hello everyone.i sent a mess to the thai. embassey in washington,d.c and explained what i wanted to do.i asked if i could come on a tourist visa and change to a non-immigrant visa.i was planning on doing this because i am going to get married and stay in thailand.they said i could not do.is this true i am really confused.thank you if you can help me out.

Employees at Thai consulates and the consular section of Thai embassies may know about issuing visas but most know little or nothing about what your options are after you arrive in Thailand.

When you arrive with your tourist visa in Thailand you will receive permission to stay for 60 days. Soon after your arrival you should open a bank account in Thailand in your name alone. After you are married you can apply for an annual extension of stay based on clause 7.18(6) of Police Order 777/2551. Check with your local immigration office what documents they want to see.

One of the requirements is that you must have income of minimum 40,000 baht per month or 400,000 Baht in a Thai bank account for at least two months (some immigration officers say three months). If you use money in the bank, the 60-day permission to stay will not be enough but once married you can first get at the immigration office a 60-day extension to visit your wife, then apply for a change of visa to non-O, then apply for your annual extension to live with Thai wife.

Another thought: give the consulate in Houston or Denver a call and ask if they will give you a non-O visa.

--

Maestro

If you use money in the bank, the 60-day permission to stay will not be enough

I thought if you met all the requirements for an extension -- except for the time the money has been in the bank -- Immigration would issue a Non Imm O visa, and you would then need to come back 60 days later to apply for the extension. By then, of course, your money would have been in the bank the required 60 days.

Like so many things, this is up to the individual immigration officer dealing with the application, but most reports I have seen said that immigration wanted to see all requirements for the extension met at the time of application for change of visa.

--

Maestro

I wouldn't worry about it. Years ago I was dealing with the Los Angeles Thai Consulate and the Thai lady who worked there was the most rude unhelpful Thai that I ever met. I ended up with a tourist visa. Everything was much easier here in Thailand.