Urgent Marriage Visa Extension Problems

[vibration]

I sincerely hope somebody can help here. I applied for my third Marriage Visa Extension on 30 July 2012 in Udonthani where we live, and like before everything went well and we drove to Bangkok on private business the same day. At 23.30 in Bangkok we received a call from our witness in Udonthani stating that Immigration had called him as they could not contact us and stated that the 'computerized system' would not accept my Application. We had no choice but to drive back (9 hour drive) write away and we were outside the Immigration Office in Udonthani when it opened the next day very worn out and stressed..

The nice Lady in Immigration stated that Bangkok Immigration had contacted her and stated that there was a problem with my Retirement Visa Extension in 2009 as there was a stamp missing and that this was affecting my new Marriage Visa Extension. We never did get it cleared as to which stamp was missing. We were interviewed and explained the following:

1. The Retirement Visa Extension in 2009 was the first one I ever applied for and I had no experience what so ever how to do this that is why we used the Immigration Police in Nong Khai as experts to guide us in detail on how to obtain this. Nong Khai at that time covered also Udonthani. We meticulously followed the instruction from the Immigration Police in Nong Khai so as to make sure we did what we were supposed to do.
   
2. I explained that I cannot check the Immigration Police as they are the experts and I have no experience in Retirement Visa Extensions.
   
3. I explained that I trust the Immigration Police 100% that they know the Immigration Laws and that the advice given to me is correct.
   
4. I explained that I have no experience in the use of the 31 different stamps (counted in the office) that were on the Desk of the Immigration Officer and subsequently could not check anything.
   

Here are the details of Stamps in my Passport related to the Retirement Visa Extension 2009:

• NON IMMIGRANT VISA TYPE 'O' ISSUED IN HULL 21 AUGUST 2008 WITH EXPIRY DATE 21 AUGUST 2009
  
• ADMITTED SUVARNABHUMI STAMP 09 JULY 2009 UNTIL 06 OCTOBER 2009
  
• RETIREMENT VISA EXTENSION ISSUED 9 SEPTEMBER 2009 EXTENDED TO 06 AUGUST 2010
  

I have no other Stamps related to the above, I do however have stamps for my Marriage Visa Extension in 2010, 2011 and the application now for 2012 I also have two Re-Entry Permit stamps for holidays in 2011 and 2012.

If anybody needs any more information then please advise. Many thanks in advance for any help.

[Mario2008]

Migth be better if you scan all the relevant pages so we can have a look.

Alternatively you could call the government information line at 1111 and ask about your problem there. They will try to find out more and call you back.

[Lite Beer]

I don't quite understand why your Retirement Extension in 2009 gave a stay until August 6th.

By my reckoning it should have been October sometime.

Maybe a copy of a passport page was missing from the application of the recent Marriage Extension.

Not easy to say.

[Mario2008]

Yes, that is the only mistake I can see. But is is of no consequences as the mistake didn't lead to an overstay. The consequence was that you were given less then 365 days, not more.

Maybe they want to know why you were not given an extension of stay till 6 Oct. 2010.

[beano2274]

was the stamp at the airport related to the Visa? Mulitple O visa, then given 90days.

The extension seems dodgy too, should have been one year from the date of the original expiring.

Best bet is to scan and place here then the two experts who have already commented can get more details.

[vibration]

was the stamp at the airport related to the Visa? Mulitple O visa, then given 90days.

The extension seems dodgy too, should have been one year from the date of the original expiring.

Best bet is to scan and place here then the two experts who have already commented can get more details.

First many thanks for every-bodies help.

Yes the stamp at the Airport was related to the Non-Immigrant Multiple Type 'O' Visa.

I will try and get the Pages scanned. I cannot understand why this possible Date error from the Immigration Police in Nong Khai has not been found before example during my approved Marriage Visa Extensions in 2010 and 2011.

[lopburi3]

I suspect for the reason they gave you - information is now being verified by computer it seems - computers don't make allowances so it seems to have flagged for an explanation from source rather than someone checking if valid or not. That 6 August date needs to be explained by issuing office. You did not get a new passport by any chance?

[vibration]

I suspect for the reason they gave you - information is now being verified by computer it seems - computers don't make allowances so it seems to have flagged for an explanation from source rather than someone checking if valid or not. That 6 August date needs to be explained by issuing office. You did not get a new passport by any chance?

