40 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Another Retirement extension guy having a pop at Marriage extension guys.

There are 2 visits compared to one which may be a consideration for those who don't live near the imm office.

Somebody commented no problem getting an extension if you've got your ducks in a row. I agree, but certain imm officers make it 'sweaty bum time' while others are lovely and helpful. That is the part most people don't like about trips to immigration.

Never had a problem at immigration, they have always been kind and efficient. For a marriage visa, take your wife too, it makes it easier, particularly if she is cute.

1 hour ago, Ricohoc said:

I wish that in 2026, it would look like Thailand is moving in that direction.

We will register our marriage now, and maybe my next extension will be based on marriage instead of retirement.

We will talk to Immigration and ask what they require, and whether I have to leave Thailand and come back to restart the visa process.

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

For a marriage visa, take your wife too, it makes it easier, particularly if she is cute

Sorry, it's a pet peeve of mine when I see people referring to extensions as visa.

Does your wife also complete the forms for you, hence you don't know what your actually applying for.

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

For a marriage visa, take your wife too, it makes it easier, particularly if she is cute

You don't have a visa. And certainly not renewing a Visa. You have temporary permission of stay (permit)

Also extension of stay wife needs to attend. It's not optional.

As for "cute" comment don't be ridiculous.

9 minutes ago, Hummin said:

We will talk to Immigration and ask what they require, and whether I have to leave Thailand and come back to restart the visa process.

It's no problem to change the reason for the extension from retirement to Thai spouse.

Documentation is the same as for an extension on retirement +
Copy of marriage certificate.
Updated KR2 or KR22.

4-6 photos outside and inside the house.

Copy of name change certificate (if applicable)

The wife must attend in person, 2 sets of documents, and 2 visits required.

12 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Sorry, it's a pet peeve of mine when I see people referring to extensions as visa.

Does your wife also complete the forms for you, hence you don't know what your actually applying for.

You need a visa to get an extension. Sometimes but mostly she just chats with the visa officers.

2 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

It's no problem to change the reason for the extension from retirement to Thai spouse.

Documentation is the same as for an extension on retirement +
Copy of marriage certificate.
Updated KR2 or KR22.

4-6 photos outside and inside the house.

Copy of name change certificate (if applicable)

The wife must attend in person, 2 sets of documents, and 2 visits required.

I need to have that confirmed by my immigration first. Not only one solution first all office

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You don't have a visa. And certainly not renewing a Visa. You have temporary permission of stay (permit)

Also extension of stay wife needs to attend. It's not optional.

As for "cute" comment don't be ridiculous.

I do have a visa and the extension happens in October. Last October was a visa renewal. I do not have an O though.

Good to know, but I don't get to visit immigration without her anyway. The office is in the mall and she has shopping to do.

6 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

You need a visa to get an extension.

What don't you understand.

The Non O visa was used upon entry and provided a 90 day stamp

AKA "permission of stay"

Yes you have non immigrant status however you do not have a visa.

Each year you can apply for another 12 month extension to your permission of stay.

Ignore all the web sites and even immigration offices with signs "visa extension"

No such thing

57 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

You need a visa to get an extension. Sometimes but mostly she just chats with the visa officers.

You originally needed a Non Imm type visa, which expired and became invalid either on entry, or on the 'enter before' date.
That granted you Non Immigrant status (as opposed to Tourist status) and you were permitted to stay for xx days. (permit)
It is that temporary permission of stay you apply to extend each and every year.
TM7 > Application for extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom of Thailand.
STM2 > Acknowledgement of Terms and Conditions for permit of temporary stay in the Kingdom of Thailand.

You sign just under where it states; I do hereby acknowledge the terms and conditions applicable to this permit.

Let me explain it another way;

Currently nationals of 93 Countries can enter Thailand visa exempt (without a visa) and are permitted to stay for 60 days.

They are eligible to apply for 30 day, or 60 day extensions .......... of what, a visa they didn't have in the first instance.

What do you think they are extending? Cue > TM7 and STM2.

7 hours ago, frimu said:

You can get a 60 day extension once on every yearly extension of a marriage visa. Just did it a bit more than two months ago.

That's not correct. You can get a 60-day extension ONCE per VISA. So if you got a 60-day extension now, you would not be eligible again until you broke your string of extensions and started over on a new 90-day non-O visa. Even if you go 10-years getting the extension every year, you would not be eligible for another 60 day extension because you already used yours.

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

I do have a visa and the extension happens in October. Last October was a visa renewal. I do not have an O though.

