Visa Predicament

[nobber9999]

Hi all, not being able to find an answer on an existing post I wondered if anyone could offer some advice?

I have lived in Thailand for just over 3 years with my Thai wife (not rubber stamped till Oct '08) and reside here on a 12 month retirement visa. I was asked Via BKK Masons and the local Rotary if I would like to help doing voluntary bits and pieces such as teaching in the local Temples. I said I would need to check at immigration as to exactly what I could do on my existing visa and let them know. The answer is of course didley squit but as my address reporting was due last November I decided to check with the IO at that time. It was decided that I would need to change to a Married Visa so my wife and I went through the options with the IO and it was decided best to sort it out when renewing my existing Visa which expires 25/06/09. In past years I have killed two birds with one stone and renewed my visa at the same time as address reporting as both dates were within 30 days of each other. The fact that my wife earns over 70,000 THB pcm seems to be totally disregarded if calculating monthly income so I made sure I had over 400,000 in my Thai Bank Account on 17/03/09 onwards. I am 52 so do not get full pensions yet.

Anyway, the obvious stops there and the ridiculous takes over....

My wife and I went to the IO in Korat yesterday and were told that my application should be made at least 30 days in advance. Also, my money had not been in the Bank for 90 days till 17/06/09 which is something they have not queried in previous renewals where renewal is carried out up to 30 days beforehand!! The paperwork which they previously told us we needed to produce (copies of wedding photo's etc etc) were ignored and then were told that it would take at least 30 days to make a decision or maybe longer. To remind me of this they stamped my PP using yet another half page, reminding me that my visa ran out on 26/6/09 and I need to report to them on 25/06/09!!! Also, I would need to return to the UK and apply for a new Visa!!! During this conversation my wife's head had spun 3 time around and the paper knife she was toying with looked more like a lethal weapon pointing at the IO. My wife, who is a Accounts Manageress for an International Company and speaks fluent English and had done all the talking to the IO's in the past, was becoming more and more frustrated as she was never told about most of the requirements now being insisted on.

It is obviously too late to change the money in the Bank amount so as to retain the existing visa but I find it totally ridiculous that having already jumped through the hoops to obtain a retirement visa, they now insist on doing the same again to change the visa type. I have read that as I already hold a visa I can visit Australian Consulates plus Malaysia etc who are able to issue ALL types of visas. I am looking for urgent answers as I am assuming they do not permit extensions of 30 days and I do not wish to get black balled for overstay. Can anyone help please????????????????

[ubonjoe]

First one question. Did you pay 1900 baht for an extension?

Aslo what exacly does the stamp say? I think it says your extension is under consideration. It is normal for an extension based upon marriage to get a stamp telling you to come back in 30 days while they consider your application.

The money has always had to be in the bank for 3 months on the date of application for retirement extensions. For an extension based upon marriage the rules say 2 months.

Before you get all excited about the new visa thing look at the stamp again. I am not sure what getting a new visa was all about.

Anyway your money will be in the bank for over 3 months before your current extension runs out. But I think they used the 2 month rule.

[Lite Beer]

Yep the Marriage Extension is more difficult than the Retirement option. You always get a 30 day under consideration stamp. As your passport is stamped for you to come back on June 25th it appears that is what you have.

It should look like this. The top one is the 30 day under consideration stamp. The next one is what you will get when you go back.

[nobber9999]

First one question. Did you pay 1900 baht for an extension?

Aslo what exacly does the stamp say? I think it says your extension is under consideration. It is normal for an extension based upon marriage to get a stamp telling you to come back in 30 days while they consider your application.

The money has always had to be in the bank for 3 months on the date of application for retirement extensions. For an extension based upon marriage the rules say 2 months.

Before you get all excited about the new visa thing look at the stamp again. I am not sure what getting a new visa was all about.

Anyway your money will be in the bank for over 3 months before your current extension runs out. But I think they used the 2 month rule.

Hi. Yes, I paid 1900THB for an extension and the IO have stampted it "under consideration" with a date stamp to report in person again on 24/06/09 which is the same day my retirement visa expires. Previously, the stamp has always said "stay is permitted" for another 12 months.

I understand the money in the Bank bit although I was never told only 2 months for changing from retirement to married visa.

My concern was that after being told by the IO I saw , that "consideration would take at least 30 days if not more, the max extention they would grant would be 7 days. Possibly enough to get across the border but difficult booking a flight back to the UK at such short notice.

I will wait with baited breath..... thanks for you help...

[lopburi3]

They try to make it in 30 days or less these days - but if longer you show up and normally get a new 30 day under consideration stamp.

[nobber9999]

Yep the Marriage Extension is more difficult than the Retirement option. You always get a 30 day under consideration stamp. As your passport is stamped for you to come back on June 25th it appears that is what you have.

It should look like this. The top one is the 30 day under consideration stamp. The next one is what you will get when you go back.

Yes, thats the stamp they have put in my passport. I have just found out that for some reason they still have to sent married visa applications to Bangkok for approval first!!! I was not told that if I went to KL, Penang, Aus and quite a few other places, the Consulates there have full authority to stamp a married visa themselves following visa change or new visa.

Thanks..

[lopburi3]

You are talking about an extension of stay for one year only issued by Immigration inside Thailand. There is no such thing as a marriage visa. What you get from a Consulate is a "other" category (O) visa that allows 90 day stay on each entry. With the extension of stay you do not have to leave the country.

The reason you can get retirement immediately is because it does not have to be approved by committee in Bangkok. Others do and have the 30 day under review stamp before you get the final stamp.

[ubonjoe]

Don't worry. It will be approved. And most likely it will be done before the 30 day wait period is over.

At one time all marriage extensions were sent to Bangkok for the 2nd approval step but now they are done at a regional office and Korat is one of those.

You did not convert any thing you applied for an extension of stay based upon marriage instead of retiremnet. You have not had a visa in years. It expired long ago.

[Lite Beer]

Think yourself lucky that it is only 30 days. A few years ago it took much longer. My first time I was going back and forth for about 5 months.

As said if you went to KL, Penang etc you would only get a Visa, not an extension of stay.

Don't forget the 90 day reports to Immigration you still have to make.

You are also lucky that you can deal with Korat. I now have to go to Nong Khai. Chalk and Cheese.