Total Visa Run Noob

[emanphoto]

There have been several posts in the last couple days that bring up a similar visa situation to mine, but not exactly so I'll make my own. I'll preface with my basic info.

I arrived here (BKK) May 28th from the US and live with my Thai wife. We were married in the US 7 years ago and our marriage certificate is US. I am 54 and not retired. I have a 90 day non-immigrant type O Single Entry visa (Thai Wife) issued at the Thai embassy in Chicago that cost $80USD.

I have moved here permanently.

We have a condo here that we live in, but I'm not sure if it's under my wife's name or her mother's.

My wife is presently well employed and I am looking. Mostly I'm checking into the ESL education courses and jobs, but there's no immediate offers.

We just got the 400K in my account on Aug. 8th, up from 74K that we started the acct. with.

So please my pardon my newbie questions. I've spent hours going over the great postings here so I have a basic idea of what to do before my visa expires Aug. 28th 2012, but I just want to make sure of some things as this will be my first renewal/extension.

1. Since we have just gotten the required funds into my acct., I am ineligible for the 1 year visa with the 90 day mail-in/check-in until that money has been there 60 days, correct?

2. Poipet is not an option for my Type O renewal, correct? I didn't see it listed here at all. It would certainly be more convenient than traveling to Savannakhet, but as I understand it, there's a Thai embassy at Savannakhet and that's why it's a visa destination.

3. The closest and best option leaving from Bangkok for renewal is Savannakhet, correct?

4. Is it better or necessary to have my wife come with me to Savannakhet?

5. My wife has gotten information that I need to apply for the 1 year visa within 30 days of my arrival with my 90 day non-immigrant Type O (Thai wife)

visa. Is this true?

So given the timing of the arrival of the funds in my acct. on Aug. 8th, she believes I need to stay out of the country for 2 weeks so that when I return, (with a type O non-immigrant visa-Thai wife) the funds will have been in place for 60 days within the 30 day period she believes I am required to apply for the 1 year visa. I have not seen any posts about this so I'm wondering if she was given incorrect information.

6. Assuming the info my wife got is true, instead of waiting outside of the country for 2 weeks, would it be better to just get a tourist visa on my return, and THEN apply for the 1 year type O non-immigrant visa?

Thanks so much for any help here as I'm pretty lost at the moment!

Eric

[Lite Beer]

Money has to be in your bank for two months.

To give you more time you can apply for a 60 day extension at Immigration (1,900 Baht)

This will give you time to season the money before applying for a 12 month extension. (It is not a Visa)

For the 12 month extension you need to get your Marriage Certificate translated to Thai and verified at Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Bangkok.

You then need to register it at an Amphur.

BTW the information your Wife got was wrong.

[lopburi3]

1. Two months in account required.

2. You can only obtain visa from a Consulate - non at border crossings.

3. If you want multi entry Savannakhet does not require bank balance but will 400k in account any Consulate could be sure for single entry (all you need) and most would issue multi entry. I would use Vientiane for single entry as easy access from Udon/Nong Khai travel.

4. Not required but be sure to have signed copies of her id card and home register and have marriage certificate. Best to have short note from her also asking for visa to be issued.

5. You apply for one year extension of stay during the last 30 days of the non immigrant visa 90 day entry.

6. You do not wait outside country for anything. You visit Consulate and apply for visa and next day after it is issued you return. After 60 days here you then apply for extension of stay.

