Last Friday I went to Udon Immigration to extend the 90 day Non O based on having a Thai spouse.

We had to have 1 witness in attendence with photocopies of Tabien baan and ID card.

1 week later ,today we had the home visit by 2 Immigration Officers. It lasted about 30 minutes and we had to have a further 2 witnesses who were questioned on how long they had known us and if we were in a normal married relationship.

Again we had 2 provide 2 copies of each witnesses Tabien baan and ID card and they had to sign.

We had to have a photo taken of all of us together with both witnesses signing the paperwork and then a photo of us all outside the front of the house.

No wonder some married guys over 50 opt to do extensions based on retirement.

Thanks for report. Useful info

9 minutes ago, mlkik said:

Last Friday I went to Udon Immigration to extend the 90 day Non O based on having a Thai spouse.

We had to have 1 witness in attendence with photocopies of Tabien baan and ID card.

1 week later ,today we had the home visit by 2 Immigration Officers. It lasted about 30 minutes and we had to have a further 2 witnesses who were questioned on how long they had known us and if we were in a normal married relationship.

Again we had 2 provide 2 copies of each witnesses Tabien baan and ID card and they had to sign.

We had to have a photo taken of all of us together with both witnesses signing the paperwork and then a photo of us all outside the front of the house.

Is this a yearly marriage visa extension? Did they call before the home visit? Is this normal?

4 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Is this a yearly marriage visa extension? Did they call before the home visit? Is this normal?

It would be annual extension.

Offices vary. Some don't even have home visit.

A phone call prior would be usual M.O

Just now, Hummin said:

Is this a yearly marriage visa extension? Did they call before the home visit? Is this normal?

Geez, where we are now, first couple years, I couldn't even do that, as don't know or socialize with folks in the neighborhood.

Even our first marriage extension, was done with a total stranger (our witness), and was a PoPo friend of the wife's brother, also PoPo, that lives 100+ kms away from us, but close to Imm office. Sent a photo of him, so we'd know who he was when meeting at IO.

Wife luckily knew old neighborhood gal, that husband was stationed at Wing 5, and I was even on their Blue book for a short period. Yea, I was apparently living on the air base 🤣 as was one of the Imm officers 🙄 Go figure.

That was a hassle, a couple times, since we live 100 km from Imm, as witness had to plan the day with us, so switched to retirement reason to stay.

Thankfully living in Udon, the witness for marriage or support of Thai national wasn't in force, or enforced at the time, 2000-2006. Then I turned 50, and eventually changed support of Thai to retirement, somewhere along the line.

Would have been a hassle, especially in the beginning, when Imm office was at Nong Khai, until local office at UT opened 2012.

6 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Geez, where we are now, first couple years, I couldn't even do that, as don't know or socialize with folks in the neighborhood.

Even our first marriage extension, was done with a total stranger (our witness), and was a PoPo friend of the wife's brother, also PoPo, that lives 100+ kms away from us, but close to Imm office. Sent a photo of him, so we'd know who he was when meeting at IO.

Wife luckily knew old neighborhood gal, that husband was stationed at Wing 5, and I was even on their Blue book for a short period. Yea, I was apparently living on the air base 🤣 as was one of the Imm officers 🙄 Go figure.

That was a hassle, a couple times, since we live 100 km from Imm, as witness had to plan the day with us, so switched to retirement reason to stay.

Thankfully living in Udon, the witness for marriage or support of Thai national wasn't in force, or enforced at the time, 2000-2006. Then I turned 50, and eventually changed support of Thai to retirement, somewhere along the line.

Would have been a hassle, especially in the beginning, when Imm office was at Nong Khai, until local office at UT opened 2012.

I knew some immigration offices did spot checks, but requiring witnesses for an annual extension seems a bit over the top. A neighbour renewed at the same time we did last year, and from what I understand, he wasn’t asked for any witnesses at all. Not even a home visit as far as I know.

Witnesses is not a problem, it is just the hassel

Just now, Hummin said:

I knew some immigration offices did spot checks, but requiring witnesses for an annual extension seems a bit over the top. A neighbour renewed at the same time we did last year, and from what I understand, he wasn’t asked for any witnesses at all. Not even a home visit as far as I know.

Witnesses is not a problem, it is just the hassel

If they would have done that, or if I had to jump thru the same hoops as OP for extension back than, in UT, having to go to NK to extend, I probably would have left TH.

Was already divorced from wife within first year here, which means I wouldn't have taken in my village orphan or had valid reason to be in TH, since under 50 yrs old.

