If I switch from an O-A to an O will there still be a 30 day waiting period for my marriage extension?

11 minutes ago, streetlite said:

If I switch from an O-A to an O will there still be a 30 day waiting period for my marriage extension?

Not clear on what you are asking.

If you are currently on the 1-year Non-OA visa that was issued by a Thai embassy, you cannot switch to a marriage visa or extension unless you leave Thailand and apply for a new non-O visa based on marriage. That's because the first extension must be based on the same reason at the visa itself. If you do leave and get a new non-O visa, you must wait until your immigration office will accept your extension application. That means you must only have 30 days left, or 45 days left, depending on the office. Meaning you need to wait 45-60 days after entering Thailand/activating your non-O visa. Once you apply, your extension is subject to the normal marriage under consideration period of 30-60 days depending on the immigration office.

If you are currently on a 1-year extension based on an original non-OA visa, then you're not on any visa at all, you're on an extension, and you can apply for your next extension based on a different reason (marriage) instead of retirement. You would have an under consideration period same as every marriage extension, because marriage extensions are not processed at the local immigration office. They are sent to the district office for approval, and takes between 30-60 days depending on the immigration office.

31 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

44 minutes ago, streetlite said:

If I switch from an O-A to an O will there still be a 30 day waiting period for my marriage extension?

Not clear on what you are asking.

The guy asked the same quested previously. You and I both clarified his confusion.

Don't understand why same Q again

https://aseannow.com/topic/1388460-non-imm-o-a-visa-questions/#findComment-20412813

On 3/28/2026 at 6:50 PM, JohnnyBD said:

Yes, it's legal to use an agent.

I did my first 2 retirement extensions in Jomtien myself, but when I moved to Bangkok, I didn't want to deal with having to wait in long lines at IM, so I started using an agent. I also switched to marriage extensions which required more paperwork. I had my own money in the bank, so all was legal. The agent did all the paperwork. We just showed up at IM about 10:00 am, signed all the papers, went into the IO's office for pics, then left. It took about 15 to 20 mins. The agent went back in 30 days to get the final stamp & multiple reentry permit. I only had to make one trip to IM.

I never had any issues with renewals, and I never had a home visit.

I am on "marriage extensions" and wonder how your agent handles:

the 6+ photos usually required,

the ST10 Declaration & witness with copy of Thai ID,

the wife attending with you at application day,

bank statements and letter (stamped),

transaction in the account on day of application

Kor Ror 2 from Ampur?

Etc

Just interested, and what cost?

BTW, I/we also only attend Immigration office one day, no home visits now, get multiple re-entry visa same day.

On 3/28/2026 at 4:55 PM, scubascuba3 said:

Immigration love it if you use an agent, they oil the cogs for everyone else, you get treated like a VIP unlike if you DIY, i DIY but originally used an agent, the difference is massive

I do my non-O old bloke visa extension myself in Phuket, the last time in February the two guys checking my paperwork first were friendly and chatty, all was in order, five minutes later I was though the door to the immigration officer who went though the bank statements which I had printed myself vis my Bangkok banking app, the letter from the bank done the same day proved the 800k baht was in the bank.

Four minutes lates I paid the 1900 baht and was out of the door, from entering the office to leaving was twenty minutes.

The next day I picked up the passport and stamp with the same smile and friendliness I had seen the day before.

I don't know what extra treatment I would get if an agent was involved, a cup of tea and a biscuit perhaps?

Getting a visa extension legally with the correct money in the bank is so easy, a monkey with brain damage could do it. 😀

I think a lot of farangs get a bit of a hard time is because they go into the office with a superior self entitled attitude as though they are something special.

3 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

Getting a visa extension legally with the correct money in the bank is so easy, a monkey with brain damage could do it.

All very lovely however has nothing to do with the OP question.

Which concerns change from agent to DIY..

5 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

Four minutes lates I paid the 1900 baht and was out of the door, from entering the office to leaving was twenty minutes.

Love the smugness. Try having a similar experience at somewhere like CW aka Immigration Zoo.