[Boyce]

Go to Savannkhet is your best bet , i have just come back from there i stayed at the savanvegas hotel they done all the work for me including getting the visa from the consulate i did not have to leave the hotel , it was very relaxing and the hotel food & staff were great .I got a tripple entry Tourist Visa 3000Baht , you can aslo get a 1 year Non immigrant O visa for marriage for 5000Baht , with showing only 20.000 Baht in a thai bank account.

i don't know if i can post the link , just google savanvegas and send them a message and you will get a call back within an hour asking what type of visa you want,

all you have to do is get yourself to Mukdahan bus station and there office is on the corner you can't miss it , the VIP bus from the hotel will pick you up and take you accross the border into Lao's in Baht i paid 1500Baht for my Lao visa to enter Lao if you pay in $$ it;s cheaper.it works out at 1200Baht approx.

you can't beat there service , don't listen to the cheap reports about doing it by tuk tuk it works out cheaper in the long run with savanvegas with no stress.

good luck

Boyce

[MikeandDow]

Go to Savannkhet is your best bet , i have just come back from there i stayed at the savanvegas hotel they done all the work for me including getting the visa from the consulate i did not have to leave the hotel , it was very relaxing and the hotel food & staff were great .I got a tripple entry Tourist Visa 3000Baht , you can aslo get a 1 year Non immigrant O visa for marriage for 5000Baht , with showing only 20.000 Baht in a thai bank account.

i don't know if i can post the link , just google savanvegas and send them a message and you will get a call back within an hour asking what type of visa you want,

all you have to do is get yourself to Mukdahan bus station and there office is on the corner you can't miss it , the VIP bus from the hotel will pick you up and take you accross the border into Lao's in Baht i paid 1500Baht for my Lao visa to enter Lao if you pay in $$ it;s cheaper.it works out at 1200Baht approx.

you can't beat there service , don't listen to the cheap reports about doing it by tuk tuk it works out cheaper in the long run with savanvegas with no stress.

good luck

Boyce

There is No requirement to show any money when applying at Savannkhet

[Boyce]

Go to Savannkhet is your best bet , i have just come back from there i stayed at the savanvegas hotel they done all the work for me including getting the visa from the consulate i did not have to leave the hotel , it was very relaxing and the hotel food & staff were great .I got a tripple entry Tourist Visa 3000Baht , you can aslo get a 1 year Non immigrant O visa for marriage for 5000Baht , with showing only 20.000 Baht in a thai bank account.

i don't know if i can post the link , just google savanvegas and send them a message and you will get a call back within an hour asking what type of visa you want,

all you have to do is get yourself to Mukdahan bus station and there office is on the corner you can't miss it , the VIP bus from the hotel will pick you up and take you accross the border into Lao's in Baht i paid 1500Baht for my Lao visa to enter Lao if you pay in $$ it;s cheaper.it works out at 1200Baht approx.

you can't beat there service , don't listen to the cheap reports about doing it by tuk tuk it works out cheaper in the long run with savanvegas with no stress.

good luck

Boyce

There is No requirement to show any money when applying at Savannkhet

Correct , you don't have to show money for a TV , and i was told by the visa run staff at the hotel you only have to show 20.000Baht in a thai bank to get a marrage visa. I don't know how they do it on that amount but who care's as long as it's a valid genuine visa, and you get an reciept from the consulate stating the cost of your visa,at no extra to what the price is at any consulate or thai embassy.

Thanks

Boyce

[MikeandDow]

Go to Savannkhet is your best bet , i have just come back from there i stayed at the savanvegas hotel they done all the work for me including getting the visa from the consulate i did not have to leave the hotel , it was very relaxing and the hotel food & staff were great .I got a tripple entry Tourist Visa 3000Baht , you can aslo get a 1 year Non immigrant O visa for marriage for 5000Baht , with showing only 20.000 Baht in a thai bank account.

i don't know if i can post the link , just google savanvegas and send them a message and you will get a call back within an hour asking what type of visa you want,

all you have to do is get yourself to Mukdahan bus station and there office is on the corner you can't miss it , the VIP bus from the hotel will pick you up and take you accross the border into Lao's in Baht i paid 1500Baht for my Lao visa to enter Lao if you pay in $$ it;s cheaper.it works out at 1200Baht approx.

you can't beat there service , don't listen to the cheap reports about doing it by tuk tuk it works out cheaper in the long run with savanvegas with no stress.

good luck

Boyce

There is No requirement to show any money when applying at Savannkhet

Correct , you don't have to show money for a TV , and i was told by the visa run staff at the hotel you only have to show 20.000Baht in a thai bank to get a marrage visa. I don't know how they do it on that amount but who care's as long as it's a valid genuine visa, and you get an reciept from the consulate stating the cost of your visa,at no extra to what the price is at any consulate or thai embassy.

