Getting Ready For The 1 Year Extension Based On Marriage

[teacherofwoe]

Has anyone used a fixed term bank account for your 400,000?

[ubonjoe]

There are many that do it. But you should check with your local Immigration office to be sure that they will accept a fixed term account. You have to be sure that you can take out funds at any time without any delay.

Edited September 8, 2013 by ubonjoe

[TheLobster]

Thanks to all the useful information from posters.

Please can someone confirm if the 400k needs to be in the bank account at the end of the 30 days consideration following an application?

[Mario2008]

Thanks to all the useful information from posters.

Please can someone confirm if the 400k needs to be in the bank account at the end of the 30 days consideration following an application?

There have been some reports of that now being asked by immigration.

Best to ask your local immigration office.

[ubonjoe]

Some regional immigration headquarters are calling the bank to check balance before giving final approval.

[jimmiejackson]

I'm about to do my first extension of stay at CW.

Is the witness requirement definitely being enforced? If so I will have to try and find some somewhere.

[longstebe]

I'm dreading all this <deleted>. I don't see why we (non o ) holders married to a thai would still have to leave the country every 90 days even with proof of income or the hefty bank balance........

Or am I getting this all wrong?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ubonjoe]

I'm about to do my first extension of stay at CW.

Is the witness requirement definitely being enforced?  If so I will have to try and find somesomewhere.

Not needed at CW.

There are only a very few offices that require a witness and those are only small offices.

[jimmiejackson]

I'm about to do my first extension of stay at CW.

Is the witness requirement definitely being enforced? If so I will have to try and find somesomewhere.

Not needed at CW.

There are only a very few offices that require a witness and those are only small offices.

Good man, thanks for the quick answer.

[ubonjoe]

I'm dreading all this <deleted>. I don't see why we (non o ) holders married to a thai would still have to leave the country every 90 days even with proof of income or the hefty bank balance........

Or am I getting this all wrong?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You don't have to leave the country every 90 days if you have an extension of stay.

That is only needed for a multiple entry visa.

[longstebe]

I'm dreading all this <deleted>. I don't see why we (non o ) holders married to a thai would still have to leave the country every 90 days even with proof of income or the hefty bank balance........

Or am I getting this all wrong?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You don't have to leave the country every 90 days if you have an extension of stay.

That is only needed for a multiple entry visa.

Right OK mate. Thanks.

I've never done the extension tbh. I'm guessing with the multiple entry I would still need to have proof of income /bank balance?

That's the bit what I can't grasp.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ubonjoe]

It is getting harder to get multiple entry visas based upon marriage without proof of income or money in the bank.

As far as I know Savannakhet is still doing them without financials. And Penang also.

Really 400k in the bank or income of 40k income is not that huge of an amount.

Especially when compared the to those for retirement.

But I do think they should be lower because a person can live on much less than 40k month. But if you can put 400k in the bank and never touch it you can live however you want.

Edited September 17, 2013 by ubonjoe

[Lopburi99]

35 minutes ago Richard Barrow tweeted:

"Don't forget, Immigration regulations have changed now. You cannot transfer your visa to a new passport any more."

6 minutes before that he tweeted:

"My visa has been transferred to my new passport in only ten minutes. No fuss and no fee. Great work at Samut Prakan Immigration.

Huh?

Now comes a new tweet:

"When you go to renew your extension of stay in Thailand, make sure you have at least one year left on your passport." Again, huh?

Lopburi3, anything here we need to worry about? I am about to renew my extension of stay (based on marriage) for one year but my passport expires in Feb. Obviously I intend to renew it/get a new one before then.

Edited September 17, 2013 by Lopburi99

[ubonjoe]

35 minutes ago Richard Barrow tweeted:

"Don't forget, Immigration regulations have changed now. You cannot transfer your visa to a new passport any more."

6 minutes before that he tweeted:

"My visa has been transferred to my new passport in only ten minutes. No fuss and no fee. Great work at Samut Prakan Immigration.

Huh?

Now comes a new tweet:

"When you go to renew your extension of stay in Thailand, make sure you have at least one year left on your passport." Again, huh?

Lopburi3, anything here we need to worry about? I am about to renew my extension of stay (based on marriage) for one year but my passport expires in Feb.

New rules were put in place by immigration last month.

If you do not have a full year remaining on you passport when you apply for an extension your extension will only be issued up to the date your passport expires. And you will have to apply for an extension by that date.

That means when you apply for your extension it will only be valid to Feb. and you will have to apply for extension again then. With all the documents and pay 1900 baht.

When you get your new passport they will transfer the stamps but not give you the remainder of your extension like they did before.

Edited September 17, 2013 by ubonjoe

[Lopburi99]

35 minutes ago Richard Barrow tweeted:

"Don't forget, Immigration regulations have changed now. You cannot transfer your visa to a new passport any more."

