Doing The Initial Switch From Tourist To Non-Immigrant O Outside Of Thailand

[attrayant]

Hi guys. I've read through a few other non-imm O threads but they all seem to be talking about extensions on an existing O visa. My question is about doing that initial jump from a 60+30 tourist visa to the non-immigrant O visa based on my marriage to a Thai wife.

I just happen to be taking a 2 week trip to Saigon in late January for the Tet holiday and figured I could use this opportunity to do the switch. But I want to make sure that I have everything I need, since I will be out of the country and there will be no going back if I forget some important piece of paper.

Can I just apply for the O at the HCMC consulate with only my marriage cert in hand, or do I need all of the documents that you would normally bring to immigration for the 1-year extension (passbook showing a 2-month old pile of cash, picture of me and wifey, house registration card, map to the house, marriage cert, affidavit from friends/neighbors, etc.) Unfortunately the wife can't get the time off work to go with me so I will be doing this by myself (and therefore will only be able to have copies of her ID & house registration card).

And should two weeks in HCMC be enough time to do this?

Thanks.

[lopburi3]

You should have the marriage and copy plus copies signed by her of ID card and home register. As added proof good to have a short note authored by her asking that a non immigrant O visa be issued but normally not a requirement.

If you would like multi entry Savannakhet would be the current place to go but if you intend to extend later you will only need the single entry and that should be available in HCMC.

[attrayant]

Oh thanks for the speedy response! I think I have everything here except the letter. I'll ask her to pen a quick sentence or two for me when she comes back into town.

By the way, as I understand it, the house registration card is supposed to be evidence of my address while I stay in Thailand. Does that mean my name is supposed to be on it somewhere?

[lopburi3]

No. But you can obtain a yellow book with your name in it but it is not required. Being married they will accept your wife's address as yours.

[attrayant]

Just a quick update for those of you who might be playing along at home.

We live pretty close to the Don Mueang Immigration building so I figured I'd pop in and see if the switch from tourist to non-imm-O could be done here. Apparently it can be done, but they need my wife to accompany me for this. I hope the Thai consulate in HCMC won't have the same requirement because wifey isn't coming with me to Vietnam.

[lopburi3]

You must qualify for one year extension of stay to convert inside Thailand as it is only allowed as part of that process. And Don Muang would not do it AFAIK as they are not the immigration office for Bangkok so suspect you were talking about Chiang Watanna.

At an Embassy you are just making application for a visa and do not have to qualify for one year extension of stay.

[attrayant]

Not sure what the official name of the building is, but it's about 1 km west of the Lak Si railway station. Enormous building with a hollow center, like a football stadium.

When I went there a couple of weeks ago for my 30 day extension, the officer we worked with said that converting me from tourist to O could be done there, so that's why I went back today. Today, the nice lady at the information counter also said that it was possible, but that my wife needed to accompany me. I made sure that she knew I was doing a switch, not an extension.

No matter, I'm looking forward to my trip to HCMC and will deal with the extension when I get back.

[attrayant]

Sorry to bump this but I just noticed...

You should have the marriage and copy...

Emphasis mine. This seems to be a recurring theme in many threads... bring the original plus copies. Does this mean I can run the marriage cert through any ordinary photocopier (or even my scanner here at home and print out my own copy) or do I need to go back to the marriage bureau and get some specially certified and authenticated copy of the marriage cert?

I assume the purpose of bringing multiple copies is in case they want them for their files; that way I get to keep my originals. Correct?

Thanks.

[beechguy]

Make your own copies of everything, and sign and date them if required by the consulate or immigration.

[attrayant]

Thanks. Somebody just pointed me to this site for the consulate in HCMC:

http://www.thaiconsu...tid=8&Itemid=13

Items required are (my comments/questions in red italics):

1. Application form completed in full and signed by the applicant

2. Three recent color photos (size 4x6 cm)

3. Passport with validity at least 6 months and one copy of pages 1-3 of the renewal (the renewal of what?)

4. Copy of roundtrip flight ticket

5. Copy of Marriage certificate

6. Copy of spouse’s passport (Is the word spouse here referring to me or my wife? If the latter, what happens if my wife doesn't have a passport?)

8. In case of minors, the documents to be attached are the following :

• Certificate of Birth and one photocopy
  
• Marriage Certificate of parents and one photocopy
  

(I'm not bothering to attach the child's birth certificate since it is not mine, but is from a previous marriage.)

And how is the second bullet item in #8 (Marriage Certificate of parents and one photocopy) different from #5 (copy of marriage certificate)? (How is this bullet item even relevant to a minor?)

7. Copy of ID card and Certificate of Family Status of spouse with signature on each page (What is this Certificate of Family Status of spouse?)

Also interesting to note that they only accept payment in $US.

[beechguy]

2. Just copies of the information pages of your passport.

6. Copy of wife's ID card.

7. Copy of wife's ID and her Tabien Baan would be my guess.

8. You're not applying for a visa for a minor, so what difference does it make.

[attrayant]

8. You're not applying for a visa for a minor, so what difference does it make.

Ah so that applies only if I'm seeking a visa for my non-Thai child? OK got it, thanks.

[attrayant]

Update: I picked up my new visa today, no hassles at all. Thanks to all for the advice.

[moe666]

Picked it up where Vietnam or Bangkok immigration.

[attrayant]

I am in HCMC now. I dropped off my paperwork on Tuesday and picked up my new non-immi O yesterday at 77 Tran Quoc Thao Street, District 3 in Ho Chi Minh City (I linked to it above in post #10).

By the way, the nice young lady behind the glass seemed pleasantly surprised about the letter from my wife. Almost like she had never seen one and thought it was a nice touch. They had a number of old policy documents pinned up on bulletin boards in the waiting area. Some of them were dated 2006. The one that caught my eye was the notice about having to wait 90 days outside of Thailand if you've just exited on a tourist visa. In other words, no back-to-back visas at all. I snapped a photo of it (and a few other docs) with my phone in case it's of interest to anyone.