Marriage Over: How To (easily?) Change Non-imm O To Non-imm B

[mjochim]

Okay, I've been told by Thai and Filipino staff at my school that it is possible to do this but I want to hear from someone who has actually done it before under similar circumstances:

I've held a multiple-entry Non-Immigrant O visa since October 2006. In December 2006, my (now ex-) wife traveled up to her home province so that she could change her original surname to mine (I didn't ask her to do this at all). In fact, this precipitated one of the many problems between us -- although I'd tried to explain that she'd lose certain rights by taking my name, she didn't believe me until she found out no Thai bank would ever extend her credit, etc. (She was told by one, "You marry farang, why you need money from us?")

I began working in April 2007 and was able to obtain both a Teacher's License and Work Permit on the basis of this visa. The first extension was issued without any problem at all and everything was renewed hunky-dory at the end of my first year's contract to handle a second year at the school. It all expires 31 March 2009 now. I only have to give my passport to the lady in the office every 90 days and she takes it down to Phuket Immigration and gets the new stamp for me. I haven't even had to leave the country for more than a year-and-a-half.

Now, my marriage has just in the past month completely disintegrated. I'm fairly certain that at some point in the near future, my (definitely ex-) wife will want me to go to the Amphur with her to declare a divorce so she can get her original Thai name back. I have no idea if the Amphur would contact Immigration about my change of marital status but I don't really want to take the risk.

I tried to find out, to no avail, if a divorce would automatically cancel the Non-Imm O or if it would be a non-issue until you tried to extend it for another year (in my case, not until next March). I really don't want to find out the hard way. I think it should be easier just to have my school make the change now. I've heard you don't have to leave the country. I've found the form TM86 (Application for Change of Visa) and given a copy to the administration office of my school.

Can someone who has actually done this change report in with the process? Do I need to accompany the school staffer to Immigration? (I assume "yes" on this last question, but nobody here seems to know.) Is there a fee involved? (I can't really afford more than the "standard" 1900 baht, but I suppose I can borrow from the school.) Should I write "My wife was a cold-hearted bitch" on the section of TM86 that asks "Reason for Application"?

Any other helpful information or tips would be much appreciated.

[lopburi3]

I have not done any such change but do not believe anyone else has either. Change of visa TM is to change from a tourist visa to a non immigrant visa so that you can start the extension of stay process. It seems you have one year extensions of stay and that you were using "family" as the reason. Now you should be using your employment (assuming you qualify).

[mjochim]

Now you should be using your employment (assuming you qualify).

I definitely qualify. I have a valid Work Permit up through 31 March 2009 (and all indications are the school would want to renew my contract for another year; I'm very happy here so that shouldn't be an issue).

At lunchtime, I gave our school's "Immigration Lady" my passport (along with that TM86) and she also had me sign the photocopies of the passport. Hopefully, we'll get this done in the next few days...

Still interested to hear from others who have done this. I don't want to be reporting that I was turned down and it ended up canceling my old visa...

[Lite Beer]

Can't really help much.

You have been staying here on yearly extensions based on your marriage. NOT a multi entry non o visa.

The Lady in the office was doing your 90 day address reports NOT getting renewal stamps.

As Lopburi said there are no reports on here of anyone doing what you ask.

Good Luck.

Just had a look at the TM 86.

This is for changing a Visa type.

Your problem is that you do not have a Visa to change.

You are staying here on an Extension based on Marriage. Not a Visa.

Not really my subject but I would suspect you would have to go to a Thai Embassy and get a Non B Visa based on you employment.

Again Good Luck.