O Visa For Farang Married In Farangland

[Sunny Valentine]

My friend from Northern Ireland is here in Pattaya now with his Thai wife for a short stay. He plans to move over permanently in a few month. He married his Thai GF back home in Belfast, and wonders what Visa approach would be the best for him.

Some background: He is over 50, has reasonable money in his bank, but no foreign income. His plan is to live here for a Year or 2 and see if he can find a Job, or rather open a company and start working (Guesthouse, Restaurant, he is not specific on that, wants to test out the waters first).

I guess the best way for him would be to apply for a 1 Year Multi O based on marriage at Hull, and extend this with proof of money in Bank after some time in Thailand.

Q: Is the Northern Ireland Marriage Certificate good enough for Hull? What aout extension in Thailand? DOes he need to reregister his Marriage here? And if yes, how to do it? Does he need any further documentation, other than the certificate? Probably a translation?

Anything else he has to consider?

Sunny

[Crossy]

My friend from Northern Ireland is here in Pattaya now with his Thai wife for a short stay. He plans to move over permanently in a few month. He married his Thai GF back home in Belfast, and wonders what Visa approach would be the best for him.

Some background: He is over 50, has reasonable money in his bank, but no foreign income. His plan is to live here for a Year or 2 and see if he can find a Job, or rather open a company and start working (Guesthouse, Restaurant, he is not specific on that, wants to test out the waters first).

I guess the best way for him would be to apply for a 1 Year Multi O based on marriage at Hull, and extend this with proof of money in Bank after some time in Thailand.

Q: Is the Northern Ireland Marriage Certificate good enough for Hull? What aout extension in Thailand? DOes he need to reregister his Marriage here? And if yes, how to do it? Does he need any further documentation, other than the certificate? Probably a translation?

Anything else he has to consider?

Sunny

He can certainly get his initial 'o' with a UK marriage cert (I did). Make sure he applies for a 1 year multi-entry.

Does no harm to demonstrate money in the bank along with the application.

As to the initial extension, anyone know, I will be in the same position in november, can we use a certified translation of our UK certificate??

[lopburi3]

I would just get the multi entry non O visa for now as he does not seem to have it together enough to plan long term yet ((permanently and a year or two are not one and the same)). That will allow him 90 day stays until he decides what the future holds and can be converted/extended when/if the time comes.

If he is set on extension of stay it should be possible during the last 30 days of any 90 day entry if he transfers 400k into a local bank account.

[Crossy]

I would just get the multi entry non O visa for now as he does not seem to have it together enough to plan long term yet ((permanently and a year or two are not one and the same)).  That will allow him 90 day stays until he decides what the future holds and can be converted/extended when/if the time comes.

If he is set on extension of stay it should be possible during the last 30 days of any 90 day entry if he transfers 400k into a local bank account.

Hi Lop.

Any idea about using the UK cert. for the extension??

DC

[Sunny Valentine]

Hi Lop.

Any idea about using the UK cert. for the extension??

DC

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Guess this is the main question left. Anyone done it? What is needed? Does he have to prepare anything back home before he enters the plane one-way?

Sunny

[lopburi3]

Hi Lop.

Any idea about using the UK cert. for the extension??

DC

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Believe some have required translations/registration at MFA and others have not. Being in English do not think it will be required but if so not a major problem.

(for SV friend) But I would just ride out a few 90 day stays myself until more sure of the future and not worry about it.

Prepare a wire transfer agreement with his bank so if he needs to send money it can be done with him in Bangkok.

Edited May 12, 2005 by lopburi3

[kenkannif]

Why not apply at the Thai Consulate in Dublin? They're as good as Hull IME?

[Sunny Valentine]

Why not apply at the Thai Consulate in Dublin? They're as good as Hull IME?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Isn't there a rule that you should apply in your home country?

Sunny

[lopburi3]

Why not apply at the Thai Consulate in Dublin? They're as good as Hull IME?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Isn't there a rule that you should apply in your home country?

Sunny

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not for most nationalities. The long stay (retirement) O-A is the one that normally requires application in home country.

[autonomous_unit]

As the others have stated, a multi-entry O can be obtained at home using the local marriage cert. Unless there is an aversion to quarterly travel, this is an easy way to check things out.

The time when the 1-year extension becomes useful (aside from avoiding a bit of travel) is when one wants to get a work permit. The length of a work permit's validity is linked to the entry permit, which is the 90 day stamp on entry rather than the total length of the O visa! So there is this annoying process of getting work permits updated in lockstep with every entry and before the last one expires. You can reduce this to once a year w/ the extension, though it is still a bit silly if you are getting 30 day "under consideration" stamps while the extension is being processed.

We registered our marriage here at the local Amphur based on our US marriage cert and translations. I am not 100% sure they would have rejected my extension without it, but we had other reasons to get it done as well.

[kenkannif]

Why not apply at the Thai Consulate in Dublin? They're as good as Hull IME?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Isn't there a rule that you should apply in your home country?

Sunny

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not as far as I know (well basically no not for a Non-imm O or B, although it can depend on your nationality).

I just meant why apply at a UK Consulate if he's in Ireland? Or am I confused?

[Sunny Valentine]

Why not apply at the Thai Consulate in Dublin? They're as good as Hull IME?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Isn't there a rule that you should apply in your home country?

Sunny

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not as far as I know (well basically no not for a Non-imm O or B, although it can depend on your nationality).

I just meant why apply at a UK Consulate if he's in Ireland? Or am I confused?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for clarification. Although: Northern Ireland is part of UK, whereas Ireland is an independent country. Got it?

[kenkannif]

^ I keep messin' that up! I actually asked two Irish chaps why they had Euros...they had to explain it's a different country from the UK!

Sorry my mistake!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Why not apply at the Thai Consulate in Dublin? They're as good as Hull IME?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Isn't there a rule that you should apply in your home country?

Sunny

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not as far as I know (well basically no not for a Non-imm O or B, although it can depend on your nationality).

I just meant why apply at a UK Consulate if he's in Ireland? Or am I confused?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You are sober enough Ken and right on the money

[Dah fahrang]

Hi Lop.

Any idea about using the UK cert. for the extension??

DC

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Guess this is the main question left. Anyone done it? What is needed? Does he have to prepare anything back home before he enters the plane one-way?

Sunny

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, I have.

We were married in Hong kong, when under British rule. Original wedding certificate (and later birth certificate for daughter) in English language.

1. Take certifiate to translation bureau and get translation. remember to make sure full details of translator and or bureau appear on reverse of the translated copy.

2. Take original wedding certificate to Embassy of home country in Bangkok.

In my case, British Embassy (although post 1997 they thought I should take it to Chinese Embassy!!) to obtain several certified true copies with Embassy stamp and seal affixed.

3. Go to Foreign Affairs Department in Laksi with original wedding certificate, plus certified true copies of original, plus translation. Take photocopies of all, and remember to make sure translation has name of translator on reverse side of photocopy.

4. Consular Affairs will affix their own seal to the original translation, will keep one certified copy of wedding certificate, and photocopy of original certificate too. They wil give you back the translation with seals on it (confirming marriage is registered with Dept of Consular Affairs) and a copy of your certified true copy with more of their seals on it. your originla wedding dertificate remains unscathed.

5. With these documents (and, of course photocopies of them) you can apply for extension of stay at Immigration.

We did a similar procession to successfully gain dual nationality for our daughter.