Thanks

Boyce

You do Not have to show money For Any visa renewed my mulit non o at Savannkhet through the casino last thursday

[lopburi3]

All tourist and non immigrant visa issue require show funds listed below if asked by Consulate - that is the law. Normally it is not required to show but could be asked of anyone.

Evidence of adequate finance (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)

[sotsira]

As Lite Beer says, if you extend your current 90day stay by another 60days with proof of marriage at

an immigration office nearest to you, then you don't have to travel outside Thailand at all.

This would be your best option to allow you time to get all your paperwork in order and season your 400k

in Thai Bank a/c.

Then apply for an extension of stay based on Marriage.

[tig28]

All tourist and non immigrant visa issue require show funds listed below if asked by Consulate - that is the law. Normally it is not required to show but could be asked of anyone.

Evidence of adequate finance (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)

Hi lopburi3

What may be written is frequently not what is required. It is common for different offices to interpret the "requirements" in their own way.

Numerous reports emphasize that Savannkhet does not require any proof of funds when applying for a Visa. (In my case -- O based on marriage)

My personal experience in March this year confirmed this. In fact during the 30 sec time period it took to hand over the paperwork at the "window" not one question of any kind was asked. The officer simply checked my paperwork -- requested 5,000 Bt. and handed me a ticket to recover my passport the next day.

Should the above single report prove accurate it shall be a departure from Savannkhets accepted procedure ---- and that would be important news.

Edited August 14, 2012 by tig28

[lopburi3]

Actually was trying to say that - up to official. But it can be asked and will be if they have doubts about an applicant. It can also be checked on entry as below:

Visitors over 12 years of age are required to hold

sufficient funds to cover their stay (at least THB 10,000.-

per person or THB 20,000.- per family). Proof of funds

includes Letters of Credit, vouchers, MCO's or well-known

credit cards, which are honoured in Thailand. Exempt are:

holders of a re-entry visa.

[MikeandDow]

Actually was trying to say that - up to official. But it can be asked and will be if they have doubts about an applicant. It can also be checked on entry as below:

Visitors over 12 years of age are required to hold

sufficient funds to cover their stay (at least THB 10,000.-

per person or THB 20,000.- per family). Proof of funds

includes Letters of Credit, vouchers, MCO's or well-known

credit cards, which are honoured in Thailand. Exempt are:

holders of a re-entry visa.

I thought we where talking about Savannkhet where no funds are required to be shown, I renewed non o based on marrage thurdays no problem 5000baht so if this has change since thursday forgive me for wrong info

[lopburi3]

There is no 100k-400k requirement for multi entry non immigrant O visa issue on basis of Thai spouse as there is at some other Consulates but all Consulates can require show of above funds on request - normally it will not be required but could be and all applications should be able to provide if asked. Post number 4 mentioned a 20k requirement - that would be a reference to this rather than the specific multi entry visa issue for spouse.

[MikeandDow]

There is no 100k-400k requirement for multi entry non immigrant O visa issue on basis of Thai spouse as there is at some other Consulates but all Consulates can require show of above funds on request - normally it will not be required but could be and all applications should be able to provide if asked. Post number 4 mentioned a 20k requirement - that would be a reference to this rather than the specific multi entry visa issue for spouse.

In my eye's post 4 is refering to "must have20000 baht " and Iam pointing out That the savannakhet consulate does not require that. I think you are confussing matters by implying that savannakhet consulate requires to show 200000 baht, even tho it may be the law ( Iam not sure on that matter if it is for consulate, thought it was when you cross a board post ) any how all i want is to point out at savannakhet there is NO money required

[lopburi3]

I clearly stated they did not normally require show of that but that they could; as could any Consulate.