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

All very lovely however has nothing to do with the OP question.

Which concerns change from agent to DIY..

Love the smugness. Try having a similar experience at somewhere like CW aka Immigration Zoo.

Not smugness, just plain simple fact, that is another good reason I live in Phuket as it seems a bit more civilised than other areas regarding immigration.

I suppose if the residents of the zoo are aggressive when applying for visa extensions then the Zoo keeps will fight back.

And I was not replying to the OP I was replying to the person who commented on immigration and the use of agents over doing it themselves, so my reply to them was very relevant to that comment.

If you want to be strict about this then your reply to me was also not related to the OP's original remark, you can not have one rule for us and one rule for yourself.

2 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

Not smugness, just plain simple fact, that is another good reason I live in Phuket as it seems a bit more civilised than other areas regarding immigration.

I suppose if the residents of the zoo are aggressive when applying for visa extensions then the Zoo keeps will fight back.

Stop nonsense. CW is difficult (in some ways) due in the main to the size and amount of business it deals with.

It's so busy that currently appointments for extensions almost impossible

Not everyone would want to live in Phuket and frankly quite irrelevant.

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Stop nonsense. CW is difficult (in some ways) due in the main to the size and amount of business it deals with.

It's so busy that currently appointments for extensions almost impossible

Not everyone would want to live in Phuket and frankly quite irrelevant.

Stop nonsense. My comments are not irrelevant to the people who live in Phuket, it is local knowledge I am passing on to them, I do not care what happens in other immigration offices and neither do they.

I did not suggest everybody wishes to live in Phuket and it is also irrelevant to me and the other people in Phuket what happens elsewhere.

Are you suggesting we all live in CW as that is what you are banging on about with your comments, I just applied your illogical reasoning onto your own comments..

2 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

My comments are not irrelevant to the people who live in Phuket, it is local knowledge I am passing on to them, I do not care what happens in other immigration offices and neither do they.

While the OP deals with Phuket immigration the question was about changing to DIY after use of agent to cover financials.

In some places such as Pattaya the agents in the main have stamps issued in that province at Jomtien immigration.

That is not the case in Phuket.

Agents even some from Bangkok have folk that live in Phuket send their pp upcountry for stamps.

In that case it's difficult to change to DIY.

Here is thread explains it.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1245445-is-there-a-good-visa-agent-in-phuket/

On 3/28/2026 at 5:45 PM, Nemises said:

Exactly! My agent’s brown paper bag is like a VIP pass—while the DIYers are still waiting in line, I’m sipping a coffee with a ‘reserved’ sign on my seat. They call it ‘greasing the wheels,’ but I call it ‘winning the immigration lottery’!

So true Nemises, it is so worth it to avoid the 90 day reporting and 800,000 BAHT in the bank. My agent does the 90 reporting and sends me a smiley face on the Line Ap.

12 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

While the OP deals with Phuket immigration the question was about changing to DIY after use of agent to cover financials.

In some places such as Pattaya the agents in the main have stamps issued in that province at Jomtien immigration.

That is not the case in Phuket.

Agents even some from Bangkok have folk that live in Phuket send their pp upcountry for stamps.

In that case it's difficult to change to DIY.

Here is thread explains it.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1245445-is-there-a-good-visa-agent-in-phuket/

I will leave it there as it must be illegal to get an agent to fiddle the funds which an applicant should have in his own bank account from his own overseas funds, such a thing may bite those applicant it the backside in the future.

It is time for me to get back to 'work' after this extended coffee break it was an interesting to and fro chat. 👍

On 3/28/2026 at 7:50 AM, JohnnyBD said:

Yes, it's legal to use an agent.

I did my first 2 retirement extensions in Jomtien myself, but when I moved to Bangkok, I didn't want to deal with having to wait in long lines at IM, so I started using an agent. I also switched to marriage extensions which required more paperwork. I had my own money in the bank, so all was legal. The agent did all the paperwork. We just showed up at IM about 10:00 am, signed all the papers, went into the IO's office for pics, then left. It took about 15 to 20 mins. The agent went back in 30 days to get the final stamp & multiple reentry permit. I only had to make one trip to IM.

