Visa Headache (Please help me figure what to go for)

[banglassie]

Hi all. At first I have to apologize for this becoming such a long post.. I've been hesitating to post this here for awhile and tried to read up as much as possible (since on forums tend to answer "Go to the search engine!"...)
perhaps I'm stupid, but I seriously can't figure it all out, and so I would like some advice of you who have been through the process.

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Some Background info:

-I'm a Swedish citizen who worked in Norway for the past 5 years in the same position. During this time I've been going to Thailand at least 4 times/year. Sometimes for a 3 week stay, sometimes for 2-4 month's stay.

-I'm 29 years old, born 1985.

-Me and my fiancee have gone trough the unofficial "Mann" process with the family, but we haven't done any marriage certification at the Amper yet. However we plan a wedding in January 2015. The family asked for a 400,000 baht Sin-sot, of which 300,000 we will get for starting up our family life. (100,000 was for the early engagement, which is tradition in Sisaket among the Khmer-Loeu community if not most of Siam, these where as a security that I wouldn't just take off and leave, but in the case that my GF would misbehave I would get the money back according to personal written contract between me and the father).

-The fiancee has a relatively good stable income (about 24,000 baht/month) working in Bangkok for Crown Property Bureau.

-We are thinking of registering the marriage at the local Amper this coming April (or even earlier in February if there's any benefits for making it as ASAP)

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Ok, so this coming June I'll quit my work in Norway for good. I expect to have about 500,000 baht in cash saved. However that goes depends on how good I am at saving/paying back the last debts and credits I have in Norway.

(I also have a Bank account in my GF's name, since I'm not allowed to open an account, at SCB with about 60,000 bt)

For a temporary Sin-sot we need to show up during the actual wedding I can easily use one of the credit cards again, take out the cash, and stash it back a week later without any fees except the exchange rates. So I never have to touch the actual cash, unless I decide that's the better option.

So one of my problems is I decided to travel the world instead of fulfilling my studies while I was a little younger. it all started in 2006 when I was supposed to take distance courses from Sweden but reading in Thailand. However I ended up in Cambodia smoking weed and being a lazy ass backpacker, living on the money I got from the state for studies... So yea, that's one of my stupid faults I have to pay for now...

At the moment I'm studying up the grades that I was supposed to do in 2006, this in an extreme tempo (1 course/2 weeks instead of 4 or 5). But it will all pay off since I will be able continue studying with loan + grants/benefits (or whatever you call it).
This all to get a Bachelor, which according to my knowledge is needed to work in the Kingdom? At least as a TEFL'er, which kind of makes perfect sense (the quality of teachers are already not at the top.. So I completely understand if that's a requirement..)

I'll do the Text & Talk 6 week course this coming autumn, as well as reading on distance from Sweden. I will get about 40-50,000 baht/month from the Swedish state during this time for my studies.

I'm considering enrolling in the Walen school. My Thai is fairly good in reading as well as speaking (writing I still make lots of errors though), I consider myself above intermediate but below fluent. Most Thais use to say I'm about 60-80% depending on how good they know me (those who know me less tend to give me higher scores since they only see I can understand them and answer them quite easily. Those who know me better knows that my grammar sucks and that I'm still in the process of translating straight from English from time to time, which many times doesn't really work out. However, my Thai is 100% better than my fiancees English, so we use Thai on an everyday basis as main language (and still they use Khmer within the family so all my efforts for nothing )

Enrolling this school will grant me an ED-Visa as far as I can tell?
however, is this a good choice, or should we try to go for Non-Imm "O"-Marriage Visa? And if so, how would that work out with my non-existing salary?
I can't find anyone else who had the same situation of studying on distance while receiving money from the Swedish Government while trying to become worthy of a Working permit within the Kingdom.

I plan to move there in the summer after I quit my work and go to Sweden to sort out my studies as well as bank accounts etc. No plans to go back to Norway for a while so no need to save money within their country. I would like to transfer it all to a Thai account, but that seems impossible without a work permit?

So finally, what visa should I go for? And which path would you guys recommend?
I'm sorry for all this text, could probably have made it shorter.

