Proof of Income for Non O from UK based on marriage?

[virgomjh]

I am married to Thai national and living in UK but planning to retire in Thailand shortly. I've been comparing the 12m OA and 90 day Non O+12m extension routes, and I am not clear whether I have to provide proof of income for the 90 day non O or not?

To get a 90 day non O based on marriage, the Thai Embassy website states requirements as -

''Certificate of Marriage or its equivalents (if married to Thai national), a copy of marriage certificate, a copy of Thai passport/a copy of Thai ID of spouse and (3 months bank statement showing monthly income of more than £1,400 annually.)'' i.e. it does require proof of income (although it probably means £1,400 monthly).

On the Applications by Post page it states 'examples' of requirements for non O's based on marriage are -

''In the case of settlement in Thailand with Thai spouse/ Children/ Parents(Non-immigrant "O"): photo copy certificate of marriage, birth, Thai nationality passport/Thai ID card.'' There is no mention of proof of income here.

The Hull consulate website also states that it requires proof of income in the following form -

''Copy of latest 3 months Bank Statements (Thai or UK bank) showing regular income ofminimum 65,000 baht (or equivalent in another currency) annually''

However there are several posts from very experienced members saying that although Hull is requesting proof of income, the Thai embassy in London definitely does not require proof of income for a non O visa based on marriage, and this is corroborated by posts from members who have obtained this type of visa from the London embassy without providing any proof of income, just the proof of marriage. The posts are dated mid-late 2015 and I am just wondering whether the embassy has recently changed the requirements since then and is now insisting on proof of income for this type of visa? I am confused - can anyone clarify?

Also I am only married to my wife in the UK and not in Thailand so her passport still shows her Thai family name - can anyone comment on whether this may be an issue?

[johnatong]

The Embassy website is in error.

No financials are required to obtain a single entry "O" visa based on marriage.

[ubonjoe]

Financial proof is not needed for the non-o based upon marriage. Many posts on the forum of people getting both single and multiple entry non-o visas without it.

[baboon]

Forget Hull. Apply to the Embassy in London.

[virgomjh]

Thanks for your feedback guys, that is really helpful. I was leaning toward the OA route, but from replies it’s starting to look easier to do a simple postal application to the Thai embassy for a Non O based on marriage, then do a 12 month extension based on retirement at local immigration.

Can anyone help with a couple of questions on applying for an extension using my UK rental income.

- If I get a multiple entry Non O, do I have to do the 12 month extension in the first 90 days, or do I have the option to fly out and re-enter, then apply for my 12 month extension during the second or third 90 day period?

- For the first extension at the local Immigration Office do I just need to show the Income Letter or will they also require Thai bank passbook evidence of inward transfers of income from my UK account?

[johnatong]

Thanks for your feedback guys, that is really helpful. I was leaning toward the OA route, but from replies it’s starting to look easier to do a simple postal application to the Thai embassy for a Non O based on marriage, then do a 12 month extension based on retirement at local immigration.

Can anyone help with a couple of questions on applying for an extension using my UK rental income.

- If I get a multiple entry Non O, do I have to do the 12 month extension in the first 90 days, or do I have the option to fly out and re-enter, then apply for my 12 month extension during the second or third 90 day period?

- For the first extension at the local Immigration Office do I just need to show the Income Letter or will they also require Thai bank passbook evidence of inward transfers of income from my UK account?

If you get a multiple entry "O" visa you can apply for an extension during the last 30 days of any 90 day entry the visa permits.

The British Embassy "income" letter is all you should require to apply for the extension.

[virgomjh]

Thanks for the replies I have decided to go the Non O entry route based on marriage and a 12 month extension using UK rent as proof of income. Can anyone help with these final few points to firm up my planning on this.

- I am hoping that I can just do transfers every say 3 months to save on cost/hassle of monthly transfers. Thanks johnatong for confirming that the Income Letter should suffice for the first 12m extension. Just looking ahead, has anyone heard of immigration ever asking applicants to show bank passbook evidence of inward transfers of income for 12m extensions?

- For the Income Letter do I need to arrange for my bank to post original statements to me or will British Embassy accept printouts from online banking.

