Change Non Imm O Retirement To Marriage

[frankpelagic]

I have a non imm O visa, based on retirement, with a 12 month extension, also based on retirement. Everything valid until next April (2013). If I want to change the basis of the O visa from retirement to marriage, is it do-able, and is there any advantage in doing that, other than only needing to keep 400K dead money in a Thai bank? I have all the paperwork, Kor Ror 22 etc etc. Would I need to start from scratch, obtaining a new non-imm-O visa from outside Thailand?

[Lite Beer]

Advantages would be a smaller bank balance needed and you would be able to work if you wanted to.

Disadvantage would be more paperwork needed and having to wait a month for the decision.

All you need to do is apply next year for the extension of stay as usual but change the reason to marriage.

You do not need to obtain another Visa first.

[CharlieH]

Based on marriage, your visa is dependent on your relationship, if that goes then so does your visa.

[moe666]

More paper work and a visit from the police that you and wife live together, unless money is an issue and you need to work keep the retirement.

[lopburi3]

If you want to do be sure you do not meet the retirement financial requirements as immigration will not want to take the extra time/steps involved without a valid reason. Unless planning to work the retirement is easier for everyone.

[frankpelagic]

Moe & Lopburi, thanks for that, money is not the issue, but like a lot of people who come here, I would like to do something to occupy my time rather than sucking on bottles of Heineken every day. Ideally, and I don't know if this is practical or not, but I would like to work for a couple of days a week (possibly teaching at university level). I posted this because I have a feeling that this would be made easier if I were on a Marriage based visa, rather than Retirement. I may be wrong, but it's worth me exploring it. Thanks to all posters.

[frankpelagic]

Understood CharlieH, fingers crossed

[Mario2008]

On an extension of stay based onmarriage you would be allowed to work.

As regarding teaching, a university level would be no problem. Elementary and secondary government schols require a teaching license and will be more of a problem if you don't have qualifications.

[frankpelagic]

Thanks Mario, I am qualified to teach in Australian Universities. So with that in mind, do you feel I should try to rehash my existing visa, or just sit and twiddle my thumbs and continue to suck on Heineken bottles for the next 13 months?

[wayned]

Hi Frank,

Before I changed my status I would try to find a position that I wanted and if acceptable then change. Don't do it until you are sure that you have what you want. You don't need a marraige extension to apply, only if you accept the job. My 2 baht worth!

[Mario2008]

Thanks Mario, I am qualified to teach in Australian Universities. So with that in mind, do you feel I should try to rehash my existing visa, or just sit and twiddle my thumbs and continue to suck on Heineken bottles for the next 13 months?

Sucking beer botles doesn't appeal to me that much, and even for volunteering you would need a work permit (which you don't get on an extension of stay based on retirement). But it is a personal choice you have to make.

University pays less than a school and certainly than an international school, but at a university one can make a lot with extra tutoring.

International schools can give a very nice salary.