I am now eligible to apply for permanent residency next time it is open and I intend to do so.One thing I cant understand is the reluctance of many people not to apply and cannot give a reason why.Is it because of the cost , time taken or any other reason?

Maybe lack of speaking Thai, lack of paying taxes for 3 years.

So many of us are on retirement extensions. Not eligible because we don't work.

No work permit is probably the biggest reason (mine) or not enough income since the most common number quoted is 80K baht a month to get approval.

Others just don't want it for various reasons.

If you have a Thai wife apparently you can go straight to Citizenship without needing PR.

If you have a Thai wife apparently you can go straight to Citizenship without needing PR.

That is interesting,haven't heard that before.Do you know the waiting time to apply?I have been legally married to my Thai wife for 20 years and we have been living here non stop now for three and a half years.Am due to go to immigration in early october for visa extention and will check it out with them.Thanks for that info.

More on that in here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Story-Thai-Citizenship-Applicatio-t121353.html

The number of years you have to be on extensions of stay depends on the fact if you have children together or not.

In addition you must be on a house hold registration.

If you have a Thai wife apparently you can go straight to Citizenship without needing PR.

That is interesting,haven't heard that before.Do you know the waiting time to apply?I have been legally married to my Thai wife for 20 years and we have been living here non stop now for three and a half years.Am due to go to immigration in early october for visa extention and will check it out with them.Thanks for that info.

there is the pinned topic to read, also do a search on this forum about it.

More on that in here: http://www.thaivisa....io-t121353.html

The number of years you have to be on extensions of stay depends on the fact if you have children together or not.

In addition you must be on a house hold registration.

We have no children together.so how can I be on a house hold registration without gaining permanent residency.My wife holds a house registration book.

Since a few years you can be added on a household registration book, you will be in a yellow book instead of the blue one. PR is no longer required to be on a household registration.

Ask the local amphur what they require to give you a yellow tabien baan, as requirements can vary.

There is for instance a thread here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/156485-yellow-tabien-bahn/

Since a few years you can be added on a household registration book, you will be in a yellow book instead of the blue one. PR is no longer required to be on a household registration.

Ask the local amphur what they require to give you a yellow tabien baan, as requirements can vary.

There is for instance a thread here: http://www.thaivisa....ow-tabien-bahn/

Good information.I'll check it out tomorrow.Thanks for that.

If you have a Thai wife apparently you can go straight to Citizenship without needing PR.

That is interesting,haven't heard that before.Do you know the waiting time to apply?I have been legally married to my Thai wife for 20 years and we have been living here non stop now for three and a half years.Am due to go to immigration in early october for visa extention and will check it out with them.Thanks for that info.

You have to be on extension of stay for 3 years and have to show a work permit and income of 40K baht per month proven by payment of taxes.

Immigration does not handle citizenship only PR. The only immigration office that can help with PR is Bangkok (room number ???). The rules state that you can apply at any immigration office but does not happen so the local offices are of no help.

If you have a Thai wife apparently you can go straight to Citizenship without needing PR.

That is interesting,haven't heard that before.Do you know the waiting time to apply?I have been legally married to my Thai wife for 20 years and we have been living here non stop now for three and a half years.Am due to go to immigration in early october for visa extention and will check it out with them.Thanks for that info.

You have to be on extension of stay for 3 years and have to show a work permit and income of 40K baht per month proven by payment of taxes.

Immigration does not handle citizenship only PR. The only immigration office that can help with PR is Bangkok (room number ???). The rules state that you can apply at any immigration office but does not happen so the local offices are of no help.

What is deemed to be a continuous extension of stay? For example, extension expires 1st of January, when is the required commencing date of the next Visa + extension? Can it be January, or February or March?

It means without a break - so you apply for a new extension normally before expiration and it starts on the day the old extension ends. It is an extension of stay - not a visa.

If you have a Thai wife apparently you can go straight to Citizenship without needing PR.

That is interesting,haven't heard that before.Do you know the waiting time to apply?I have been legally married to my Thai wife for 20 years and we have been living here non stop now for three and a half years.Am due to go to immigration in early october for visa extention and will check it out with them.Thanks for that info.

