Converting from 90 day tourist to marriage visa in Thailand

[jphunt46]

I am going to Thailand under 90 day tourist visa from Australia

While there I want to marry and convert to marriage visa

The embassy here says I can't do while in Thailand, that I have to apply from Australia?

Is this so?

If I can apply for marriage visa in Thailand while under the 90 day tourist visa what do I need to do

What is required apart from the 400,000 in bank for 2 months prior and marriage certificate

I can go via legal but costs 1000 bucks

Any help?

[lopburi3]

Tourist visa allows a 60 day entry which can be extended 30 days if required. There is no real marriage visa - you must have a non immigrant entry and then extend at immigration for reason of marriage each year or you obtain non immigrant visas from Consulates outside of Thailand for 90 day stays. You can also extend stay for 60 days to visit wife.

For one year extensions of stay you must have 400k in bank account in your name 2 months prior to application. But once you have the money in account your can obtain a change of visa entry to a 90 day non immigrant entry at immigration office inside Thailand (but only a few will do this - you may have to visit Bangkok to have this done). Then during the last 30 days of that 90 day entry you do the normal extension of stay.

Cost of 90 day non immigrant visa is 2,000 baht

Cost of 1 year extension of stay is 1,900 baht.

[ubonjoe]

You can get married and do the conversion to a non immigrant visa entry at immigration but not all offices do them. You would probably have to do it in Bangkok.

You would not need the money to be in the bank for 60 days to do the conversion. It is a 2 step process first you get a 90 day entry a and then after 60 to 90 days you do an extension of stay by then your money would be in the bank long enough.

Are you aware that if you can prove an income of 40k baht that can also be used.

There is a fairly long list of documents needed besides the marriage certificate and it can vary from office to office. Where do plan on living?

[thaiexpat21]

There are no 90 day tourist visas! Only 60 day visas which can be extended at a local immigration office for 30 days at a cost of 1900Bht.

In similar vein there are no "marriage" visas! but you can apply for an extension of stay based on marriage if the requirements can be met.

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123

[jphunt46]

Thanks

My plan was to get 90 days from embassy here, they say I need letter from GF stating want to marry and can get easily about 2 da

Then when in Thailand marry and convert to marriage visa, I can do in Thailand no problem?

I will deposit 400 g in bank straight after marry

The question is, is it straight forward to do myself and what documents do I need to convert to marriage visa

I read that it seems to vary as to what is needed, no black and white?

I plan to initially live in udon but would probably do all the transaction in bkk as they seem more up to speed etc?

Or is udon ok to do this?

Appreciate you advice in above

[ubonjoe]

If they give you a immigrant O visa there would be no conversion needed. You would just apply for an extension of stay based upon marriage.

If you only have a tourist visa you would do the change to a non immigrant visa.

You can do the extension in Udon at immigration there. But not the change of visa.

If you don't get the O visa I suggest you make a short honeymoon trip to Vientiane Laos for the non-o visa. It would be easier and much closer to Udon than a trip to Bangkok.

[jphunt46]

Thank joe

Lets say I go to thailand on 30 day tourist, I can marry then apply for 90 day Marriage visa correct ?

Then before it runs out I apply for a 12 month marriage visa or do you call to an extension?

To do that I have to leave Thailand say to Loas and then go to immigration with all documents and apply for a 12 month marriage visa, correct ?

Then every 90 days leave and come back requesting another 90 dy extension with the same paperwork submitted for original 12 months or not needed?

Thanks

[thaiexpat21]

You apply for a change of visa "status" you will receive permission to stay for 90 days. (2000 Bht)

Toward the end of the 90 days you apply for an "extension of stay" based on marriage. Assuming you have the financials in place and the correct paperwork you will receive "permission to stay" for one year. (1900 Bht)

Any trips outside Thailand during that one year will require a re-entry permit to keep the "permission to stay" alive

[ubonjoe]

Thank joe

Lets say I go to thailand on 30 day tourist, I can marry then apply for 90 day Marriage visa correct ?

Then before it runs out I apply for a 12 month marriage visa or do you call to an extension?

To do that I have to leave Thailand say to Loas and then go to immigration with all documents and apply for a 12 month marriage visa, correct ?

Then every 90 days leave and come back requesting another 90 dy extension with the same paperwork submitted for original 12 months or not needed?

Thanks

If you came in on a 30 day visa exempt entry you could get married but you may need a ticket out of the country within 30 days of arrival to board your flight to here.

It would be better to get a single entry tourist visa that would give you a 60 day entry. You can easily get one at any of the honorary consulates in Oz.

