Marriage Visa Renewal

[somo]

Normally I apply for the extension about a week before my current one expires.

I was wondering if there is anything to stop me applying a month before as I want to free up some of the required 400k I have in the bank.

I assume, as in the past, once my application is in I can draw on the 400k and not wait for the result of my application before doing so.

While I am on here does anyone know if the 400k in the bank for 3 months will be sufficient in future years for those already in the system or are there plans to introduce income requirements for those "grandfathered" in the future.

Thanks for any help given

Steve

[the scouser]

Moved to the visas for Thailand sub-forum.

Scouse.

[lopburi3]

You can apply up to 30 days early but in the past the money could, and often was, checked during the under review period and if low extension was not approved until/if it met the 400k mark. They may well have stopped now under the 3 month rule but I would make sure by asking them.

[somo]

Thanks for the info.

In the past I have often drawn down on the money during the approval period but I guess that is why they introduced the 3 month period ahich is fair enough as it used to be possible to borrow the money for as little as 10 minutes get the bank letter and withdraw the money.

How about the future and income requirements for those currently grandfathered into the sytem?

Steve

[lopburi3]

I suspect if we could predict the future we would be too busy to be posting here. All we can say is we have not seen anything about that being discussed here.

[abdulrahman]

I suspect if we could predict the future we would be too busy to be posting here. All we can say is we have not seen anything about that being discussed here.

Sorry if I'm off topic,but I just discovered (someone,my bank manager)told me that my marriage Visa extension(now in the 5th year) was really a retirement Visa due to a little red stamp that I never noticed before,that is not present in my expired Passport and,more to the point,that i never asked for!

I brought to Imm. in NongKhai every year all the paperwork necessary for the marriage Visa,received my extension of stay,was happy with it.

Can they change the type of Visa without even alert me to the change?Can they put a stamp retroactively?

I know T.i.T.,but isn't a little too much!Hope you can put my doubts to rest.

Regards.

[lopburi3]

What did you present for financial proof? If over the 65k per month and you are over 50 years old they would likely prefer to use retirement - but they are obligated to information your spouse of the change and they (spouse) should have signed a paper of understanding that the change was being made.

There should be a big red stamp "retirement" but some offices might not use the same stamp as Bangkok.

[somo]

I suspect if we could predict the future we would be too busy to be posting here. All we can say is we have not seen anything about that being discussed here.

Sorry if I'm off topic,but I just discovered (someone,my bank manager)told me that my marriage Visa extension(now in the 5th year) was really a retirement Visa due to a little red stamp that I never noticed before,that is not present in my expired Passport and,more to the point,that i never asked for!

I brought to Imm. in NongKhai every year all the paperwork necessary for the marriage Visa,received my extension of stay,was happy with it.

Can they change the type of Visa without even alert me to the change?Can they put a stamp retroactively?

I know T.i.T.,but isn't a little too much!Hope you can put my doubts to rest.

Regards.

If you have been doing it for 5 years I assume you didn't need to show any income and if you had more than 800k in the bank they may have thought they were doing you a favour by giving you a retirement visa.

A couple af years ago I was invited to visit some big time General in an office on the third floor of Suan Plu to take part in a corruption survey/investigation. After assuring him no one had asked me for money to facilitate my marriage visa application he mentioned that I could have a retirement visa on the spot if I had 800k in the bank and there would be no need to wait the usual 4 weeks for approval.

This seemed a nice idea but he couldn't tell me if I could revert to a marriage visa extension the following year if I didn't have the 800k in the bank then so I stayed as I am. 400k is enough to tie up for 3 or 4 months every year.

[HAL9000]

What did you present for financial proof? If over the 65k per month and you are over 50 years old they would likely prefer to use retirement - but they are obligated to information your spouse of the change and they (spouse) should have signed a paper of understanding that the change was being made.

There should be a big red stamp "retirement" but some offices might not use the same stamp as Bangkok.

They made some effort to convince me to switch to a retirement visa. It seems to their convenience as the officer said it would mean no return trip or review period, and that I would have the stamp the same day. I think it just reduces their workload, so they prefer it.

[abdulrahman]

What did you present for financial proof? If over the 65k per month and you are over 50 years old they would likely prefer to use retirement - but they are obligated to information your spouse of the change and they (spouse) should have signed a paper of understanding that the change was being made.

There should be a big red stamp "retirement" but some offices might not use the same stamp as Bangkok.

Yes Lopbury,the financial proof is well in excess of the 65K X month,and I'm old,but I asked,as before,for the marriage option,specifically I brought my wife tax statement,not enough by itself (less than 40K a month)that the Officer accepted,so,no mistake!

We,my wife and me,have earnings,certified,of over 1 million Baht X year,and I want a marriage Visa(pardon,extension of stay).

