Marriage Visa Extension Udon Thani Trip Report

[jimky]

Did my fifth annual extension of stay based on marriage application today at Udon Thani Immigration.

Most significant thing to report is I was questioned extensively about notarized income statement from US Embassy. Same officer that did my last few had to check with someone else. I had both talking to me when the other said a new rule since August is the US embassy needs to stamp a document that shows income: "this letter.... can't use anymore". But then after a few minutes she asked if I had anything else could give her. She wanted either the receipt of having paid for the notarization or the appointment slip. I didn't save either so no go on that. She printed something in Thai (I don't read Thai well) and told me to sign it (I did but no idea what). Then said "okay, next time bank book." and that was that. Proceeded as normal.

I was in and out very quickly. Same officer seems to look at me each time I walk in door and is always friendly but we don't really talk. She called me next even though I had just walked in and appeared to be a queue in front of me (not sure why). She went through the application very quickly other than that one snag. This time I just put 2,200 baht in the clip at the end when signing the paper instead of normal 1,900.. I was charged 100 baht for copies once like 4 years ago, also another time during 90 day report asked to do a temple donation (was in envelope to seal and stuck 20 baht in it and put in the box) but other than that never been overcharged. I felt like she was doing me a favor taking me ahead of everyone else, and was very impressed with how fast it was. I was out of there about 30 minutes after walking in the door, exciting considering I had trouble even finding a parking spot.

Some added info:

- brought a witness who was used. This was new three times ago they needed a witness. Take their ID, tabien baan, ask a few questions, print them out and have them sign. Have read other reports of people not needing this and see many others go in without one, but for some reason three times ago was requested from me, thus have brought one ever since. Immigration has never visited my home before. Maybe this saves them the need.

Documents needed:

TM7 completed twice w/ photos

Passport - copies of all pages of the passport (in past was only certain ones, this time they photo copied and had me sign the ones missing as needed them all).

Marriage Certificate

Marriage Log - forget what this is called, the other form given when doing the marriage.

Wife's name change document

Wife's ID

Wife's tabien baan (house book)

Children's birth certificates

Income letter from embassy - which again this time was questioned, told not valid, but then used along with something else in Thai they had me sign.

Map to House

Photos with family - (1. Outside home, 2. living room, 3. bedroom)

Everything signed in advanced makes it faster. That's it. Was very easy. Feels like it took me longer to write this post than it did to do all that.

I'm not sure on embassy letter issue. Using the money in bank is no issue for me and will just do that next time. But just more a heads up for others going this route, I have no idea really what that conversation was all about.