Then after you get married go to Vientiane for a single entry non-o visa based upon marriage that would give you a 90 day entry. You would just need your marriage certificate, wife's ID card and house book.

Then when your money has been in the bank for 60 days you would apply for a 1 year extension (it is not a visa) based upon marriage at Udon immigration.

You would just do 90 day reports at immigration.

[jphunt46]

Is this the same thing that the lawyers call a 12 month marriage visa by another name?

This still needs reporting every. 90 days?

If I leave to Australia for a month and come back what paperwork will they need for re entry permit

Thanks

[RJDuncan]

I will add my 2cents, as I have researched this topic before, so this is my understanding.

Lets assume you arrive on a tourist visa (60 days from Aus), and enter thailand and get married to a thai national.

You can stay 60 days and extend by 30 days at a local immigration office, before then having to leave the country.

Visit a neighbouring country (do a search for the most pain-free), head to the thai consulate and make your application for a Non-O Immigrant visa (90 days).

To apply for this visa based on marriage, you will require the various things i.e. Marriage Cert, wifes id, (400k in bank not required at this point) etc.

I suggest visiting the thai consulate website of the country you plan on applying to see what is required.

If/when you receive your visa, you have 90 days (which can be extended locally) and once this expires you are left with a choice.

1. Visit a thai immigration office (BKK probably best) and apply for a 1 year extension of stay based on marriage. You will at this point need to prove funds or income.

2. Leave Thailand and apply for the same visa as before (non-o based on marriage 90 days).

People tend to choose the second choice when they are unable to meet the montary requirements (im only assuming based on logic).

If I have helped then great, if I have made any errors or missed anything, im sure I'll be corrected.

All the best.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ubonjoe]

No it is not a visa. A 12 month visa would require leaving every 90 days.

You apply for the re-entry permit at immigration. You just need a few passport page copies to get it.

[ubonjoe]

I will add my 2cents, as I have researched this topic before, so this is my understanding.

Lets assume you arrive on a tourist visa (60 days from Aus), and enter thailand and get married to a thai national.

You can stay 60 days and extend by 30 days at a local immigration office, before then having to leave the country.

Visit a neighbouring country (do a search for the most pain-free), head to the thai consulate and make your application for a Non-O Immigrant visa (90 days).

To apply for this visa based on marriage, you will require the various things i.e. Marriage Cert, wifes id, (400k in bank not required at this point) etc.

I suggest visiting the thai consulate website of the country you plan on applying to see what is required.

If/when you receive your visa, you have 90 days (which can be extended locally) and once this expires you are left with a choice.

1. Visit a thai immigration office (BKK probably best) and apply for a 1 year extension of stay based on marriage. You will at this point need to proove funds or income.

2. Leave Thailand and apply for the same visa as before (non-o based on marriage 90 days).

People tend to choose the second choice when they are unable to meet the montary requirements (im only assuming based on logic).

If I have helped then great, if I have made any errors or missed anything, im sure I'll be corrected.

All the best.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

He would not need to get the 30 day extension or need to wait for his 60 day to run out before going out for his non-o visa.

He plans on living living in Udon so that would be where would have to do his extension.

He is already prepared to put the money in the bank.

[RJDuncan]

Ubonjoe

You are correct he would not have to wait or extend, if he so wished.

I merely stated the options available.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[lopburi3]

There is also the option to change inside Thailand to a non immigrant visa now as we have explained earlier. But if living in Udon it would be easier to just visit Vientiane after marriage if needed.

[jphunt46]

Thanks guys

So it seems I,ll do this

Apply for 60 day normal tourist visa from embassy in australa

Get married, then go to ventienne Loas and apply for non o visa at Thai consulate there and ttat will give me 90 days

I put 400,000 baht in the bank and after 2 months go to udon immigration and ask for extension based on marriage for 12 months

After I get that. Report to immigration every 90 days

Only grey area is if I leave to come back home for short time I apply for a re entry permit before I leave or when I arrive back at airport immigration? Again with same documents for initial extension asked on marriage?

Am I reading it correctly?

[RJDuncan]

Apply for your re-entry permit from your local immigration office.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[RJDuncan]

No documents needed for the re-entry permit bar the following: passport, 2 x passport photo's and some cash (900thb).

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ubonjoe]

Thanks guys

So it seems I,ll do this

Apply for 60 day normal tourist visa from embassy in australa

Get married, then go to ventienne Loas and apply for non o visa at Thai consulate there and ttat will give me 90 days

I put 400,000 baht in the bank and after 2 months go to udon immigration and ask for extension based on marriage for 12 months

After I get that. Report to immigration every 90 days

Only grey area is if I leave to come back home for short time I apply for a re entry permit before I leave or when I arrive back at airport immigration? Again with same documents for initial extension asked on marriage?