[emanphoto]

Thank you all very much!

There seems to be a consensus that the info my wife got is wrong, which is kind of what I suspected. The process is already convoluted and difficult enough without throwing in such ling business!

Lopburi3 and LiteBeer seem to be quoting the present day rules as "written" and are accurate from what I've read here, but MikeandDow and boyce seem to be relating their actual recent experiences. I would imagine my mileage may vary, but their posts are very good news to me.

I had read boyce's previous posts re:using savanvegas and their package seems reasonable. I don't have much interest in gambling but a smooth process and acquisition of a 1 year visa would be worth it's weight.

Back in '04 or so when I visited Vientiane as a tourist (before I got married), the hotel prices were a little on the high side compared to what I had been paying in Thailand, so getting a package including pickup, meals, and help with the process sounds great.

So here are my new questions.

I'm not sure that I'll be able to get the 1 year marriage extension given the timing of our deposits, but just checking to confirm that there's a consensus w/what lopburi3 said, "6. You visit Consulate and apply for visa and next day after it is issued you return. After 60 days here you then apply for extension of stay."

So it is definite that I will not be able to get a 1 year extension at this point?

Multi vs single entry: A multiple entry 90 or 1 year visa is preferable to a single, but not a deal breaker. It would be nice to have the flexibility to travel outside of Thailand if I chose to, but is not presently planned for nor necessary. Is the difference between the 2 just a question of money that you pay them at the consulate?

TV= Thai visa?

What if the house registration is still in my mother in law's name?

Given all this, what type of visa should I be requesting? 90 day type O? 1 year type O? Is it referred to as an extension or a renewal?

Sorry for my newbie confusion on this one but I just want to make sure I get it right.

My plan is at this point, my questions not withstanding:

1. Get a translation of our US marriage certificate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then have that certificate registered at the Amphur.

2. Have multiple copies of my passport photo.

3. My passport

3. Have my bankbook.

4. Copy of my wife's ID card

5. Check on our house registration as I think it is in my mother in law's name. (see question)

6. Have a simple letter from my wife requesting the visa.

7. Adequate funds on hand to pay for the Thai visa, Lao border visa.

8. For simplicity's sake, I think I'll use the savanavegas service.

Thanks in advance again for your help everyone!

[emanphoto]

A follow up as some posts came in while I was composing my last post.

So going to Savanakhet would NOT be necessary for me now?

All I need to do is go to an immigration office in BKK and get this 60 day extension with our marriage license and once the bank acct. is "seasoned" (good phrasing there!) I would go to Savanakhet and get my 1 year type O spouse/thai wife visa?

Thanks!

As Lite Beer says, if you extend your current 90day stay by another 60days with proof of marriage at

an immigration office nearest to you, then you don't have to travel outside Thailand at all.

This would be your best option to allow you time to get all your paperwork in order and season your 400k

in Thai Bank a/c.

Then apply for an extension of stay based on Marriage.

[asiaexpat]

No need to go to Savanakhet. You should apply for and extension of stay at your local immigration office once your funds are seasoned properly.

[lopburi3]

As said there is no such thing as a one year visa - it is a multi entry non immigrant O visa only allowing 90 day stay but valid for one year of stays up to 90 days each. You do not need or want that. You can extend for wife visit for 60 days at immigration from current O visa entry and then when funds in bank two months do your one year extension of stay, again at immigration. No need to leave Thailand or obtain another visa unless you wish to do so.

[jcw]

The casino in post 4 really have their stuff together.

[ubonjoe]

My plan is at this point, my questions not withstanding:

1. Get a translation of our US marriage certificate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then have that certificate registered at the Amphur.

5. Check on our house registration as I think it is in my mother in law's name. (see question)

Deleted unneeded items at this time.

