Non-O visa validity (3 months or 1 year?)

[heliotrope]

I'm a European who works in Thailand with a Non-B visa and a work permit. I live with my husband here. We decided to get him a Non-O visa based on our marriage. I've been told it's possible even neither of us is a Thai citizen.

I assume the expiration date of his visa will be the same as mine. However, I have no idea whether he'll have to do the same reporting process as me (going to the local immigration office every 90 days to report address) or he'll have to leave the country every 90 days and come back... I couldn't find relevant information on this and I'm totally confused now.

If he needs to leave the country every 3 months, it might be better for him to stay with his ED visa and get a new one for next year.

Please help me if you have any information on this.

Thank you very much.

[ubonjoe]

Your husband can get an extension of stay (not a visa) as your dependent since you have an extension for working here. He would then do 90 day reports like you are.

He will first need to get a single entry non-o visa to apply for the extension from a nearby embassy or consulate.. He will need a copy of your passport photo page, extension of stay stamp and your marriage certificate. If the marriage certificate is not in English it will need to be translated to Thai and the translation certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To apply for the extension at immigration he will need the same documents. Immigration may also want a letter from your employer to confirm you are still working for them.

[heliotrope]

Thanks a lot for your answers ubonjoe! Things got much clearer now.

Our marriage certificate is trilingual, English included.

An agency offered that they can do the Non-O application for my husband in BKK, without him leaving the country.. Do you think it's better to leave the country anyways? I've been to Laos for my Non-B but it was a really exhausting journey.

After he gets the Non-O, do you know if it's possible to get an extension of stay stamp at any local immigration office? We don't live in BKK and I do my 90 day reports here at a little town's immigration office.

Thank you.

[ubonjoe]

Immigration policy is that they do not do changes to non-o visas for dependent extensions. If your husband has a ED extension of stay or visa there is no change to a non-o visa possible. Only visa exempt entries and tourist visa can be converted to a non immigrant visa.

I am certain the fee for the agency to do it would be very costly.

If he is on an extension of stay for attending school now you should check with your local immigration office to see if they will let him change the reason for his extension to one as your dependent.

If not it would be best for him to get a non-o from a embassy or consulate.

[heliotrope]

Ok, thanks again for the information!