Hey all, hoping I can get some advice. (And apologies if this has been asked a thousand times before)
I'm a Yank, here on a non-Immigrant O (By virtue of marriage both and parentage)
I got a 1 year multiple entry O in Denver, and have now been in the Kingdom for about 1 month...starting to think and plan for the future.
As I understand, if I show up to immigration with the right paperwork, I won't need to do visa runs? Can somebody verify this? And if so, what is the right paperwork?
The consulate told me that I can even extend the visa a second year here in the LOS at immigration, again with the right paperwork? Same questions--is this true, and what's needed to get it done?
Any advice, tips, suggestions warmly appreciated.
Visa Confusion (AKA Situation normal, this is Thailand)
Re: Visa Confusion (AKA Situation normal, this is Thailand)
Totally correct. You can extend a Non O visa annually within Thailand on the basis of marriage to a Thai national.
Apply within the last 30 days of your 90 day permitted to stay stamp.
The marriage extension will need proof of funds from you only - 40k a month income or 400k in a Thai bank account. You'll also need the marriage certificate, your wife in attendance, photos of the two of you around the house, especially outside showing the house number, probably directions to your house, questions asked of your wife when you're told to go away for a minute or two and the relevant form filled in, with copies, mug shots and 1,900 THB fee.
Oh and your necessary passport pages copied as well - they will be the details page, the visa and your departure card.
I think that should be it. The one thing to remember is that all Imm offices can make it more tiresome to get the marriage extension - as opposed to retirement when you must be over 50 and have more funds. The reason for this is that local offices don't grant the marriage extension. They simply process it to BKK and give you a 30 day "under consideration" stamp. You go back at the appointed time to see whether you've been successful or not.
The marriage extension is legitimate but you just need more things to prepare yourself for than if you're doing a retirement one.
The annual extensions are unlimited as long as you continue to meet the criteria and no visa/border runs are necessary.
Hope that makes sense.
Apply within the last 30 days of your 90 day permitted to stay stamp.
The marriage extension will need proof of funds from you only - 40k a month income or 400k in a Thai bank account. You'll also need the marriage certificate, your wife in attendance, photos of the two of you around the house, especially outside showing the house number, probably directions to your house, questions asked of your wife when you're told to go away for a minute or two and the relevant form filled in, with copies, mug shots and 1,900 THB fee.
Oh and your necessary passport pages copied as well - they will be the details page, the visa and your departure card.
I think that should be it. The one thing to remember is that all Imm offices can make it more tiresome to get the marriage extension - as opposed to retirement when you must be over 50 and have more funds. The reason for this is that local offices don't grant the marriage extension. They simply process it to BKK and give you a 30 day "under consideration" stamp. You go back at the appointed time to see whether you've been successful or not.
The marriage extension is legitimate but you just need more things to prepare yourself for than if you're doing a retirement one.
The annual extensions are unlimited as long as you continue to meet the criteria and no visa/border runs are necessary.
Hope that makes sense.