Hi all

Has anyone any experience of getting the above extended?

I have a non O A retirement single entry visa obtained in London, my wife has an expiring non O 3 month single entry visa obtained in London, my plan was to get my wife's visa extended re: police order 777/2551 2.20, with our marriage certificate.

Chiang Mai immigration, have advised they want photos of my wife and I together, a map of our residence (hotel where we are staying is OK), completed TM47, 80,000 baht in a Thai bank account (pretty sure they have that amount wrong, 800,000 baht), guarantee letter from the bank and the usual host of signed copies of passports etc.

My plan is too take a Thai copy of the police order (hope we get a different officer) or otherwise if the same, explain that we made a mistake last time and didn't explain properly that we want a 7 month ish extension based on 2.20 and our marriage certificate.

They are so used to seeing only Western/Thai marriages and appear to be applying rules applicable to that situations

Any advice appreciated

The problem that you might have is that in order for your wife to become a dependent of you, you yourself first must be on an extension of stay. Currently you are not, as you still are on your visa entry.

How old is your wife? If she is over 50, she might need to show she qualifies for an extension based on retirement herself as she cannot be a dependent.

It does not apply to Thai marriages as a Thai wife would not need such an extension of stay. But the requirements for photos and home seem to be valid although her first extension of stay should negate the need for a TM.47 and there should not be an financial requirement for her (although they might require proof of yours as it has not been shown them and retirement is now a local immigration process). The O-A entry for one year should be treated as an extension of stay for this purpose but with the decision now a local matter you do need to make exactly sure what is being required.

Thanks Lopiburi

Plan B is also to comply with the requirements immigration have advised, very reluctantly I have transferred money to a Thai bank account (yes you are correct they want to see my financial status, not hers), we have taken four photos of us in our room and two outside the hotel and will hopefully obtain a bank guarantee letter, but only being advised of these requirements last week there is no way the money can have been in the bank account for the last two months (so worryingly we potentially fail) along with TM7 (not misquoted TM47). What has happened to police order 777/2551 2.20 all seemed so simple ?

Do you have an income, besides the money in the bank?

Retirement allows for an extension of stay if you meet one of 3 conditions:

1. having 800,000 in the bank for 2 months, 3 months evrry next extension.

OR

2. having an income of 65,000 baht a month (can be from abroad, in which case you need a lette from your embassy confirmingthe income)

OR

3. having a yearly income together with money in the bank in Thailand, together totaling 800,000 baht.

Option 3 does not require the money to be seasoned. Your embassy decides what they willa ccept as income, which can be a pension, intrest, rental income etc.

Thanks Mario

My wife is 40, yes I have an early retirement pension, so potentially, i could have taken 3, if I had known about it.

We tried to extend my wife's visa two weeks after arriving in Thailand, but were told it could not be done until one month prior to expiry, her visa expires 21st January, rock and a hard place!

Actually they may not require the 2 month seasoning in this case (you already have the extension) so would give it a try if you have transferred funds and see if it is accepted.

Thanks Lopiburi

That's the conclusion we have come to, so it's off to Chiang Mai Immigration early morning on 16/1/13 bank letter willing, I will post if all goes OK. Fingers crossed