Type "o" Marriage Visa

[teacherAlien]

I was recently married to my (pregnant) Thai girlfriend. While "getting married", the officer at the Ampur was very helpful. After he presented us with our marriage certificates, he said to take my documents to Thai Immigration where I could get a Visa, "can extend forever". He was so charming and made it sound so easy.

I went to the Immigration office near the airport today to apply. After the immigration officer reviewed my documents, she asked about my occupation and income. I told her that I tutor online to clients in Japan and America and stated that my "total income" is about 40,000 Bhat per month. She didn't seem to see any problem with that after seeing my bank statement (even though the account balance was only around 4,000 Bhat).

Then she opened my passport and told me that I don't have "enough" time left on my current visa (5 days). I asked if I could go abroad, get another 30-day "Visa Exempt" entry into Thailand, and THEN apply for the type "O" Visa... They looked at each other in a way that made me nervous. I then asked "30 Days, is that okay?" and they said "yes".

I went over their advise with them again to make sure I had it right. "I go to Cambodia, come back to Thailand, have 30-Day Visa, go to Sathorn Immigration Office and get type "O" Visa. Chai mai khrap?" to which they nodded and said "yes".

When I came home, I discovered this forum and read about what the regulations actually ARE. So now I'm quite confused and don't have very high hopes for the directions I was given today at Immigration. I was hoping that having a wife and child as dependants would be enough to be granted a Visa... the regulations listed on this site seem pretty unreasonable to me and my wife.

I'm only 26 years old, I've never had/seen 400,000 Baht at once but I can certainly provide for my wife and child here. The M.O.E. won't recognize my Bachelor's, so I don't know what I can do to ensure my ability to stay with them here.

Thanks for reading, any thoughts or information would be appreciated.

[lopburi3]

With 21 days or more remaining on a tourist visa or visa exempt entry you can obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa as a part of one year extension of stay process. But you need proof of 40k per month family income (does not have to be husband only). Normally this involves your Embassy certification of income if not local earnings. As you seem to have local employment without a work permit I doubt that it is going to fly at Suan Phlu.

You can easily leave and obtain a non immigrant O visa with copy of marriage certificate/birth certificate and wife ID card. You may even be able to obtain a one year multi entry (Penang and KL best local area Consulates for that presently) that will allow stays of 90 days each. This is the best option if extension of stay is not approved. But by all means give it a shot, and if it is a no go you have visa entry to fall back on.

You might want to consider a move to your home country and try to obtain more productive employment there if necessary. You are very young to have burnt your bridges and without your degree options are very limited for the long term.

[teacherAlien]

Thanks for the info!

I'm not sure what you mean by having "burnt my bridges". Have I?

[lopburi3]

Meaning was that you probably have not done so at this young age so you might consider return to home country if it can improve your long term living standard.

[moneyshot]

You can apply for a one-off 60 day extension because you are married to a Thai national at any immigration. That should give you the time to sort out the documentation required to get the 1 year extension due to marriage.

As far as showing proof of income, your embassy will be able to provide you with a certified letter that immigration should accept.

If you wait until after your baby is born and show the birth certificate, it will make the application much easier.

If you don't have a work permit, do not tell immigration that your working in Thailand, even if its online.

Good luck.

[teacherAlien]

Oh, thank you very much.

Actually, my wife isn't comfortable with leaving Thailand yet, she's very interested in her career and family. We're financially stronger here than we would be in my home country. I've been told that working for a government school is an option for getting a visa easily, but it's a significant pay-cut to bear while we're having this baby.

Thanks again for the info about applying for a type "o" visa abroad.

[stevehaigh]

With 21 days or more remaining on a tourist visa or visa exempt entry you can obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa as a part of one year extension of stay process. But you need proof of 40k per month family income (does not have to be husband only). Normally this involves your Embassy certification of income if not local earnings. As you seem to have local employment without a work permit I doubt that it is going to fly at Suan Phlu.

this is very interesting. i have income from the US but do not routinely bring the money into Thailand since i already have plenty in the bank here. however, i would like to get a 1 year married extension. are you saying i can go to the US embassy and get some kind of letter saying i have US income of at least 40k/mth and i can use that to support a married extension to my non-O?

if that is the case, can you explain exactly what i need to show the US embassy and what i need from them. will the fact that i don;t usually bring that money into Thailand be a problem?

thanks, steve

[Lite Beer]

With 21 days or more remaining on a tourist visa or visa exempt entry you can obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa as a part of one year extension of stay process. But you need proof of 40k per month family income (does not have to be husband only). Normally this involves your Embassy certification of income if not local earnings. As you seem to have local employment without a work permit I doubt that it is going to fly at Suan Phlu.

this is very interesting. i have income from the US but do not routinely bring the money into Thailand since i already have plenty in the bank here. however, i would like to get a 1 year married extension. are you saying i can go to the US embassy and get some kind of letter saying i have US income of at least 40k/mth and i can use that to support a married extension to my non-O?

if that is the case, can you explain exactly what i need to show the US embassy and what i need from them. will the fact that i don;t usually bring that money into Thailand be a problem?

thanks, steve

I think you will find that the US Embassy do not require any proof of income. You just sign on oath that you have the required income and they give you the document you need. Nice to know Americans never lie

Occasionally Immigration might want to see proof of your income also.

You will also need to show them a Thai Bank book with some movement in and out. To show you are supporting yourself.

Plus,

Copies of Marriage certificate, Wifes Id card, Wifes house registration, Your passport, photos of you and your Wife together inside and outside the house, a map showing the way to your house.

Take the Wife to be interviewed and to make a statement.

You will get an under consideration stamp for 30 days after which you go back and get the remaining 11 months stamp.

[astral]

........photos of you and your Wife together inside and outside the house,.......

Photos of the marriage help,

plus the baby when he/she arrives.

Like Lopburi I have doubts about your long term status,

without qualifications and work permitted job.

Wives and babies are expensive.

[stevehaigh]

thanks for the info. i had married extension for 2 years already but gave it up when i closed my company and canceled the work permit. now it looks like i can get it back with a quick visit to the US embassy. very cool indeed.

steve