You have to be on extension of stay for 3 years and have to show a work permit and income of 40K baht per month proven by payment of taxes.

Immigration does not handle citizenship only PR. The only immigration office that can help with PR is Bangkok (room number ???). The rules state that you can apply at any immigration office but does not happen so the local offices are of no help.

What is deemed to be a continuous extension of stay? For example, extension expires 1st of January, when is the required commencing date of the next Visa + extension? Can it be January, or February or March?

From my experience you have to renew/extend your visa before it expires and then it just follows on from there.From your example, the commencing date I would think would be the 1st of January,if not that the2nd of january.Assuming that you extend for 1 year, (I believe it can be less) your new expiry date would be the 1st of January the next year.

It means without a break - so you apply for a new extension normally before expiration and it starts on the day the old extension ends. It is an extension of stay - not a visa.

Sorry ,I wasn't trying to contradict you in any way.I was still composing my post when you posted your reply and appreciate your greater knowledge.

It means without a break - so you apply for a new extension normally before expiration and it starts on the day the old extension ends. It is an extension of stay - not a visa.

I am a bit confused then. Is it not a new visa that I need after the termination of my extension of stay and what I have to extend again before it expires?

A visa is a permit you get from a Thai consulate abroad, allowing you to travel to Thailand. Once you arrive, immirgation gives you a permission to stay. it is this permission to stay you extend every year. Not the visa, as you are already in Thailand and do not need a permit to travel to Thailand.

A visa is a permit you get from a Thai consulate abroad, allowing you to travel to Thailand. Once you arrive, immirgation gives you a permission to stay. it is this permission to stay you extend every year. Not the visa, as you are already in Thailand and do not need a permit to travel to Thailand.

So after 1 year extension served, just before the termination of my extension, I will have to get a new extension, not a new Non Immigrant visa? Don't I have to leave the country? Sorry for my questions but I have always believed that after 1 year extension I need to obtain a non imm visa and have it extended for stay another year.

A visa is a permit you get from a Thai consulate abroad, allowing you to travel to Thailand. Once you arrive, immirgation gives you a permission to stay. it is this permission to stay you extend every year. Not the visa, as you are already in Thailand and do not need a permit to travel to Thailand.

So after 1 year extension served, just before the termination of my extension, I will have to get a new extension, not a new Non Immigrant visa? Don't I have to leave the country? Sorry for my questions but I have always believed that after 1 year extension I need to obtain a non imm visa and have it extended for stay another year.

You just go to Immigration in your local area, with the required documents and your wife if you are married,. After getting an extension remember you must report your presence in Thailand to the Immigration Office every 90 days

No, you don't have to obtain a new visa, provided you meet the criteria for a enw extension. You just visit immigration again, with proof of meeting the criteria, and get a new 1 year extension of stay.

My last visa is from about 8 years or so ago.

No, you don't have to obtain a new visa, provided you meet the criteria for a enw extension. You just visit immigration again, with proof of meeting the criteria, and get a new 1 year extension of stay.

My last visa is from about 8 years or so ago.

And remember to go at least 14 days before, so that if required you have time to get more documentation if required.

Probably because it's a cost/benefit judgement. Thailand's PR is very expensive over $3k and gives no real rights except not having to extend your visa every year. Other countries especially countries with better tax and welfare options PR is cheaper and offer more rights especially work rights.

Also there is a small window - last week in December - when people can apply, (it's not open all year) it's not convenient for many to apply especially people who only take vacation in December, and I'd rather not spend my annual vacation dealing with Thai immigration!

Also it takes many years after application before PR is granted, 6 years and counting. Many people I am guessing just couldn't be bothered going through the process. Extension of Stay aren't that difiicult.

No, you don't have to obtain a new visa, provided you meet the criteria for a enw extension. You just visit immigration again, with proof of meeting the criteria, and get a new 1 year extension of stay.

My last visa is from about 8 years or so ago.

And remember to go at least 14 days before, so that if required you have time to get more documentation if required.

Awesome, thanks guys. You have made my day.

I have apparently misread and falsely processed some info about this procedure.

