Non-thai Spouse Of Retirement Visa Holder

[MartinThai]

I am hoping someone can clarify my understanding of what is required in bringing a spouse to Thailand when I have a Retirement Visa.

I can satisfy all criteria for the application of a Retirement Visa however, my future wife (who is Lao) and under age 50 and very little private funds. To marry a Lao national is, I understand, a real run-around - (but that is a different story for now).

I read conflicting information about the requirements of a spouse accompanying a Retirement Visa recipient - 2 version appear below (as you can see they are quite different):

1) From the Thai Embassy in Australia whose literature states:

" In the case that the applicant wishes to have his/her spouse stay together in the Kingdom but the spouse is not qualified for the O-A code visa, their marriage certificate shall also be produced as evidence. (The spouse will be considered for the Visa for Temporary Residents under the 'O' Code)".

This contradicts literature posted by a Law firm in Thailand dated September 2007 which states;

2) With effect from 1 September 2007, further rules for retirement visa applicants were imposed by the Immigration Bureau.

· Where the spouse of the applicant was aged under 50, he/she would not be eligible to be granted a visa as a dependant of the

principal applicant.

· Both the applicant and the applicant's spouse would each have to show income or savings, in the minimum amount referred to

above.

Can anyone indicate what their experience (or knowledge) is in regard to bringing a spouse under the age of 50 with me when I qualify for the Retirement Visa but she not.

Thank you in advance to those who take the time to assist me; I am very much appreciate your help.

[thaiphoon]

Under current immigration rules it is possible for your wife to 'piggy back' your own extension of stay as your dependant. To do this you must be on 'extension of stay' issued by Thai immigration and not on Non O-A retirement visa issued by embassy in your home country.

You should initially obtain single entry Non-O visa from embassy/consulate in your own country. On entry into the Kingdom you will be given 90 day permission to stay. During the last 30 days of your permission to stay you apply at Thai immigration to extend your permission to stay on the basis of retirement, assuming you meet the criteria. Financial requirements being 800k in Thai bank for 2 months prior to application (3 months for subsequent extensions) OR 65k/month income OR a combination of the two arriving at 800k. In the case of income from abroad you will need to obtain an income letter from your embassy in Thailand. If using the bank balance option you will need a letter from bank confirming the account balance. Note that if using the combination method there is no seasoning period.

You will need completed application form TM7, recent passport sized photo, copy of bank passbook (if using bank balance option) and copy of passport. A map to you residence might be asked for together with some proof such as rent receipt/lease but that should be all. There is no requirement to provide police report or medical certificate as there is for Non O-A (retirement) visa. Fee 1900 baht. If you plan to travel during the period of the extension of stay you will need to obtain a re-entry permit from immigration to keep your permission to stay alive. Fee 1000 baht single entry; 3800 baht multi entry.

Once your own extension of stay is in place your wife can make her own application for extension of stay as your dependant. The process will be easier if your wife is here on Non-O visa too, otherwise she will have to go through visa/entry conversion process before proceeding with her own application for extension of stay.

[InterestedObserver]

Since the OP and his GF are not married at this time, he (they) should be concentrating on getting married and registering their marriage in Thailand. Once legally married, with documentation acceptable to immigration, the rest is relatively easy - it's the getting married in Lao part that's difficult.

[thaiphoon]

Since the OP and his GF are not married at this time, he (they) should be concentrating on getting married and registering their marriage in Thailand. Once legally married, with documentation acceptable to immigration, the rest is relatively easy - it's the getting married in Lao part that's difficult.

Yes, the marriage bit will be the hardest, but the Op now has clarity on the requirements for staying here after that.

[InterestedObserver]

Once your own extension of stay is in place your wife can make her own application for extension of stay as your dependant. The process will be easier if your wife is here on Non-O visa too, otherwise she will have to go through visa/entry conversion process before proceeding with her own application for extension of stay.

The wife would need a non-immigrant 'O' visa in her passport before entering Thailand. There is no provision in the immigration rules to convert (change) a tourist visa or visa exempt entry into a non-immigrant visa for the purpose of becoming a dependent of a retiree. A couple of posters have run into this problem before.

[MartinThai]

Thanks so much for your information and interest in my situation. I have stayed in Thailand over the past year by way of Tourist Visas and will return to Australia for the Christmas period returning to Thailand early next year with an Education Visa to study at a university in Chiang Mai. I have not started the marriage process in Lao - it seems so daunting but will proceed down that track next year during a break from the study program in CM. My future Wife is rather poor in English ability - I thought that her "job" here in Thailand initially would be to seriously study English full-time. So perhaps she could enter Thailand by way of a study or education type visa - I will need to investigate this more in terms of education providers that will assist with her Visa application. Or, maybe it needs to be the other way around - first she is here as a my Dependent, then study English. So, at that point, (being married and both in Thailand) we would both be on the Non-Imm Visas of some category. I could then move to the Retirement Visa at any time, it seems - if that had some strategic advantage, maybe some small advantage is that the Retirement Visa can be re-newed without ever leaving Thailand (whereas renewing an Education Visa needs a fresh application after each year-long study program is completed). Early next year (or a following year, that is - a successive Education Visa), and, dove-tailed between the my return to Thailand on an Education Visa, and, later applying to convert to a Retirement Visa is the window of opportunity mentioned in the Senior Member thaiophoon's response. I guess my future Wife could then remain in Thailand by way of either as my Dependent, or, on her own Education Visa. I am un-clear which way to proceed - as my Dependent, or, for her to pursue her own Education Visa. I am sorry to be so vague - I feel quite lost and un-sure of what strategy to adopt, or, which way to proceed. The hard bit is getting married in Lao - I have a fellow in Lao who helps me each time I go to Lao to re-new my Tourist Visa - he is one of the "Agents" who stands outside the Thai Embassy touting assistance - they are good and reliable, at a smallish cost. He said that he could help me with the Marriage Process - but he would need to refer me "up the line" to deal directly with his "Boss" who would be doing the work - at a cost of US$2,000 and taking about 6 months - my job initially would be acquiring the necessary documents - about 15 in all - yes, a real run-around. The Agent has invited me to deal directly with his Boss when next I go to Lao. I have the impression his Boss is somehow administratively connected within either the Thai or Lao bureaucratic system - but don't really know - just a leap of faith on my part. I often ask the Agent about his net-work and the Boss - but get only general responses - maybe best not to know. I just know that the Agent has never failed me, to date. At this point I am still fishing for ideas from those of you who have experience in any of these matters, namely: the Visa Issues of both myself; my G/F; and later my Wife; and, the marriage process in Lao - a real bucket of worms from my current view point however, clarity may emerge along the way - I just need some guidance to get started on "the right foot" and not get trapped in some back-wash by poor strategic planning of the initial and over-all process. Thanks again for your great information and encouragement - any more "pointers" or tips would be most appreciated.