Change of Non B (work) to Non B (marriage). Questions

[OmegaRacer]

Hi all

I'm a bit confused at the process to follow regarding changing my Non-Imm B extension from 'work' to 'marriage'.

My work contract will expire at the end of January, thus work permit and visa will expire too. I would like to get the new extension before the old one expires. Now, a visa agency told me I have to cancel my work permit first and only then can I apply for the marriage extension.

I believe I have all necessary documents ready, but I'm not sure on which step to take first. Should I wait for the old visa to expire? Or is it best to get everything done this month, so that there won't be a gap between one and the other?

Could you shed some light on this issue? Any help is much appreciated. Thank you!

[ubonjoe]

You don't have to cancel your work permit first.

You can get a letter from you employer stating you are no longer working to cancel you extension for working and apply for an extension based upon marriage to a Thai. You cannot change the reason for your extension until your existing one ends or is canceled,

[OmegaRacer]

Thank you Ubonjoe!

So, basically I just need a letter from my employer, stating that my contract will finish in January and that it won't be renewed. With this letter I can then go to Chaeng Wattana already this month to change the extension. Is that right?

Or does the letter have to state that I've already stopped working? In that case I will have to work for some time (2 months) using the new extension, which is a bit risky, don't you think?

thank you again!

[ubonjoe]

A lot will depend upon the immigration office you go to. Some offices might accept a letter from your employer requesting your extension be cancelled so you can change the reason for your extension.

Otherwise the letter will have to state a date yout job will end and you would need to do the change on that date.

[OmegaRacer]

hi

Just a quick update to this thread.

After getting a lot of contrasting info about changing the reason for my visa extension (can only do it in Bkk; have to go to Laos, get a tourist visa and then change to a non O, etc etc), I finally managed to do it.

Best of all, I didn't have to go anywhere and it was quite easy.

The documents required to change the reason of stay from <WORK> to <MARRIAGE> where:

- TM7 form with picture (2 forms=2 pictures)

- marriage certificate

- wife's tabian baan (house book)

- wife's ID card

- my passport

- letter from my bank stating that I have the funds (>400k) in my bank

- updated bank book on the same day, so showing the same amout as in the letter

- self drawn map to the house (can be drawn with the PC, but not a google map)

- 4 pictures (in front of the house showing the house number, inside the house and normal life pics like holidays or family pics) (2 sets = 2 x 4 pictures)

- a witness with 2 copies of his/her ID (can be a family member)

- 1.900Baht

You need 2 copies of all documents (make to identical stacks), sign every sheet.

As stated above in this thread and in many other places, requirements change from office to office, officer to officer, and the mood of the officer doing your paperwork that day. My application was at the Chachoengsao Immigration Office. Mr. Surasak was very helpful and everything was done in about 1 hour.

I'll have to go back in 1 month to get the final 1 year stamp.