- If I enter on a multiple entry non O and do the 12 month extension in first 90 days, am I correct in thinking that the visa will simply expire if I dont make a trip out and back within the first 90 days? Could a multiple non O cause any complications?

[johnatong]

Thanks for the replies I have decided to go the Non O entry route based on marriage and a 12 month extension using UK rent as proof of income. Can anyone help with these final few points to firm up my planning on this.

- I am hoping that I can just do transfers every say 3 months to save on cost/hassle of monthly transfers. Thanks johnatong for confirming that the Income Letter should suffice for the first 12m extension. Just looking ahead, has anyone heard of immigration ever asking applicants to show bank passbook evidence of inward transfers of income for 12m extensions?

- For the Income Letter do I need to arrange for my bank to post original statements to me or will British Embassy accept printouts from online banking.

- If I enter on a multiple entry non O and do the 12 month extension in first 90 days, am I correct in thinking that the visa will simply expire if I dont make a trip out and back within the first 90 days? Could a multiple non O cause any complications?

If you intend to apply for an extension within 90 days of arrival why wast money on a multiple entry visa .

Detail about obtaining the 'income letter' are in the link

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-obtain-a-pensionincome-letter-for-thai-immigration

You are not normally required to show incoming funds but immigration officers can ask about the source of your income and for proof that you have funds to live on without working.

[virgomjh]

Thanks for the replies I have decided to go the Non O entry route based on marriage and a 12 month extension using UK rent as proof of income. Can anyone help with these final few points to firm up my planning on this.

- I am hoping that I can just do transfers every say 3 months to save on cost/hassle of monthly transfers. Thanks johnatong for confirming that the Income Letter should suffice for the first 12m extension. Just looking ahead, has anyone heard of immigration ever asking applicants to show bank passbook evidence of inward transfers of income for 12m extensions?

- For the Income Letter do I need to arrange for my bank to post original statements to me or will British Embassy accept printouts from online banking.

- If I enter on a multiple entry non O and do the 12 month extension in first 90 days, am I correct in thinking that the visa will simply expire if I dont make a trip out and back within the first 90 days? Could a multiple non O cause any complications?

If you intend to apply for an extension within 90 days of arrival why wast money on a multiple entry visa .

Detail about obtaining the 'income letter' are in the link

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-obtain-a-pensionincome-letter-for-thai-immigration

You are not normally required to show incoming funds but immigration officers can ask about the source of your income and for proof that you have funds to live on without working.

My thought was to get multi O to cover worst case scenario where I cant get the Income Letter in time for fist 90 day application (break in my UK property lease / rental stream at wrong time, embassy docs lost or delayed in post etc) - my feeling was that it is not a major additional outlay for the extra peace of mind. Probably being a bit neurotic thinking of these things but its a big stress making a move like this. My recent experience with UK immigration visa applications for my Thai wife has made me extremely wary of potential trip points - these visa applications and extensions seem a lot more straightforward by comparison but there are a few grey areas to clarify on the requirements so thanks a lot for your help.

Thanks for the link re Income Letter - I have seen the page, but it just states 'evidence of income' is required, and wondered whether online printouts of statements were ok. The British Embassy in London wont accept them for UK immigration applications but maybe the Bangkok embassy will for this purpose. Need to plan for this if I do need current originals to be posted over for the Income Letter. Do you happen to know the answer to this one?

Thanks for letting me know immigration can ask for evidence of living funds in addition to Income Letter. So I had better make sure from the outset that I can show inward transfers at least equivalent to the minimum £1400/m stipulated and take passbook evidence just in case. Very useful advice, thanks again.

[White Tiger]

On ‎4‎/‎29‎/‎2016 at 1:13 AM, ubonjoe said:

Financial proof is not needed for the non-o based upon marriage. Many posts on the forum of people getting both single and multiple entry non-o visas without it.

Quick update. I emailed the Thai Embassy in London this week (Jan/Feb 2017) and asked if any proof of income or savings was needed to obtain a 1 year Non Immigrant O Multi Entry visa based on marriage to a Thai spouse . They told me no. I sent a second email asking for confirmation and they reconfirmed. No financials needed for a multi entry visa from London. (So it's the same as Savannakhet in Laos).

