Non-Imm O Or Non-Imm B?

[Hyponeros]

I am working in Thailand and therefore I have a non-imm B visa. I have been married to a Thai for more than one year and I am considering of changing my visa to a non-imm O visa. The question is, which one makes most sense or has most advantages?

The one I see in favor of the B visa is that I will not have any hassle with the documents since my HR takes care of it. The one in favor of O visa is that if I lose my job, I don't need to leave the country within 7 days.

Are there other advantages or disadvantage for one or the other visa?

Thank you for your help.

[beechguy]

You wouldn't need to change to a Non-"O" Visa, you would just change the reason for your "Extension of Stay".

[Hyponeros]

You wouldn't need to change to a Non-"O" Visa, you would just change the reason for your "Extension of Stay".

Is that process easier? Is there any advantage to do so?

[beechguy]

You wouldn't need to change to a Non-"O" Visa, you would just change the reason for your "Extension of Stay".

Is that process easier? Is there any advantage to do so?

I think you have already mentioned the primary advantage, not having to leave immediately upon losing your employment, you only get 7 days if you apply for an extension. I don't know about easier or other advantages, but with the extension based on marriage, you would need 400K Baht in a bank account or proof of income of 40K per month, marriage documents, photos, and a map to your home, and your wife would need to be present.

[lopburi3]

Actually the process would be much more complex (you say company takes care of your B extension) and will involve both you and wife and home visits. It may be a divorce is less likely than employment loss but for some that might not be the case.

In any event a 60 day extension of any entry is available for those married so loss of one year extension should not be a major issue.

[digitalchromakey]

You wouldn't need to change to a Non-"O" Visa, you would just change the reason for your "Extension of Stay".

Is that process easier? Is there any advantage to do so?

If you are already on an extension of permission to stay, then I think you can only change the basis for the extension at application time; you would have to cancel the existing extension then immediately re-apply based on the new criteria.

If you are on a current 90 Day Permission to Stay based on a Border Entry with a Current B visa, then you can apply at your local Thai Immigration Department for an Extension of Permission to Stay, during the 30 day period preceeding your 'Enter Until' date.

If you currently have a non B Visa and a Work Permit with a provable Income of 40,000 THB pcm (from previous year's tax return - PND91 plus last month's salary tax - PND1) or 400,000 THB in the bank, then it's much easier to extend your Permission to Stay on the basis of being married to a Thai 777/2551 Section 2.18 - much less paper work is required. However your wife would need to go with you when you apply.

Extensions based on business/working in the Kingdom of Thailand (777/25551 2.1) have much more exacting paper work and often higher Salary/Tax paid requirements, plus qute a few companies do not meet Immigration's Criteriae; note that this type of extension ends the day you leave work not seven days later.

[digitalchromakey]

Actually the process would be much more complex (you say company takes care of your B extension) and will involve both you and wife and home visits. It may be a divorce is less likely than employment loss but for some that might not be the case.

In any event a 60 day extension of any entry is available for those married so loss of one year extension should not be a major issue.

Note that in some areas Labour will not issue a new Work Permit against such a 60 day 'visiting wife' extension; so if you follow this route you could well need to make a visa run to another country to get a new Non Immigrant B Visa before yoiur new WP could be issued.

[sirchai]

You wouldn't need to change to a Non-"O" Visa, you would just change the reason for your "Extension of Stay".

Is that process easier? Is there any advantage to do so?

Nope, it isn't. When applying for a Non-O visa based on marriage you'll have to have at least 400, 000 baht sitting on a Thai bank in your name for at least 3 months, or an income of 40,000 baht/month.You'll have to show a photo with you and your wife on standing in front of your house, or the place where you're living.

They won't give you a O visa right when you apply for it, they'll check if your money is still on the bank and you'll have to come back to immigration after a few weeks. That's how it was when I applied for it.

But you can also get a Non-O visa back in your home country, just by showing your marriage certificate. But then you'll have to leave the country every 90 days. Hope you'll find the right way to stay....

[Mario2008]

The non-B requires an income of 50,000 baht per month for most jobs/nationalities, for based on marriage 40,000 baht a month OR 400,000 in the bank.

In your case you seem to qualify for both, so it doesn't matter. For others it could be an important factor in determining if someone is entitled to yearly extensions of stay or not.

[lopburi3]

When applying for a Non-O visa based on marriage you'll have to have at least 400, 000 baht sitting on a Thai bank in your name for at least 3 months

Marriage extension is two months in bank account - not three.

Note that in some areas Labour will not issue a new Work Permit against such a 60 day 'visiting wife' extension;

But I mentioned this for after loss of employment until ready to obtain Thai Wife one year extension. During employment he has normal work extension of stay so it would not be required.

[digitalchromakey]

Note that in some areas Labour will not issue a new Work Permit against such a 60 day 'visiting wife' extension;

But I mentioned this for after loss of employment until ready to obtain Thai Wife one year extension. During employment he has normal work extension of stay so it would not be required.

Understood, the 60 day extension can be a good move and allows time for planning, bookiing flights, etc.

However Immigration will not change from a 60 day 'Visiting Thai wife' extension to a one year 'Thai Wife' unless they are shown 400K, 2 months or a new WP plus 40k pcm income proof.

Sorry my point was to highlight the 'Catch 22' that in some areas Labour will not issue a new WP based on the 60 day 'Visiting Wife' extension and Immigration will not move to a One year 'Thai Wife' without a WP plus income proof, unless there is evidence of 400k in the bank for 2 months;

A new WP in the above scenario can thus only be issued once the applicant has obtained a fresh Non Immigrant B Visa and/or Border Entry Stamp, or if a one year 'Thai Wife' extension has been first obtained based on 400k in the bank..

[Mario2008]

Note that based on marriage to a Thai income can be from abroad, in which case you need to show a letter from your embassy confirming your income. Only when income is form within Thailand do you need a WP and tax-documents.