I am a 52 year old American man working in an international school here in Thailand on a two year contract. For what it's worth, I have a work permit, visa, and a one-year multilple entry visa. I will be married to a 38 year old Filipina in Davao over Christmas, then bringing her back to Thailand with me. I hear many, many conflicting versions of what I need to do. On top of that, the thread below on the RTE in Manila is not encouraging. Anyone definitely, for sure, know what I need to do, and how often, to keep my wife here with me?

Thanks so much for your help, everyone!

Rick

If you had an extension of stay for one year she could come in on the back of that so your first question might be why are you using a multi entry visa if you have employment that provides a work permit. Do you not meet immigration income requirements (60K) for extension of stay? If you really have a one year extension and mean a multi re-entry permit then she should try for a non immigrant visa (or at least a real tourist visa) and then extend her stay at immigration on the basis of being your dependent spouse.

Believe she has no choice but a tourist visa (as many entry as she can get) and border runs at this point if you are really using a multi entry visa and making 90 day border runs.

If you had an extension of stay for one year she could come in on the back of that so your first question might be why are you using a multi entry visa if you have employment that provides a work permit.  Do you not meet immigration income requirements (60K) for extension of stay?  If you really have a one year extension and mean a multi re-entry permit then she should try for a non immigrant visa (or at least a real tourist visa) and then extend her stay at immigration on the basis of being your dependent spouse.

Believe she has no choice but a tourist visa (as many entry as she can get) and border runs at this point if you are really using a multi entry visa and making 90 day border runs.

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Lopburi,

I know that I have a work permit in process (should be back here soon), a one-year multi-entry visa that requires me only to check in with immigration every 3 months or leave the country, and that I easily meet the 60K requirement. What do you mean when you say that my wife can "come in on the back" of my current visa? I have heard that she will have to leave the country and go back to Manila either every 3 months or 6 months, depending on if she gets a multi-entry or a single-entry visa. As you can tell, I'm a tad confused but thanks, Lopburi

Thanks again, my friend

Rick

1. A multi entry visa does not give you any option in itself - you leave the country every 90 days.

2. You have the option, once you get that work permit, to extend your stay for one year at a time. Once that is done you only have to advise immigration your address each 90 days - no exit of the country required. This is what you want and need.

3. Your wife can use your status of one year extension of stay to get the same.

4. Even without that she could make border runs or obtain new tourist visa from Penang rather than return to Manila.

If you are at a reputable international school, the HR people there should take care of it. A non-thai spouse (ie your wife) of a non Thai worker on a work permit (ie you) should have no problem having their stay in Thailand regularised for the same length of time that you (the work permit holder) are eligible to stay in Thailand.

Thank you for your help, gentlemen!

Rick