Non Immigration O Visa Requirement Confusion.

[Mason45]

Im due for my visa renewal shortly, even though this will be my seventh application, every year different rules seem to surface without warning. On my last application I was told that the 400,000 baht in a Thai bank account has been changed from 3 months to 2 months, which wouldnt apply until the application Im about to make. Talking to expats and others it seem many are of the opinion that the money should be in the account for a minimum of 3 months, has anyone made a recent visa application and knows what this situation really is. Thanks.

[Lite Beer]

The Rule says 2 months , but a lot of offices have been insisting on 3 months. Only one way to find out. Ask them or let us know what office you deal with and hopefully someone would have been there and knows.

[Mason45]

The Rule says 2 months , but a lot of offices have been insisting on 3 months. Only one way to find out. Ask them or let us know what office you deal with and hopefully someone would have been there and knows.

Thanks for your reply lite beer, I live in outer east Bangkok and my immigration office is Suan Plu, just one other question is a police check required this time around and if so where do I obtain it.

[Lite Beer]

A Police check is not needed for a Marriage Extension.

From memory Suan Phlu are asking for 3 months in the bank.

They may allow 2 months and ask you to sign a form saying that next year it is 3 months.

[Jonathanpattaya]

Im due for my visa renewal shortly, even though this will be my seventh application, every year different rules seem to surface without warning. On my last application I was told that the 400,000 baht in a Thai bank account has been changed from 3 months to 2 months, which wouldnt apply until the application Im about to make. Talking to expats and others it seem many are of the opinion that the money should be in the account for a minimum of 3 months, has anyone made a recent visa application and knows what this situation really is. Thanks.

It should be 60 days but some immigration offices insist on 90 days.

I renewed my visa extension in Pattaya in May and they wanted 60 days.

However I have been told that they now require 90 days.

Good luck.

[Mason45]

I applied for my current Non Imm O visa on Dec 5 last year, I was specifically told in English that the money should be in my bank account for 3 months but when I apply for my next visa on Dec this year then 2 months is ok. It appears to me that we should never take any notice of anyone at immigration offices unless they're conducting the interview for your visa because when the time comes to renew all the officers seem to make up their own rules as they go along. Wouldnt it be good if there were guidelines set and upgraded from time to time so we know where we stand instead of fronting up to an immigration office and being made to look like a real <deleted>.

[Lite Beer]

This is the official rule. But we think they made a mistake and it should be 2 months for the first application and 3 months thereafter. Some office are sticking to the rule as it is written and some are not.

(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.

[ubonjoe]

Bangkok is asking 2 months for first time applications and 3 for all the others.

[Mason45]

Bangkok is asking 2 months for first time applications and 3 for all the others.

Wouldn't you think it would be 3 months for the first application and 2 months for all subsequent applications, after 6 applications they would know all about my movements and my banking transactions, so I can't see their point.

[lopburi3]

The point, as I see it, is that with 2 months you can make the deposit and have time to extend on a single 90 day visa entry. In later years that is not required so they ask for 3 months. The deposit time is to lessen the borrow money for extension that Immigration feels is a problem. Having it 2 months first and 3 months later makes it the same as for retirement extensions of stay. Some countries require you keep a large amount on deposit full time so expect Thailand feels justified in what, to them, must seem a minor inconvenience and those with 40k income do not have to be concerned with this method.

[Billion]

Bangkok is asking 2 months for first time applications and 3 for all the others.

I can confirm that Samut Prakan office also asking for 2 months for first time applications and 3 for all the others.

[Mason45]

Bangkok is asking 2 months for first time applications and 3 for all the others.

I can confirm that Samut Prakan office also asking for 2 months for first time applications and 3 for all the others.

Thanks guys so now it begs the next question, what is the minimum time required between the date of my next visa application and the expiry date of my current visa and do I need a current certification of marriage from my amphur, in previous years I've just submitted copies of the documentation I received on the day were were married and in previous visa application these were accepted as proof of our marriage.

[david96]

I applied for my current Non Imm O visa on Dec 5 last year, I was specifically told in English that the money should be in my bank account for 3 months but when I apply for my next visa on Dec this year then 2 months is ok. It appears to me that we should never take any notice of anyone at immigration offices unless they're conducting the interview for your visa because when the time comes to renew all the officers seem to make up their own rules as they go along. Wouldnt it be good if there were guidelines set and upgraded from time to time so we know where we stand instead of fronting up to an immigration office and being made to look like a real <deleted>.

This is slighty off the topic.

Thailand is well behind the times.

Several months ago in Australia I had to get a bank statement certified as correct and had it done in less than 1 minute, just brought up the account on the computer to check and the Bank clerk stamped it. I supplied the statement.

When I applied for a non - O spouse at the RTC Brisbane all they required was the latest page of my bank statement printed off the internet from my bank. No certification required. Sent by mail.

Just think how easy it would be to just provide a certified photocopy of the original bankbook

when dealing with Thai immigration.

In the West if we see a better way of doing things we do it providing we get the same result.

In other words our procedures are results based.

This is something Thailand does not yet understand. Their procedures are still in the age before faxes, photocopiers and computers. They still do not have data matching betweengovernment departments. You would think that they would get their translations from Thai proof read and corrected before publication, and have common procedures in place at all Immigration offices. eg "some offices accept this and some that" nothing consistent.

"Some offices 2 months some 3 months" is an other example. The difference between the statements "and" "or" "and/or" is another they have problems with.

[lopburi3]

Bangkok is asking 2 months for first time applications and 3 for all the others.

I can confirm that Samut Prakan office also asking for 2 months for first time applications and 3 for all the others.

Thanks guys so now it begs the next question, what is the minimum time required between the date of my next visa application and the expiry date of my current visa and do I need a current certification of marriage from my amphur, in previous years I've just submitted copies of the documentation I received on the day were were married and in previous visa application these were accepted as proof of our marriage.

The minimum is the date of expiration but you should do it earlier during the last 30 days of permitted stay. If you have already supplied the Kor Ror 2 it should not be asked but if not you probably will have to obtain.

[deck]

I thought you had to leave the country to re-apply for a non-o (marriage type) this is what I was told by emmigration couple of years back ?

[Lite Beer]

The OP is asking about a 12 month extension of his permission to stay. Not a Visa.

He is getting his terminology wrong.