Marriage Visa Confusion: 40k Or 400k On Acc?

[Dalahan]

Hello I'm going to get married soon with my Thai Fiance and the more i read about Thai visa based on marriage the more i get confused.

Some people wrote that i need to show 400,000 bht on my 'native bank account', other said 400,000 bht on 'thai bank account', one write that it can be my income '40,000 bht' / month. Then, others wrote that it can be the 'combined income (40,000 Bht) of my wife and mine'.

In case of income, does it need to be confirmed by an employer or i can put this by myself? Thing is I'm a new grad and still looking for a job.

All input is appreciated.

[beechguy]

The amounts of money you mention are for an "Extension of Stay" based on marriage, not a visa. 40K per month has to be your income now, not combined with your wife's, or you can have 400K in a bank account, again, your name only.

Also, would be helpful to know what type of visa you have now.

[thaiphoon]

Yes, what visa are you on now. Are you in Thailand?

[PoorSucker]

From Police order 777/2551

2.18 In the case of a family member of a Thai(applicable only to parents, spouse, child, adopted child or child of his/her spouse):

Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 1 year at a time.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM)

(2) Proof of family relationship

(3) In the case of a spouse, the marital relationship shall be de jure (legitimate) and de facto;

(4) In the case of a child, adopted child or child of his/her spouse, the said person must not be married, must be living with the family, and must be less than 20 years of age; or

(5) In the case of a parent, one of parents must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 baht per month or a money deposit of not less than 400,000 baht for expenses within a year.

(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.

[thaiphoon]

You can apply for extension of stay based on marriage if you meet the financial requirements. Requirements being 400k in Thai bank account for two months prior to application OR 40k/month income. In the case of income from abroad you will need to obtain an income letter from your embassy. In the case of income within Thailand, you will need to show tax receipts. If using the bank balance option you will need a letter from bank confirming the account balance and copies of bank book. You should apply during the last 30 days of your permission to stay, bringing with you the wife for interview, her ID card, tabbien bahn (house book), marriage certificate, photos together around the home, map to home, completed Form TM7, copies of passport/TM6 departure card and current passport sized photos. Cost is 1,900 baht.

The alternative option, if money if a problem, is to apply for multiple-entry Non-O visa which would require border runs every 90 days. You would have to be on/convert to Non-O visa to apply for extension of stay, assuming you meet the requirements.

[Dalahan]

I am on my 2nd tourist visa now.

Comparing to the information on this site somewhere there's a mistake because it said there:

Non-Imm O extension based on marriage with a Thai National

List of documents for extension Thai spouse visa

Note: 2 copies of each itm are required.

1. Application form T.M. 7 with one photograph size 4x6 cm. and Visa Fee 1900.-Baht

2. Copy of passport ( with certified true copy )

3. Required documentation for applying visa in case of

* For supporting Thai wife

1. Marriage Certificate

2. Child's birth certificate (if any)

3. Wife's house registration

4. Wife's identity card

"2. Copy of passport ( with certified true copy )" means a copy of my signature?

At the moment I'm still looking for a job and I don't have that much money. What should I do to get a marriage visa?

Thanks!

[thaiphoon]

For clarity, there is no such thing as a marriage visa. You can apply for either a Non-Immigrant O visa on the basis of having Thai wife (obtained from embassy/consulate) or you can apply for extension of stay based on marriage (from Thai immigration).

As you say money is tight, I would suggest once you are married you apply at the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur for a 12 month multi-entry Non-Immigrant O visa. It is best to take the wife with you together with your marriage certificate, signed copy of her ID card, completed Form TM7 and a short letter from her to the embassy requesting the visa be issued. You will have you show Thai bank book with some funds (amounts vary from zero upwards from different reports) but 30k+ baht seems to be ok.

On re-entering Thailand you will get 90 days permission to stay. You will need to do a visa run every 90 days. Do a border run just before your visa expires and you will be stamped in for a further 90 days, stretching your visa to 15 months.

Should your financial position change, you can apply for extension of stay based on marriage during the last 30 days of your 90 day permission to stay period. Under this option you would no longer have to do border runs but would instead have to report your address to immigration every 90 days. For most immigration offices that can be done by post.

[Valentino]

From Police order 777/2551

2.18 In the case of a family member of a Thai(applicable only to parents, spouse, child, adopted child or child of his/her spouse):

Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 1 year at a time.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM)

(2) Proof of family relationship

(3) In the case of a spouse, the marital relationship shall be de jure (legitimate) and de facto;

(4) In the case of a child, adopted child or child of his/her spouse, the said person must not be married, must be living with the family, and must be less than 20 years of age; or

(5) In the case of a parent, one of parents must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 baht per month or a money deposit of not less than 400,000 baht for expenses within a year.

(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.

Thank you so much for this post!!

It well and truly clears up the financial requirement for this extension of stay based on Marriage.

There is a lot of incorrect information everywhere about this topic..well done!

Cheers

[Lite Beer]

Yes. Has to be the Husbands money.

[Valentino]

The amounts of money you mention are for an "Extension of Stay" based on marriage, not a visa. 40K per month has to be your income now, not combined with your wife's, or you can have 400K in a bank account, again, your name only.

Also, would be helpful to know what type of visa you have now.

The 40K a month can be a combined (husband and wife) income.

My information is that the 400K in the bank option can be in a joint account...so I have been led to believe!

Cheers..

[Lite Beer]

The 40,000 Baht a month has to be the Husbands income. Not combined.

The bank account has to be in the husbands name. Not joint.

[Dalahan]

Thank You very much for all answers

I have question about this runs to the border every 90 days: do i need to make this runs to thai embassy or just to border?

Because now i live in Bangkok and closest border is in Aranyaprathet.

I'm thinking if not more economic and more easy will be apply for language course and make student visa?

Which idea (and kind of visa) will be most money friendly that i can do to stay with my future Wife in Thailand without camping border all time?

[thaiphoon]

You would just need to cross the border into Cambodia, get stamped in and return. There are many companies advertised in the Bangkok Post that provide border run services and will take care of the paperwork for you for about 2,000 baht.

To study you would need Non-Immigrant ED visa, requiring minimum study time of 4 hours a week. Have a look at the sponsor links at the top of the page for more information.

[lopburi3]

You would have to have a multi entry visa to do border runs only every 90 days. Without such a visa a border run would only provide a 15 day stay by land.