Non-imm Married Extension Story

[Troebal]

Yesterday I went to Suan Plu to get my annual extension of my married to a Thai variety Non-Imm visa (5th year). Was told that since my house was 1KM inside of Samut Prakan I would have to go to the Samut Prakan office. They were bvery nice and provided some paperwork for transfer of my records.

The Samut Prakan office has no que system. Whoever can get into a chair first gets served. The lady doing the processing was pleasant, slow and kept trying to sell my wife a medallion that was suuposed to help poor people. We had to make a second copy of everything and the nearest copy machine was on the other side of the government office complex in a tent. Not a big problem, I can use the exercise. She stamps my passport and sends me to her boss. In discussion with him he asked if I worked. I said yes and produced my work permit. I was told that it was illegal for me to work and that I should not have a work permit. He said that if I wanted a visa I would have to bring him a cancelled copy of my work permit showing that I had quit my job. He also said that since I was working in Chonburi I must be spending most of my time there and shouldn't be in the Samut prakan office anyway.

I called my company office and they said, no problem working with a non-imm O if you have a Thai wife. They called the Samut Prakan immigration office and asked them if it was leagal for someone with this type of visa to work and were told that it was. This one guy took it on himself to change the law.

We also own a house in Pattaya so I went there this morning. They decided that there was no problem with me getting the extension and working and all I had to do was drive to Sri Racha and get a new letter from my bank, because the letter I had was 3 days old. I also was supposed to have a neighbor, with documentation to show they lived near us, come to immigration and testify that I was actually living in the house. My wife told me to get lost for a while and got it all sorted out. I have not asked how but I have a pretty good idea.

The whole system is broken and made worse by the new requirements forcing you to use a particular office. I guess I am OK for another year but I am already dreading next March.

[Lite Beer]

Yes. It is perfectly legal to work with an extension based on marriage providing you have a work permit.

Some of these other offices we are now being sent to do not have a clue.

[RubbaJohnny]

Yes. It is perfectly legal to work with an extension based on marriage providing you have a work permit.

Some of these other offices we are now being sent to do not have a clue.

I believe there is a list of what work you can or cannot do

Anybody have a link to it

Is translator of wifes books allowed?

[Mario2008]

The list of occupations you ar not alllowed to work in can be found here:

http://www.boi.go.th/english/how/legal_iss...n_investors.asp

Under 2, setction F.