Thanks for your input. My Passport is not new and expires in 2015 I do have a spare Passport due to my previous work (needed a Passport all the time for extensive travel mainly in Europe and had to be without my Passport when my Multiple Entry Tourist Visa was being cleared by the Thai Embassy in Oslo) however this was last used in January 2008 when departing from Thailand. I showed this spare Passport to the Immigration Lady in Udonthani however she looked through every stamp and said she did not need this.

I believe they have made a mistake with the Date 06 August 2009 and that it should have been a date in October 2009 as mentioned in the comments above..

All of this is still a terrible stress for myself and my wife I have invested more than 12 Million Baht here in property and I don't want any problems with any Authorities.

[vibration]

I suspect for the reason they gave you - information is now being verified by computer it seems - computers don't make allowances so it seems to have flagged for an explanation from source rather than someone checking if valid or not. That 6 August date needs to be explained by issuing office. You did not get a new passport by any chance?

Thanks for your input. My Passport is not new and expires in 2015 I do have a spare Passport due to my previous work (needed a Passport all the time for extensive travel mainly in Europe and had to be without my Passport when my Multiple Entry Tourist Visa was being cleared by the Thai Embassy in Oslo) however this was last used in January 2008 when departing from Thailand. I showed this spare Passport to the Immigration Lady in Udonthani however she looked through every stamp and said she did not need this.

I believe they have made a mistake with the Date 06 August 2009 and that it should have been a date in October 2009 as mentioned in the comments above..

All of this is still a terrible stress for myself and my wife I have invested more than 12 Million Baht here in property and I don't want any problems with any Authorities.

SORRY I MEAN 06 AUGUST 2010 AND OCTOBER 2010

[Maestro]

Until the Ubon immigration office tells you exactly what stamp is allegedly missing in the documents they sent to Bangkok you obviously cannot search for that stamp in your passports and copy it for them. If the officers at the Ubon office do not know what stamp the Bangkok office means and for whatever reason do not want to seek clarification, I don't see anything you could do to help them. If it is not a stamp you already have in your passport but failed to copy for the immigration office, this looks to me very much like a discrepancy to be resolved between the Bangkok head office and the upcountry offices of Ubon and/or Nong Khai, but strangely the Ubon officers panicked and called you.

[Mario2008]

If you have 10 million baht worth in property in your name only, you might qualify for a visa based on that.

[ubonjoe]

Until the Ubon immigration office tells you exactly what stamp is allegedly missing in the documents they sent to Bangkok you obviously cannot search for that stamp in your passports and copy it for them. If the officers at the Ubon office do not know what stamp the Bangkok office means and for whatever reason do not want to seek clarification, I don't see anything you could do to help them. If it is not a stamp you already have in your passport but failed to copy for the immigration office, this looks to me very much like a discrepancy to be resolved between the Bangkok head office and the upcountry offices of Ubon and/or Nong Khai, but strangely the Ubon officers panicked and called you.

It was Udon not Ubon.

OP's paperwork goes to Korat not Bangkok since Udon is in region with headquarters in Korat.

The Bangkok connection appears to be them trying to correct a computer glitch when Udon contacted them not a paperwork problem. The 3 months short extension seems to be causing the problem but why it did not come up before is the big question.

You are correct though that it is an immigration problem not the OP's.

[vibration]

Until the Ubon immigration office tells you exactly what stamp is allegedly missing in the documents they sent to Bangkok you obviously cannot search for that stamp in your passports and copy it for them. If the officers at the Ubon office do not know what stamp the Bangkok office means and for whatever reason do not want to seek clarification, I don't see anything you could do to help them. If it is not a stamp you already have in your passport but failed to copy for the immigration office, this looks to me very much like a discrepancy to be resolved between the Bangkok head office and the upcountry offices of Ubon and/or Nong Khai, but strangely the Ubon officers panicked and called you.

Thanks for your input I will post udates when I find out more information.

[vibration]

Migth be better if you scan all the relevant pages so we can have a look.

Alternatively you could call the government information line at 1111 and ask about your problem there. They will try to find out more and call you back.

Hello Mario as requested I have scanned all the Pages with stamps in my Passport. I believe that the only mistake Nong khai Immigration Police have made is in the permitted to stay Date for the Retirement Visa Extension of 06 August 2010 I believe now having studied this more that it should have been 16 October 2010 carried over from the 90 Day dated 09 July 2009 - 16 October 2009. So instead of a 365 Day extension that was applied for I received a shortened version.

But as stated before I have no experience here at all and trust that the Immigration Police do everything correctly.

Thank you Mario and all others for all help.

[vibration]

Migth be better if you scan all the relevant pages so we can have a look.

Alternatively you could call the government information line at 1111 and ask about your problem there. They will try to find out more and call you back.

