Extension of stay - marriage

[Damman1]

Good evening TV'ers

I am looking for a little advice regarding my situation.

Entered Thailand on the old Tourist Visa triple entry issued in my home country (UK) and am now on my final extension of stay - permitted until 19th March 2016.

I married my Thai girlfriend last month at Laksi whilst on my final extension of stay.

Is it possible to obtain the 12 month extension of stay on top of this extension or must I leave Thailand next week and buy a new Non Immigration O type visa ?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

[elviajero]

• If you want a 1 year extension of stay based on marriage you will need to get a non 'O' visa and enter with that first. You'll be granted a 90 day stay and can apply for the extension within the last 30 (45 days at some offices) days of that stay.

It is possible to extend any permit to stay by 60 days to visit your wife. In theory you could extend your current 30 day extension by another 60 days although I don't know of anyone that's actually applied.

[sunnyjim5]

You cannot obtain an extension of stay directly from a tourist visa.

You should obtain a single entry "O" visa based on marriage from a Thai Embassy/Consulate.

The extension can be applied for during the last 30 days of the 90 the "O" visa will provide.

Do not forget you will need 400,000 Bht in a Thai bank for two months prior to applying for the extension or a certified 40k /month income.

[Jip99]

It may be worth speaking to your local immigration office first.

Whilst it should not be possible, I am aware of cases where the immigration office has granted the Non Imm 'O' visa and then subsequently done the 12 month extension a month later.

[sunnyjim5]

It may be worth speaking to your local immigration office first.

Whilst it should not be possible, I am aware of cases where the immigration office has granted the Non Imm 'O' visa and then subsequently done the 12 month extension a month later.

All visa "conversions" based on marriage can only be done in Bangkok.

[elviajero]

It may be worth speaking to your local immigration office first.

Whilst it should not be possible, I am aware of cases where the immigration office has granted the Non Imm 'O' visa and then subsequently done the 12 month extension a month later.

• The OP would need at least 15 days of his stay remaining to apply for a conversion which he doesn't have.
• What you suggest would only be doable if he extended his already extended stay by another 60 days. Which, as I said, is theoretically possible but would be down to the office he applied at.
• A conversion would need to be applied for in Bangkok.

[Eclipse]

A rough guide.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM)

(6) In case of marriage with a Thai lady, the husband who is an alien must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 baht per month or a money deposit in a local Thai bank of not less than 400,000 baht for the past 2 months for expenses within a year.

Letter from your Thai Bank showing balance and up to date bank book.

OR.

If income from outside Thailand: Letter from your Embassy showing income. Now may also need proof of income as back up.

If Income from Thailand: Statements showing Income Tax receipts.

Marriage Certificate. (Kor Ror 3)

Marriage Registry entry. (Kor Ror 2)

Wife's Tabbien Baan and ID Card.

Your Passport.

Copies of everything.

Photos of you and your Wife in and around the house.

A map showing the way to your house.

Passport size photos and 1,900 Baht fee.

Take your Wife to be interviewed.

One or two witnesses may be required.

You will be given a 30 day under consideration stamp.

Go back in a month and get the remainder.

[steve187]

try as post #6,

failing that a border hop for a 30 day visa exempt and then a conversion to non imm ' o ', and then a 1 year extension as post #7

or a fresh single entry non imm 'o' from savannakhet (2,000 baht) or a i year multi entry non imm 'o' (5000 baht) no financials required for both, no need for wife to be with you, but better to be safe than sorry

congrats on the marriage.

[Jip99]

It may be worth speaking to your local immigration office first.

Whilst it should not be possible, I am aware of cases where the immigration office has granted the Non Imm 'O' visa and then subsequently done the 12 month extension a month later.

All visa "conversions" based on marriage can only be done in Bangkok.

It is possible that the 2 that I am aware of were 'conversions' to retirement.

[ubonjoe]

It may be worth speaking to your local immigration office first.

Whilst it should not be possible, I am aware of cases where the immigration office has granted the Non Imm 'O' visa and then subsequently done the 12 month extension a month later.

All visa "conversions" based on marriage can only be done in Bangkok.

It is possible that the 2 that I am aware of were 'conversions' to retirement.

Conversions based upon qualifying for an extension based upon marriage have only been done at Bangkok for many years now.

For retirement they are only been done at certain offices. In late 2014 further restrictions were placed upon them to where they have to be approved at the division level of immigration. Some office within the central region are allowed to accept the application and submit the application to Bangkok for approval. As far a I know the only division outside Bangkok that is approving them is the one in Chiang Mai at this time.

[Jip99]

This is quite timely as I came across an unfortunate situation last evening.

A UK citizen in his late 70's, married to a Thai for 9 years, came into the country at the back end of last year having visited family in the UK.

Unfortunately, he didn't realise that he had only been given a single entry Non-Imm 'O' visa from the Thai consulate. Long story short, he finished up with a couple of days overstay and an extension for 60 days to the end of March.