Border bounces, which many did, wouldn't be my choice to stay, so back to US, or elsewhere. What a different life I'd be living now, if even alive, as wasn't nearly as 'reserved' as I am now 🤣

35 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

No wonder some married guys over 50 opt to do extensions based on retirement.

Thanks for report. Useful info

Yes previously I was on extensions based on retirement and it was much quicker and no hassle at all.

I did have my doubts about the whole marriage extensions when preparing all the paperwork.

However as we were well prepared and have not had any problems ,I will continue to do extensions based on marriage as it involves tying up half the amount of ฿ as retirement.

39 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Is this a yearly marriage visa extension? Did they call before the home visit? Is this normal?

It was the 1 year extension of the 90 day visa. So yes the yearly extension.

We were told when submitting the extension application that we would get a visit.

We had a phone call about 2.5 hours before the visit,so had time to do witness photocopies.

Edited July 31Jul 31 by mlkik

9 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

If they would have done that, or if I had to jump thru the same hoops as OP for extension back than, in UT, having to go to NK to extend, I probably would have left TH.

Was already divorced from wife within first year here, which means I wouldn't have taken in my village orphan or had valid reason to be in TH, since under 50 yrs old.

Border bounces, which many did, wouldn't be my choice to stay, so back to US, or elsewhere. What a different life I'd be living now, if even alive, as wasn't nearly as 'reserved' as I am now 🤣

I think it’s different at our immigration office than in Udon Thani. I can’t say I’ve heard of witnesses being required where we are. Maybe for the first application, but not for a renewal.

2 minutes ago, mlkik said:

Yes previously I was on extensions based on retirement and it was much quicker and no hassle at all.

I did have my doubts about the whole marriage extensions when preparing all the paperwork.

However as we were well prepared and have not had any problems ,I will continue to do extensions based on marriage as it involves tying up half the amount of ฿ as retirement.

Hopefully it will pay off in the future, because I doubt the retirement visa income requirement will stay at its current level for much longer. Hopefully Thailand will also develop better options for marriage visas through beneficial bilateral agreements. At least one can hope.

5 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I think it’s different at our immigration office than in Udon Thani. I can’t say I’ve heard of witnesses being required where we are. Maybe for the first application, but not for a renewal.

This is for the first application as the orriginal 90 day Non O was obtained in the U.K.

When I return to the Immigration office for my passport stamp,I will ask if witnesses will be needed every year.

Incidently my application for extension was on 24th July and my under consideration stamp in my passport is to return 5 weeks later on 30th August.

This I presume is because of the 3 day holiday this week.

1 minute ago, mlkik said:

This is for the first application as the orriginal 90 day Non O was obtained in the U.K.

When I return to the Immigration office for my passport stamp,I will ask if witnesses will be needed every year.

Incidently my application for extension was on 24th July and my under consideration stamp in my passport is to return 5 weeks later on 30th August.

This I presume is because of the 3 day holiday this week.

Ah, okay, understood. Hopefully it’s not something that happens every year. I’ve stayed at the same address for five years now, and even though I missed one year in between, I’ve been on a retirement extension for almost seven years. I made my visa in Thailand.

4 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I think it’s different at our immigration office than in Udon Thani. I can’t say I’ve heard of witnesses being required where we are. Maybe for the first application, but not for a renewal.

We've only had to have a witness, here, PKK, Hua Hin Imm office. 2016/17 onward, and they still require, though been doing for retirement at least pass 5 yrs, I think.

Finally got around to marrying wife, 2014, still in UT, after living 8 yrs together. Think first 3 extension here, PKK, 2016-17-18,were marriage w/witness, then had enough of that. Back to retirement, and so much easier.

18 minutes ago, mlkik said:

I will continue to do extensions based on marriage as it involves tying up half the amount of ฿ as retirement

Income method is an option and that does not tie up funds.

Monthly transfers that most need to live off so it's a good option

11 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I think it’s different at our immigration office than in Udon Thani. I can’t say I’ve heard of witnesses being required where we are. Maybe for the first application, but not for a renewal.

Since the OP was changing from retirement to marriage, maybe this triggered the home visit and witnessing rigmarole? With growing evidence of across-the-board enforcement of the existing immigration rules and regulations, annual home visits and witnessing will probably be par for the course moving forward.

Of course the vagaries and whims of disparate immigration offices and officers still apply.

I was on retirement extensions until covid when I was stuck outside of Thailand and was not allowed to return on my retirement extension. If I had have been extending based on marriage I could have returned.

