Non-immigrant "o" Advice

[feyser]

Greetings! I am a U.S. citizen. My wife is a Thai citizen. We want to live in Thailand for a long period of time. I do not qualify for the retirement visa because of age. I have a few questions regarding the Non-Immigrant "O" visa.

1. According to the L.A. Thai Embassy my wife needs to submit a letter stating our purpose for visiting Thailand with the application. Is there a certain purpose we should state that is acceptable?

2. Is there a way to avoid the 3 month visa runs?

3. We also need to submit a marriage certificate. Our certificate is from the U.S. Do we need to obtain a Thai certificate first? Can Thai embassys issue a Thai marriage certificate?

4. Is there a certain embassy that is usually more favorable in issueing the 1 year stay?

If you have any other information that would be helpful or if you can direct me to another post, I would appreciate it. Thank you!

[Maestro]

1. Your wife’s letter to the consulate could say something like “I confirm that I am inviting my husband to visit me in Thailand as often as possible and I would be grateful if you would kindly issue him a multiple-entry non-immigrant visa type O valid for one year for this purpose”

2. Yes. If you can provide evidence of family income of minimum 40,000 Baht per month you can get an annual extensions of stay from any immigration office in Thailand.

3. For the application for your visa, the US marriage certificate should be acceptable. For the application for extension of stay in Thailand you will need a certified Thai translation, which you can get when you are in Thailand.

4. Don’t know. Others will probably have the answer.

--

Maestro

[lopburi3]

Consulates or the Consulate section of Embassies issue visas and currently Singapore issues with proof of 400k baht at current rates in a bank account anywhere (and normal marriage certificate/copy wife ID card/Home Register. KL and Penang may also issue with or without financial proof. In US most will probably issue with your proof.

[PooMik]

I got a 12 month nonimigrant visa "O", just by showing the marrige licence in danish and a confirmed translation to TH.

They never asked about income. If they do, you have to show that either you or your wife have a income of 40.000 baht for month. remark that a bankbook showing in and out going transfer of money, is enough.

It does not mather if it's yours or your wifes. as long as you are married.

[Lite Beer]

I got a 12 month nonimigrant visa "O", just by showing the marrige licence in danish and a confirmed translation to TH.

They never asked about income. If they do, you have to show that either you or your wife have a income of 40.000 baht for month. remark that a bankbook showing in and out going transfer of money, is enough.

It does not mather if it's yours or your wifes. as long as you are married.

I think you are a little confused. Those are the requirements for yearly extensions in country.

You did not say where you got your Non Imm O Visa.

The Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa will get you 15 months in Thailand if you do your last border run just before it expires.

[feyser]

I got a 12 month nonimigrant visa "O", just by showing the marrige licence in danish and a confirmed translation to TH.

They never asked about income. If they do, you have to show that either you or your wife have a income of 40.000 baht for month. remark that a bankbook showing in and out going transfer of money, is enough.

It does not mather if it's yours or your wifes. as long as you are married.

I think you are a little confused. Those are the requirements for yearly extensions in country.

You did not say where you got your Non Imm O Visa.

The Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa will get you 15 months in Thailand if you do your last border run just before it expires.

After that 15 months, I can apply for another year in the country? What are the requirements for that? Is there a way to avoid border runs?

[lopburi3]

Not inside Thailand unless you meet the requirements in post #2 (40k per month family income) for extension of stay. You must leave every 90 days or less if not on an extension of stay. You can likely obtain a new one year visa in home country and in some cases places like KL/Penang or Singapore. Singapore will require 400k in a bank account somewhere. The other may not have any fixed requirement but situation changes from year to year.