Retirement Visa Extension-- How to change from "Single" to "Married" Status?

[swissbie]

Which begs the question of why she is visiting Thailand using a foreign passport and having to deal with extensions if she is Thai? I suspect the other nationality does not allow dual citizenship so she does not have a Thai passport available? Thailand does not prevent citizens from having both foreign passports and Thai passport.

Not only, the following also makes little sense

I do the extensions based on marriage, together with my wife. I need 800k guarantee because she also does extensions,

Based on marriage the funds required is 400K not 800. If on a joint account then yes it would be 800K but that can be fixed in one day by opening another individual account. Then of course the concept of a Thai citizen "doing extensions" and at the same time being the basis for the spouse to obtain an extension for marriage is totally absurd.

I think his wife is getting an extension based upon having Thai nationality and he is getting an extension based upon retirement.

He stated also that he does not have an under consideration period which certainly means he is not getting an extension based upon marriage.

Why we do it like this, is a long story. But besides, she doesn't need a Thai passport, bat prachachon is good for everything. And in fact, my extensions are based on marriage. As long as my wife keeps doing visa extensions, where there is no legal need for but is possible to do so, there is no need for consideration time. We have done this at several immigration offices in different provinces. (and please don't ask why, for us, it makes sense).

[paz]

Why we do it like this, is a long story. But besides, she doesn't need a Thai passport, bat prachachon is good for everything. And in fact, my extensions are based on marriage. As long as my wife keeps doing visa extensions, where there is no legal need for but is possible to do so, there is no need for consideration time. We have done this at several immigration offices in different provinces. (and please don't ask why, for us, it makes sense).

I don't know a prachachon is, but a passport is not needed to prove Thai citizenship, a Thai Id card is enough. Even she entered Thailand with a foreign passport any immigration infraction would be null, because she's Thai first. A judge would drop any charge.

That aside, I'll say it again, the fact that you use marriage to someone wife which does extension herself (for no reason) to base your stay in Thailand, is wrong and absurd, but if you and immigration like that, good for you. Nobody should take your example.

[swissbie]

Why we do it like this, is a long story. But besides, she doesn't need a Thai passport, bat prachachon is good for everything. And in fact, my extensions are based on marriage. As long as my wife keeps doing visa extensions, where there is no legal need for but is possible to do so, there is no need for consideration time. We have done this at several immigration offices in different provinces. (and please don't ask why, for us, it makes sense).

I don't know a prachachon is, but a passport is not needed to prove Thai citizenship, a Thai Id card is enough. Even she entered Thailand with a foreign passport any immigration infraction would be null, because she's Thai first. A judge would drop any charge.

That aside, I'll say it again, the fact that you use marriage to someone wife which does extension herself (for no reason) to base your stay in Thailand, is wrong and absurd, but if you and immigration like that, good for you. Nobody should take your example.

I misspronounced bat pra cha chon, with some imagination you would have understood, i ment Thai-ID in thai. Absurd? Is everything that you don't understand stupid? I spent decades trying to learn about thai mentality, i'm fluent in thai, spoken and written, i woudn't dare say to thais they're speaking absurd. Maybe you should give it a thougt about it.

[lopburi3]

Perhaps more helpful would be for you to explain to us the reasons for whatever you are doing so we can also understand. I for one would be interested in why this method is chosen - and I really see no basis in law for your extension requiring 800k unless it is for retirement reasons. Thanks for any details. Your passport extension stamp does have "Thai wife" stamp on it?

[paz]

I misspronounced bat pra cha chon, with some imagination you would have understood, i ment Thai-ID in thai. Absurd? Is everything that you don't understand stupid? I spent decades trying to learn about thai mentality, i'm fluent in thai, spoken and written, i woudn't dare say to thais they're speaking absurd. Maybe you should give it a thougt about it.

As I said before, no problem. You can do what you want, just don't climb on mirrors to convince others that is right and normal, because it is not.

[swissbie]

Perhaps more helpful would be for you to explain to us the reasons for whatever you are doing so we can also understand. I for one would be interested in why this method is chosen - and I really see no basis in law for your extension requiring 800k unless it is for retirement reasons. Thanks for any details. Your passport extension stamp does have "Thai wife" stamp on it?

Ok, i'll give it a try. First, yes, it's not a legal requirement, it's more psychological. She loves her Swiss passport, she stayed in Switzerland for more then 20 years. It's easier to travel back and forth with the Swiss passport than with the Thai passport (re-entry permit versus visa). I'm not sure if it would work well with two passports. But doing like this, there's no need for a Thai passport. Some friends of her have been doing this for a long time. Second, i don't really care about the difference having deposited 800k or 400k as i moved most of my funds over here (since i made the decision to take some profit of the overvalued Swiss franc and the interest rate over there is about zero now). It also doesen't hurt me to pay an additional 1900 Baht a year for her extensions, as long as it won't get much more expensive. Third, i don't have to wait for consideration, and yes, extensions based on marriage visa (i could make visa based on retirement now, but i had not yet been 50 years old when we settled down here). And yes, they told me at the immigration(s), that if my wife won't make her extensions anymore, the requirements will change. So, doing extensions in this way makes it easy and comfortable and makes sense for us.

[Mario2008]

No problem using two passports. Much easier and cheaper than getting an extension of stay at immigraiton.

[lopburi3]

As said no issues using two passports - people do it every day - at exit ticket counter she presents both passports if here as a Thai (to prove no visa required) and leaves on the Thai passport - she then uses the Swiss passport for entry/exit of foreign country and returns to Thailand using Thai passport. No immigration contact required in Thailand for her except if you want to use Thai wife extension - but as you now qualify for retirement you can do yourself when required without her.

But as you seem to be happy with current arrangement there may be no reason to change - but be aware it is not what most people do. Thanks for the details but both types of extension are based on non-immigrant O visa entry - but the actual extension can be for different reasons and they normally stamp that reason each time you get an extension in your passport. I suspect immigration is extending you on retirement basis if using 800k and not having a 30 day return to get final stamp (even if they are not telling you this).

[paz]

And yes, they told me at the immigration(s), that if my wife won't make her extensions anymore, the requirements will change.

Thanks for the explanation. It is not true that she if was not doing the useless extensions to stay in her own country the requirements for you would change, and please do not come back at me with something like "immigration said that". Check yourself what the regulations are below:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_id=280330

[swissbie]

As said no issues using two passports - people do it every day - at exit ticket counter she presents both passports if here as a Thai (to prove no visa required) and leaves on the Thai passport - she then uses the Swiss passport for entry/exit of foreign country and returns to Thailand using Thai passport. No immigration contact required in Thailand for her except if you want to use Thai wife extension - but as you now qualify for retirement you can do yourself when required without her.

But as you seem to be happy with current arrangement there may be no reason to change - but be aware it is not what most people do. Thanks for the details but both types of extension are based on non-immigrant O visa entry - but the actual extension can be for different reasons and they normally stamp that reason each time you get an extension in your passport. I suspect immigration is extending you on retirement basis if using 800k and not having a 30 day return to get final stamp (even if they are not telling you this).

Thanks for the information and for the patient style of your answer. Just for now i will stick on my habbits, but it could be that i'll have to change it next year, because we will move again (far south). The visa itself got stamped only with non-imm. O for the last seven years, with a handwritten remark that means somewhat like "chiwit pan plai", what seams to mean something like "(live) just goes on". Was difficult to read, i needed help from several persons, as handwriting from immigration officers is about the same as from doctors.. And sorry, for the moment i dont' use a thai keyboard. But in a few weeks i will do my 90-days report in person, i'll ask them about the exact meaning and will keep you updated.