Hello Mario as requested I have scanned all the Pages with stamps in my Passport. I believe that the only mistake Nong khai Immigration Police have made is in the permitted to stay Date for the Retirement Visa Extension of 06 August 2010 I believe now having studied this more that it should have been 16 October 2010 carried over from the 90 Day dated 09 July 2009 - 16 October 2009. So instead of a 365 Day extension that was applied for I received a shortened version.

But as stated before I have no experience here at all and trust that the Immigration Police do everything correctly.

Thank you Mario and all others for all help.

SORRY I BELIEVE MY REFERENCE TO 16 OCTOBER SHOULD BE 06 OCTOBER

[Mario2008]

From the stamps I gather the sam, I can't find a missing one. It seems immigration is trying to find out why the extension of stay was shorter then 1 year.

[vibration]

From the stamps I gather the sam, I can't find a missing one. It seems immigration is trying to find out why the extension of stay was shorter then 1 year.

Many thanks for your help I will keep the Site updated.

[Maestro]

The problem might be that the immigration office put one date for the expiration of the extension in the passport and entered a different date in the computer database. This would obviously be a discrepancy for immigration to resolve internally.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect App

[4evermaat]

I hope this gets squared away internally. Otherwise, it looks like OP will have to redo the process of exiting thailand and a new visa or visa exempt conversion into 1 year extension.

After the initial ordeal of getting one, the extensions must really be worth it. I can certainly understand the frustration of the OP regarding stamping and a possible computer bug that is clearly outside his control.

If you have 10 million baht worth in property in your name only, you might qualify for a visa based on that.

How is it possible to have the Thai property in a foreigner's name only? regardless of the worth.

[Gary A]

Apparently no one in immigration will ever admit to making a mistake. Years ago while living in Jomtien, Pattaya immigration made a mistake concerning stamps in my passport. I really had no idea what the mistake was but it was obviously my fault. (?). Rather than make an issue of it, I asked what I could do to correct the problem. After several of the officials discussed the problem it was decided that I had to get a new passport. After I had the new passport, the correct stamps were put in it and everyone was then happy.

The bottom line here is that it is up to immigration to tell you how to correct the paperwork and there is nothing you can do yourself.

[PoorSucker]

How is it possible to have the Thai property in a foreigner's name only? regardless of the worth.

From Police order 777/2551

2.5 In the case of an investment:

Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 1 year at a time.

(3) Proof of investment to purchase or rent for a period not less than 3 years of unit in a condominium from an agency or government agency concerned at a price of not less than 10 million baht.

[Mario2008]

I hope this gets squared away internally. Otherwise, it looks like OP will have to redo the process of exiting thailand and a new visa or visa exempt conversion into 1 year extension.

After the initial ordeal of getting one, the extensions must really be worth it. I can certainly understand the frustration of the OP regarding stamping and a possible computer bug that is clearly outside his control.

If you have 10 million baht worth in property in your name only, you might qualify for a visa based on that.

How is it possible to have the Thai property in a foreigner's name only? regardless of the worth.

You can't own land, but you can own a condo. Or invest in government bonds for example, that would also qualify for a 1 year extension of stay.

[vibration]

Praise the Lord and the Immigration Officials in Udonthani. After having more than one month of worry and stress because of this issue it all turned out well. As requested and in accordance with the Stamp in my Passport I returned to the Immigration Office on 06 September and was provided with my One Year Extension based on Marriage without any problems. When I said "Thank God" the nice Lady said said you should also thank me which I did from my Heart. I believe she is the most senior Official there as no one else had to sign the Visa Extension and I further believe she worked hard to get this issue cleared in my favor. I decided not to ask for any details about why this happened and how it was cleared, I am so grateful. Many thanks once again for all comments and help and many thanks to the Immigration Office in Udonthani.

[Huayrat]

Praise the Lord and the Immigration Officials in Udonthani. After having more than one month of worry and stress because of this issue it all turned out well. As requested and in accordance with the Stamp in my Passport I returned to the Immigration Office on 06 September and was provided with my One Year Extension based on Marriage without any problems. When I said "Thank God" the nice Lady said said you should also thank me which I did from my Heart. I believe she is the most senior Official there as no one else had to sign the Visa Extension and I further believe she worked hard to get this issue cleared in my favor. I decided not to ask for any details about why this happened and how it was cleared, I am so grateful. Many thanks once again for all comments and help and many thanks to the Immigration Office in Udonthani.

so how much did you gift her?

[Maestro]

Thank you for the update, Vibration. Glad to see it all turned out well in the end