Advice On First Extension Of Non-Imm O

[CaptHaddock]

Questions:

1. I am on my first non-Imm O visa for which the pemission to stay stamp will expire on Nov. 22. I had planned to apply for the first 12 month extension during the week of Nov 14 by which point my ฿400k will have been in my account for 60 days. Now however, I am concerned that flooding around the Chaeng Wattana office may affect their ability to accept and process my application. So, I am wondering if it would be better to exit Thailand during the week of Nov 7 instead. Does anyone have a recommendation? I realize we are looking into the future here, but I don't want to squeezed between the extension and the exit requirements.

2. The basis for my application is marriage to a Thai. My financial qualification will be the ฿400k held in my individual account at HSBC. Exactly what documentation will I need?

a. HSBC does not provide a passbook for my account. Should I bring a printout of the online statement and/or history of the account?

b. I need a letter from the Bank produced just prior to making application, correct? Exactly what should the letter say?

c. I will bring an original US marriage certificate and a translation of that document certified by the Thai Consulate in New York and copies of both.

d. Immigration form TM 7 filled out with two photos of the correct size

e. ฿1900 fee

f. my US Passport

g. my wife's Thai ID card and Thai passport

Am I missing anything? My wife will accompany me. I notice in reading the document from Thai immigration, "List of Supporting Documents for Consideration of an Alien's Application for a Temporary Stay in the Kingdom of Thailand" that it mentions the ฿40,000 / month income qualification basis, but does not specify an amount for the bank account method. Does this mean the adequacy of the amount is up to the officer? *** I have now found the revised version of this document that does specify the ฿400k bank account amount.

If it does look like counting on access to Chaeng Wattana is risky, where is the most convenient place these days to go to exit and reenter by flight?

Appreciate advice.

[cardholder]

The money does indeed need to be in a Thai bank account. You will need the extra 90 days. Phnom Penh or Kuala Lumpur are favourite and Air Asia do have some decent fares.

[Mario2008]

The money neees to be in a bank account in Thailand in your name only for 60 days. But you can get an extension of 60 days

I suspect that you will neeed to register your marriage at the amphur in Thailand. That will mean going to your embassy to get a letter from them, have it legalized at the Thai ministry of Freign Affairs consular section at Cheang Wattana Road (near immirgation, it is actually on CW-road) and then have it registered at the amphur. When you register it at the amhur be sure to ask for the Khor rhor 22 form. Immigration will want that.

For the bankaccount immirgation will want bankbook and leter from the bank. The bank will now what is needed and many banks have a branch at the government office where immigration is located.

[CaptHaddock]

The money does indeed need to be in a Thai bank account. You will need the extra 90 days. Phnom Penh or Kuala Lumpur are favourite and Air Asia do have some decent fares.

The money is already in HSBC Bangkok and will have been there for 60 days as of Nov. 13.

[CaptHaddock]

The money neees to be in a bank account in Thailand in your name only for 60 days. But you can get an extension of 60 days

I suspect that you will neeed to register your marriage at the amphur in Thailand. That will mean going to your embassy to get a letter from them, have it legalized at the Thai ministry of Freign Affairs consular section at Cheang Wattana Road (near immirgation, it is actually on CW-road) and then have it registered at the amphur. When you register it at the amhur be sure to ask for the Khor rhor 22 form. Immigration will want that.

For the bankaccount immirgation will want bankbook and leter from the bank. The bank will now what is needed and many banks have a branch at the government office where immigration is located.

What is your basis for believing that the marriage needs to be registered in Thailand? Govts normally recognize marriages performed in other countries.

The money is in an account in my name at HSBC Bangkok and will have been there for 60 days before I apply for the extension. Was I not clear about that? Is there a question as to whether HSBC Thailand is a Thai bank?

[Maestro]

...Is there a question as to whether HSBC Thailand is a Thai bank?

The way I see it it is a branch of a UK bank located in Thailand. An account in your name in this branch of HSBC is acceptable for your application for extension of stay, as Mario said.

