Do I Have Everything To Renew Visa Based On Marriage?

[soontheplayoffs]

Am going next week to renew visa based on marriage for the 4th time if someone could tell me if I need anything else this year not mentioned here I would appreciate it.

Letter from Bank showing current balance and money sent from abroad over this last year.

Marriage Certificate

Thai Birth certificate of our child

Passport

Wifes id card and housing book

Hand drawn map of my location

Photos taken of the 3 of us inside the condo and outside showing the name of the condo

Thai visa form tm 7 filled in twice with a photo of me.

Many Thanks

[Lite Beer]

Am going next week to renew visa based on marriage for the 4th time if someone could tell me if I need anything else this year not mentioned here I would appreciate it.

Letter from Bank showing current balance and money sent from abroad over this last year.

Marriage Certificate

Thai Birth certificate of our child

Passport

Wifes id card and housing book

Hand drawn map of my location

Photos taken of the 3 of us inside the condo and outside showing the name of the condo

Thai visa form tm 7 filled in twice with a photo of me.

Many Thanks

Bank book updated and showing the same balance as the letter.

The Wife. They will speak to her.

1,900 Baht.

[PoorSucker]

I guess you are going to apply for extension of stay not renew visa.

Might confuse some beginners.

[Lite Beer]

Yep.Your Visa expired years ago. You are extending your Permission to Stay.

[CosmicSurfer]

I had to leave and go back to my condo because we didn't have a photo showing us standing in the doorway with the Room number on/over the door... ran home took the photo went back to immigration and finished the process...

Extra cost 500 Baht for taxis and tolls...

TIT

CS

[janalisa]

don`t complain about the extra cost of 500 baht! Buying visa`s outside Thailand will cost you much more!

And it has been mentioned enough you need foto showing you and your misses outside the house showing the housenumber,

although in Pattaya-imm the officer gave me back this foto,also the foto showing the clothes in the closet was not needed.

[CosmicSurfer]

don`t complain about the extra cost of 500 baht! Buying visa`s outside Thailand will cost you much more!

And it has been mentioned enough you need foto showing you and your misses outside the house showing the housenumber,

although in Pattaya-imm the officer gave me back this foto,also the foto showing the clothes in the closet was not needed.

Guess you missed the exact wording I used...

I had photos Outside my Condo Building showing the Street Address Number and the Condo name, a requirement I knew all about.

What was unexpected was a demand for a photo of the actual door into my ROOM, showing the Room number.

This I have never seen mentioned before.

Also she demanded more photos taken from the Room CORNERS, not photos showing us in front of the open closets, us on Sofa with our Wedding portraits..., standing in front of bed, her cooking in Kitchen area, etc. I mean the room is Only 42 Sq.meters... A wide a angle lens would get the whole room in One shot.

But the Immigration woman (I could use a reference to a female dog here) was probably looking for a way to get at me... First she tried to reject my Wife's income, which is partly from a job and partly from a company she owns (with a little help...). (A Thai woman applying for her Farang Husband based on the WIFE's income... &lt;deleted&gt; !!! <Combined income was WAY over 480K Baht>) and then after she was informed by a higher up that the income was acceptable and sent us on a chase for this extra photo, she refused to speak to me in English... and had my Wife translate all her questions to me. (Why don't I believe that she can't speak English, when her job is primarily to talk with Farangs all day????)

Like I said... TIT

CS

[soontheplayoffs]

Thanks for the input on this, I do know from previous years that whatever photos you take you will be asked to take different ones but if you apply in good time before your "permission to stay" expires it is not a big problem.

[PoorSucker]

I only had to provide tax receipt, copy marriage certificate and copy wife ID. (and 5000 bt )

[Lite Beer]

I only had to provide tax receipt, copy marriage certificate and copy wife ID. (and 5000 bt )

No receipt I presume.

[glen]

Hi Guys,

I wondered what 'soontheplayoffs' meant by saying he'd filled in the TM7 form twice??

I'm going to renew my permission to stay next week, and change over from the retirement vis that Ive had for the last 3 years, to marriage visa.

Re a letter from the bank re balance, that's ok, but as for saying the money's from o/s cant do, as I either bring cash back from Oz, or transfer from Oz to SCB here. Is this a problem? I can do the letter from the Oz embassy (stat dec actually) saying what my income sources are.

As I understand it I need to have copies of relevant pages in my passport, including 30 day report and latest arrival card, plus marriage certificate (from ampher Huay Kwang) two years ago, plus photos and map.

My wife has no regular income and Im supporting her but I have more than 40k monthly coming in from my Oz pensions (despite dreadfulOz dollar decline), plus 900k in bank.

