I am currently on a work visa which expires (with my WP) on 29 July.

I have a Thai spouse. I am a UK national.

My lawyer has advised that I should leave Thailand on 29 July and either return home to the UK or go to a neighbouring company to apply for a Non-Immigrant O (Thai spouse) visa.

Return to Thailand and then apply for new WP.

Do I have to return to the UK or can I apply in say Singapore or Kuala Lumpur? I am planning a trip the Bangladesh, could I apply there?

If yes, what consulate do people recommend. I dont want to wait a week or more for the process. Thanks

PS: I understand I could cancel the existing work visa and then apply for a "support Thai wife visa" without leaving Thailand. However this is not an option for good reasons. (nothing illegal or improper just too complicated and personal to go into)

Edited July 13, 20169 yr by pj123

You don't have to leave the country to change the reason for your extension of stay based upon working (it is not a visa) to a extension based upon marriage if that is what you want to do. You will need 400k baht in a Thai bank for 2 months or proof of 40k baht income.

If you want a single entry non-o visa you can get one in Vientiane or Savannakhet Laos with no financial proof. Penang Malaysia will do one if you have 200k baht in the bank. Singapore or Kuala Lumpur are not good places to a apply for any visa.

You might be able to get one at the embassy in Dhaka. I suggest you contact them about getting it. Contact info follows (website does not work),

Dhaka

18&20, Madani Avenue Baridhara, Dhaka 1212

Tel : (88-02) 881-2795-6, 881-3260-1
Fax : (88-02) 885-4280-1
Email : [email protected]

Vientiane or Savannakhet, Laos are probably the two best choices.

If you are applying in Bangladesh then this might help. http://www.vfsglobal.com/Thailand/Bangladesh/how_to_apply.html

why apply for a new WP? Maybe something I missed here. If you have work then use proof of that when you change for your extension based on marriage.

Thank you for the replies

Two issues

1. Marriage Extension in Thailand

My lawyer has said that I could apply for a marriage extension but this would need to be done BEFORE the work extension expires; I cannot wait until 29 July and then apply. To apply before 29 July I need my employer to cancel the work extension before Immigration will issue a new extension. I cannot get my employer to do this due to breakdown in communications.

Also: If I can do a marriage extension based on income will bank statements be sufficient or do they need paperwork from the company or the Revenue Department? If just bank statement that would be OK.

2. Non O in the UK plus tourist visa for 37 days.

I would prefer to apply for a Non O in the UK where I will be for a week from 3 September. Is it possible to stay in Thailand from 29 July to 3 September on a Tourist visa?

If I depart 29 July and return 30 July and get a 30 day tourist visa, that will last until 28 August. Is it possible to do another visa run via Suvarnabhumi on 28th and return 28th for another visa to last until 3 September?

Thank you for the replies

Two issues

1. Marriage Extension in Thailand

My lawyer has said that I could apply for a marriage extension but this would need to be done BEFORE the work extension expires; I cannot wait until 29 July and then apply. To apply before 29 July I need my employer to cancel the work extension before Immigration will issue a new extension. I cannot get my employer to do this due to breakdown in communications.

Also: If I can do a marriage extension based on income will bank statements be sufficient or do they need paperwork from the company or the Revenue Department? If just bank statement that would be OK.

2. Non O in the UK plus tourist visa for 37 days.

I would prefer to apply for a Non O in the UK where I will be for a week from 3 September. Is it possible to stay in Thailand from 29 July to 3 September on a Tourist visa?

If I depart 29 July and return 30 July and get a 30 day tourist visa, that will last until 28 August. Is it possible to do another visa run via Suvarnabhumi on 28th and return 28th for another visa to last until 3 September?

1. Your employer is obligated to give you a termination letter. The problem seems to be that you are no longer working so the date on the letter might put you on an overstay now.

If you use the 400k baht in the bank option you need nothing more than a letter from the bank and your bank to apply for the extension. If 40k baht income you would need tax receipts.

2. Your best option would be to get a single entry non-o visa in Laos. It would allow a 90 day entry that you get a re-entry permit for that would keep the remainder of the 90 days valid when you re-turn from your trip to the UK. Then apply for the one year extension,

You could fly out and back for a 30 day visa exempt entry that can be extended for 30 days at an immigration office for a fee of 1900 back.

Thank you for the replies

Two issues

1. Marriage Extension in Thailand

My lawyer has said that I could apply for a marriage extension but this would need to be done BEFORE the work extension expires; I cannot wait until 29 July and then apply. To apply before 29 July I need my employer to cancel the work extension before Immigration will issue a new extension. I cannot get my employer to do this due to breakdown in communications.

Also: If I can do a marriage extension based on income will bank statements be sufficient or do they need paperwork from the company or the Revenue Department? If just bank statement that would be OK.

