Hi all,

Hoping for some expert advise from the board members.

I entered the country with my Thai wife and daughter 5 years ago with on a Non Immigrant B Visa. I currently have a 1 year Non B Extension and a Work Permit, but my company is reducing headcount and I suspect that I will be laid off very soon. I understand that on my last day of work I will have to report to the immigration office and my current Non B Extension will be cancelled. What I am hoping for is to be able to apply for a Non O Extension based on my marriage with a Thai national.

However, I am worried about the income requirement. I opened a bank account in my name this week and deposited 400,000 baht but I may be laid off before I can meet the "2 months in the bank" requirement. I do have a tax receipt which shows my income from last year, but as I will be reporting that I have lost my job I can not show that I still have a regular income of 40,000 baht a month. I probably would be able to show that I will receive severance pay (and provident fund payout) that will be above 12 * 40,000 baht.

Do you think that I be able to apply for a Non O Extension based on my tax receipt and/or severance pay?

If this is not possible, the only alternative would be for me to apply for a 7 day Extension and fly to e.g. Singapore and apply for a Non O Visa and start from scratch. Correct?

Thanks in advance for your help.

You want to change the reason for your extension of stay, which currently is for employment, to the new reason to live with Thai wife. Normally, the new application for extension is made during the last 30 days of your current permission to stay but you could ask at your immigration office if, because you want to change the reason for your extension, if you can apply already now. Financial proof will then be your income over the last 12 months, which you indicate has been over 40k average per month.

From Immigration Bureau Order No. 305/2551, paragraph 2.18:

5. Only for Criteria (5) and (6), the applicant must attach a funds deposit certificate issued by a bank in Thailand and a copy of a bankbook, or attach documents proving that the parents or alien husband earns an average monthly income of no less than Baht 40,000 throughout the year, such as any particular individual income tax return together with payment receipt, evidence of receiving retirement pension, evidence of receiving interest from funds deposit, or evidence of having other funds issued by the relevant agency. An affidavit must also be submitted confirming the alien’s marital or parental status with a Thai national.

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Maestro