I know my wife has to have her ID card, household certificate, and passport (we've visited Oz twice in the last year) plus signed copies.

Can anyone suggest what else I may need?

Much appreciated - Glen

[Lite Beer]

I wondered what 'soontheplayoffs' meant by saying he'd filled in the TM7 form twice??

A photo copy is all you need.

Re a letter from the bank re balance, that's ok, but as for saying the money's from o/s cant do, as I either bring cash back from Oz, or transfer from Oz to SCB here. Is this a problem? I can do the letter from the Oz embassy (stat dec actually) saying what my income sources are.

You will not need a letter from the bank. The letter from the embassy is enough, although they might want to see an updated bank book.

Don't forget to take the Wife. They will want to speak to her.

You will get a 30 day "under consideration " stamp. You go back in 30 days the decision.

[ubonjoe]

Hi Guys,

I wondered what 'soontheplayoffs' meant by saying he'd filled in the TM7 form twice??

I'm going to renew my permission to stay next week, and change over from the retirement vis that Ive had for the last 3 years, to marriage visa.

Re a letter from the bank re balance, that's ok, but as for saying the money's from o/s cant do, as I either bring cash back from Oz, or transfer from Oz to SCB here. Is this a problem? I can do the letter from the Oz embassy (stat dec actually) saying what my income sources are.

As I understand it I need to have copies of relevant pages in my passport, including 30 day report and latest arrival card, plus marriage certificate (from ampher Huay Kwang) two years ago, plus photos and map.

My wife has no regular income and Im supporting her but I have more than 40k monthly coming in from my Oz pensions (despite dreadfulOz dollar decline), plus 900k in bank.

I know my wife has to have her ID card, household certificate, and passport (we've visited Oz twice in the last year) plus signed copies.

Can anyone suggest what else I may need?

Much appreciated - Glen

I had the same experience of doing the TM7 twice because the local office keeps a copy incase the other gets lost when they are sent to the next level up for approval. Not all offices do this. Just have the extra photos in case along with extra copies of everything.

The bank balance only applies if you have had marriage based extensions since before Sept. of 2006 (grandfathered clause).

The income letter from the consulate is all you need for the 40K monthly income.

Some immigration offices may want to see a bank book just to verify you have money coming in and some money in bank. You don't need a bank letter for this.

Your wifes passport is not required.

It looks like you have everything else thats needed.

Edit: I forgot the most important thing to take along and that is your wife.

[glen]

Hi Guys,

I wondered what 'soontheplayoffs' meant by saying he'd filled in the TM7 form twice??

I'm going to renew my permission to stay next week, and change over from the retirement vis that Ive had for the last 3 years, to marriage visa.

Re a letter from the bank re balance, that's ok, but as for saying the money's from o/s cant do, as I either bring cash back from Oz, or transfer from Oz to SCB here. Is this a problem? I can do the letter from the Oz embassy (stat dec actually) saying what my income sources are.

As I understand it I need to have copies of relevant pages in my passport, including 30 day report and latest arrival card, plus marriage certificate (from ampher Huay Kwang) two years ago, plus photos and map.

My wife has no regular income and Im supporting her but I have more than 40k monthly coming in from my Oz pensions (despite dreadfulOz dollar decline), plus 900k in bank.

I know my wife has to have her ID card, household certificate, and passport (we've visited Oz twice in the last year) plus signed copies.

Can anyone suggest what else I may need?

Much appreciated - Glen

I had the same experience of doing the TM7 twice because the local office keeps a copy incase the other gets lost when they are sent to the next level up for approval. Not all offices do this. Just have the extra photos in case along with extra copies of everything.

The bank balance only applies if you have had marriage based extensions since before Sept. of 2006 (grandfathered clause).

The income letter from the consulate is all you need for the 40K monthly income.

Some immigration offices may want to see a bank book just to verify you have money coming in and some money in bank. You don't need a bank letter for this.

Your wifes passport is not required.

It looks like you have everything else thats needed.

Edit: I forgot the most important thing to take along and that is your wife.

thanks for the replies - much appreciated

[klons]

Let me see if I have this straight on the steps to obtain a marriage visa for a foreigner who qualifies. First obtain a non immigrant visa from abroad, type "O" (in my case)'. Then while in Thailand during the last 30 days before visa expires, go to Thai Immigration and apply for a one year extension based on marriage. Is that about it? Is there any advantage over a marriage extension as opposed to a retirement extension?, I thought the marriage would be easier as no police reports or physical exams appear to be required. If ones papers are in order, how long does it take to get approved by Thai Immigration? My questions are about the original marriage visa, not a renewal of an extension. Any comments or confirmation of the process would be appreciated, Thanks. ( I am a 56 year old U.S. citizen with 20 days left on my non immigrant type"O" and meet qualifications for either marriage or retirement.)