So what Visa do you have

29 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

What don't you understand.

The Non O visa was used upon entry and provided a 90 day stamp

AKA "permission of stay"

Yes you have non immigrant status however you do not have a visa.

Each year you can apply for another 12 month extension to your permission of stay.

Ignore all the web sites and even immigration offices with signs "visa extension"

No such thing

What don't you understand? "I do not have an O though."

18 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

So what Visa do you have

Elite SE

5 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Elite SE

Excellent. So everything you have posted is irrelevant.

Just be clear in future.

The thread concerns annual extension based on marriage.

Thanks for useless distraction

4 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Never had a problem at immigration, they have always been kind and efficient. For a marriage visa, take your wife too, it makes it easier, particularly if she is cute.

You can't do a marriage extension WITHOUT YOUR WIFE PRESENT.

10 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

You can't do a marriage extension WITHOUT YOUR WIFE PRESENT.

That has been mentioned several times above.

As for final stamp after under consideration period anyone can attend immigration

24 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Excellent. So everything you have posted is irrelevant.

Just be clear in future.

The thread concerns annual extension based on marriage.

Thanks for useless distraction

The distraction is in the bullying tactics you are trying to deploy.

19 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

The distraction is in the bullying tactics you are trying to deploy.

The thread concerns extensions from a Non O

You have PE visa. Thanks for polluting the thread

3 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

I do have a visa and the extension happens in October. Last October was a visa renewal. I do not have an O though.

Good to know, but I don't get to visit immigration without her anyway. The office is in the mall and she has shopping to do.

So you have PE visa.

Wife is irrelevant.

So is your advice to the OP who does not have a PE visa.

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

What don't you understand? "I do not have an O though."

Elite SE

Regardless, the Elite only grants permission of stay for 1 year on each entry during the validity of the visa.

You either exit and reenter after 1 year to obtain another 1 year POS, or you extend that POS at a local Immigration office.

You complete the TM7 and the STM2 the same as most other folk and are issued a 'permit', permitting you to stay for 1 year.

Do neither and your on overstay.

Please note that the period of visa validity is different from the period of stay.  Visa validity is the period during which a visa can be used to enter Thailand. 

On the other hand, the period of stay is granted by an immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry and in accordance with the type of visa.  For example, the period of stay for a transit visa is not exceeding 30 days, for a tourist visa is not exceeding 60 days and for a non-immigrant visa is not exceeding 90 days from the arrival date.  The period of stay granted by the immigration officer is displayed on the arrival stamp.  Travelers who wish to stay longer than such period may apply for extension of stay at offices of the Immigration Bureau

https://www.mfa.go.th/en/page/general-information?menu=5e1ff6d057b01e00a6391dc5

12 hours ago, Hummin said:

We will talk to Immigration and ask what they require, and whether I have to leave Thailand and come back to restart the visa process.

Today, it looks like it depends on your Immigration Office.

I know of at least 3 offices in the north that do NOT require that anyone leave to change their NonO status from marriage to retirement or retirement to marriage.

I am contemplating changing to marriage next year for no other reason than to get more of my money OUT of these Thai banks. I don't trust them.

Additionally, my wife retires from her government job in about 18 months. We're looking to move to Laos for 7 months out of every year and still maintain our 2 residences in Thailand through our adult son and daughter.

8 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Regardless, the Elite only grants permission of stay for 1 year on each entry during the validity of the visa.

You either exit and reenter after 1 year to obtain another 1 year POS, or you extend that POS at a local Immigration office.

You complete the TM7 and the STM2 the same as most other folk and are issued a 'permit', permitting you to stay for 1 year.

Do neither and your on overstay.

Please note that the period of visa validity is different from the period of stay.  Visa validity is the period during which a visa can be used to enter Thailand. 

On the other hand, the period of stay is granted by an immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry and in accordance with the type of visa.  For example, the period of stay for a transit visa is not exceeding 30 days, for a tourist visa is not exceeding 60 days and for a non-immigrant visa is not exceeding 90 days from the arrival date.  The period of stay granted by the immigration officer is displayed on the arrival stamp.  Travelers who wish to stay longer than such period may apply for extension of stay at offices of the Immigration Bureau

https://www.mfa.go.th/en/page/general-information?menu=5e1ff6d057b01e00a6391dc5

Blah, blah blah, what I have stated is accurate and I am fully aware of the semantics.