I never had any issues with renewals, and I never had a home visit.

it is legal, but I would be careful of the agent I use. Over the years it's happened several times that an agent makes their own stamps.

I'm not saying this is normal agent practice, I'm just saying it can happen and to be careful and if you use a service use a well known company.

Post regarding legality of agents removed.

33 minutes ago, ericthai said:

I'm just saying it can happen and to be careful and if you use a service use a well known company.

That's very sound advice. Obviously a bricks and mortar office with extensive history would be the obvious choice.

1 hour ago, ericthai said:

it is legal, but I would be careful of the agent I use. Over the years it's happened several times that an agent makes their own stamps.

I'm not saying this is normal agent practice, I'm just saying it can happen and to be careful and if you use a service use a well known company.

Good advice for those who just hand over their passports. In my case, I watched the IO put the preliminary stamp in and the agent went back in 30 days to get the final stamp & multiple reentry permit. I'm on LTR now, so I no longer use an agent.

16 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

Good advice for those who just hand over their passports. In my case, I watched the IO put the preliminary stamp in and the agent went back in 30 days to get the final stamp & multiple reentry permit. I'm on LTR now, so I no longer use an agent.

You indicate under consideration period 30 days..

Seems you have extension marriage.

Suggest agent was hand holding exercise and you had financial compliance.

Not really relevant

7 hours ago, orchidfan said:

I am on "marriage extensions" and wonder how your agent handles:

the 6+ photos usually required,

the ST10 Declaration & witness with copy of Thai ID,

the wife attending with you at application day,

bank statements and letter (stamped),

transaction in the account on day of application

Kor Ror 2 from Ampur?

Etc

Just interested, and what cost?

BTW, I/we also only attend Immigration office one day, no home visits now, get multiple re-entry visa same day.

I emailed the (4-5) pics to him. He resized & printed them out.

He drew the map.

No witness was required at IM

Yes, the wife had to go with me.

I got the bank letter & statement a few days before.

He picked up my passport, passport pics, bank book, bank letter & statement, copy of my marriage certificate & registration, lease agmt & landlord docs, etc.

He printed everything & made all the copies

He updated my bank book. I made a 100B xfer with my phone so he could update my book

I signed the 1 inch stack of papers when I got to IM, It took longer to sign all the papers than it took in the IO's office.

Never had a home visit

Only had to get an updated marriage certificate/registration from Amphur once in the 5 years I was on marriage extensions

He charged me 13k for extension & 4k to go get the MRE permit

I'm on LTR now, so no longer use an agent.

14 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You indicate under consideration period 30 days..

Seems you have extension marriage.

Suggest agent was hand holding exercise and you had financial compliance.

Not really relevant

I was only responding to someone who replied to me to be careful what agent I used.

My agent did a little bit more than just hand holding. Read my previous post.

I was on marriage extensions for 5 years I'm on LTR now.

13 hours ago, Screaming said:

So true Nemises, it is so worth it to avoid the 90 day reporting and 800,000 BAHT in the bank. My agent does the 90 reporting and sends me a smiley face on the Line Ap.

The 90 day reporting is a non benefit when online reporting takes 1 minute and is free

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

The 90 day reporting is a non benefit when online reporting takes 1 minute and is free

Not so simple if stamps issued in another province to where you live.

Also for 90 report in person if you take trip abroad.

16 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Not so simple if stamps issued in another province to where you live.

Also for 90 report in person if you take trip abroad.

Yes or the first one after a new passport, but many people haven't even tried online reporting, guy i was replying to should at least try it

4 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Yes or the first one after a new passport....

And therein is another issue.

If you obtain a new pp the stamps can only be transferred at immigration office where they were issued.

Regards online report after trip abroad I have tried on two different occasions. It directs you to attend immigration.

On 3/28/2026 at 6:50 PM, JohnnyBD said:

Yes, it's legal to use an agent.