1. You get the translation done at a translation service and then the certification at the MFA which can be done by the translation service for you at a small additional cost. Then go to the Amphoe and register your marriage. At that time they will update the house book and her ID card (she can choose to keep her maiden name if she wishes). They also give you a Kor Ror 2 that you need at immigration.

5. It does not matter if you wife is head of household in the house book (page one). She just has to be listed in any house book. After you get things sorted out at the Amphoe make a trip to immigration where you are living and apply for 60 day extension. Take your wife with you along with original plus copies of her ID card, house book (copy of page one and page that shows her name), Kor Ror 2 you got from Amphoe (keep original you will need for next extension). You will need 1 photo, completed TM7 application form, copies of passport photo page, visa and permit to stay and entry stamps. Plus copy of TM6 departure card. While at immigration ask what they require for the one year extension you will be applying for later.

After your money has been in the bank long enough get a letter from bank confirming the amount shown in your bank book (can not be joint account) the day before you go to immigration. The make 2 copies of every used page of bank book and of course the first page.

Proceed to immigration and apply for your one year extension of stay taking all documents that immigration informs you that they want for one year extension.

Edited August 14, 2012 by ubonjoe

[emanphoto]

Thank you lopburi3 for that clarification!

I went to Tesco to get my passport pic printed and figured by the time I got back things might have sorted themselves out here as I was getting confused, which is easily done! Gawd help me when I reach 60 or higher, I'll need my name tattooed on my hand.

SO, is there any reason to go to Savanakhet at all? So many folks post about going there, a hotel makes a business out of visa runs to there, I'm wondering what is the reason or advantage for doing so? Is it because of experiences like this?

Eric

As said there is no such thing as a one year visa - it is a multi entry non immigrant O visa only allowing 90 day stay but valid for one year of stays up to 90 days each. You do not need or want that. You can extend for wife visit for 60 days at immigration from current O visa entry and then when funds in bank two months do your one year extension of stay, again at immigration. No need to leave Thailand or obtain another visa unless you wish to do so.

[emanphoto]

Thanks so much for that additional info ubonjoe!

Eric

My plan is at this point, my questions not withstanding:

1. Get a translation of our US marriage certificate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then have that certificate registered at the Amphur.

5. Check on our house registration as I think it is in my mother in law's name. (see question)

Deleted unneeded items at this time.

1. You get the translation done at a translation service and then the certification at the MFA which can be done by the translation service for you at a small additional cost. Then go to the Amphoe and register your marriage. At that time they will update the house book and her ID card (she can choose to keep her maiden name if she wishes). They also give you a Kor Ror 2 that you need at immigration.

5. It does not matter if you wife is head of household in the house book (page one). She just has to be listed in any house book. After you get things sorted out at the Amphoe make a trip to immigration where you are living and apply for 60 day extension. Take your wife with you along with original plus copies of her ID card, house book (copy of page one and page that shows her name), Kor Ror 2 you got from Amphoe (keep original you will need for next extension). You will need 1 photo, completed TM7 application form, copies of passport photo page, visa and permit to stay and entry stamps. Plus copy of TM6 departure card. While at immigration ask what they require for the one year extension you will be applying for later.

After your money has been in the bank long enough get a letter from bank confirming the amount shown in your bank book (can not be joint account) the day before you go to immigration. The make 2 copies of every used page of bank book and of course the first page.

Proceed to immigration and apply for your one year extension of stay taking all documents that immigration informs you that they want for one year extension.

[sotsira]

A follow up as some posts came in while I was composing my last post.

So going to Savanakhet would NOT be necessary for me now?

All I need to do is go to an immigration office in BKK and get this 60 day extension with our marriage license and once the bank acct. is "seasoned" (good phrasing there!) I would go to Savanakhet and get my 1 year type O spouse/thai wife visa?

Thanks!

As Lite Beer says, if you extend your current 90day stay by another 60days with proof of marriage at

an immigration office nearest to you, then you don't have to travel outside Thailand at all.

This would be your best option to allow you time to get all your paperwork in order and season your 400k

in Thai Bank a/c.

