Hi there!

I've got a situation: Just got yesterday my Non-Imm O "Marriage" stamp at Chaengwattana office (originally was on Tourist 30 days and applied for a 60 day extension to visit wife so that I had time to do all the paperwork), but it seems that they gave me an extension of 90 days instead of one year!

So, I'm not sure how to read the "visa stamp" (see attached file)because there is no expiration date on it. However, there's one more stamp next to it that says I am admitted for 90 days!!

I have to say I don't understand my immigration status here. I thought I applied for a 1 year extension of stay. Could you please explain to me in plain English what's going on and what I should do next?

Thank you

For whatever reason the thumb nail that you attached willl not open in my browser. You can not extend a tourist visa for marriage purposes, only a Non-O can be extended. It looks like they "converted" your tourist visa to a 90 day Non-O visa. It should have cost you 2000 baht. During the last 30 days of your permission to stay you can extend for 1 year - cost 1900 baht. You must meet the financial rquirements, either 40000 baht/month income or 400000 baht in a Thai bank in your name only. The 400000 baht must be seasoned for 2 months and the initial 90 day visa gives you time to open the account, deposit the money and allow it to season.

Yes, I paid 2,000 baths... But then, why would they ask me to have 400k in my thai bank account if it's to issue a 90 day Non-imm O?! I don't get it

Yes, I paid 2,000 baths... But then, why would they ask me to have 400k in my thai bank account if it's to issue a 90 day Non-imm O?! I don't get it

The upgrade to a Non Imm O Visa depends on you being elligible for a 12 month extension.

Hence the bank balance.

Apply for the extension during the final 30 days.

In order to convert the tourist visa to a Non-O that you intend to extend for marriage purposes, you have to show that you have the 400000 baht in the bank, but it does not have to be there for 2 months. You should go back during the last 30 days of your current permission to stay and get a 1 year extension. The cost will be 1900 baht. Even if the money had already "seasoned", they want you to come back and extend during the last 30 days.

Edited January 31, 201214 yr by wayned

Yes, I paid 2,000 baths... But then, why would they ask me to have 400k in my thai bank account if it's to issue a 90 day Non-imm O?! I don't get it

The upgrade to a Non Imm O Visa depends on you being elligible for a 12 month extension.

Hence the bank balance.

Apply for the extension during the final 30 days.

I initially showed I had 400k in my bank account. Does it mean I need to maintain 400K when applying for extension?

Yes it has to be there for at least 2 months before application.

Then, should I submit all the paperwork once again and go with my wife to get the one year extension?

Yes, that is correct.

All of the paperwork again and take your wife. Fun and games! When you apply for the extension, they will only grant you another 30 day "under consideration" period. During that 30 days they will visit your house and interview your neighbors to see if you are really married. At the end of the 30 days you will have to go back and get the balance of your 1 year permission to stay. You will then have to report your address to immigration every 90 days that your are in Thailand. If you want to leave Thailand during your extension period you must purchase a re-entry permit - single, 1000 baht; multiple 3800 baht. If you leave without the re-entry permit your extension is cancelled and your have to start all over again. Most of us purchase at least a single re-entry permit at the same time that we extend just to cover any emergency that arises.

Edited January 31, 201214 yr by wayned

Thai immigration logic is pretty unique!!! Unique waste of time as well...

By the way, would it be allowed to switch to 40k income from 400k in thai bank account when applying for the extension?

Yes, you can switch. Be sure to have tax docuemnts if the income is from within Thailand or a letter from your embassy if from abroad.

The extension will be a longer process and more docuemnts might be needed checking. You will also get 30 days first and then need to go back for final approval, which is given by a committee, and than get the rest of the 1 year extension.

Ok, got it. If letter of income from embassy is chosen, how long would it be valid for? In other terms, if i get the letter now, would immigration accept it in 60 days from now?

On a side note, would it be an easier task to go the KL consulate to get the one year "visa/stamp" extension?

The validity of the letter depends on the immirgation office you use, a few weeks old should not be a problem, but a few months old might.

Froma consulate abroad you can only get a visa, meaning a stay of 90 days before you have to leave the country. A multiple non-O would mean you have to elave every 90 days and can do this for 1 year, without the need of getting a new visa. But you would still need to elave the country every 90 days. By leaving and re-entering just before the visa expires, you can get almost 15 months out of it. (Each entry before the visa expires is good for 90 days).

So if you travel a lot, it is a good deal.

Thai immigration logic is pretty unique!!! Unique waste of time as well...

By the way, would it be allowed to switch to 40k income from 400k in thai bank account when applying for the extension?

Then leave and return on 30 day visa exempt stamps from the airport easy solution

I use the letter for my retirement extension. I use the office in Nakhon Sawan, not Bangkok, and they required that it be less than 30 days old. There have been some reports of other offices accepting letters that were older, but I think that I would limit it to 30 days or less.

Marriage Requirements

(6) In case of marriage with a Thai lady, the husband who is an alien must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 baht per month or a money deposit in a local Thai bank of not less than 400,000 baht for the past 2 months for expenses within a year.

Letter from your Thai Bank showing balance and up to date bank book.

OR.

Letter from your Embassy showing income. Now may also need proof of income as back up.

Marriage Certificate

Marriage Registry entry.

Wife's Tabbien Baan and ID Card.

Your Passport.

Copies of everything.

Photos of you and your Wife in and around the house.

A map showing the way to your house.

Passport size photos and 1,900 Baht fee.

Take your Wife to be interviewed.

You will be given a 30 day under consideration stamp.

Go back in a month and get the remainder.

Thank you all for your contributions. I now know better!

I see the point of having 400K for at least two months to get the one year stamp. It makes sense. What I don't get is why they asked me to have 400K in my thai account just for a 90 day period. Not so clear on this one!!

To prove you can extend your stay during those 90 days. A visa conversion inside Thailand can not be obtained without showing you can and plan to extend your stay - that is the basic requirement.

Earlier today, Koh Samui immigration refused my retirement extension application because my Irish marriage certificate (30 year old original certificate) was not validated by the British consulate (my wife holds a British passport). The immigration officer stated: "You might be ready [with the application], but I'm not".

You must have wife as dependent? You were not able to obtain retirement extension of stay on your own or did you require wife to have matching extension of stay and that could not be done without marriage certificate verification?

Reading this post, a question comes to mind:

I've seen it mentioned a few times, that one either needs 400K in a bank account, or proof of income/letter of income from embassy of at least 40K per month.

What if your income is in Thailand, as you work in Thailand (with wp etc.), what would one then need?

Contract showing at least that amount? Or letter from employer??

If so, only a contract/letter in Thai, not certified by any other organisation?

Thanks!

We were both applying as individuals; my wife was not applying as a dependant. We had all the forms, photocopies, bank letter, bank book, house book. Thought it would be a formality. Now I have to find the honorary British consul on Samui, Dave Covey, who I believe only holds clinics twice a month (and has just completed one recently). I'm not sure what the heck is going on.

Sorry to butt in on this thread. I actually meant to post to another one (new boss in Sisaket immigration).

Earlier today, Koh Samui immigration refused my retirement extension application because my Irish marriage certificate (30 year old original certificate) was not validated by the British consulate (my wife holds a British passport). The immigration officer stated: "You might be ready [with the application], but I'm not".

why would you inlcude a marriage certificate in a retirment extenstion application?

Seems to violate the basic law of dealing with bureaucracy, never give them something they don’t ask for.

TH