2. Non O in the UK plus tourist visa for 37 days.

I would prefer to apply for a Non O in the UK where I will be for a week from 3 September. Is it possible to stay in Thailand from 29 July to 3 September on a Tourist visa?

If I depart 29 July and return 30 July and get a 30 day tourist visa, that will last until 28 August. Is it possible to do another visa run via Suvarnabhumi on 28th and return 28th for another visa to last until 3 September?

• When applying for a 1 year extension of stay you'll need a letter from the British Embassy confirming your income. The Embassy should accept anything that demonstrates you receiving an income.
• You could apply for a 60 day extension of stay to visit your wife (no proof of income needed) that would start on July 30th (1,900 baht).
• You would be granted a 30 day visa exempt entry (not a visa) which could be extended by 30 days (1,900 baht).

OK so for me the two best options are:

1. Depart on 29 July to say KL for a day trip and reenter on a 30 day visa exempt entry. Before 30 days, apply for extension for another 30 days.

Depart Thailand 3 September and apply for Multiple Entry Non O in the UK

Return to Thailand on 11 September and apply for new WP

2. Depart on 29 July to Laos overland and apply for Non O Multiple Entry at Savannakhet.

Return on 30 July and apply for new WP

OK so for me the two best options are:

1. Depart on 29 July to say KL for a day trip and reenter on a 30 day visa exempt entry. Before 30 days, apply for extension for another 30 days.

Depart Thailand 3 September and apply for Multiple Entry Non O in the UK

Return to Thailand on 11 September and apply for new WP

2. Depart on 29 July to Laos overland and apply for Non O Multiple Entry at Savannakhet.

Return on 30 July and apply for new WP

Those are both options.

I would apply for a 60 day extension of stay which would cover your stay until you go to the UK, and apply for the visa in the UK. Or, if an extension isn't granted, go to Savannakhet for the visa on the 29th.

I assume you don't intend to apply for an extension of stay based on marriage when returning after the trip to UK, will be using the multiple entry visa, and leaving/re-entering every 90 days.

I would apply for a 60 day extension of stay which would cover your stay until you go to the UK, and apply for the visa in the UK. Or, if an extension isn't granted, go to Savannakhet for the visa on the 29th.

I will give that a try on Monday. Will they ask anything from my present employers that my WP is linked to?

I assume you don't intend to apply for an extension of stay based on marriage when returning after the trip to UK, will be using the multiple entry visa, and leaving/re-entering every 90 days.

Correct, I usually travel out of Thailand about every two-three months anyway.

One other point. I contacted VFS in Dhaka by email. Very good response, replied within two hours to both emails. On the question of timescale for processing the visa they wrote:

"Please be informed that, there is no specific processing time for Thailand visa. Applicant can check their passport status on the five working days from the date of submission(DHAKA),seven working days from the date of submission(CHITTAGONG),nine working days from the date of submission(SYLHET).You are requested to visit the following link: http://www.vfsglobal.com/thailand/bangladesh/track_application.html to track the status of visa application by using passport number and date of birth. Please stay updated via online tracker."

I am planning a visit to Dhaka this month but only for maybe two nights. I don't want to hang around for more than a week waiting for my visa application to be processed.

They also require financial documents for the Non O Visa.

3.1 Basic Documents

□ An application form completely filled out and signed by the applicant

□ A valid passport for travelling to Thailand with sufficient remaining validity (not

less than six month). The validity of 18 months is required for one year visa application

□ One set of passport photocopy page 1-5, correction page, last Thai visa page & renewal page if any

□ Two passport-sized photographs (3.5x4.5cm) taken within 6 months

□ Evidence of adequate finance e.g. Current Bank Solvency and Bank Statement of

the last 6 months with satisfactory transaction (at least 20,000 Baht per person

and 40,000 Baht per family or 60,000 Taka per person and 120,000 Taka per family).

Only original Bank Statement and Bank Solvency Letter are acceptable.

□ A copy of air ticket or a booking confirmation or an itinerary

3.2 Additional Documents Required for This Category of Visa

□ Visa request letter from the applicant & concerned authority

□ A certified copy of Thai national identification card of the Thai national or a certified copy of permanent resident certificate/card of the permanent resident

□ Marriage certificate (for a spouse of the Thai national or the permanent resident)

□ Birth certificate (for a child of the Thai national or the permanent resident)

□ Proof of paternity (for parents of the Thai national or the permanent resident)

One final point, in the list of fees for a Non O visa they refer to a Three Year Multiple Entry:

Kindly note that, the visa fee for Non-Immigrant “O” visa is : BDT 5800/-(per person) for single entry , 14500/-(per person) for multiple entry (1 year) , 29000/- (per person) for multiple entry (3 years) and VFS logistic fee is BDT 500/-(per person), bank service charge is 40/-(per person).In total single entry visa fee is BDT 6340/- , multiple entry (1 year) is 15040/- and multiple entry (3 years) is 29540/- (per person).

Edited July 14, 20169 yr by pj123