[dentonian]

I presume you would apply for an extension based on marriage, which would require proof of a monthly income of 45,000baht.

Just over £1,000 at current exchange rates.

 

How to obtain an Income letter for Thai Immigration is here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-obtain-a-pensionincome-letter-for-thai-immigration

The letters are valid for 6 months.

[ubonjoe]

17 minutes ago, dentonian said:

I presume you would apply for an extension based on marriage, which would require proof of a monthly income of 45,000baht.

The income requirement is 40k baht for an extension based upon marriage.

[dentonian]

33 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The income requirement is 40k baht for an extension based upon marriage.

Thank you for the correction. It was a typo error I didn't spot.

[White Tiger]

4 hours ago, dentonian said:

I presume you would apply for an extension based on marriage, which would require proof of a monthly income of 45,000baht.

Just over £1,000 at current exchange rates.

 

How to obtain an Income letter for Thai Immigration is here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-obtain-a-pensionincome-letter-for-thai-immigration

The letters are valid for 6 months.

There would be many options open to a person when the visa expires. You've mentioned one of them, thanks (I agree that at current exchange rates £1,000 per month is a good 'ready reckoner' for satisfying the income test). Other options include applying for a new 1 year Non Imm O multi entry visa (marriage) - perhaps by returning to London, or by applying somewhere closer to Thailand such as Savannakhet in Laos - currently it appears neither of those places require any proof of monthly income or money in the bank. I was trying to stick to the thread topic, rather than considering what might happen 12 or 15 or 17 months down the road. Cheers. :)

[White Tiger]

 

On ‎4‎/‎28‎/‎2016 at 7:46 PM, virgomjh said:

....Also I am only married to my wife in the UK and not in Thailand so her passport still shows her Thai family name - can anyone comment on whether this may be an issue?

OP - this is not an issue when obtaining your visa in London.  But it may be your biggest issue if you try to extend your stay in Thailand by visiting your local immigration office.  The first time you go for the extension they will most likely ask you for a Thai translation of your UK marriage certificate.  My own experience of this was that immigration wanted the certified copy to be stamped by the British Embassy In Bangkok as a true copy. Then that stamped copy had to be translated into Thai.  Then the Thai translation had to be stamped in Bangkok by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Once I had that document Thai immigration then insisted that I get a Thai form from the local government office (the ampur) which was effectively a Thai marriage document/certificate that confirmed my wife and I are legally married.  (The Thai form is document reference 'Kor Ror 22') .  Once you have that paperwork your local immigration office may then ask for things like photos of you and your wife at your home and may also want you to bring along the 'pooyai bahn' and 1 or 2 other villagers (not family members) to confirm you live with your wife where you say you live. After you've done all that, and satisfied the financial test, you'll then get your first extension. (Once you've got that first extension it's supposed to be a lot easier for subsequent extensions).

 

I got fed up with the whole experience. It was very slow and frustrating. (Thai immigration told me about the information they needed on a piecemeal basis - so when I went to them with a translation of the marriage certificate they then told me it wasn't right because it needed a British Embassy stamp. When I went back with that they then told me about the need to get it stamped by the MOFA. Then they told me they needed a Kor Ror 22).   I gave up on it because I didn't have the time to do all the stuff that my immigration office was asking me to do. I ended up getting another 1 year multi entry visa and I've stayed on back to back 1 year multi entry visas for several years now. But I do now have all the paperwork that immigration asked me for. I've also got my own Thai ID card now from the ampur office giving proof of my address in Thailand. When I do eventually decide to go down the extension of stay route I hope I'll be ready this time.  I'm hoping my Thai ID card will mean I won't need to drag along the pooyai bahn and other villagers - as the ID card is Thai evidence of my living at that Thai address.

 

Reading the date of your original post you will soon be coming up to the time when you need to make a decision about extending your permission to stay or applying for a new visa. I hope your experience is less frustrating than mine - perhaps I just got unlucky with my immigration office. Posters on here have said that practice can vary from office to office.  Whatever you decide to do - good luck.