Then apply for an extension of stay based on Marriage.

Everything you need to do can be done at your nearest immigration office in Thailand.

First Step: Apply for a 60day extension of stay based on marriage to Thai Citizen, 1900bt at your nearest immigration office in Thailand

Second Step: Apply for an extension of stay based on marriage to Thai Citizen. (400k in Thai Bank)

[lopburi3]

No reason to go to Savannakhet - only for those who do not qualify for extension of stay and also good for those working outside Thailand as for them visa entry may be better than extensions of stay. But for most who do live in Thailand the extension of stay is the best option.

[4evermaat]

The casino in post 4 really have their stuff together.

This 'savanvegas' or whatever the place is....what is the price for being the agent for multiple non-o based on marriage? Are there any other multiple entry non-imm available?

[emanphoto]

If I understand you correctly, you can get your answers here.

The casino in post 4 really have their stuff together.

This 'savanvegas' or whatever the place is....what is the price for being the agent for multiple non-o based on marriage? Are there any other multiple entry non-imm available?

[emanphoto]

Everything you need to do can be done at your nearest immigration office in Thailand.

First Step: Apply for a 60day extension of stay based on marriage to Thai Citizen, 1900bt at your nearest immigration office in Thailand

Second Step: Apply for an extension of stay based on marriage to Thai Citizen. (400k in Thai Bank)

OK now things are getting dumb or maybe it's just me. I was hoping to make my way to an immigration office tomorrow as advised, but now I'm not sure where I'm supposed to go. Been making copies, got another set of photos made as my original 2" x 2" image isn't what I read immigration here wants so I made it into a 4cm x 6cm image.

I found the nearest immigration office address from the Thai Immigration web site here. That would be the 507 Soi Suanplu South Sathorn Road Office.

Then I was google mapping my way to the 507 Soi Suanplu South Sathorn Road Office when I see a "review" in Google that says "The Immigration Bureau has now re-located to Chaengwattana." Oi. Where is it I am supposed to go?

Under "Offices accepting notification" the description makes it sound like I have to go to Immigration Division1 Office, Chalermprakiat Government Complex,Chaengwattana Rd., Laksi ,Bangkok which is in east bumf___ for me to get to by public transit, with a nice 25 minute walk at the end of my 1 hour+ long commute there.

The 507 Soi Suanplu office description in my "Offices accepting notification" link above says:

"Service for Visa Issuing (NON.L-A) , extension of stay permit and notification of address every 90 days , provided only for legalized special Labor of three Nationalities Laos , Cambodia and Myanmar residing in Bangkok.

Contact at Immigration Division1 (Soi SuanPlu , Satorn Rd.)

1st Floor , Canteen Building (behind Building1)"

This doesn't sound like where I need to go, or am I missing something here?

Then there is the math. 90 days from the time of my 400K being in my account on Aug. 9th puts me at November 7th if my crummy math skills are correct.

60 days from the time my present 90 day visa expires on August 25th, (not Aug. 28th as I originally posted) puts me at Oct. 24th, two weeks before my deposit has aged the required 90 days. So shouldn't I be getting a 90 day extension so that the funds will have aged properly?

Please help I need advice here!

Eric

[lopburi3]

You go to Chiang Watanna and can take a taxi right to the door (South Entrance) less than 50 meters from immigration office entry. There is no need to walk even if you go by bus on main road as there is service on the compound but likely to main entrance so perhaps 100 meters in air conditioned building to the immigration office. The funds only have to age 60 days for first retirement extension of stay or any marriage extension of stay the requirement is 2 months not 3.

[emanphoto]

Thank you lopburi.

I was there once and it is a massive place. I guess a taxi it is!

I'm on a thai wife visa not retirement. At least not for a few years and a few 100K anyway.

My funds need to age for 90, go figger, so can I get a 90 day extension? How much is it if I can get it?

So the 507 Soi Suanplu South Sathorn Road Office is not a choice for me at all?