Could somebody please answer the following. Is it normal when applying for a second marriage extension that two witnesses are again required by immigration to verify your status when two witnesses have already done so and signed paperwork confirming this for the first marriage extension?

No idea about the two witnesses but...and sorry to go off subject

First I am American...sometimes ugly but when in immigration I try to apologize and kiss their behinds even though I sometimes want to jump over the counter and strangle the person.

Went to immigration today at Chaengwattana to get my extension. I've had a media visa and non-O several times just to clarify. With the exception of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs being backlogged one year and taking nearly two months to get my paperwork done, I've never had a major problem with immigration. In fact, they've generally been quick and helpful. But lately, no the case.

When I went in and changed my visa to a non-O the last time, I had a letter from my embassy confirming my pay was much more than the minimum. I was told, "If you had brought your bank books I would have given you the one year visa right now. This paper doesn't mean anything." When I tried to show that their own website showed it was either or and that a letter from my embassy was deemed acceptable, I was rebuffed of course and told to come back to get my extension of this 3 month Non-O was a few weeks from expiring. I only gave photos of my wife and I with our kids in front of our house as I was told BY IMMIGRATION they did not need to see the inside of our house.

I went today with every possible paper you could think of, from the embassy, my bank books, etc., etc. Even with the house rental papers.

One thing though - a while back I lost my marriage certificate in taxi. We went and filed a police report and got the replacement (since they won't give you a new one) and everything was fine. Not this time. When we brought it in this time we were told that this paper was old and we couldn't use it anymore. We've been married approximately 10 years. Then the wife was told (the lady wouldn't talk to me) she needed to get a paper saying she was single before she married me. When I showed her what I printed from Thai immigration's own website, she just turned to her computer, went to the site and then pointed. I said, this is exactly what I'm showing you. She printed it out and word for word, I had the same information.....nothing about having to show that my wife was single before being married to me. If the Thai government allowed her to marry me ten years ago after she stated she was single, why on earth, when we have two children together, would she need to show this now? Makes no sense to me and obviously I'm irritated.

What I found ironic/funny was that the lady was pushing me to get a retirement visa - oops sir, you've got another 5 months until you're 50 -she would have given it to me right away if I was 50 (supposedly).

So we went to the amphur and got a "new" marriage certificate replacement, all signed and certified. But then we were told that they couldn't give us a paper saying the wife was single before she married me because we had been married too long and they no longer had this record. So now I need to go back Monday to immigration (can't take doing it again tomorrow), wondering what the person of the day is going to tell me.

Frankly, after nearly 17 years, I've grown sick and tired of this place and their make up the rules as they go attitude. I brought a LEGAL paper from the Thai government stating we were indeed married, I've had numerous Non-O's in the past (same woman) and the police report had indeed been filed and STILL we get jerked around.

Now granted I shouldn't have lost the marriage paper - but these things happen sometimes. Are Thais so inept they don't know what the f$%k they're doing? I don't think so, although sometimes I wonder. But in these last two cases I believe they simply felt like being difficult to the farang and wanted to flaunt their power. Between this garbage, taxi drivers only wanting to go where they want and how they want (not all but more and more) and the rising cost of international schools here, I'm giving serious, serious thought to getting the hell out of here and setting up shop elsewhere. It's been a long, trying day and tomorrow is a new day but I can work just about anywhere. They want our money but they don't want us. Even married to a Thai woman for ten years, making plenty of money ($52K-$100K U.S. after taxes) and with her for nearly 15 year, with two kids of our own, they still could care less.

My buddy works in IT and is having a helluva a time getting his work permit after many years working here in the same field. He has a wife and two kids as well and was nearly turned down because "Thai's can do the same job." Lol, I'm not even going to get in to this...many, many Thai people are wonderful people and the country can be a fabulous place to live. But....those who have a little power, not always the case. Maybe I got a lady who was on the rag or who needed to get laid, but she was extremely difficult.

Edited May 10, 201214 yr by rockhardbkk

I suspect what they want is your single paper from your Embassy that you used for the marriage in Thailand (and which you can obtain from District Office) as that is often being asked for now. The other document required is the copy of registry entry of marriage (as well as the actual marriage certificate) and this is also available from District Office and these days provided at marriage time but Immigration want updated each year as it will show divorce.

Yes a retirement extension is much easier as only financials are required and official can approve immediately.

I suspect what they want is your single paper from your Embassy that you used for the marriage in Thailand (and which you can obtain from District Office) as that is often being asked for now. The other document required is the copy of registry entry of marriage (as well as the actual marriage certificate) and this is also available from District Office and these days provided at marriage time but Immigration want updated each year as it will show divorce.

Yes a retirement extension is much easier as only financials are required and official can approve immediately.

Ok...so the US embassy will give me a paper (an affidavit?)that states I was single at the time of my marriage? We got two papers from the amphur, one that is the replacement marriage certificate and the other is one that is apparently the registration entry of marriage. We'll see when I go back....thanks for the help though...

The Embassy gave you such a letter before you married or you could not register it here in Thailand. You then had it translated and MFA certified and presented it to the District Office registering you married. They can supply a copy of this document. It is a double check that the District Office did not allow marriage without it.