Initial visa for living in Thailand married to a Thai

[utalkin2me]

We are about to move back into Thailand from the US. I have access to a Thai embassy here in Los Angeles. We are planning on using the 400k baht in the bank for extensions. 

 

Should i I get a visa at the Thai embassy here in the states? Or should I get a visa on arrival and do everything there. I've never been through the process so wondering which one would be easier, and which visa I should apply for. 

 

Thank you! 

[overherebc]

Call your local embassy and ask them what paperwork they require for a Non I'mm O visa.

A single entry for 90 days should give you time to sort things out here initially. At the end of the 90 days you can extend it locally, here, for another 60 days so 5 months should be enough to get things organised for an extension here for a year.

[ubonjoe]

Best to get a single entry non-o visa based upon marriage. Then you could apply for the extension based upon marriage during the last 30 days of the 90 entry from it.

If you enter on a 30 day visa exempt entry (it is not a visa on arrival) you would have to do conversion to a 90 day non immigrant visa entry at immigration. It takes a lot of paperwork to get it and two trips to immigration. You would only have 15 days to do the application after entry to the country unless you get the 30 day extension of your entry. Alos not all immigration can accept the application.

 

[overherebc]

The rules I believe say for first application for the extension the money has to be in 'your'  bank acc' for 60 days but there have been reports of some Imm' offices insisting on 90 days. Just sayin'.

If you post which area you're intending to live in someone from that area I'm sure will post on it.

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, overherebc said:

The rules I believe say for first application for the extension the money has to be in 'your'  bank acc' for 60 days but there have been reports of some Imm' offices insisting on 90 days. Just sayin'.

The 400k baht has to be in the bank for 2 month for every extension of stay based upon marriage.

You mixing up the requirements for an extension based upon retirement with marriage.

[overherebc]

22 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The 400k baht has to be in the bank for 2 month for every extension of stay based upon marriage.

You mixing up the requirements for an extension based upon retirement with marriage.

True, but some offices, for reasons known to themselves, want 3 months for both.

Right or wrong it's easier to go with the flow.

[ubonjoe]

18 minutes ago, overherebc said:

True, but some offices, for reasons known to themselves, want 3 months for both.

Right or wrong it's easier to go with the flow.

I think there might be 2 offices out of 50 some offices that don't follow the written rule that states 2 months. Bringing that into the discussion just confuses things.

[riclag]

Can the OP get  a single entry tourist visa in LA and then apply for the  Non O in Lao and then apply for the marriage ext.at the IO in Thailand?

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, riclag said:

Can the OP get  a single entry tourist visa in LA and then apply for the  Non O in Lao and then apply for the marriage ext.at the IO in Thailand?

He could but there is no reason to do it that way. He can get the non-o based upon marriage without problem. 

[Suradit69]

3 hours ago, riclag said:

Can the OP get  a single entry tourist visa in LA and then apply for the  Non O in Lao and then apply for the marriage ext.at the IO in Thailand?

Why? That unnecessarily complicates things as well as adding to the expense.

With the non-imm O based on marriage he'll have enough time to sort things out and allow the money to season in the bank or get an affidavit from his embassy for monthly income.

Even if he finds himself short of time he could get a 60 day extension based on visiting his wife, but it seems unlikely he'd not be ready to get the extension within the initial 90 day entry.

[utalkin2me]

Thank you for the help! I will definitely be contacting the Thai embassy and going forward with the  single entry, non Imm o route. 

[sandyf]

18 hours ago, utalkin2me said:

Thank you for the help! I will definitely be contacting the Thai embassy and going forward with the  single entry, non Imm o route. 

You would be better thinking about a multi entry Non O which would give you about a year to sort things out. You would be under pressure to act quickly with a single entry and also you may find it easier to open a Thai bank account with the multi as opposed to a single.

Leaving the country every 90 days is not the millstone that many would make out, I did it for 6 years and enjoyed the excursions into neighbouring countries.

[ubonjoe]

16 minutes ago, sandyf said:

You would be under pressure to act quickly with a single entry and also you may find it easier to open a Thai bank account with the multi as opposed to a single.

Having a single entry non-o would be the same for opening a bank account as a multiple entry visa. He should not have a problem opening a bank account if his wife goes with him to act as a reference and uses her house book registry as proof of address.

Almost a month should be plenty of time to get a bank account opened and the 400k baht transferred in. Also if he did needed more time he could apply for the 60 day extension at immigration. 

Why pay an extra $120 (visa fees in the US)  for a multiple entry visa when it is not needed,

[sandyf]

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

Having a single entry non-o would be the same for opening a bank account as a multiple entry visa. He should not have a problem opening a bank account if his wife goes with him to act as a reference and uses her house book registry as proof of address.

Almost a month should be plenty of time to get a bank account opened and the 400k baht transferred in. Also if he did need more time he could apply for the 60 day extension at immigration. 

Why pay an extra $120 (visa fees in the US)  for a multiple entry visa when it  is not needed,

Of course you are entitled to any view you wish to take but I have it in writing from TMB that BOT regulations require a foreigner to be in possession of a work permit or a long term visa. I would have thought that the numerous posts on the subject would indicate how hit and miss it has become.

 

As for paying slightly more for convenience and reduction in stress, that would be a personal issue and should not be discounted.

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Of course you are entitled to any view you wish to take but I have it in writing from TMB that BOT regulations require a foreigner to be in possession of a work permit or a long term visa. I would have thought that the numerous posts on the subject would indicate how hit and miss it has become.

That is one bank (and not a very good one) not others and their have been many of people open accounts with tourist visas.

From Bangkok Bank website. http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/PersonalBanking/DailyBanking/Accounts/SavingsAccounts/Pages/Default.aspx

Quote

2. Foreigner with Long-stay or Tourist Visa

Also a multiple entry non-o is not a long stay visa since it only allows a 90 entry.

[sandyf]

16 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

That is one bank (and not a very good one) not others and their have been many of people open accounts with tourist visas.

From Bangkok Bank website. http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/PersonalBanking/DailyBanking/Accounts/SavingsAccounts/Pages/Default.aspx

Also a multiple entry non-o is not a long stay visa since it only allows a 90 entry.

As I said, you are entitled to your opinion but TMB and BOT are 2 separate entities.

When the regulations changed I was called into the bank as their records indicated my visa was in breach of the new regulations. I had a fairly lengthy discussion with the manager who had been to BOT seminar a few weeks previous. She explained what had transpired and said that my multi Non O would be considered acceptable under the BOT guidelines.

Some branches may still operate as they always have done and people are free to believe that nothing has changed and no doubt they will continue to complain as the rules get enforced.