Contradictory Information At Suvarnabhumi Immigration Regarding Applying For A Non-Immigrant O Based On Marriage Visa

[Basch]

Hi,

I'm 35 years old, male, German and have been married to a Thai national for around 4 years now.

I have spent the last 3 years on consecutive 1 year non-immigrant-O visas based on marriage, both with 40.000 baht per month salary (wife's) as proof and lately by showing 400.000 baht on my own bank plus the wedding certificate etc.

Just the usual stuff.

This year, I was a bit late getting the 400K into my account in time and my wife was on a business trip abroad at the time too so she couldn't join to Chaeng Watthana. Coincidently, by the time my 1 year Non-O was expired I was going to Europe anyway, for the first time in ages. So I left without being able to renew and decided to apply newly as soon as I got back.

I just came back and by now the 400.000 baht have been in my bank for more than 3 months and I have all papers, the wife's back from the business trip soon too etc.

I didn't go to any embassy when I was in Europe, I didn't wanna spend money on any additional visa when the only way to apply for a 1 year non-O was in Bangkok anyway(so I was told when I asked at Chaeng Watthana during my last 90 days report).

On arrival at Suvarnabhumi, I got a 30 day stamp and then went to contact the Immigration guys just to clarify about the timeframe for applying for the new 1 year non-O based on marriage at Chaeng Watthana.

The first officer I talked to was adamant that there is absolutely no way for me to apply for this now and that I have to leave Thailand again first and come back on a marriage visa from an embassy abroad before being able to do anything about it. <deleted>?

I found another important looking immigration guy and he told me all I needed to do now was go to Chaeng Watthana with the wife, the bank statement, wedding papers and all necessary forms (as usual) and apply there and around 1 months later I will get the 1 year Non-O, no leaving Thailand involved.

Can someone please clarify? Dun wanna go to Chaeng Watthana for nothing.

If one really would have to leave the country for this that would make absolutely no sense to me what with me having all necessary papers with me, then again, it's Thailand...

THX!

Basch

[beechguy]

You previously were not getting one year visas in Bangkok, you were getting your "permission to stay" extended to one year. They can't do that directly with a "Visa Exempt" entry, they have to convert to an "O" Visa, that usually requires at least 21 days remaining for your permission to stay on the "Visa Exempt" entry.

[Jimi007]

The first officer I talked to was adamant that there is absolutely no way for me to apply for this now and that I have to leave Thailand again first and come back on a marriage visa from an embassy abroad before being able to do anything about it. <deleted>?

I found another important looking immigration guy and he told me all I needed to do now was go to Chaeng Watthana with the wife, the bank statement, wedding papers and all necessary forms (as usual) and apply there and around 1 months later I will get the 1 year Non-O, no leaving Thailand involved.

You cannot get a visa in Thailand, that I know of. You can extend your existing visa here which you should have done before you left Thailand and gotten a re entry permit. I know a few people who have made this mistake. Otherwise you should have applied for a new nonimmigrant visa while your were in you home country. Unless the rules have changed again, you will have to get a non-o visa in KL. Good luck and I'm sure litebeer or lopburi3 will clarify further this for you.

[lopburi3]

You can convert that 30 day stay to a non immigrant 90 day stay at Immigration but you will need at least a week remaining on permitted to stay (it was 21 days but they seem to allow less currently). There will be a 2,000 baht fee charged. After that is done you can do the normal one year extension of stay but will likely have to wait several months. The alternative is a quick trip out to obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa as you really should have done on your trip.

[Basch]

Ok, thx to all, I should have gotten one back home yeah, still find it rather silly but well. Penang it is, gotta go there soon anyway, might as well now, what do they want to see at the embassy over there these days for a non-O based on marriage single entry? I haven't done anz of thgese visa runs in years.

Cheers,

Basch

[PoorSucker]

You can apply for 60 day extension of stay so you have time to convert to non-O.

From 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.

[Basch]

You can apply for 60 day extension of stay so you have time to convert to non-O.

From 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.

Thx, also sounds like an option and if I'm not wrong, lopburi referred to a similar method. I wonder why I would then have to wait for several months though according to lopburi? Since I wanna get it over with asap I guess the Penang thingie'd be best though. One more time, can anyone confirm what I need to bring to Penang? Bank statement(preferrably with lots of dough as I recall), wedding certficate, anything else?

Cheers,

Basch

[lopburi3]

There really should not be any requirement other than marriage certificate/copy of wife id card but I would take a note signed by wife asking for visa issue just in case asked. It it the multi entry that funds are more likely to be asked (if they will issue at all).

You can normally only extend during the last 30 days of a 90 day entry - exceptions are often made for retirement when all paperwork is ready but do not being they will be made for marriage - so if you obtain a change of entry you get a 90 day stay and would then have to wait until less than 30 days remaining to do the extension of stay part.

[Basch]

There really should not be any requirement other than marriage certificate/copy of wife id card but I would take a note signed by wife asking for visa issue just in case asked. It it the multi entry that funds are more likely to be asked (if they will issue at all).

You can normally only extend during the last 30 days of a 90 day entry - exceptions are often made for retirement when all paperwork is ready but do not being they will be made for marriage - so if you obtain a change of entry you get a 90 day stay and would then have to wait until less than 30 days remaining to do the extension of stay part.

Yeah I see thanks. That will be the same problem when I come back from Penang with a fresh 90 day non-O though ey? Gotta wait til 60 days have passed? That'd be ok too, juz the untouchable 400k aren't too cool.

Cheers,

Basch

[skyaslimit]

keep it up man KL is important , there are many ways to resolve 400K. proplem when you return so try to concentrate for an " O" till u r back.

Good Luck