He meets the income requirements for a 12 month extension based on marriage but, based on the above, it looks like he has two choices:-

1. Present himself to Chaeng Wattana to convert to a Non-Imm 'O' based on marriage and then apply for a 12 month extension locally.

2. Go to Savannakhet to obtain a single entry Non-Imm 'O' from the Thai consulate there - then apply for a 12 month extension locally.

[khwaibah]

Kap Choeng Immigration has now been offering conversion from Tourist Visa to an O visa for marriage for the pass two months. They are sending the paper work to Korat for approval and its a two week turn about. I personal know of two individual that have had this done.

[ubonjoe]

This is quite timely as I came across an unfortunate situation last evening.

A UK citizen in his late 70's, married to a Thai for 9 years, came into the country at the back end of last year having visited family in the UK.

Unfortunately, he didn't realise that he had only been given a single entry Non-Imm 'O' visa from the Thai consulate. Long story short, he finished up with a couple of days overstay and an extension for 60 days to the end of March.

He meets the income requirements for a 12 month extension based on marriage but, based on the above, it looks like he has two choices:-

1. Present himself to Chaeng Wattana to convert to a Non-Imm 'O' based on marriage and then apply for a 12 month extension locally.

2. Go to Savannakhet to obtain a single entry Non-Imm 'O' from the Thai consulate there - then apply for a 12 month extension locally.

He can apply for the one year extension at the end of the 60 day extension since it appears he extended the 90 day entry from the non-o.

Only a tourist visa or visa exempt entry can be converted to a non immigrant visa.

[Jip99]

This is quite timely as I came across an unfortunate situation last evening.

A UK citizen in his late 70's, married to a Thai for 9 years, came into the country at the back end of last year having visited family in the UK.

Unfortunately, he didn't realise that he had only been given a single entry Non-Imm 'O' visa from the Thai consulate. Long story short, he finished up with a couple of days overstay and an extension for 60 days to the end of March.

He meets the income requirements for a 12 month extension based on marriage but, based on the above, it looks like he has two choices:-

1. Present himself to Chaeng Wattana to convert to a Non-Imm 'O' based on marriage and then apply for a 12 month extension locally.

2. Go to Savannakhet to obtain a single entry Non-Imm 'O' from the Thai consulate there - then apply for a 12 month extension locally.

He can apply for the one year extension at the end of the 60 day extension since it appears he extended the 90 day entry from the non-o.

Only a tourist visa or visa exempt entry can be converted to a non immigrant visa.

Thanks Joe - I fear that the issue is that the 90 day entry was not extended, it expired. He was told to go to the border where he was given 30 days (presumably visa not required) and then the 60 days was granted at the local immigration office. Allegedly, he was told that he had to go out of the country to get a Non-Imm 'O'.

He would have told them that he didn't have money in the bank but he was not aware of the income option which he comfortably satisfies (but not enough for a retirement option). Maybe immigration could have been more helpful at that time?

[ubonjoe]

This is quite timely as I came across an unfortunate situation last evening.

A UK citizen in his late 70's, married to a Thai for 9 years, came into the country at the back end of last year having visited family in the UK.

Unfortunately, he didn't realise that he had only been given a single entry Non-Imm 'O' visa from the Thai consulate. Long story short, he finished up with a couple of days overstay and an extension for 60 days to the end of March.

He meets the income requirements for a 12 month extension based on marriage but, based on the above, it looks like he has two choices:-

1. Present himself to Chaeng Wattana to convert to a Non-Imm 'O' based on marriage and then apply for a 12 month extension locally.

2. Go to Savannakhet to obtain a single entry Non-Imm 'O' from the Thai consulate there - then apply for a 12 month extension locally.

He can apply for the one year extension at the end of the 60 day extension since it appears he extended the 90 day entry from the non-o.

Only a tourist visa or visa exempt entry can be converted to a non immigrant visa.

Thanks Joe - I fear that the issue is that the 90 day entry was not extended, it expired. He was told to go to the border where he was given 30 days (presumably visa not required) and then the 60 days was granted at the local immigration office. Allegedly, he was told that he had to go out of the country to get a Non-Imm 'O'.

He would have told them that he didn't have money in the bank but he was not aware of the income option which he comfortably satisfies (but not enough for a retirement option). Maybe immigration could have been more helpful at that time?

You did not mention he went out for a visa exempt entry. It appeared that he went to immigration paid the fine and got a 60 day extension.

He could possibley do the conversion in Bangkok but he is probably getting close to the 15 days before the application point and I suspect he would not be able to get the proof of income from the UK embassy soon enough. See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-obtain-a-pensionincome-letter-for-thai-immigration

His best option is probably to make a trip to Vientiane, Savannakhet or Penang to get a single entry non-o visa, Then apply for the extension based upon marriage.