What is your basis for believing that the marriage needs to be registered in Thailand? Govts normally recognize marriages performed in other countries.

Your marriage is indeed recognised by the Thai government but it needs to be entered in the records of your local district office before this office can issue the document you need for immigration.

[taninthai]

Pictures of house with you and wife , map showing route to house From immigration office , house book or rental agreement, kor ror 2 maybe you don't have this if married outside Thailand

[cardholder]

The money neees to be in a bank account in Thailand in your name only for 60 days. But you can get an extension of 60 days

I suspect that you will neeed to register your marriage at the amphur in Thailand. That will mean going to your embassy to get a letter from them, have it legalized at the Thai ministry of Freign Affairs consular section at Cheang Wattana Road (near immirgation, it is actually on CW-road) and then have it registered at the amphur. When you register it at the amhur be sure to ask for the Khor rhor 22 form. Immigration will want that.

For the bankaccount immirgation will want bankbook and leter from the bank. The bank will now what is needed and many banks have a branch at the government office where immigration is located.

What is your basis for believing that the marriage needs to be registered in Thailand? Govts normally recognize marriages performed in other countries.

The money is in an account in my name at HSBC Bangkok and will have been there for 60 days before I apply for the extension. Was I not clear about that? Is there a question as to whether HSBC Thailand is a Thai bank?

HSBC - you were not clear about that. HSBC are represented in over 80 countries and you may well have referred to country of domicile. No matter, HSBC Bangkok funds will count - by a similar assumption, the account is presumably Thai Baht denominated ?

There is a difference between legal recognition and what is required by immigration offices. This is from the UK embassy but I am sure the same will apply in the States:-

"The marriage will only be recognised under UK law if it is valid under Thai law. For it to be valid in Thai law, the marriage must be registered with the Registrar at an Amphur office (District Office)."

i believe you will need to take your marriage certificate to your embassy in Bangkok to have it certified and then have it certified. This is a previous answer to a UK TVisa member from Mario2008:-

The embassy has to certify that the marriage certificate is true. Once that is done you go to a translation agency to have it translated into Thai. next step if to have it certified by the Thai Foreign Ministry, consular section. (The translation agency can take care of this for you). Once that is done you go to an amphur/district office and have the wedding recorded into the Thai wedding register.

Immigration will want a copy of the entry into the Thai wedding register, the Khor rhor 22 form.

[Maestro]

From the OP:

c. I will bring an original US marriage certificate and a translation of that document certified by the Thai Consulate in New York and copies of both.

I wonder if the Thai Foreign Ministry will certify the New York Thai consul's signature, so that you would not need the certification by your embassy, a new translation and the ministry's certification of the translator's signature. I've never seen it mentioned that this has been done but you may want to enquire about it.

[InterestedObserver]

From the OP:

c. I will bring an original US marriage certificate and a translation of that document certified by the Thai Consulate in New York and copies of both.

I wonder if the Thai Foreign Ministry will certify the New York Thai consul's signature, so that you would not need the certification by your embassy, a new translation and the ministry's certification of the translator's signature. I've never seen it mentioned that this has been done but you may want to enquire about it.

If the US marriage certificate translation was certified and legalized by the US Department of State and the Royal Thai Consulate in New York then it should be ok. But this is Thailand, the local Amphur may not recognize the authority of the Royal Thai Consulate in New York.

[Maestro]

My thinking was that since the Thai consul in New York is an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this ministry should be able to certify the consul's signature. Then the amphoe has the ministerial certification it needs on that document to proceed with recording the marriage in its books. Unless, of course, this is too logical for Thai officialdom to fathom.

[lopburi3]

The requirement by Immigration is the KR2 document copy along with the marriage certificate copy. To obtain the KR2 it must be translated into Thai (district office does not accept English), signed off by Embassy, registered with MFA and then recorded with a district office in Thailand. Done all the time so Embassy should know the procedure.

[Mario2008]

Indeed the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs might be able to legitimize the signature of the Thai consul. That would mean no need to go to the embassy.you can check with the consular section: Tel: 029817171

Translation into Thai would still be needed.