At last, I would appreciate people not judging either me or my fiancee because of her "Khmer" or "Isan" origins... I know my family there well and I trust them completely (that is my fiancee, her mom and her dad, not her gambling brother or other more distant relatives..). If you can't trust your family or had problems with gold-diggers than I feel sorry for you, but I'm not naive to the nation, and feel I do know Thai society fairly well thank you.

All serious help is very much appreciated!

[Mario2008]

Not until you are marreid at the amphur can you apply for a non-O visa and extension of stay based on your marriage.

Once you are married, you can get a non-O visa and get extension of stay based on your income of 40,000 baht a month, certified by your embassy. (It must be an income, not necesarrily a salary). Alternatively you can show 400,000 baht in a bank account in Thailand in your name only for 2 months prior to applying for the extension of stay.

[Mario2008]

1 post offering marriage councelling removed.

This post is not about his relationship but about his visa.

[banglassie]

Thanks a lot Mario!

A quick question though, how could I possibly get a bank account in my name over there to put 400,000 in unless I have a work and work permit?

Is there any other way? (Lile being married, a big enough ammount etc?)

[Lite Beer]

Just try a few banks and you will find one who will open a savings account for you.

[ubonjoe]

You don't need a work permit to open a bank account. You just have to try different banks.

Since your fiance has an account you should be able to get an account at the same bank with her acting as your guarantor.

[riclag]

Thanks a lot Mario!

A quick question though, how could I possibly get a bank account in my name over there to put 400,000 in unless I have a work and work permit?

Is there any other way? (Lile being married, a big enough ammount etc?)

IMOP, Kasikornbank is your best bet IMOP.They would require your passport and your wife to be's address in Thailand and ID card as your sponsor.It has been my experience that each bank has different rules,

[banglassie]

OK, thanks guys.
One thing though, I was reading something regarding the 400,000 in account being only people who started applying for this kind of visa before 20XX, and for new applicants it's 800,000. I think it was on thaivisa.com i read this, but I'm not 100% sure.
There's quite a difference between 400k and 800k in my opinion. I'm young and far from rich..

Read another thread regarding WP that it might not be necessary to have a bachelor degree, and that "any diploma will do". So what exactly does that mean? For example, what is counted as a diploma here? If i took the t&t 6 week course + diploma course, would that be regarded as a qualifications enough to get a job? I understand I would never get a job at a uni or a good priv. school in Bkk.

But for a less high class school outside bkk? or even within? No matter governmental or private. Would that be possible?

Also, regarding Kasikorn I've had that thought as well since I was living in Sa Kaew 2006. But Kasikorn really has grown and aren't just the "farmer's bank" it once was. I guess my chances of opening a Bank account are better outside bkk than within(?)

Walen school say it's possible to open an account with their ED visa, and since I will go for that one for 1 year first I might as well try it that way perhaps.

Thanks for the inputs! Helps more than you know.

[beechguy]

OK, thanks guys.

One thing though, I was reading something regarding the 400,000 in account being only people who started applying for this kind of visa before 20XX, and for new applicants it's 800,000. I think it was on thaivisa.com i read this, but I'm not 100% sure.

There's quite a difference between 400k and 800k in my opinion. I'm young and far from rich..

Read another thread regarding WP that it might not be necessary to have a bachelor degree, and that "any diploma will do". So what exactly does that mean? For example, what is counted as a diploma here? If i took the t&t 6 week course + diploma course, would that be regarded as a qualifications enough to get a job? I understand I would never get a job at a uni or a good priv. school in Bkk.

But for a less high class school outside bkk? or even within? No matter governmental or private. Would that be possible?

Also, regarding Kasikorn I've had that thought as well since I was living in Sa Kaew 2006. But Kasikorn really has grown and aren't just the "farmer's bank" it once was. I guess my chances of opening a Bank account are better outside bkk than within(?)

Walen school say it's possible to open an account with their ED visa, and since I will go for that one for 1 year first I might as well try it that way perhaps.

Thanks for the inputs! Helps more than you know.

You need to pay closer attention to what you are reading in regards to the financial requirements. Some Consulates will require some financial proof, others will not when applying for a Non-Immigrant Visa. The numbers you refer to, are for people who are already in Thailand, and want to extend their permission to stay, for marriage it is 400k in the bank, or your income needs to be 40k per month. The 800k, 65K, etc. is for people over 50,years old, and applying for retirement.

