Non-immigrant Type - O (marriage)

[dingdongrb]

First of all let me say this, I have searched this forum for the past week and find lots of information regarding this subject but yet most of the information seems outdated or very contradictory. So please only reply if you can positively assure me that the information you are providing is accurate or if you have personally performed this over the past few months. Thanks in advance.

I want to get a Non-Immigrant Type O (married to a Thai) yearly multiple entry visa in order to live here in Thailand. Here is my personal situation and questions I would like to have answered:

1) I am a USA citizen holding a USA passport.

2) I currently have a 3 month single entry Non-Immigrant Type B business visa

3) I am currently in Thailand

4) I am married to a Thai national but marriage is only in the USA, not Thailand

1) Do I need to get married in Thailand as well or will Thailand acknowledge my USA marriage for a NI –O visa?

2) Can I convert my Type ‘B’ visa to Type – O here in Thailand or do I need to leave the country and go to a Thai Consulate for this?

3) What does one really need to show:

a. Money in the bank? If so how much? And does it have to be a Thai bank?

b. Monthly income? If so how much?

4) How long does the process of obtaining a Type-O usually take?

5) What paperwork is actually required?

If anyone could please provide the step by step instructions I would need to take, point me to a website that can, or provide any feedback based on recent experience/knowledge, it would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

[mmushr00m]

Recieved my "O" visa in April.

1) we had a thai certificate, you can get that easily just by registering to get married in Thailand. If you use your US one, you will need to get it translated and noterized etc.

2) You can convert your B to O without leaving Thailand. The initial O will give you 3 months to get your papers in order to apply.

3)

1) marriage certificate

2) Pictures (required) showing you and your mrs in domestic bliss.

3) bank statements showing money in the bank

4) bank statement showing money coming in monthly B$40k.

*Note* on 3+4, when we were there we talked to the new head and she said she wanted to change these to either total $$ ina Thai bank account or B40k monthly income only.

4.1) if you are transfering the B$40k into wife's account you need tax receipts. (just go to tax department and say she sells jewelry on the side)

4) Takes 1 month. (not counting the hours you might have to wait at immigration)

5) Interview may be required (we didnt have one as we were married over a year b4 applying)

6) Wife will have to provide all her docs (photocopies, signed). The bluebook, id, bank books etc. You, copies of passport, bank book, pic of yourself.

8) If you have property, show them the ownership papers.

7) Smile and be polite. The officials can be very helpful. They walked us through the process, allowed me to run repeatedly across the street to get photocopies and gave us extentions when we were missing docs.

OR you can pay a lawyer to sort everything out for you, only B$20k

Edited May 16, 2008 by mmushr00m

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Your US marriage is already legally recognized in Thailand.

[thaigene2]

Your US marriage is already legally recognized in Thailand.

If I'm not mistaken, Farang-Thai couples used to avoid registering marriages here to protect the Thai woman from losing her property ownership rights. The law was changed a few years back to remove that burden from her (and place it on us actually..but that's another story). In short, I don't think there's anything to worry about having the marriage registered in Thailand. One guy even told me you're actually better off getting married in Thailand as child custody laws favor men (though maybe only Thai men..) in the event of divorce, etc.

[dingdongrb]

Recieved my "O" visa in April.

1) we had a thai certificate, you can get that easily just by registering to get married in Thailand. If you use your US one, you will need to get it translated and noterized etc.

2) You can convert your B to O without leaving Thailand. The initial O will give you 3 months to get your papers in order to apply.

3)

1) marriage certificate

2) Pictures (required) showing you and your mrs in domestic bliss.

3) bank statements showing money in the bank

4) bank statement showing money coming in monthly B$40k.

*Note* on 3+4, when we were there we talked to the new head and she said she wanted to change these to either total $$ ina Thai bank account or B40k monthly income only.

4.1) if you are transfering the B$40k into wife's account you need tax receipts. (just go to tax department and say she sells jewelry on the side)

4) Takes 1 month. (not counting the hours you might have to wait at immigration)

5) Interview may be required (we didnt have one as we were married over a year b4 applying)

6) Wife will have to provide all her docs (photocopies, signed). The bluebook, id, bank books etc. You, copies of passport, bank book, pic of yourself.

8) If you have property, show them the ownership papers.

7) Smile and be polite. The officials can be very helpful. They walked us through the process, allowed me to run repeatedly across the street to get photocopies and gave us extentions when we were missing docs.

OR you can pay a lawyer to sort everything out for you, only B$20k

Thanks for everyone's replies I really appreciate the time you took.