Extension On An Existing 1 Year Visa - How Long Can I Get?

[M71]

Hi all - can anyone tell me how long an extension I can get on my current non-imm 1 year visa?

Thanks.

[QED]

What type of visa?

What kind of extension do you want? If you qualify for a retirement or marriage extension you can get 1 year recurring (see numerous previous threads on these topics). If not immigration will give you 7 days if you can show a flight ticket within that time.

[Lite Beer]

Have you got a Visa from a consulate or an extension from Immigration?

And what was the reason for being issued it?

[Mario2008]

That would depend on your situation.

if you mean you have a multiple non-immigrant visa you can extend it for a maximum of 7 days, and immigration would like to see a ticket out of the country within those 7 days.

If you qualify you could try to get a 1 year extension of stay, but for that we need to know on what grounds you got your visa in the first place: marriage to a Thai, work, retirement...?

[M71]

Thanks all - the grounds for the current 1 year visa are I'm married to a Thai and have a work permit.

That would depend on your situation.

if you mean you have a multiple non-immigrant visa you can extend it for a maximum of 7 days, and immigration would like to see a ticket out of the country within those 7 days.

If you qualify you could try to get a 1 year extension of stay, but for that we need to know on what grounds you got your visa in the first place: marriage to a Thai, work, retirement...?

[thaiphoon]

You can apply for 12 month extension of stay based on marriage if you meet the financial requirements, requirements being 400k in Thai bank account in your name for two months prior to application OR 40k/month income (your 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 application form TM7, copies of passport/TM6 departure card and current passport sized photos. Cost 1,900 baht. Some offices are now asking also for Kor Sor 2 (copy of marriage register) so best to check.

You will get a 30 day under consideration stamp. Immigration will give you a date to go back and get the remainder of your extension. If you plan to travel during the period of the extension 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. .

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/tm7.doc

[M71]

Thanks - yep know all the rules as I've had 8 or so 1 year visas before - what I need is a short term extension - maybe 2 weeks and then apply for a 1 year visa again - possible?

You can apply for 12 month extension of stay based on marriage if you meet the financial requirements, requirements being 400k in Thai bank account in your name for two months prior to application OR 40k/month income (your 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 application form TM7, copies of passport/TM6 departure card and current passport sized photos. Cost 1,900 baht. Some offices are now asking also for Kor Sor 2 (copy of marriage register) so best to check.

You will get a 30 day under consideration stamp. Immigration will give you a date to go back and get the remainder of your extension. If you plan to travel during the period of the extension 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. .

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/tm7.doc

[thaiphoon]

Thanks - yep know all the rules as I've had 8 or so 1 year visas before - what I need is a short term extension - maybe 2 weeks and then apply for a 1 year visa again - possible?

You can obtain 60 day extension to your current permission to stay on basis of visiting Thai wife. Visit Immigration with wife. You will need to take with you marriage certificate, wife's ID card, tabbien bahn (house book), completed application form TM7, copies of passport pages and TM6 card + passport photo. Some offices are also asking for photos of you and wife around the house and map to house. Fee 1900 baht. Then apply for extension of stay based on marriage (it is not a visa) within last 30 days.

[M71]

Just visited Chiang Mai immigration to be sure - they said I can get 7 days extension then must leave the country and can re-apply for another 1 year when I return.

I guess BKK and C. Mai immigration are different ?

[Lite Beer]

From the Police Order that deals with extensions.

2.24 In the case of an alien

visiting a Thai spouse or child:

Permission

will be granted for a period of not more than 60 days at a time

(1) Proof of relationship.

(2) In the case of a spouse, their marital relationship shall be de

jure (legitimate) and de facto.

[thaiphoon]

Suspect immigration misunderstood you. You can get 60 day extension on basis of visiting Thai wife. Here is the wording of the official police order 777/2551:

2.24 In the case of an alien visiting a Thai spouse or child:

Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 60 days at a time

(1) Proof of relationship.