The earliest option to return was having to apply for an O-A and returning on that visa even though I had a valid re entry permit with my retirement extension.

I never renewed this and came on Tourist visas , 90 day Non O based on retirement and vVsa exemt for several years.

I had a Non O visa based on retirment in January that I obtained to allow me to renew my 5 year driving licence ,to open another bank account and to have a new ATM card issued from Bangkok bank.

When I left Thailand in March this was then classed as used. I obtained a new Non O based on Marriage in April from the U.K and entered in May and re entered last week on a re entry permit.

17 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Since the OP was changing from retirement to marriage, maybe this triggered the home visit and witnessing rigmarole?

I was not changing from retirement to marriage as the visa based on retirement expired upon leaving Thailand.

I entered on a Non O based on Marriage issued in the U.K.

It may or may not be related but it is worth stating that the regional oversight of extensions on having a Thai spouse were brought to a head by shenanigans in a province that neighbours Udon Thani.

2 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

It may or may not be related but it is worth stating that the regional oversight of extensions on having a Thai spouse were brought to a head by shenanigans in a province that neighbours Udon Thani.

I was asked today if I had any applications in any other regions and I told them yes back in 2017 I had a Non O retirement issued in Pattaya. For some reason I was asked had I applied in Khon Kaen before,to which I replied no only Pattaya and Udon Thani and the U.K.

Edited July 31Jul 31 by mlkik

11 minutes ago, mlkik said:

I was asked today if I had any applications in any other regions and I told them yes back in 2017 I had a Non O retirement issued in Pattaya. For some reason I was asked had I applied in Khon Kaen before,to which I replied no only Pattaya and Udon Thani and the U.K.

Did you use an agent at Pattaya?

2 hours ago, mlkik said:

I was not changing from retirement to marriage as the visa based on retirement expired upon leaving Thailand.

I entered on a Non O based on Marriage issued in the U.K.

Yes, I understand that is what you have done and it's a good to clarify the procedure precisely to avoid any misunderstanding by others. Thanks.

4 hours ago, Hummin said:

Hopefully it will pay off in the future, because I doubt the retirement visa income requirement will stay at its current level for much longer.

That's a common trot out post the other variation being that extensions from Non O will also require health insurance.

Best policy is to deal with stuff when it actually occurs rather than guess work

6 hours ago, mlkik said:

I was asked today if I had any applications in any other regions and I told them yes back in 2017 I had a Non O retirement issued in Pattaya. For some reason I was asked had I applied in Khon Kaen before,to which I replied no only Pattaya and Udon Thani and the U.K.

I remember it well (2014) ... Khon Kaen & NBLP, that's the provinces I believe Briggsly is referring to, as a huge scandal with marriage visas/extension.

Edited July 31Jul 31 by KhunLA

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

I remember it well (2014) ... Khon Kaen & NBLP, that's the provinces I believe Briggsly is referring to, as a huge scandal with marriage visas/extension.

Did they identify the nationality of these "foreign nationals" that were illegally obtaining these names and ID's?

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

That's a common trot out post the other variation being that extensions from Non O will also require health insurance.

Best policy is to deal with stuff when it actually occurs rather than guess work

You forgot to mention the requirement for a criminal record check.

Oh, and not being delinquent on Thai income tax.

Edited July 31Jul 31 by NanLaew

13 hours ago, Hummin said:

Did you use an agent at Pattaya?

No

6 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Did they identify the nationality of these "foreign nationals" that were illegally obtaining these names and ID's?

As I remember it they were almost all if not all from India.

9 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Did they identify the nationality of these "foreign nationals" that were illegally obtaining these names and ID's?

... "Key Details of the 2014 Scandal & Crackdown

• The Racket: A corrupt local district registrar illicitly registered over 600 fake marriages between Thai women and foreign men (predominantly from India, Nigeria, and Nepal) between 2011 and 2013.

• The Discovery: The scandal broke in October 2014 when local victims discovered their names were already fraudulently married on paper to strangers when attempting to register real marriages." ...

Had my very first visit from Udon Thani Immigration this year -- and it was for a retirement visa that I have extended for over 15 years. My wife and I all know the immigration officers, and my wife is a government employee, so I found it all to be quite strange. But it wasn't a problem at all.

The officer never came into the compound. Took a photo with me and her in front of the house. Done in 5 minutes.

Despite all the new hoops, I'm seriously considering going back to the marriage visa to reduce my banking footprint at Thailand banks. Once-a-year scrutiny is no big deal.