BTW,the stamp is a red little one,nobody noticed it before,but looking at my old passport,I found it there.

They gave me the first extension for marriage,the following ones were for retirement,but only THEY knew,I didn't,and before the Bank manager made me aware of it,nobody told me either.May I do something to put the things in order? The order that I like,not the one imposed on me?

This is Thailand,the part of Thailand that I hate!

[lopburi3]

You could tell them you plan to apply for a work permit so must use the marriage extension next time. Be sure to have wife and her documentation with you. But unless this is really the case the retirement serves both you and immigration as it is one visit and no home inspections.

[Maestro]

...I want a marriage Visa(pardon,extension of stay)...They gave me the first extension for marriage,the following ones were for retirement...

What did you write on the application form TM7, at the bottom of page 1, in the space for “Reason (s) for extension”?

--

Maestro

[abdulrahman]

...I want a marriage Visa(pardon,extension of stay)...They gave me the first extension for marriage,the following ones were for retirement...

What did you write on the application form TM7, at the bottom of page 1, in the space for “Reason (s) for extension”?

--

Maestro

As usual,I did write:staying with my Thai wife.

That's why I was surprised,and annoyed when the bank manager told me about the "retirement" part.

BTW,the Imm. officer never asked if I would prefer a retirement Visa!

[Lite Beer]

...I want a marriage Visa(pardon,extension of stay)...They gave me the first extension for marriage,the following ones were for retirement...

What did you write on the application form TM7, at the bottom of page 1, in the space for “Reason (s) for extension”?

--

Maestro

As usual,I did write:staying with my Thai wife.

That's why I was surprised,and annoyed when the bank manager told me about the "retirement" part.

BTW,the Imm. officer never asked if I would prefer a retirement Visa!

I assume you have been dealing with Nong Kai Immigration as you live in Udon.

Go and have a chat with the Korat office. You will find them very helpfull .You may be able to revert back to the 400,000 Marriage option at your next extension if you have been on continual extensions since before October 2006.

I was on the 400,000 marriage extension until March 2007 when Samui Immigration talked me into the retirement option.

This year I went to Korat and they gave me the years extension based on marriage with 400,000 in the bank.

A bit late now , but you should always get your wife to check out all your immigration stamps.

[Lite Beer]

SAMUI RETIREMENT STAMP

KORAT MARRIAGE STAMP

[abdulrahman]

...I want a marriage Visa(pardon,extension of stay)...They gave me the first extension for marriage,the following ones were for retirement...

What did you write on the application form TM7, at the bottom of page 1, in the space for “Reason (s) for extension”?

--

Maestro

As usual,I did write:staying with my Thai wife.

That's why I was surprised,and annoyed when the bank manager told me about the "retirement" part.

BTW,the Imm. officer never asked if I would prefer a retirement Visa!

I assume you have been dealing with Nong Kai Immigration as you live in Udon.

Go and have a chat with the Korat office. You will find them very helpfull .You may be able to revert back to the 400,000 Marriage option at your next extension if you have been on continual extensions since before October 2006.

I was on the 400,000 marriage extension until March 2007 when Samui Immigration talked me into the retirement option.

This year I went to Korat and they gave me the years extension based on marriage with 400,000 in the bank.

A bit late now , but you should always get your wife to check out all your immigration stamps.

Thank you Lite for the information.From your scanned pages now I can see the difference in the stamps.Too late,one should verify everything on the spot!

Next year I'll try Nong Khai first,if necessary I'll go to Khorat.

[Lite Beer]

...I want a marriage Visa(pardon,extension of stay)...They gave me the first extension for marriage,the following ones were for retirement...

What did you write on the application form TM7, at the bottom of page 1, in the space for “Reason (s) for extension”?

--

Maestro

As usual,I did write:staying with my Thai wife.

That's why I was surprised,and annoyed when the bank manager told me about the "retirement" part.

BTW,the Imm. officer never asked if I would prefer a retirement Visa!

I assume you have been dealing with Nong Kai Immigration as you live in Udon.

Go and have a chat with the Korat office. You will find them very helpfull .You may be able to revert back to the 400,000 Marriage option at your next extension if you have been on continual extensions since before October 2006.

I was on the 400,000 marriage extension until March 2007 when Samui Immigration talked me into the retirement option.

This year I went to Korat and they gave me the years extension based on marriage with 400,000 in the bank.

A bit late now , but you should always get your wife to check out all your immigration stamps.

Thank you Lite for the information.From your scanned pages now I can see the difference in the stamps.Too late,one should verify everything on the spot!

Next year I'll try Nong Khai first,if necessary I'll go to Khorat.

Good Luck.

You will get a better response in Korat.