Suggestions Needed

[Hollywood13]

I'll try to make this as short as possible.

- Will be in Thailand for 3 weeks this month and will be getting married to a Thai

- Will then return to Afghanistan

- Will return in August-ish for 6 to 9 months before returning to contract work

Obviously it would be a PITA to get a tourist visa for 30 days at a pop for 6 to 9 months when I rutun in August-ish. Should I go ahead and get a marriage visa (non-immigrant O visa)? If so, do I get a tourist visa when I enter Thailand and then work on the marriage visa? Can a marriage visa be granted in Thailand, or would I have to leave Thailand and go to Singapore (or another country) and get it from a Thai embassy? I've heard there's a tourist visa one can obtain that lasts for longer than 30 days. How long is that good for? I would think I'd need to get it from outside of Thailand, and since there's no Thai embassy in Afghanistan, that's going to require me to go to some other country first. So, how long would it take for that to get approved (if I should even go that route)?

I will be going to the U.S. Embassy in BKK upon my arrival in about a week to get the required form stating I'm not married. Should I do anything else while I'm there to save me a trip to the embassy when I want to get a marriage visa?

Thanks for any suggestions!

[lopburi3]

1. A tourist visa would allow 60 day stay and could be extended 30 days. You have to obtain from a Consulate and normal service is apply morning and receive next workday afternoon. What you plan to use now is called a visa exempt entry (30 days).

2. There is no marriage visa but you would qualify for non immigrant O visa. Normally marriage certificate/copy of wife ID card/copy of her home register might be required and that allows a 90 day stay. Some Consulates will issue a multi entry valid for a year but conditions vary (show of funds to support yourself or need for such a visa primarily). KL is a positive with set rule of show 100k in bank account they will issue the multi entry so perhaps fly there or Singapore on way to Bangkok or take a vacation with wife to do it.

[PoorSucker]

I will be going to the U.S. Embassy in BKK upon my arrival in about a week to get the required form stating I'm not married. Should I do anything else while I'm there to save me a trip to the embassy when I want to get a marriage visa?

You must also translate it to Thai and get the translation verified by Ministry of Foreign affairs (MFA)

[Hollywood13]

I will be going to the U.S. Embassy in BKK upon my arrival in about a week to get the required form stating I'm not married. Should I do anything else while I'm there to save me a trip to the embassy when I want to get a marriage visa?

You must also translate it to Thai and get the translation verified by Ministry of Foreign affairs (MFA)

I'm aware of that requirement, but that doesn't get done at the embassy. What I meant by the question was is there anything else I should do at the embassy while I'm there (to avoid me having to go there another time in the future)...such as getting my birth certificate validated or something (I have my original birth certificate, so I don't think that will be a probably if it's asked for sometime during the process, but am uncertain).

[Hollywood13]

1. A tourist visa would allow 60 day stay and could be extended 30 days. You have to obtain from a Consulate and normal service is apply morning and receive next workday afternoon. What you plan to use now is called a visa exempt entry (30 days).

2. There is no marriage visa but you would qualify for non immigrant O visa. Normally marriage certificate/copy of wife ID card/copy of her home register might be required and that allows a 90 day stay. Some Consulates will issue a multi entry valid for a year but conditions vary (show of funds to support yourself or need for such a visa primarily). KL is a positive with set rule of show 100k in bank account they will issue the multi entry so perhaps fly there or Singapore on way to Bangkok or take a vacation with wife to do it.

Okay, so what you're suggesting is when I'm in Thailand in a week, I should keep a copy of my marriage certificate, a copy of my wife's ID card, and a copy of her home registration book. In August-ish I then go to KL, show proof that I have a ton of money in the bank (how...what is considered "proof") and apply for a one year multi-entry visa if possible, or a 90 day visa. If I only get the 90 day visa, then I just go back to KL when that expires and apply for anohter 90 visa.

Did I interpret that correctly?

[lopburi3]

You should have wife send copies signed/dated by her closer to the date of application as they are used to show marriage is ongoing (a major concern). KL requires 100,000 baht or more in a bank account. With that, under current policy, you will receive a multi entry. If a place would not issue that they would provide a single entry and you could return for another but should explain you work outside of Thailand so normal immigration extension of stay is not an option. Although you might consider that during your long visit (you need at least a month under review each year at about the same time so it may not fit).

[Hollywood13]

When I move there this Summer for the 6 to 9 month stay, I don't plan on leaving the country during that time frame with the exception of maybe a short trip to Hong Kong...but it's nice to have a multi-entry in case there's a family emergency back in the States.

After that extended stay, my trips to the LOS will be limited to 3 or 4 weeks at a time over the next 2 to 3 years, so a normal 30-day tourist visa will be fine for a while without me having to renew the non-immigrant O visa.

Thanks for your help and suggestions of my wife mailing me the paperwork signed/dated closer to the application date. Oh...BTW...does that need to be notified? Could she just sign the forms when I'm with her this months (or when I go in May for 3 weeks) and then I can date them a little before I submit the application?

[lopburi3]

Suspect it would look better in her handwriting. It is good to have non immigrant visa if you can as people take you more seriously (banks and government agencies) and it allows one way travel (the 30 day visa exempt can require show of outbound ticket to airline to board at times).

[mstribling]

Shivers PM me. I'm drinking tonight but tomorrow I'll set you up. Did the exact same thing in 2009 coming out of OEF.