over carbon copy paper and then passed them over for you to sign. 

 

 

Off topic nonsense removed. 

Thanks for the info. I will go through the same "BS" after arrival in Ubon. Not looking forward to all.  Good Luck!

For the OP. Glad to read it worked for you in the end.

 

I have painful memories of two separate years  each time showing up early at Phuket immigration to get one year extensions on my type OA visa , with all paperwork perfectly in order. I showed up betwee 8:30 to 9:00am and it was 18:30 to 19:00 before I Ieft. At the end the Office was closed to new entries and I was sitting inside with a few other foreigners (waiting for paperwork processing) and with immigration staff as they processed a  mountain of paperwork from all the foreigners that day. I think if my paperwork had not been in order I would have had to return on another day. 

 

The Phuket immigration was simply too crowded. Over 95% of the time was just waiting in line.

 

I don't realish ever doing that again and it drove home to me why some of my friends ( of means) would pay an agent to have power of attorneys to do such visa extensions for them.

 

Again,  glad to read this worked for you.

On 10/1/2025 at 10:10 AM, BritManToo said:

Didn't like my passport photos, want bigger ones now on a white or blue background, but OK for this time.

LOL - why I always bring both sizes with. Been there and done that with this trick.  Glad they didn't knock you back with it.

 

On 10/1/2025 at 10:10 AM, BritManToo said:

Didn't like the map I drew, not pretty enough,

LOL Again.  My wife used a ruler, when I was on marriage extensions.  Plus, my google-map printouts at various zoom-levels - then let them pick what they wanted.

 

Also, bring at least 20 photos, covering the "required categories," and let them pick their "favorites."  They seem to enjoy this, for some reason.

On 10/1/2025 at 10:10 AM, BritManToo said:

Marriage extension

So Bangkok bank letter, 400k frozen for 4 months before they give me the letter.

They wanted to give me a load of BS about why they had to do it.

I told them I've signed the agreement, so no need for the BS, just give me the letter.

Along with a 6 months statement.

 

Immigration the next day

Packed out, but they've done away with the volunteer document checkers so much quicker.

Lots of new silly forms (4 outside) to fill out and sign, mostly in Thai, they insisted I fill them in even though I didn't have a clue, no problem they just want random stuff written.

8 photos now required (2 inside house, 2 outside house with house number visible x2)

 

Arrived 8:15 for outside number, had my inside number by 9:30 ..... come back after lunch at 1pm.

After lunch at 1pm seen first, 2 more nonsense forms to fill, one for her, one for me, all the new (4 x2) Thai forms got whited out, and the immigration officer filled whatever nonsense she liked on them.

Didn't like my passport photos, want bigger ones now on a white or blue background, but OK for this time.

Didn't like the map I drew, not pretty enough, but OK for this time.

Out by 1:35pm

 

Other new rule, 90 day ends when last extension ends, new 90 day required for under consideration period in person only, not online.

But at least the in person can be done using the drive through ...... the extra visit to immigration is a pain!

 

Improvements,

They didn't make me update my bank book, day before was good enough ........ was surprised!

They didn't want to keep the original KS2, handed it back, made a copy themselves, said I can use the KS2 again next year ..... was surprised!

Me too, I thought I had pulled a fast one with the bank book - mine was last updated the day before. Photos have been blue or white and "oversize" for years.

On 10/1/2025 at 2:56 PM, NorthernRyland said:

 

the hand drawn map is pure clown world. You could give them a GPS coordinate which is infinitely more useful but that would make too much sense.

actually on my original TM.30 from years ago, the Immigration officer wrote the coordinates on the Tm.30 an d that is what they use each time, not asking for a hand drawn map - CM.

Thank you.

On 10/1/2025 at 10:06 AM, Peter Crow said:

Well, if I have to change visa I'll put 800K in a fixed term Bank account and do retirement extension, definitely not marriage. Actually it would be a good idea to open such account some months ahead of an LTR renewal, just in case...

 

Can an FCD be used?

It has to be in a savings account that is accessible 

On 10/1/2025 at 10:10 AM, BritManToo said:

Marriage extension

So Bangkok bank letter, 400k frozen for 4 months before they give me the letter.

They wanted to give me a load of BS about why they had to do it.

I told them I've signed the agreement, so no need for the BS, just give me the letter.

Along with a 6 months statement.

 

Immigration the next day

Packed out, but they've done away with the volunteer document checkers so much quicker.

Lots of new silly forms (4 outside) to fill out and sign, mostly in Thai, they insisted I fill them in even though I didn't have a clue, no problem they just want random stuff written.

8 photos now required (2 inside house, 2 outside house with house number visible x2)

 

Arrived 8:15 for outside number, had my inside number by 9:30 ..... come back after lunch at 1pm.

After lunch at 1pm seen first, 2 more nonsense forms to fill, one for her, one for me, all the new (4 x2) Thai forms got whited out, and the immigration officer filled whatever nonsense she liked on them.

Didn't like my passport photos, want bigger ones now on a white or blue background, but OK for this time.

Didn't like the map I drew, not pretty enough, but OK for this time.

Out by 1:35pm

 

Other new rule, 90 day ends when last extension ends, new 90 day required for under consideration period in person only, not online.

But at least the in person can be done using the drive through ...... the extra visit to immigration is a pain!

 

Improvements,

They didn't make me update my bank book, day before was good enough ........ was surprised!

They didn't want to keep the original KS2, handed it back, made a copy themselves, said I can use the KS2 again next year ..... was surprised!

What a lot of BS. That is exactly why I do not have the marriage extensions. You would think that as the years go by things would get easier, but this being Thailand with their well known Thai mentality, it is the exact opposite.

6 minutes ago, Knocker33 said:

It has to be in a savings account that is accessible 

I have had my money in a Bangkok Bank fixed-term account for five years, with no problems. Just to let you know that fixed-term accounts are accessible if needed. 

On 10/1/2025 at 3:25 PM, Dmaxdan said:

To be fair, I believe that those silly new forms are not new at all. They are the same ones that immigration used to fill in on your behalf and then give you the sign. 
I made a point of taking some home so I have them for next year.
 

Anyone who has been doing this for many years will remember sitting with an immigration officer while they filled in lots of additional forms over carbon copy paper and then passed them over for you to sign. 

 

 

I know a guy who had to sign over a 100 times with these marriage extn's.

On 10/7/2025 at 11:55 AM, marcho said:

I have had my money in a Bangkok Bank fixed-term account for five years, with no problems. Just to let you know that fixed-term accounts are accessible if needed. 

I had problems so it's probably the old thing about which office and if the IO is having a bad day

On 10/1/2025 at 2:56 PM, NorthernRyland said:

 

the hand drawn map is pure clown world. You could give them a GPS coordinate which is infinitely more useful but that would make too much sense.

I used Google Earth, printed off an A4 photo of the area, put a red arrow pointing at my house......😋