6 minutes before that he tweeted:

"My visa has been transferred to my new passport in only ten minutes. No fuss and no fee. Great work at Samut Prakan Immigration.

Huh?

Now comes a new tweet:

"When you go to renew your extension of stay in Thailand, make sure you have at least one year left on your passport." Again, huh?

Lopburi3, anything here we need to worry about? I am about to renew my extension of stay (based on marriage) for one year but my passport expires in Feb.

New rules were put in place by immigration last month.

If you do not have a full year remaining on you passport when you apply for an extension your extension will only be issued up to the date your passport expires. And you will have to apply for an extension be that date.

Thatme

What kind of an extension? A new one year extension?

[Lopburi99]

35 minutes ago Richard Barrow tweeted:

"Don't forget, Immigration regulations have changed now. You cannot transfer your visa to a new passport any more."

6 minutes before that he tweeted:

"My visa has been transferred to my new passport in only ten minutes. No fuss and no fee. Great work at Samut Prakan Immigration.

Huh?

Now comes a new tweet:

"When you go to renew your extension of stay in Thailand, make sure you have at least one year left on your passport." Again, huh?

Lopburi3, anything here we need to worry about? I am about to renew my extension of stay (based on marriage) for one year but my passport expires in Feb.

New rules were put in place by immigration last month.

If you do not have a full year remaining on you passport when you apply for an extension your extension will only be issued up to the date your passport expires. And you will have to apply for an extension be that date.

That means when you apply for your extension it will only be valid to Feb. and you will have to apply for extension again then. With all the documents and pay 1900 baht.

When you get your new passport they will transfer the stamps but not give you the remainder of your extension like they did before.

[ubonjoe]

Deleted

Edited September 17, 2013 by ubonjoe

[IMA_FARANG]

I asked the Danish Consulate in Jometien for this a few years ago and they said clearly they would not endorse any financial information. I made it clear it would be an affidavit, i.e. they would just confirm my statement, but the answer was a clear "no". I'd be very very interested hearing any one from mainland western Europe who has been able to get this from their consulate/embassy, and the details about it - how the letter was worded, and whether it was accepted by Thai immigration.

-------------------

The U.S. embassy provides a notary service.

But they do not endorse the financial facts of your income statement you make before them.

What they endorse is that:

• You appeared before them and
• You made a statement to them of your income
• And they are certifying that fact. (that you appeared before them stating those facts)

That statement is accepted by Thai immigration. But actually if it is contested by Thai immigration the U.S. embassy will not defend the amount of income you stated as true and valid.

All they are really certifying is that you appeared before them and you stated certain facts. They are not certifying that the facts you gave them are true.

Many people misunderstand that fact.

I was once in the U.S. embassy when an American man who had received an income statement from then that the Thai immigration wanted further proof of wanted the embassy to help him defend his income claim against the Thai immigrations questions.

The U.S. embassy people were trying to explain they are only certifying that they took his statement and not that the statement was necessarily true. Therefore they would not defend his statement against the Thai immigration questions.

That American man got quite vocal; eventually he was escorted out of the embassy by the Thai security guards and one big U.S. marine.

Edited September 17, 2013 by IMA_FARANG

[dragons70]

Regarding the list of required docs at jomtien immigration by OP - I have just moved to jomtien permanently from surin. Ive done

my past 3 marriage extensions in Surin and before that CW. I notice on the list at jomtien, there is no mention of a need for proof of address? In surin i had to show my yellow tabien baan and in bkk, a signed affidavit from embassy outlining my residential address. Can anyone else confirm that proof of address is not required at jomtien office, as would save me a trip up to the embassy in bkk.

Thanks in advance...

[ubonjoe]

Regarding the list of required docs at jomtien immigration by OP - I have just moved to jomtien permanently from surin. Ive done

my past 3 marriage extensions in Surin and before that CW. I notice on the list at jomtien, there is no mention of a need for proof of address? In surin i had to show my yellow tabien baan and in bkk, a signed affidavit from embassy outlining my residential address. Can anyone else confirm that proof of address is not required at jomtien office, as would save me a trip up to the embassy in bkk.

Thanks in advance...

If renting where you live a rental contract will work best. It will need copies of the owners ID card and house book attached.

If living where wife's house book is for it is not required perhaps that is why proof of address was not on the list.

I have seen reports that Jomtien does ask for it.

[dragons70]

Ubonjoe thanks for reply. Yes thats why i was looking for recent confirmation as have also seen reports that jomtien office requires it. I own the condo im living in so could show chanote etc i guess plus bills in my name, although ive tried this before in bkk and they insisted on the affidavit from the embassy even though i was showing them the same documents! Mai pen rai, TIT!

Also, anyone heard of having to get a letter form the previous years' place of extension to show to the new one when you change addresses? The missus rang the jomtien office and they said this was required, even though the location of the last extension issue is plain to see in the passport. Any ideas what letter they are referring to?

