Please help with Marriage Visa

[OmegaRacer]

The immigration officer said I can only renew the application here, but for the first application I have to go to Bangkok.

If you already have a non immigrant visa you do not have to go to Bangkok.

If you don't have a visa and don't live near Bangkok it might well be better to get the visa from one of the nearby embassies or consulates.

Where do you live?

I live in Chachoengsao. I've been to the immigration office today to do my 90 days and the guy said I have to go to Bangkok.

Isn't there an office in Central BangNa? That would be convenient for me.

[ubonjoe]

The immigration officer said I can only renew the application here, but for the first application I have to go to Bangkok.

If you already have a non immigrant visa you do not have to go to Bangkok.

If you don't have a visa and don't live near Bangkok it might well be better to get the visa from one of the nearby embassies or consulates.

Where do you live?

I live in Chachoengsao. I've been to the immigration office today to do my 90 days and the guy said I have to go to Bangkok.

Isn't there an office in Central BangNa? That would be convenient for me.

Is it the office where you got your current extension of stay?

What did you ask them about and did they look at your passport to see what you have now?

It sounds like they confused changing your extension from working to marriage with doing a conversion from a tourist visa to a non immigrant visa.

You cannot covert a non immigrant visa to another non immigrant visa.

A trip to Bangkok would get you nothing unless that is where you got your last extension.

[yankee99]

My advice is go as soon as possible and dont forget to bring your wife as they interview her. just renewed mine in pattaya 28 pages then i needed an additional six. 34 total 17+17 copies and all yours need your signature and wife's need her signature. The reason to go quick at least in my first two extensions i was always sent home for lack of documents. Now i save the docs in a pdf and reprint it every year.

[OmegaRacer]

I've been going to that office since they opened I think 3 years ago. They know me and the status of my passport/visa.

I've been working here for 7 years on a non-immigrant B visa.

The officer told me I had to go to Bangkok to change it to a non-O and do the extension based on marriage.

It's all a bit confusing for me right now, as my workplace took care of all the paperwork until now. It's a long story, but now I have to (and want) to get the marriage extension.

So, I think the question is, is this change easily done at the same day/place, or are these 2 separate issues (non-B to Non-O....and....work VS marriage extension)?

thanks for your help!

[ubonjoe]

I've been going to that office since they opened I think 3 years ago. They know me and the status of my passport/visa.

I've been working here for 7 years on a non-immigrant B visa.

The officer told me I had to go to Bangkok to change it to a non-O and do the extension based on marriage.

It's all a bit confusing for me right now, as my workplace took care of all the paperwork until now. It's a long story, but now I have to (and want) to get the marriage extension.

So, I think the question is, is this change easily done at the same day/place, or are these 2 separate issues (non-B to Non-O....and....work VS marriage extension)?

thanks for your help!

It is not possible to change a non-b visa entry to a non-o visa entry. You are not changing visas in any way.

You are simply changing the reason for your extension of stay from working to marriage.

They can do it at that office. Going to Bangkok would be a waste of time.

You need to go back to immigration and make sure that they understand what you want to do. Don't mention changing visas.

There is nothing complicated at all about it. Lots of people have done the same thing.

[OmegaRacer]

ok, I'll go back tomorrow with my Thai friend to explain everything.

Will post the result.

[Mario2008]

Ubonjoe is right.

What might confuse immigration is that you are asking about a change of visa, for which you normally indeed must go to BKK in case you want to do that based on marriage. But you already have a non-immigrant visa and are simply changing the reason for your stay in Thailand from work to marriage. That is a totally different situation which your local immigration can and should handle. You simply fill in the TM7 form as usual but now put in "to stay with my wife" as reason instead of "working" (and submit a lot of different supporting documents).

So don't ask for a change of visa!

[nabbie]

Hi,

1) What some people have been telling me, is that my name is supposed to be on the house registration book. Is that correct?

Yes and no; it is very confusing with mine. My Thai wife explains me her name is shown for current address in the black book and my name is shown for older address in that same black book. She says it should not be a problem because Thai regulation does not like the farang name using the current address. Of course, I am not happy about that clarification but Thai immigration is somewhat happy to approve that. I think you best to check with your wife. Maybe wife's surname is matching your surname then it should be sufficient to your entitlement.

You are confusing a blue house book which you wife would have. You cannot be in that book.

The black book is for home/condo ownership which is not the same.

Being in any house book is not needed.

If you are living in a house that your wife has a blue house book for that is enough for proof of residence..

The black book would be good if your name is in it as proof of residence,

If not living where your wife is registered you would need proof of residence.

1st line: My wife do not have the blue house book.

2nd line: Yes, only the black book. My name is on it in Thai but using old address. We have our own house via company.

5th line: Yes, that is exactly what I mean.

No idea about the blue house book. Should she have that?

[ubonjoe]

She should have a blue house book as head of household.

[OmegaRacer]

Just came back from immigration.

You were correct. I don't need to change my visa from B to O, just change the reason for extension from work to marriage.

I must do this in Bangkok however, not in Chachoengsao.

I hope to go on Monday. Will report when done.

[Mario2008]

That you must do it in BKK is very strange, I would not be suprised if BKK sends you back to Chachoengsao.

[ubonjoe]

I don't think they will do anything in Bangkok either. I think I would try calling first.

You will need to go to one of the offices mentioned here. Immigration services at Cheang Wattana now suspended

[Mario2008]

Alternatively, call the general information line: 1111 and explain the problem. They might talk to your immigration office and direct them to do it themselves instead of sending you to BKK.