Can A Single Entry 3 Month Visa Be Turned Into A Multiple ?.

[Aussie_Al]

I think the subject about says it all; and applogies if it has been dealt with before to the mods.

Except for cost, and likely time taken.

Dammed Melbourne Australia Consul knew I was after a multiple, and was not until I left that I saw it was a single entry type....dammm.

I am marrying, so will get a spouse visa.

Also income, and age (just) more than qualify for a retirement type; when you multiply fortnightly income by 26 fortnights, then divide by 12 months, just shy of 100,000 Baht a month

Just looking at options is all.

Cheers Allan

[Homer]

Does the Melbourne consulate issue multiple entry visas of they type you have? What kind of visa do you have? Tourist? Non-Immigrant? If it's a tourist visa it's possible to obtain the equivalent of a non-imm 'O' visa without leaving Thailand. Or at least it was in summer of 2010 when I was researching this.

But that doesn't give you multiple entries. What it does allow you to do is get a one year extension for the purpose of retirement, during which you can buy re-entry permits. It's the long way around to multiple entries (that's what she said).

You need the expertise of the readers of the website that specializes in all things Thai Visa.

[Aussie_Al]

Looking closely at my passport (as I should of done bvefore leaving the consul in Melbourne).

It is catagory "O" non immigrant type for 3 months, but included in the stamp wording "extension of stay not permitted" or words to that effect; which is a bit of a concern.

[Spitfire]

I'm sure Lomuamart will confirm but I reckon there is a resounding negative answer on that one as the question stands in the thread title.

Many consulates and embassies are a bit frosty about giving out the Non O multi as it's a ticket to a 15 month visa, certainly no consulates and embassies around LOS that will do it these days.

If it was issued by mistake, then you might be able to get it changed at the embassy in Oz, but as for simply asking at an immigration place then no, I would be surprised.

You'll probably have to go through the application process again and get one from scratch.

It could well be that the place in Oz has decided that it will not issue multi non O visas anymore, which wouldn't surprise me one bit.

You can extend a single entry to a year once here on the strength of finances etc, just have to meet the requirements.

People usually get multi O entries visa so that they can spin out a visit for about 15 month if they 'border hop' just at the right time and is often used by those that are not married.

If you are getting married and planning to stay then the it's all sortable on a single entry but you need to jump through the hoops.

If it says that on the passport then they may have printed it because you are not yet married, once married then you can easily get another single entry in a next door country and then extent on the strength of having a wife/dependent in Thailand.

You're probably just going to have to jerk around a little when you get here to get it sorted. The good thing is that all the Thai consulates/embassies seem to work as a rule unto themselves without there being much harmony of operation between them, like they are the personal fiefdom of the diplomat in charge, ie what is said in one does not necessarily mean that that will be the case in another.

However, sure a more definitive answer will arrive.

[lomuamart]

There are a few issues here, most of which have already been covered.
Firstly, I'm afraid, you won't be able to change the visa to multiple-entry.
Secondly, as long as you're over 50 and your income is a minimum of 65K THB a month, you'll qualify for a retirement extension as well as a marriage extension - income minimum 40K a month when you're married. Most Imm offices will push you towards the retirement extension as it's less hassle for them and for you. Local offices cannot actually grant the marriage extension. They are all approved in BKK although the local office will give you an "under consideration" stamp of 30 days whilst BKK deal with the application. Local offices have to send the paperwork up to BKK, interview your wife, you have to supply photos of the two of you together etc etc etc. It's just a load more paperwork. The retirement extension is approved and granted right there and then locally, so that's why they'll want you to take that route. Make it easy for them and I'm sure you'll not be disappointed.
Remember that if you're applying for either the retirement or marriage extension, you'll need a letter of confirmation from your Embassy in BKK saying that you do indeed have that income. The proof they will require varies from national Embassy to Embassy so you need to check with them.
What is surprising is that you say your single-entry Non O states that it's non-extendable. It certainly should be able to extend for a year here in Thailand. I'm guessing, but I think that they're referring to you trying to get a 7 or 30 day extension as to a Tourist Visa or visa exempt stamp. Those extensions are not normally given to Non O's except with extenuating circumstances. I'm sure you'll be OK, but the only way to check is to ask Imm locally. The annual extension should be applied for within the last 30 days of your 90 day permitted to stay stamp.
I'm cannot comment on Melbourne's policy regarding multi or single Non O's, but the fact that you got a single dosn't surprise me. As you're over 50, the general policy these days is that you're expected to apply for the annual extension if you want to stay long time here.
If your visa is not extendable (and I'd be very surprised if it was), then you'll have to make a visa run to Penang for example, get another Non O and extend off that. Just go to Imm here in HH and ask them if they'll extend and leave yourself plenty of time before your permitted to stay stamp expires.
Good luck. I doubt you'll have any problems.

[Aussie_Al]

If I read the last post correctly, there is it seems no seperate spouse visa, but merely an extension for 12 months of the existing O non immigrant visa based upon marriage....which Thai Immigration try to, or prefer, the retirement option.

All of which is a bit confusing after going through the hassle of Embassy paperwork, and translation of divorce papers; then confirmation and stamping by the Thai Consular Office in Bkk etc. And would require another trip to the Embassy to confirm income for the retirement option.

Yet another claringly silly, in my opinion Thai requirement.

As Aussie embassy only stamps, and want a Statutory Declaration filled out of income; which anyone can lie about, as proof of lie is like nearly immpossible, despite supposedly impressive penalties for false declarations.

Where as bank statements, and government letterhead proof of income (which I have), is much more reliable evidence from any objective evaluation.

But such is life I guess here, where a stamp is seen to be more important, rather than common sence reliability of evidence of income.

[lomuamart]

Correct. There's technically no such thing as a spouse VISA. You get an annual extension to a pre-existing Non O visa, on the basis of marriage.
The real difference is that a visa is obtained at a Thai Embassy or consulate - obviously outside of Thailand. Extensions are got internally so no need for a visa run.
Your divorce papers and what the Thai authorities want to see are a separate issue to your extension application. You'd need to prove that you weren't marrying for a second time pretty much anywhere in the world.
The reason I mentioned HH Imm's preference for a retirement extension is that I've been through it before - married to a Thai and less than 9 months short of my 50th at that time. I got 3 single entry Non O's from Penang by showing the marriage certificate and a few other things and later the Imm officer in HH was as good as gold when I went back for my retirement extension after turning 50. That route really will be less stress for you as well.
Declarations of income have been in the spotlight in Thailand for a few weeks. It's been well known that the US Embassy have always relied on a person's truthfulness. I didn't realise that the Oz Embassy were the same.
I have to deal the the British Embassy every year and they do require original evidence of income before they'll issue the letter.
That isn't a problem for me and I always take that evidence along to Imm when making the extension application as well. I never offer it and have never been asked for it either. I'm just prepared.
So, by the sounds of things, you'll need another trip to the Oz Embassy to get the letter. Thousands of us have to go through this every year and yes, it's a pain. However, I just try and look at it that I need to do a couple of days "work" each year to get my application in order.
Don't worry, allen-leigh, the goalposts will get changed again at some point. We've all just got to try and keep abreast of the situation which is why forums such as this are invaluable.
Chok dii, Krap.