Cheers

[ubonjoe]

I have never heard of a letter being needed from previous office.

You could change you yellow house book to your condo.

[TravelerEastWest]

It seems that the extension process is not so bad but the big challenge is that different offices ask for different documents - and to some extent have different rules in different years.

I have what may be an overly simple approach - prepare the basic required docs and photos and then dress professionally with a tie and be very polite, and having young children helps.

Using this approach I have never had a problem or needed witnesses or home visits etc - even in my first extension year about 6 years ago. I have aslo used 3 different immigration offices as we moved.

Note every now and then there will be a bad apple in some offices then sadly maybe nothing helps....

[fifthcolumn]

I commend anyone who has the courage to do the marriage extension full on 1 year "o"category multiple entry visa. I knew a younger couple who went to extraordinary lengths to get the 1 year extension (with only about 90 days prior stay in Thailand), even with a more convenient multiple entry visa option. He did eventually get it, but his wife agrees with me.....next time: multi-entry "o" visa.

Ultimately, to each their own. But for those without much experience in the region, i dont think there is any significant advantage beyond the border run, which could be up to 14 hours depending on your location and time of day. Are visa runs really that bad?

I will soon be doing my 6th extension based upon marriage. No problems at all.

I live within 2 hours of the border and Savannakhet is not far away for a visa. I can tell you that I would never go the multiple entry visa option.

Costs and time are big factor to me. Five thousand baht for a visa and cost of trip to get it verses 1900 baht for an extension. Border run that would cost 1500 baht for a visa to Laos plus travel expenses verses no cost for 90 day reports other than little bit of fuel for the trip.

That is not the entire story for many. If you need a re-entry permit, that too is a hassle and expense. The total is roughly equal to the visa. So that is a red herring. For those hours away from the border, maybe a runner is a bridge too far, but from many of Thailands larger metro areas hosting foreigners, you are looking at less than four hours ow. So, one day. That only leaves the cost of the trip. If you are comparing yourself riding down to some tiny immigration post in Nakon Nowhere to a solid vis run, yeah your money wins - but, for most there is not only money, but time involved. My hunch is a day up and back to report runs about b300 minimum for most, plus a minumum of five hours door to door. So, in the end if you choose the runner, it's another five hours and the opportunity to get out and see something besides grouchy, rude immigration police. If you had a tenth of the problems many have - not the least the "under consideration" waste of a life.

How many trips does the average person make in regard to tbis visa each year? I bet it's a minimum of three up and back with many doing four - often, usually its for some riduculous scrap of dated and meaningless paper - just to keep you in your place.

The visa route though is not for the sick, infirm, impatient, lazy, persons with zero Thai skills or anyone not feeling comfortable in the country (or neighboring countries).

I myself find all, but especially the marriage extension requirements bewildering, daft and inconsistent. The requirements are pure folly. It is next to impossible due to both expense and communication to maintain the appearance of de jure/facto where none exist.

Immigration is nothing more than a make-work industry. Anything you do in the building feeds the beast, especially when you give it money.

Edited November 13, 2013 by fifthcolumn

[mojorison]

Lived here for 25 years, and been married for 20 years... only last year did they want the Kor Ror 22, (all the other times the Australian paperwork and a bottle of JW Black sufficed!) Question is, can I use the same Kor Ror 22 from last year, or do I need a new copy of it from the amphur. Appreciate all responses.

[ubonjoe]

Lived here for 25 years, and been married for 20 years... only last year did they want the Kor Ror 22, (all the other times the Australian paperwork and a bottle of JW Black sufficed!) Question is, can I use the same Kor Ror 22 from last year, or do I need a new copy of it from the amphur. Appreciate all responses.

That depends upon the immigration office you go to. I suggest that you get an updated one unless you confirm it with them.

As easy as it is to get an updated one at any Amphoe and at a cost of only 20 baht I would get an updated one because you never know what they may want even by asking.

[mojorison]

Lived here for 25 years, and been married for 20 years... only last year did they want the Kor Ror 22, (all the other times the Australian paperwork and a bottle of JW Black sufficed!) Question is, can I use the same Kor Ror 22 from last year, or do I need a new copy of it from the amphur. Appreciate all responses.

That depends upon the immigration office you go to. I suggest that you get an updated one unless you confirm it with them.

As easy as it is to get an updated one at any Amphoe and at a cost of only 20 baht I would get an updated one because you never know what they may want even by asking.

Good call... I'll do it. Cheers.

[Bazt]

Ok , simple question! Is it 90 or 60 days for the money in bank for first extension based on marriage .

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[ubonjoe]

For extensions based upon marriage it is 60 days for every extension.

The 60/90 day rule is only for retirement extensions.

[Bazt]

Goodo thanks Ubonjoe

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Edited January 19, 2014 by Bazt