On 6/23/2026 at 9:53 PM, Caldera said:

Reading some reports here again... allow me a little rant... I'll never understand why anyone who's old enough for a retirement extension gets a marriage extension instead. What could be a simple task all done and dusted in a morning of quiet solitude without any "better half" meddling (or forgetting to ensure that her part of the paperwork is in order), becomes a ridiculous bureaucratic exercise with bedroom photos, an up to date K.R.2 confirmation, other wife documents, a return trip after the "under consideration" time, more likely than not a home visit (with or without a need for witnesses to be questioned)...

I can think of 400,000 good reasons that somebody old enough may go for a marriage visa over retirement 🙄

6 minutes ago, JayClay said:

I can think of 400,000 good reasons that somebody old enough may go for a marriage visa over retirement 🙄

Keep in mind that income method is an option and that requires no minimum balance in a/c

12 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

That's not correct. You can get a 60-day extension ONCE per VISA. So if you got a 60-day extension now, you would not be eligible again until you broke your string of extensions and started over on a new 90-day non-O visa. Even if you go 10-years getting the extension every year, you would not be eligible for another 60 day extension because you already used yours.

Thanks for the clarification. I unsuccessfully tried to double check, but I believe you.

I found one comment in Thailandlife confirming this.

The only official, English document lists it once, but does not have any titles, for which visas it might be: https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/visa-extension/

:-)

14 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

That's not correct. You can get a 60-day extension ONCE per VISA. So if you got a 60-day extension now, you would not be eligible again until you broke your string of extensions and started over on a new 90-day non-O visa. Even if you go 10-years getting the extension every year, you would not be eligible for another 60 day extension because you already used yours.

Are you sure about this?

Im pretty sure in Phuket one can get 60-day family extension once per entry.

I just checked Phuket immigration volunteers website and there is written - The family extension can be granted 1 time on each entry into Thailand.

Updated : April 2025     

Maybe this is another case where each immigration office has its own rules.

6 minutes ago, aluc said:

Are you sure about this?

Im pretty sure in Phuket one can get 60-day family extension once per entry.

I just checked Phuket immigration volunteers website and there is written - The family extension can be granted 1 time on each entry into Thailand.

Updated : April 2025     

Maybe this is another case where each immigration office has its own rules.

They mean each entry on a new visa. So if you enter as a tourist, you can get the 60-day visiting Thai family extension. Then you leave Thailand, and enter again with a non-O, you can get the 60-day visiting Thai family extension. Leave again and enter with another visa, etc... But if you're on a string of extensions based on the same entry, you're not getting another 60-day visiting Thai family extension.

These extensions PLUS the old Multiple entry non-O marriage visa used to be how people lived in Thailand 5-10 years ago. Hop over to Laos (who didn't require proof of funds for the visa application) and get Multiple Entry non-O same day. Come back to Thailand and get 90 days on entry, then apply for the 60-day family extension. After 5 months, do a border bounce and repeat (since it's a completely new entry since it's a multiple entry visa, the old permission to stay expired already). That's 10 months, giving you enough time to do it one more time, for 15 months total. Then back to Laos for another non-O. If you lived close to a border, pretty simple way of avoiding any financial requirements.

53 minutes ago, aluc said:

Are you sure about this?

Im pretty sure in Phuket one can get 60-day family extension once per entry.

I just checked Phuket immigration volunteers website and there is written - The family extension can be granted 1 time on each entry into Thailand.

Updated : April 2025     

Maybe this is another case where each immigration office has its own rules.

The official regulation for a 60 day extension is in section 2.24 of Immigration Order 327/2557.

As often poste by UJ and by @BrandonJT, the 60 day extension was available one time for each new entry either with valid visa or visa exempt where any existing permission of stay had ceased. If you entered on a Non O years ago and have consecutively renewed your permission of stay, you are still eligible to apply once, but if you've already applied, then unless you depart (ending any existing permission of stay) you are not permitted to apply again.

That was how Immigration interpretated section 2.24, and how it worked in practice.

However, when the 30 day VE entries were changed to 60 day VE entries, my IO found multiple foreigners doing multiple VE entries and applying for 60 day extensions on each entry.

They deemed this as an abuse of the system, and therefore restricted 60 day extensions to one per annum, rather than one per new entry, at their discretion.

1 hour ago, BrandonJT said:

That's 10 months, giving you enough time to do it one more time, for 15 months total.

+ another 60 day extension, giving almost 17 months before having to apply for a new Non Imm O ME visa.

Those days have long since gone!

9 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Blah, blah blah, what I have stated is accurate and I am fully aware of the semantics.

Well done for this impressive display of your mastery of self-contradiction.