I did my first 2 retirement extensions in Jomtien myself, but when I moved to Bangkok, I didn't want to deal with having to wait in long lines at IM, so I started using an agent. I also switched to marriage extensions which required more paperwork. I had my own money in the bank, so all was legal. The agent did all the paperwork. We just showed up at IM about 10:00 am, signed all the papers, went into the IO's office for pics, then left. It took about 15 to 20 mins. The agent went back in 30 days to get the final stamp & multiple reentry permit. I only had to make one trip to IM.

I never had any issues with renewals, and I never had a home visit.

Same here.

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

If you obtain a new pp the stamps can only be transferred at immigration office where they were issued.

Also at international airport immigration checkpoint prior departure out of country. First-hand experience.

It's a easy solution if you don't want hassle and can afford to pay a agent then do it

If you don't want to spend money do it your self

I did my yearly married retirement yesterday took just over 2 hours plus they introduced 4 new forms plus had to get copies of all the pages in my passport plus bank book

I bit my tongue on the amout of copies involved luckily it's only once a year

Enjoyed a few cold Chang beers later

22 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

Not clear on what you are asking.

If you are currently on the 1-year Non-OA visa that was issued by a Thai embassy, you cannot switch to a marriage visa or extension unless you leave Thailand and apply for a new non-O visa based on marriage. That's because the first extension must be based on the same reason at the visa itself. If you do leave and get a new non-O visa, you must wait until your immigration office will accept your extension application. That means you must only have 30 days left, or 45 days left, depending on the office. Meaning you need to wait 45-60 days after entering Thailand/activating your non-O visa. Once you apply, your extension is subject to the normal marriage under consideration period of 30-60 days depending on the immigration office.

If you are currently on a 1-year extension based on an original non-OA visa, then you're not on any visa at all, you're on an extension, and you can apply for your next extension based on a different reason (marriage) instead of retirement. You would have an under consideration period same as every marriage extension, because marriage extensions are not processed at the local immigration office. They are sent to the district office for approval, and takes between 30-60 days depending on the immigration office.

Let me clarify my question. I'm on an O-A, get all my paperwork ready for Visa extension (told only need 1copy instead of 2 ). They collate all the paperwork, we sign all the papers and then get a 30 day provisional stamp while waiting for approval from Chiang Mai office. Return in 30 days and collect my year extension. I trying to avoid the second trip, thus my question. Is there still a 30 day wait period for those with an O visa applying for a marriage visa.

10 minutes ago, streetlite said:

Is there still a 30 day wait period for those with an O visa applying for a marriage visa

There is an under consideration period for extensions based on marriage.

Extensions from both a Non O-A and from a Non O

Often approx 30 days but not always.

Note: you can have someone return for final stamp on your behalf.

2 hours ago, streetlite said:

Let me clarify my question. I'm on an O-A, get all my paperwork ready for Visa extension (told only need 1copy instead of 2 ). They collate all the paperwork, we sign all the papers and then get a 30 day provisional stamp while waiting for approval from Chiang Mai office. Return in 30 days and collect my year extension. I trying to avoid the second trip, thus my question. Is there still a 30 day wait period for those with an O visa applying for a marriage visa.

It literally has nothing to do with what type of visa you are or were on. Every marriage extension has an "under consideration" period because they are not processed in your local office. They are sent to the district office for processing and approval.

3 hours ago, streetlite said:

Let me clarify my question. I'm on an O-A, get all my paperwork ready for Visa extension (told only need 1copy instead of 2 ). They collate all the paperwork, we sign all the papers and then get a 30 day provisional stamp while waiting for approval from Chiang Mai office. Return in 30 days and collect my year extension. I trying to avoid the second trip, thus my question. Is there still a 30 day wait period for those with an O visa applying for a marriage visa.

CM immigration,

The under consideration stamp is normally until 30 days after your previous extension ends.

So when I renew my extension it's usually 60+ days under consideration.

But it's not really a limit, as the under consideration period lasts until they have made their decision, no matter how long they take. I previously had one extension whice was 90 days from application to final stamp.