Marriage Visa - Immigration Interview

[Wentworth]

I am in Thailand on a Tourist Visa but planning to get married. I have done some homework about the change to the Non Imm 'O' in terms of requirements eg money. My next piece of homework is about the 'Interview' part of the visa application. As with the recent rule changes I am in the Chiang Mai catchment area. I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has gone through the 'interview' process there - just what sort of information do they ask for?

Thanks

[JR Texas]

I am in Thailand on a Tourist Visa but planning to get married. I have done some homework about the change to the Non Imm 'O' in terms of requirements eg money. My next piece of homework is about the 'Interview' part of the visa application. As with the recent rule changes I am in the Chiang Mai catchment area. I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has gone through the 'interview' process there - just what sort of information do they ask for?

Thanks

Can't respond to your question in terms of Chiang Mai, but I can tell you what they did in Bangkok.

1) They separated us.......told me to go "over there and sit down" and they talked with my wife

2) They asked my wife to leave and waved me over and talked to me and asked:

a) How long have you known your wife?

Where did you meet?

c) What is your present address?

d) Does she work?

e) Does she have a mother and father? What are their names. A brother or sister? What are their names?

That was it.............good luck! It is a degrading process, but just grin and bear it.

[beano2274]

Other questions might include

What did you eat last night?

What did your wife eat last night?

How did you get here?

They have already asked her these questions.

But as I remember we only got asked the questions as we were the 3rd couple she had

dealt with, maybe you won't be interviewed.

[ubonjoe]

It will depend upon the immigration office you go to and probably the officer doing the interview.

Maybe somebody with Chiang Mai experience will report.

I have seen reports about Bangkik where all they did was ask some questions to fill out a form.

My wife answered most of the questions as the officer filled out a form or document on the computer. The only question they asked me was for my parents name. He then printed out the document and we both had to sign it.

[TerryLH]

"It is a degrading process..."

How so?

[bojo]

Last week I renewed my marriage visa in Chiang Mai and it was just a formality as I have used this visa for a few years now. They just talked in a roundabout way about our life , eg any kids and then we had to provide a copy of childs' birth certificate. We offered information about a business that we operate to nip that one in the bud and the officer made an unnecessary comment about the money needed to apply for the visa was in my name and none in my wife's name(suggesting that I didn't give my wife any money!). my wife quickly and proudly produced a passbook from a different bank from her handbag and that nipped that one in the bud! There are no real set questions, the officers are just trying to establish the authenticity of the marriage I suppose. I remember first applying in Samui and we we're seperated in the immigration office and asked a few simple questions each as to where we had met and so forth and how long we had been together/married and how log I had lived here in Thailand and at my present address. An officer then came round to the house within the month and asked a few more general questions about our life and that was it. I think they also had to check with the poo yai baan as to whether I was of decent characteur or not.

Sorry not being very specific but the questions we're so 'off the cuff' and there definitely we're no trick questions in my case. Good luck, should be a breeze.

Regards Bojo

[Lite Beer]

Yep. If the Marriage is genuine there is nothing to worry about.

[dandun]

I totaly agree that the process depends on the officers mood for the day.

Last year when i applied first time for my visa "marriage" the lady was joking around with us, asked our marriage certificate and couple pictures from the ceremony and she said welcome to thailand. She did not ask no adress, no mother or father name, no nothing.

now its about time for me to get my renewal and i am hoping to find the same lady

Also i have been reading how farangs some times having difficulties getting drivers licence, opening bank accounts etc.

I landed thailand 15th of june 2008 and before the end of june i had my 1 year visa, my drivers licence, my car financed, my bank accounts and also credit card from scb. All without work permit. So i guess i am being one of the few extremely lucky ones here in Bangkok.

[paulfr]

I am in Thailand on a Tourist Visa but planning to get married.

You say "planning".

All you need to do is go to an Ampur and declare your marriage.

The process takes one to two hours depending on how busy they are that day.

Be sure to take the picture with the officer at the Ampur as it is good evidence.

In Bangkok many go to Bang Lak which is considered

good luck. But any Ampur will do.

Once you are married in the eyes of Thailand, you just need to bring every document

you have and do whatever they ask. They may ask for many pictures of where you

live, certain doculents, a letter from your bank verifying funds [bankbook is not enough

for some reason].