For bank accounts, it is possible, just shop around as has been advised.

[banglassie]

OK, thanks guys.

One thing though, I was reading something regarding the 400,000 in account being only people who started applying for this kind of visa before 20XX, and for new applicants it's 800,000. I think it was on thaivisa.com i read this, but I'm not 100% sure.

There's quite a difference between 400k and 800k in my opinion. I'm young and far from rich..

Read another thread regarding WP that it might not be necessary to have a bachelor degree, and that "any diploma will do". So what exactly does that mean? For example, what is counted as a diploma here? If i took the t&t 6 week course + diploma course, would that be regarded as a qualifications enough to get a job? I understand I would never get a job at a uni or a good priv. school in Bkk.

But for a less high class school outside bkk? or even within? No matter governmental or private. Would that be possible?

Also, regarding Kasikorn I've had that thought as well since I was living in Sa Kaew 2006. But Kasikorn really has grown and aren't just the "farmer's bank" it once was. I guess my chances of opening a Bank account are better outside bkk than within(?)

Walen school say it's possible to open an account with their ED visa, and since I will go for that one for 1 year first I might as well try it that way perhaps.

Thanks for the inputs! Helps more than you know.

You need to pay closer attention to what you are reading in regards to the financial requirements. Some Consulates will require some financial proof, others will not when applying for a Non-Immigrant Visa. The numbers you refer to, are for people who are already in Thailand, and want to extend their permission to stay, for marriage it is 400k in the bank, or your income needs to be 40k per month. The 800k, 65K, etc. is for people over 50,years old, and applying for retirement.

For bank accounts, it is possible, just shop around as has been advised.

Thanks a lot! That spared me a lot of headache!

Yea, for sure I need to read way more than I've done. Right now only scratching on the surface since I've relied on border runs for the last 8 years.

But from other threads I've kind of understood that rules changes regarding to which consulate/embassy you go to, right?

I've heard good things about Bali and Saigon etc. But not always the best stories from Laos/Vientiane.

I realize the whole process is probably quite easy if you got it all in order and know what to do. But being a first-timer regarding this kind of Visa I feel a bit lost, and I like to do it right the first time, and not get a Visa refusal because I was stupid enough to not bring some document, copies etc.

[Eddy B]

I hope everything goes well for you and th gf/soon to be wife. I did not have to pay anything to my thai wife's family before or after the wedding, but they helped us out alot and we gave back; such is karma. All I know is I will never starve or not have a roof over my head from my Thai family...........by the way I am only 36

[banglassie]

I hope everything goes well for you and th gf/soon to be wife. I did not have to pay anything to my thai wife's family before or after the wedding, but they helped us out alot and we gave back; such is karma. All I know is I will never starve or not have a roof over my head from my Thai family...........by the way I am only 36

Maybe your age and good experience helps to not be as cynical as those who have only seen, heard or experienced the worst

I'm quite anti sin-sod. As is my gf/soon to be wife. But the gap between us and the parents is quite huge. My gf is quite controversial for her home already. Not following the sisaket norm, but more the norm of Nakhon Si-Thammarats reggae culture, since 90% of her friends belongs to that circle. Freedom and a quite western approach to life is "their culture" (which surely is influenced by the old days of hippie backpackers at koh Pha-ngan, Samui and even Phuket a long time ago).

Nevertheless, we have no plans to live anywhere near Sisaket in the future. But we agreed (or rather my gf and her dad agreed) that we would show up money on the day of our wedding, as is the tradition. However the money, that we both have saved for, will go straight back to us. it's more or less a show to impress neighbors. Not my cup of tea. But envy is not all too uncommon in the smaller communities where people grew up together since they where kids, and no one wants to be worse than the next one. (neighbor buys a new car and suddenly a car seems like a proper investment and priority...)

As the poster above you who knows me and my future supposes, I do not pay to either my gf nor her family. Our goal is for both of us to be free of debt, not collect more by buying unnecessary things. And no, they never asked me for money.

However, when I bought a bike I of course let them use it when I'm not using it etc. I consider it our bike. And I will not hold anyone responsible for the damages if some occur, just as I would do at home with my friends.