Am I reading it correctly?

You apply for your re-entry permit at immigration before you leave. All that is needed is copies of passport photo page your extension stamp and your departure card.

[avander]

You can get married and do the conversion to a non immigrant visa entry at immigration but not all offices do them. You would probably have to do it in Bangkok.

You would not need the money to be in the bank for 60 days to do the conversion. It is a 2 step process first you get a 90 day entry a and then after 60 to 90 days you do an extension of stay by then your money would be in the bank long enough.

Are you aware that if you can prove an income of 40k baht that can also be used.

There is a fairly long list of documents needed besides the marriage certificate and it can vary from office to office. Where do plan on living?

Just to clarify if it isn't already, the 40K income is per month and can be on the basis of an affidavit made by the OP at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok. A quick and inexpensive process where they give you a form to complete "on the spot", you fill it in and pay a few dollars, they notarise it and you're away.

While I didn't need it I have heard some Thai Immigation offices may also need substantiation via bank records or similar.

[PaddyBKK]

You apply for a change of visa "status" you will receive permission to stay for 90 days. (2000 Bht)

Toward the end of the 90 days you apply for an "extension of stay" based on marriage. Assuming you have the financials in place and the correct paperwork you will receive "permission to stay" for one year. (1900 Bht)

Any trips outside Thailand during that one year will require a re-entry permit to keep the "permission to stay" alive

If I arrive on a "visa exempt" and deposit THB400k in my Thai bank account (I am married to a Thai) - can I apply for "change of visa status" within the 28 days I am allowed to stay on after arrival ?

If I can change - what docs do I need to show ?

Is it the same bunch of docs as those required for the "1 year non O immigrant" extension (married to a Thai) ?

Thanks

PaddyBKK

[Mario2008]

Yes, but apply for the conversion within the first 2 weeks of arrival and be sure to have proof that you transferred the money into Thailand from abroad.

Same document required as for 1 year extension of stay.

If you arrive from outside of Asia, the airline might refuse you boarding if you don't have a visa OR proof of onward travel within 30 days of arrival. A non-O visa to start with might be advised.

Conversion must be done in Bangkok.

[ubonjoe]

You apply for a change of visa "status" you will receive permission to stay for 90 days. (2000 Bht)

 

Toward the end of the 90 days you apply for  an "extension of stay" based on marriage. Assuming you have the financials  in place and the correct paperwork you will receive "permission to stay" for one year. (1900 Bht)

 

Any trips outside Thailand during that one year will require a re-entry permit to keep the "permission to stay" alive

 

If I arrive on a "visa exempt" and deposit THB400k in my Thai bank account (I am married to a Thai) - can I apply for "change of visa status" within the 28 days I am allowed to stay on after arrival ?

 

If I can change - what docs do I need to show ?

 

Is it the same bunch of docs as those required for the "1 year non O immigrant" extension (married to a Thai) ?

 

Thanks

PaddyBKK 

Yes but you would need to it within 15 days of your arrival.

You would be doing a conversion to a non immigrant visa entry since you won't have a visa to change.

You would need a letter from bank confirming your balance and another one to prove funds came from abroad. You will need every document and photos you need to get an extension of stay based upon marriage.

You probably would need to do it in Bangkok and it could require 2 trips to get it. There have been reports of them doing a 14 day under consideration stamp.

It would be better to get a single entry non-o before traveling.

[PaddyBKK]

Yes, but apply for the conversion within the first 2 weeks of arrival and be sure to have proof that you transferred the money into Thailand from abroad.

Same document required as for 1 year extension of stay.

If you arrive from outside of Asia, the airline might refuse you boarding if you don't have a visa OR proof of onward travel within 30 days of arrival. A non-O visa to start with might be advised.

Conversion must be done in Bangkok.

Thanks Mario,

I'll be arriving on a return ticket

why do I have to transfer the money it from abroad ?

Can't I hand carry it in when I arrive ?

If i get the 90 day visa change - I'll get a re-entry - (I hope that's allowed ?) as I have to be elsewher for a week & then can return.

Thanks

PaddyBKK

[ubonjoe]

There was a recent report that immigration would not accept a currency exchange receipt as proof. In that case he had to go out for a O visa.

You can get a re-entry permit for the 90 entry you will get.

[PaddyBKK]

There was a recent report that immigration would not accept a currency exchange receipt as proof. In that case he had to go out for a O visa.

You can get a re-entry permit for the 90 entry you will get.

Thanks Ubonjoe,

Noted - I could transfer from overseas in advance.

regards

Paddybkk