(2) In the case of a spouse, their marital relationship shall be de jure (legitimate) and de facto.

[M71]

Thanks people - yes sure looks like the guy at immigration here misunderstood alright.

Suspect immigration misunderstood you. You can get 60 day extension on basis of visiting Thai wife. Here is the wording of the official police order 777/2551:

2.24 In the case of an alien visiting a Thai spouse or child:

Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 60 days at a time

(1) Proof of relationship.

(2) In the case of a spouse, their marital relationship shall be de jure (legitimate) and de facto.

[M71]

Thanks - yep know all the rules as I've had 8 or so 1 year visas before - what I need is a short term extension - maybe 2 weeks and then apply for a 1 year visa again - possible?

You can obtain 60 day extension to your current permission to stay on basis of visiting Thai wife. Visit Immigration with wife. You will need to take with you marriage certificate, wife's ID card, tabbien bahn (house book), completed application form TM7, copies of passport pages and TM6 card + passport photo. Some offices are also asking for photos of you and wife around the house and map to house. Fee 1900 baht. Then apply for extension of stay based on marriage (it is not a visa) within last 30 days.

To update this thread with a report - I did as stated above and was promptly told to leave the country and get a visa immediately.

DON'T expect to get a 60 day extension unless you have a very very good reason - meeting all the above means absolutley zero - be warned people - the information in the forums is only advice and if you want to find out what is happening in the real world talk to immigration.

[Lite Beer]

Police order 777/2551

2.24 In the case of an alien

visiting a Thai spouse or child:

Permission

will be granted for a period of not more than 60 days at a time

(1) Proof of relationship.

(2) In the case of a spouse, their marital relationship shall be de

jure (legitimate) and de facto.

[lopburi3]

It appear Chiang Mai refused to provide because you already had an extension of stay? Did they give you a reason? They never issue such extensions back-to-back so if you had a one year extension already they may have considered your application to be such.

Criteria for Consideration

1. Application form

2. Copy of applicant’s passport

3. Copy of household registration certificate

4. Copy of national ID card of the person having Thai nationality

5. Copy of a marriage certificate or copy of a birth certificate

[M71]

It appear Chiang Mai refused to provide because you already had an extension of stay? Did they give you a reason? They never issue such extensions back-to-back so if you had a one year extension already they may have considered your application to be such.

Criteria for Consideration

1. Application form

2. Copy of applicant’s passport

3. Copy of household registration certificate

4. Copy of national ID card of the person having Thai nationality

5. Copy of a marriage certificate or copy of a birth certificate

Yes correct I had a 12 month extension on my non - o visa already.

Not blaming the person who posted the info re Police order 777/2551

Point is this can be misunderstood as the 60 day extension does not apply across the board and I fear other people will misunderstand this also.

Not a pleasant experience - perhaps clarifying this when posting the police order will save some pain in future.

[Mario2008]

You should have gotten a 60 day extension. 60 day extensions are not given back to back, in essence right after a previous 60 day extension.

Never seen reports about a 60 day extension being denied otherwise, if you stay with your Thai wife/child and show up together.

Must be some misunderstanding.

[M71]

Went there with my Thai wife and our son's birth certificate plus all paperwork in order - no bank statement showing money as I understand you don't need this for a 60 day. I was on a 12 month extension on my non-o spouse visa.

An officer in there did give me a 60 day extension a couple of years ago and said back then "don't come back expecting another one" which I took as meaning another 60 days back to back.

Same officer last week was there and said I told you never to come back expecting another 60 day extension - never is never.

So I was refused and told to leave the country - is this a first as far as you know?

[Mario2008]

Yes, it seems to me he interprets the rules very strictly and as that you cannot get another 60 day extension on the same visa entry. I believe the rule is normally interpreted as not allowing it 2 in a row, but if you have a 1 year extension in between it should be allowed. Some immigraiton offices don't allow it more than a few times in 1 year, but this interpretation is new to me.