Extending Non-O Visa

[Plate]

Hi everyone

I was granted a Non-Immigrant Type O Visa last year in the Thai Embassy down in Los Angeles on October 2013. Now my time is running short and my non-O visa will expire at the end of this October.

According to one search...it stated that I can extend my visa by showing 400,000 THB in a Thai Bank accoun 'three' months prior to the application:

For holders of a non-immigrant type 'O' multi-entry visa, who is married to a Thai national, it is possible to extend the visa annually. However, there is a condition that the visa holder can show proof of either 400,000 Baht having been on a Thai bank account for a period of 3 months prior to the application for extension, or show proof that they have an independent income, being deposited in to a Thai bank account of at least 40,000 Baht per month.

I have not yet married my Thai wife in Thailand. Do I need to do this? Or do I just show 400,000 THB in a Thai Bank (though it seems I missed that time period)

Much thanks

[paz]

Yes, you need to be married to apply for a marriage extension.

[Plate]

Yes, you need to be married to apply for a marriage extension.

I know its that obvious (and will do so-which is to get married in Thailand) but I was married to my Thai wife in the US (not in Thailand) and got my non-O

[paz]

Yes, you need to be married to apply for a marriage extension.

I know its that obvious (and will do so-which is to get married in Thailand) but I was married to my Thai wife in the US (not in Thailand) and got my non-O

You can obtain the one year extension with your US marriage certificate, but it has to be translated and legalized, and your wife has to be with you.

You can obtain a 60 days extension with just the marriage certificate, copy of wife ID card and Blue book.

[ubonjoe]

You need to register your marriage here to apply for an extension of stay.

You will need to do a self certification of your marriage certificate by doing an affidavit at the US embassy stating it is valid and etc. The you would need to have the affidavit and you marriage certificate translated to Thai. Then have the translation certified by the Ministry of Foreign affairs . The translation service can get the certification done for you.

Then you would need to go to an Amphoe and register your marriage. They will then issue you Kor Ror 22 foreign marriage registry you will need at immigration along with your marriage certificate.

Info in your post is outdated. The money only needs to be in the bank for 2 months now.

[TerryLH]

"Info in your post is outdated. The money only needs to be in the bank for 2 months now."

And the income does not have to be deposited in a Thai bank.

[Plate]

Much thanks for the info guys. The reason I asked about getting married here in Thailand is that my wife may not want to do that since there 'might' be a slight chance we may go our seperate ways. In order to secure anything with her in the future, she doesn't want to get married here in Thailand.

Ubonjoe, when you mention getting our marriage registered, Im assuming that means to show Thailand that we are husband and wife (at least in the US) and we need to input that in with the Thai government without getting married in Thailand?

If that is not the case, I may go with paz's advice and just do the quicker/easier way and to extend the notice for 60 days.

Sorry for the dumb question, but Im in a weird situation at the moment.

[paz]

If that is not the case, I may go with paz's advice and just do the quicker/easier way and to extend the notice for 60 days.

I don't know if your local office would grant a 60 days extension if your marriage is not registered in Thailand or at least with a legalized translation. You would really have to check with them.

[Plate]

If that is not the case, I may go with paz's advice and just do the quicker/easier way and to extend the notice for 60 days.

I don't know if your local office would grant a 60 days extension if your marriage is not registered in Thailand or at least with a legalized translation. You would really have to check with them.

Again, much thanks for the info Paz.

I will check with the local office. So getting registered in Thailand looks like 'getting married in Thailand' which my wife may not want to get involved with. Hmmmm...I need to check for other options (going to Malaysia every 30 days it looks like at the moment)

(Unless getting registered in Thailand means I dont have to marry in Thailand and can use my US certificate, do what Ubon said while getting it translated)

[paz]

Maybe worth to note, divorce in Thailand is basically free and done immediately.

You cannot count on visa exempt border runs anymore. Better would be another non-imm 'O' multiple entries in e.g Savannkhet.

[Plate]

Maybe worth to note, divorce in Thailand is basically free and done immediately.

You cannot count on visa exempt border runs anymore. Better would be another non-imm 'O' multiple entries in e.g Savannkhet.

Ah, so getting a marriage registered in Thailand does mean actually getting married under Thai Law (sorry for being slow here, even though its obvious..hehe).

My wife is not up for getting married here in Thailand it looks like.

Ill do a search on Savannkhet here and see what that it is all about.

It looks like my options are:

1. A basic visa run for 30 days.

2. Education Visa (i Dont mind actually learning Thai language)

And will check on Savannkhet.

Another thing to put to note, I may in Thailand for another 4-5 months only.

[paz]

You may do a border run and then extend it for 30 more days, but then you may not be allowed to do a second one back-to-back.

If you don't want to stay long time in Thailand ED visa is an overkill. Most schools wants it paid for an year, and you have to extend it every 90 days.

Your reasonable choices are the 60 days extension now, or a new non-imm in Laos.

[Plate]

You may do a border run and then extend it for 30 more days, but then you may not be allowed to do a second one back-to-back.

If you don't want to stay long time in Thailand ED visa is an overkill. Most schools wants it paid for an year, and you have to extend it every 90 days.

Your reasonable choices are the 60 days extension now, or a new non-imm in Laos.

Paz...you have been fantastic to say the least with your help.

I'll check on the 60 day extension and see if I can extend it without having to register it....and will search for the new non-imm in Laos. May have questions about that but first want to search and research it before I ask as you have been very gracious thus far.

[Maestro]

You are right. Having got married in the USA, this marriage is also valid and you are being recognised as married in Thailand. You cannot get married a second time in Thailand. To enjoy some of the privileges, in Thailand, of being married to a Thai national your US marriage certificate needs to be translated into English and the translation certified by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and then your marriage needs to be recorded – put on the record – at your local District Office (amphoe) in Thailand, as Ubonjoe has mentioned. After that, the District office will be able to give you a copy from the marriage registry, form KR.22, that some Thai government agencies, eg immigration or consulates, may require.

I am not sure whether your wife needs to accompany you to the District Office for the recording of your US marriage. Some translation services may assist you also with this process, for an additional fee. Check with them when you ask for a quote for the translation and MFA certification.

You will find translation services in the vicinity of the US embassy, on the opposite side of Witthayu (Wireless) Road.

[paz]

You are right. Having got married in the USA, this marriage is also valid and you are being recognised as married in Thailand. You cannot get married a second time in Thailand.

I think that is not an inflexible rule. Recently a forum member (in this case a Thai male) could not get his marriage recognized in Thailand due to a name error in the foreign marriage certificate, but the Amphur accepted to marry them again. He did not tell if and how the bride provided the freedom to marry affidavit.

[wayned]

He wasn't the person that was married before as the name was spelled wrong!

[ubonjoe]

You can get a 60 day extension at immigration without registering your marriage nor is there any need to translate your marriage certificate since it is in English.

You can get a single or multiple entry non-o visa at an embassy or consulate also (no translation needed).

You wife must go with you to the Amphoe to register the marriage. She will need to show her ID card and house book to do it. They will update her house registry and will change her name on the ID card if she chooses to take your name.

The registration is equal to getting married here as far as all the legalities go.

I don't really understand why she is reluctant to register the marriage. There is no adverse consequence from doing it.