Going From A Tourist Visa To Non O For Marriage?

[Somnambulist]

Well, we were busy with the wedding plans and kept putting off thinking about the actual Thai marriage visa. We still haven't even actually gotten married because the fiancee hasn't sent the document I got at the American embassy to Bangkok yet.

My Thai fiancee says I can't get a marriage visa (actually a Non Im O for being with family?) if I only have a tourist visa. I'm hoping I can. Here's my situation. I'm currently on a non Im B that will expire (no more visa runs) on January 8. I got it in Brisbane and would have to go back there to get another one. But I also need six months of validity on my passport (American BTW) when I apply for the marriage visa, but mine expires April 9.

My solution - Assuming I can go from a tourist visa to a marriage visa, just go to Vientiane and get one or two tourist visas, which will give me time to apply for the marriage visa with my new passport.

If I do need a non Im or whatever to apply for a marriage visa, I'd still go to Vientiane, then get my new passport, then fly to Brisbane and get a normal Non Im O. I'd live on that for a year and then get the marriage visa.

My fiancee's solution is too unlikely, I think, so I won't post it just yet.

[lopburi3]

Your passport is invalid for travel to just about anywhere other than return to the US. You need a new passport now (about 10 day process). You can not obtain a visa in that passport.

Once you have new passport you will need new paper from Embassy for marriage (as old one will not match your new passport information) - that needs to be translated into Thai and registered at MFA (perhaps 2 day process). You should do that at same time you pick up new passport. Once that is done you are free to marry at any district office. If not doing that until after January 6 you can obtain tourist visa in new passport and once married (and meeting extension of stay requirements) convert at Bangkok (not all others will do) or visit Vientiane again for a non immigrant O visa.

[thaiphoon]

You will need a minimum of 21 days left on your permission to stay to go through the conversion process from tourist visa to extension of stay based on marriage (financial requirements being 400k in Thai bank for 2 months prior to first application or 40k/month income), assuming local immigration will process.

[Somnambulist]

Thanks very much both of you for your help. The U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai, where I live, claims it only takes two weeks to get a new passport and I already have an appointment for Tuesday so I have plenty of time. Oddly, if you live outside the U.S. or Canada you must apply in person but when I recently asked for an application for a new passport I recieved "Application For A U.S. Passport By Mai" (form DS-82) Oh well, I won't quibble. And then, Vientiane here we come. At least I get to make the trip with my honey.

[lopburi3]

That is the correct application form when you have a passport and apply at Consulate - you can use it or do online/print out and submit to Consulate. You show your passport when you hand it in for processing.

[SM7WGP]

Remember you have to have a registered marriage in the AMPUR, not only a Buddha ceremony to get a spouse visa.

[thaiphoon]

Remember you have to have a registered marriage in the AMPUR, not only a Buddha ceremony to get a spouse visa.

Yes. The amphur will also provide Form Kor Sor 2 (copy of marriage register) which most immigration offices are now asking for sight of when processing extension of stay applications (is not a visa).

[Somrak]

The amphur will also provide Form Kor Sor 2 (copy of marriage register) which most immigration offices are now asking for sight of when processing extension of stay applications (is not a visa).

.... may let make a few copies of the marriage-register-paper when you get married and let them "stamp" (as originals). Red stamp - cost nothing.

May you need them later.

[Somnambulist]

Hello again everybody,

Well, despite information from my wife and a poster on this thread, I was shocked to learn that I can't do a conversion from a tourist visa to Non-O for marriage in Chiang Mai. Maybe all those teachers who said I have a thick skull were right. Anyway, I'm stuck with two tourist visas, the first of which will expire March 8th. I don't want to end up ten years from now needing to renew my marriage visa but not having six months left on my passport (I'm optimistic that I'll still be married ). Also, to use my remaining tourist visa I'd have to do a Mae Sai visa run (no thanks).

Oh, also - correct me if I'm wrong but converting in Bangkok takes two weeks. I don't want to make two trips to BKK and I'm not going to stay there for two weeks.

So, I want to get it all over with first week of March by going back to Vientiane and getting a single entry Non-O for marriage. My question is: is it a problem having one remaining tourist visa in my pasport or will they just cancel it?

Also, my wife would kind of like to come with me but that would just add to the expense of what is a long, tedious trip. Would just like to confirm that for the single entry she does not need to come along. Many thanks.

[Somnambulist]

In case anyone is still reading, my wife called the Vientiane consulate and was told that to change a tourist visa to a non_O for marriage:

a) I can show up with an unused tourist visa. They'll just cancel it.

The wife doesn't need to be present

c) I need to bring a copy of the wife's ID, a copy of the wife's house book, marriage certificate, and and a copy of my passport.

If dialing from Thailand, the phone number of the Thai consulate in Vientiane is 85621415337 ext 610. Don't know how their English is though there was an English option. My wife did all the talking in Thai.

[Somnambulist]

In case anyone is still reading, my wife called the Vientiane consulate and was told that to change a tourist visa to a non_O for marriage:

a) I can show up with an unused tourist visa. They'll just cancel it.

The wife doesn't need to be present

c) I need to bring a copy of the wife's ID, a copy of the wife's house book, marriage certificate, and and a copy of my passport.

If dialing from Thailand, the phone number of the Thai consulate in Vientiane is 85621415337 ext 610. Don't know how their English is though there was an English option. My wife did all the talking in Thai.

I arrived at the Thai Consulate in Vientiane at 11am on Tuesday and perhaps because it was the day following a holiday (Buddhist) I was turned away because approx 800 people had already been admitted. I was approached by some yound men saying they could get me my visa that day for 5,000 baht. haha, yeah right. The next enterprising young fellow to approach me had a queue number for sale for 500 and I bought it and was let inside. (number 547 and they were already into the 400s so my wait was less than an hour. I submitted the documents I listed above and it worked. But, the next day, I arrived at 2pm and waited in line until a few minutes after three, again because of the Buddhist holiday I assume.