New Visa Regulations For "farang - Farang" Couples

[ania]

I am hoping that someone might be able to give me some advice concerning the new and somewhat confusing visa regulations. The issues concern my long term boyfriend, who is British and without an Immigrant B. I am a British female currently working in Thailand as a Lecturer with a Work Permit. I am able to support the two of us easily, however it seems that with these new regulations in place my boyfriend will have to leave the country regardless of his ties to me. We could get married, although I have heard that dependency visas are no longer issued for foreign spouses, especially considering the fact that we are both in our late twenties, and traditionally these were issued to the retired spouse. We certainly do not have enough cash for an investment visa. My partner can no longer work as a teacher as the stricter work permit rules do not allow someone without a degree, regardless of experience and teaching qualifications the right to a work permit. He is currently doing volunteer work, which also does not qualify him for a work permit. Is it possible for him to fly out of the country and still claim 3 month tourist visas back to back, or is there another avenue that we can pursue?

Although I understand that the Thai laws are not exactly friendly towards foreigner - foreigner minority couples, who do not sponsor Thai Families by marriage etc, it seems disturbing that a good hardworking couple who provide a service to the country will have no option but to leave Thailand. Surely this is not the objective of the Thai Government? If anyone has any information on this matter I would be most grateful.

[samran]

If you are married, your husband can easily apply for an extension of stay based on your work permit status here in Thailand. Nothing has changed as far as I can see. I work for a large multinational here in BKK, and there are about a dozen married foreigners, with their other halves (male and female) sitting at home.

Your husband will need a non-immigrant O visa to get the ball rolling, and the extension can be applied for after that.

[Sunbelt Asia]

am a British female currently working in Thailand as a Lecturer with a Work Permit. I am able to support the two of us easily, however it seems that with these new regulations in place my boyfriend will have to leave the country regardless of his ties to me.

As a Bf/GF, this is correct

We could get married, although I have heard that dependency visas are no longer issued for foreign spouses,

If you marry, he could qualify then as a dependent off your extension of stay based on business.

He is currently doing volunteer work, which also does not qualify him for a work permit.

He can get a wp as a volunteer.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[ania]

Thank you all for your advice. I don;t think we can get the wp from the government school as the issue of the degree keeps arising. I am almost certain that the subverted issue here is that the school doesn't want to deal with the paper work and cost also, but if this is something that we can organise and pay for then we will if at all possible. Will do some digging.

As far as the dependency visas are concerned, does this mean we need a certain amount of money in the bank to qualify?

Thanks again,

Ania

[alex_4000]

ania,

please return and post your findings here!

i was in a similar situation two years ago (but until today never got a sufficient answer) and i will be again from next year.

that time i tried to get a dependant visa since my wife (also a farang) was holding a wp from a big university. the officer just laughed, saying that it is impossible, for "we believe in thailand the man should support the woman"

although he was for different reasons obviously talking rubbish it didnt help my case a bit...

i eventually got hold of a position and wp for the same uni, but since it is a "consultant's" wp, thanks to the new law it will most likely not be extended end of this year....

[samran]

ania,

please return and post your findings here!

i was in a similar situation two years ago (but until today never got a sufficient answer) and i will be again from next year.

that time i tried to get a dependant visa since my wife (also a farang) was holding a wp from a big university. the officer just laughed, saying that it is impossible, for "we believe in thailand the man should support the woman"

although he was for different reasons obviously talking rubbish it didnt help my case a bit...

i eventually got hold of a position and wp for the same uni, but since it is a "consultant's" wp, thanks to the new law it will most likely not be extended end of this year....

you should have asked to speak to his superior. The rules are the rules. There are about 3 diffferent farang women in my office where the hubby sits at home.

[alex_4000]

right, samran, should have done that - and definetly will IF i have to go back there next year...!

you should have asked to speak to his superior. The rules are the rules. There are about 3 diffferent farang women in my office where the hubby sits at home.

[Sunbelt Asia]

eventually got hold of a position and wp for the same uni, but since it is a "consultant's" wp, thanks to the new law it will most likely not be extended end of this year....

No change on a consultant wp. Only for the extension of stay based on business now requiring 4 Thai employees. You can still be a consultant for both the Labor Dept and Immigration.

As far as the dependency visas are concerned, does this mean we need a certain amount of money in the bank to qualify?

No as long as you are husband and wife.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com