And for Marriage Visa you need 400KBaht or show Embassy verified income of 35KBaht per month.

[lopburi3]

Bang Ruk is a popular office to register marriage as has 'love' in the name.

To marry in Thailand you must first obtain a letter from your Embassy that you are single. That then has to be translated into Thai. That then has to be registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a legal document. With that and ID's you can then visit a District Office to register your marriage.

The one year extension of stay requirement is 400k in a Thai bank account for 2 or 3 months or 40k per month income.

To obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa only requires the normal 20k proof of funds (which is normally not checked). To obtain one year multi entry non immigrant O visa may require a bank account in Thailand with about 100k (but varies by Consulate used).

[ubonjoe]

All you need to do is go to an Ampur and declare your marriage.

The process takes one to two hours depending on how busy they are that day.

And for Marriage Visa you need 400KBaht or show Embassy verified income of 35KBaht per month.

You left a lot of imprtant steps out ot the process for getting marriied.

Affirmation to marry from embassy translated to Thai and certified by the Ministry of Forign Affairs.

The income requriement is 40K per month not 35K.

[robokop]

I am in Thailand on a Tourist Visa but planning to get married. I have done some homework about the change to the Non Imm 'O' in terms of requirements eg money. My next piece of homework is about the 'Interview' part of the visa application. As with the recent rule changes I am in the Chiang Mai catchment area. I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has gone through the 'interview' process there - just what sort of information do they ask for?

Thanks

Can't respond to your question in terms of Chiang Mai, but I can tell you what they did in Bangkok.

That interview in BKK is the same as US Government and questions are the same

1) They separated us.......told me to go "over there and sit down" and they talked with my wife

2) They asked my wife to leave and waved me over and talked to me and asked:

a) How long have you known your wife?

Where did you meet?

c) What is your present address?

d) Does she work?

e) Does she have a mother and father? What are their names. A brother or sister? What are their names?

That was it.............good luck! It is a degrading process, but just grin and bear it.

Same same questions when process is being made to the USA. Seperate and question, but the lady gets the cross examination.

[paulfr]

The income requriement is 40K per month not 35K.

I believe you are wrong about that.

400 KBaht in a Thai bank for at least 3 months

or

the equivalent income in one year [ approx 33.4 KBaht / month ]

or

a combination of income and cash in a Thai bank that

equals 400 KBaht.

Then again different offices can and do play by different rules

and you may have to live with this reality. It is not the rule of

law here, it is often the rule of whim .... the rule of men.

[ubonjoe]

The income requriement is 40K per month not 35K.

I believe you are wrong about that.

400 KBaht in a Thai bank for at least 3 months

or

the equivalent income in one year [ approx 33.4 KBaht / month ]

or

a combination of income and cash in a Thai bank that

equals 400 KBaht.

Then again different offices can and do play by different rules

and you may have to live with this reality. It is not the rule of

law here, it is often the rule of whim .... the rule of men.

Here is what 2.18 of the police order says.

(6) In case of marriage with a Thai lady, the husband who is an alien must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 baht per month or a money deposit in a local Thai bank of not less than 400,000 baht for the past 2 months for expenses within a year.

Some immigration offices vary now on how long the money has to be in the bank.

And on showing a bank book along with the income letter. But not on how much you have money wise.

[lopburi3]

The rule is defined in the regulations - it is 40k per month income.

[Lite Beer]

The rule is defined in the regulations - it is 40k per month income.

Yes. That is one of the few things different offices agree on.

[halarpohala]

a combination of income and cash in a Thai bank that

equals 400 KBaht.

------------------------------------------------------------

there is a rumour that the amount has been increased to 800,000 baht

[ubonjoe]

a combination of income and cash in a Thai bank that

equals 400 KBaht.

------------------------------------------------------------

there is a rumour that the amount has been increased to 800,000 baht

For an extension based upon marriage there is no combination of income and money in the bank option.

No changes in the amount required it is 400k in the bank or 40K income.

800K is the amount for retirement extensions.

[beano2274]

800,000 is for retirement purposes.

I used a letter to confirm my Income from the Embassy, no bank book was required at anytime.

[lopburi3]

There is no "combination" provision in the current regulations. It is either 400k in a bank account for 2 months (which many offices change to 3 months) or 40k per month income.

The 800k in bank account is for retirement extension of stay.