And in turn I can use anyone's car, bike etc, because that how it goes.

happy for you and your wife and glad you are having a great relationship with her and her family. probably way better than we do mostly because of political differences, with dad being hardcore-red to the core.. So we both try to stay out of the topic, since after all my gf "works for the king".)

[Bucko]

Thanks a lot Mario!

A quick question though, how could I possibly get a bank account in my name over there to put 400,000 in unless I have a work and work permit?

Is there any other way? (Lile being married, a big enough ammount etc?)

IMOP, Kasikornbank is your best bet IMOP.They would require your passport and your wife to be's address in Thailand and ID card as your sponsor.It has been my experience that each bank has different rules,

Agree with the Kasikorn bank option to try---I walked in to a Branch in Pattaya last year with my passport-- which had a single entry tourist visa stamp--and gave them the address of a Thai friend

They just asked me how much I wanted to deposit to open the account--and walked out with the Passbook--ATM card--and the online account set up.

Bank staff were very helpfull, and spoke good English.

Bucko

[banglassie]

Thanks a lot Mario!

A quick question though, how could I possibly get a bank account in my name over there to put 400,000 in unless I have a work and work permit?

Is there any other way? (Lile being married, a big enough ammount etc?)

IMOP, Kasikornbank is your best bet IMOP.They would require your passport and your wife to be's address in Thailand and ID card as your sponsor.It has been my experience that each bank has different rules,

Agree with the Kasikorn bank option to try---I walked in to a Branch in Pattaya last year with my passport-- which had a single entry tourist visa stamp--and gave them the address of a Thai friend

They just asked me how much I wanted to deposit to open the account--and walked out with the Passbook--ATM card--and the online account set up.

Bank staff were very helpfull, and spoke good English.

Bucko

Thanks Bucko!

Was this in Bkk or some other province? Would you suggest that matters? I've only tried SCB so far so will absolutely go for Kasikorn next time!

(sorry, didn't pay attention to the details again.. I'm clearly not suit to multi-tasking... Ok, Pattaya is an option then!)

[Bucko]

Thanks a lot Mario!

A quick question though, how could I possibly get a bank account in my name over there to put 400,000 in unless I have a work and work permit?

Is there any other way? (Lile being married, a big enough ammount etc?)

IMOP, Kasikornbank is your best bet IMOP.They would require your passport and your wife to be's address in Thailand and ID card as your sponsor.It has been my experience that each bank has different rules,

Agree with the Kasikorn bank option to try---I walked in to a Branch in Pattaya last year with my passport-- which had a single entry tourist visa stamp--and gave them the address of a Thai friend

They just asked me how much I wanted to deposit to open the account--and walked out with the Passbook--ATM card--and the online account set up.

Bank staff were very helpfull, and spoke good English.

Bucko

Thanks Bucko!

Was this in Bkk or some other province? Would you suggest that matters? I've only tried SCB so far so will absolutely go for Kasikorn next time!

(sorry, didn't pay attention to the details again.. I'm clearly not suit to multi-tasking... Ok, Pattaya is an option then!)

Just for the record Banglassie---

The bank branch I used in Pattaya is in the ground floor next to McDonald's in " The Avenue " shopping Mall on 2nd Road --not far pass Soi Diana { that's a well known area} ---if you are walking against the one-way traffic--

Good luck in Bangkok---I hope that the Kasikorn bank there is as helpfull as my one

[ubonjoe]

Several off topic posts and replies to them removed. Also some that were derogatory.

[Tomtomtom69]

Thanks a lot Mario!

A quick question though, how could I possibly get a bank account in my name over there to put 400,000 in unless I have a work and work permit?

Is there any other way? (Lile being married, a big enough ammount etc?)

Bangkok Bank. But go to their head office branch located at 333 Silom Road in Bangkok. All you'll need is your passport and a local address and you can be on any visa. A debit card is available and you can use your account in every way via ATMs both in Thailand and abroad but unfortunately for some strange reason a work permit is required for internet banking. Therefore, open an account with them first, then apply for internet banking in the future once you have a work permit.

SCB sucks ass. They don't even want to do overseas wire transfers to third parties even if you do have a work permit (only to your own accounts is permitted) although admittedly, I haven't tried their head office so maybe the information I received at my branch was incorrect.