Probably because it's a cost/benefit judgement. Thailand's PR is very expensive over $3k and gives no real rights except not having to extend your visa every year. Other countries especially countries with better tax and welfare options PR is cheaper and offer more rights especially work rights.

Also there is a small window - last week in December - when people can apply, (it's not open all year) it's not convenient for many to apply especially people who only take vacation in December, and I'd rather not spend my annual vacation dealing with Thai immigration!

Also it takes many years after application before PR is granted, 6 years and counting. Many people I am guessing just couldn't be bothered going through the process. Extension of Stay aren't that difiicult.

Agreed that extention of stay is not difficut but I worry about what could happen down the track if the rules are changed or some official gets a set against you and denies your application.Two people I have known over the last 6 or 7 years have had to leave the country after thier applications had been refused.I am not privy to which visa they had entered on or why they were denied the extention.

Probably because it's a cost/benefit judgement. Thailand's PR is very expensive over $3k and gives no real rights except not having to extend your visa every year. Other countries especially countries with better tax and welfare options PR is cheaper and offer more rights especially work rights.

Also there is a small window - last week in December - when people can apply, (it's not open all year) it's not convenient for many to apply especially people who only take vacation in December, and I'd rather not spend my annual vacation dealing with Thai immigration!

Also it takes many years after application before PR is granted, 6 years and counting. Many people I am guessing just couldn't be bothered going through the process. Extension of Stay aren't that difiicult.

Agreed that extention of stay is not difficut but I worry about what could happen down the track if the rules are changed or some official gets a set against you and denies your application.Two people I have known over the last 6 or 7 years have had to leave the country after thier applications had been refused.I am not privy to which visa they had entered on or why they were denied the extention.

A bit of scare mongering. We do not know why they were rejected, a real marriage extension is never refused, unless you are trying to cheat the system.

To others who try for extensions, do not worry if you have the correct documentation it will be successful.

Edited June 25, 201214 yr by beano2274

I think Ron19's point about the rule changes is my main concern.

All it would take is a stroke of pen and various extension types could be gone because they are not specifically listed in the 33 year old immigration act and are at the discretion to the current government.

They could also just increase monthly income requirement for marriage to 100K baht (1.2 million in the bank) if they wanted to. How many people could meet those requirements or if they just doubled the amounts.

All this could easily happen it a government was put in place that was anti foreigner.

I think Ron19's point about the rule changes is my main concern.

All it would take is a stroke of pen and various extension types could be gone because they are not specifically listed in the 33 year old immigration act and are at the discretion to the current government.

They could also just increase monthly income requirement for marriage to 100K baht (1.2 million in the bank) if they wanted to. How many people could meet those requirements or if they just doubled the amounts.

All this could easily happen it a government was put in place that was anti foreigner.

Sure, but it's unlikely. Even still if they did, there will always be loopholes. Remember in Thailand there is too much money to be made by scamming the system. During the time I first came here in 1991, and up until today the Thai government has always been anti-foreigner. If thailand can accept 1 million Burmese workers some un-document, then the authorities have no problems with foreigners from other countries and the current income requirements in place, and hence no desire to make any changes. Immigration reform would not even register on the government's to-do list. I wouldn't worry about what could or might happen. And if you do then Thailand might not be the place for you.

Since a few years you can be added on a household registration book, you will be in a yellow book instead of the blue one. PR is no longer required to be on a household registration.

Ask the local amphur what they require to give you a yellow tabien baan, as requirements can vary.

There is for instance a thread here: http://www.thaivisa....ow-tabien-bahn/

Went to the local amphur this morning taking everything I might need to get a yellow tabien-bahn and with the intention of asking if there was anything else required.The only thing the very pleasant lady queried was a translated copy of my original application for a visa to enter Thailand.I don't know why she queried that as it appears to have nothing to do with the yellow book.Anyhow she let it go and said would ring later to make an appointment for monday or tuesday next week for us to go back and take Phu yai baan and Phu yai long with us and see what happens from there.The lady also took my copies of the relevant documents so it looks like the process is underway

Thanking you for your advice.

Edited June 26, 201214 yr by Ron19