[Lite Beer]

Let me see if I have this straight on the steps to obtain a marriage visa for a foreigner who qualifies. First obtain a non immigrant visa from abroad, type "O" (in my case)'. Then while in Thailand during the last 30 days before visa expires, go to Thai Immigration and apply for a one year extension based on marriage. Is that about it? Is there any advantage over a marriage extension as opposed to a retirement extension?, I thought the marriage would be easier as no police reports or physical exams appear to be required. If ones papers are in order, how long does it take to get approved by Thai Immigration? My questions are about the original marriage visa, not a renewal of an extension. Any comments or confirmation of the process would be appreciated, Thanks. ( I am a 56 year old U.S. citizen with 20 days left on my non immigrant type"O" and meet qualifications for either marriage or retirement.)

The retirement option would be much simpler if you qualify. 800,000 Baht in the bank or 65,000 monthly income. No medicals or police reports needed. The extension is approved on the spot. The 800,000 needs to be in a Thai bank 3 months before you apply.

Marriage option. 40,000 Baht a month family income. Plus a few other things. You will get a "under consideration stamp" and have to go back in a month to get the result.

If you qualify for both options the Immigration Official will push you towards the Retirement option as it means a lot less work for them and is easier for you.

[ubonjoe]

Let me see if I have this straight on the steps to obtain a marriage visa for a foreigner who qualifies. First obtain a non immigrant visa from abroad, type "O" (in my case)'. Then while in Thailand during the last 30 days before visa expires, go to Thai Immigration and apply for a one year extension based on marriage. Is that about it? Is there any advantage over a marriage extension as opposed to a retirement extension?, I thought the marriage would be easier as no police reports or physical exams appear to be required. If ones papers are in order, how long does it take to get approved by Thai Immigration? My questions are about the original marriage visa, not a renewal of an extension. Any comments or confirmation of the process would be appreciated, Thanks. ( I am a 56 year old U.S. citizen with 20 days left on my non immigrant type"O" and meet qualifications for either marriage or retirement.)

The big difference is the money. Only 40K income verses 65K. But no money in bank option for marriage.

You will have a 30 day wait after you make the application for a marriage extension while they consider the application.

No physical exam or police reports are required for a retirement extension. These are only required for Non-oa visa that you get at a Thai consulate.

One advantage using a marriage extension is that if you ever want to work you can get a work permit on a marriage extension.

Also marriage extensions can lead to getting permanent residence where as a retirement extension cannot.

[Mario2008]

As Lite Beer said, the retirement extension is the best option. It is more convinient for you and immigration, also you wouldn't be dependend on your wife. If she dies or you get divorced your permission to stay would end.

The permenant residency would only be open if you pay enough tax in Thailand.

[ubonjoe]

The permenant residency would only be open if you pay enough tax in Thailand.

The amount of tax paid does not matter. It is an average tax paid income of 30K per month for the previous 2 years prior to application.

[Mario2008]

Based on the tread about permanent residency I would say that the amount of tax paid matters a lot and is one of the main criteria. I don't think the income needs to be 30,000 a month but much higher. But I could be wrong on this.

[ubonjoe]

3.3.1

(2) One party or both parties must earn much enough to provide patronage or having annual income of at least Baht 30,000 per month in average, for at least 2 consecutive years before the date of application submission and evidence of tax return is required

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/do...tion4extend.doc

[Mario2008]

Be carefull with that one, Joe. It might not be up to date and is better to read the tread about permenant residency. I believe there are some links to more recent documents there, although in Thai. If there is one thing I learned from that tread, it is that the rules and practise differ greatly. I hope I'm wrong on this, but an income of just 30,000 a month is not enough.

[klons]

As Lite Beer said, the retirement extension is the best option. It is more convinient for you and immigration, also you wouldn't be dependend on your wife. If she dies or you get divorced your permission to stay would end.

The permenant residency would only be open if you pay enough tax in Thailand.

Thanks all for the tips, it made things easier for me. I opted to go with the retirement extenstion and got it done in one afternoon today. The appointment link for the American citizens service I found on the forum here. I was in and out of ACS at 1:15 pm, no waiting. Then down to Thai Immigration, number called at 4:30, approved and out before 5. The Immigration official was a bit rude though, urging me to hurry up with the 1900 baht because there are people waiting. She was probably just getting a little testy near closing time. Thanks again.