Advice Needed - Best Route For My Marriage Visa?

[thaiheart]

Long time reader, first time contributer so thank you to all the various members as i can assure you a lot of your questions and answers have helped me in my relatonship with Thailand thus far.

I'd feel rude without introducing myself to anyone who would soon help me so a background on myself - a 23 year old Australian engaged to my lovely 20 year old Thai girl who i've known for nearly 8 months now. She is a University Student, studying English. She is near fluent - makes things easier. Spent a deal of time with her and her lovely family in their Village just outside Udon Thani and it was love at first sight between the lot of us - we get on great and whilst the family has a strong local standing i can assure you inside the family home it's a lot of fun and laughter as we trade jokes and pranks between ourselves.

There was never any pressure or any clock ticking towards marriage but it was just a natural progression with my evergrowing love for her and Thailand and the overwhelming support of her family towards us.

So the big day is upcoming in July and although i'll only be able to be there for a short time due to Business commitments back in Australia, after much thought i've decided i'd like to return to Thailand for an extended time to be with my wife which is a natural urge you'd assume. Her mother is a successful and generous Business woman and my Fiancee also earns from the Business. I am fairly well off for my age having a house here in Sydney i am looking to sell as well as income from investments. We are currently purcashing 1 Rai of land just outside Udon Thani (discounted thanks to Mother in Laws connections ) which we'll be looking to build on within a year. If you add the fact that her Uncle is chief of Police, who has taken a real shine to me, then there is a lot of things going for me if i move to Thailand.

Of course been a young Australian the difficulty of a lot of Thailands processes are somewhat alien to me and take some reading to understand, and to be honest a lot of the info on the web is either outdated or just wrong.

So upon returning to Australia at the end of July, say i finish up here in Sydney within two months (Sell house, finish up at work, finalise commitments etc) and am looking to return to Thailand in September on a Marriage Visa what is my best option? Keep in mind it's not the Marriage itself i need help with, i am well-versed on the documentation required to take to the Amphur to make it official.

Apply within Sydney or within Thailand? If within Thailand what visa should i be on to apply for a Marriage Visa/extension? Or is there somewhere else easier to apply... perth/KL etc?

40k baht a month is no problem, 400k in my Thai Bank account is no problem either.

Preferably i would not have to do border runs and be able to stay on a straight one year stretch but unsure if it's possible.

Any help/advice is greatly appreciated - go easy on me!

[beechguy]

If you will have proof of income, or funds in the bank for the required period for the extension, apply for a single entry Non-Immi "O" Visa in Australia. Return to Thailand, and with about 30 days remaining on the permission to stay, apply for the one year "Extension of Stay" based on your marriage. Once you have the extension, you do address reports every 90 days, and do not have to exit the country.

[thaiheart]

If you will have proof of income, or funds in the bank for the required period for the extension, apply for a single entry Non-Immi "O" Visa in Australia. Return to Thailand, and with about 30 days remaining on the permission to stay, apply for the one year "Extension of Stay" based on your marriage. Once you have the extension, you do address reports every 90 days, and do not have to exit the country.

Within 15 minutes i have a simple answer - thanks so much.

[beejoir]

...... best advise you'll ever get...... DON'T SELL YOUR HOUSE IN AUSTRALIA.

Buy me a beer for it one day.

[worldfun]

hi young guy

yes the visa side of things are rather simple as already answered: apply single (or rather multiple if expecting travels within first 2-3 months in TH) non o (marriage) visa in Australia based on Thai marriage certificates (Thai version should be OK for Thai consulate!).

then before expiry (single entry gets 90 days multiple get as many 90 days within 1 year as u can cram in!) apply 1 year extension at Thailand immigration based on income/bank balance. enjoy!

however not to play relationship/life adviser on a visa forum, but it may be sensible to take it a bit slow with a foreign girl soi far from AU before make drastic life changing measures such as quieting job, selling house & moving to LOS - at least if you may not have a clear 'career path' sorted for Thailand etc already (which you didn't mention I think)? I realize you may more easily then her move over at least until she finish her studies or get a transfer overseas, but things could go haywire just like it could with an OZ gal after marriage!

chok dee

[Mario2008]

Perth will issue a multiple non-O before you are married, if you show a simpe letter from your GF asking for a visa for you and include a copy of her ID-card.

[Sisaketmike]

...... best advise you'll ever get...... DON'T SELL YOUR HOUSE IN AUSTRALIA.

Buy me a beer for it one day.

Agreed. Don't sell your house, think about your future. Love's a feeling that comes and goes. Good luck.

[thaiheart]

First of thank you for all the replys.

I have good connections and a very strong resume so coming back to Australia to work is never going to be a problem for me.

Whilst i don't believe my generation will benefit from a long term housing investment anywhere near as much as the previous two have, i am taking onboard your advice RE not selling my property. Housing is only a portion of my wealth though so it's not like i'd be turning 90% of my wealth into cash.

RE love - yes it certainly can bite you but that's my decision or mistake to make and no amount of advise will ever persuade towards or away from any girl - only she can do that. Thai, Australian, European, Japanese etc etc - there's good girls and some bad girls. I'm confident i've done well in this regard.

P.S - I'll be obtaining my Visa from Perth, seems from a bit of research it is a popular embassy to deal with due to the service.

Thanks again.