Marriage to a Thai - extension of stay

[thebears]

This question has not entirely been covered in other posts. I'm sorry, but I can't find quite the answer I'm looking for.

My girlfriend and I are contemplating registering marriage in Thailand (which I gather is performed at the Amphur office). Firstly I understand that I need to keep 'x' THB in a Thai Bank.

My understanding from reading other posts is that there is no such thing as a marriage visa, but it is simply an extension of stay.

1) Is this stay an annual (365 day) extension?
2) Theoretically therefore, would it be possible to stay for 365 days, if one wished?
3) When carrying out the extension each time, does my passport become filled-up with a new stamp each time, or is it a stapled card that is removed and replaced?

Partly, the reason I ask is because I am a fairly frequent overseas traveller and keen to avoid yet more stamps. Any other information would be most appreciated. My question (2) is hypothetical, in case you're wondering if I'm a frequent traveller, why I would enquire about staying a whole year.

Oh, just one thing in case it might make a difference, we do not have a child.

Thanks for any advice.

[StevePIraq]

Very good question and the easiest way to solve everything is to visit you friendly local immigration office.

1. 360 day extension is normal if on a non immig O be it single or Spouse visa
2. There is no marriage visa however you can obtain one year residency as a spouse.
3. There is only need to have finds in a back if you wish to renew your one year residency 400k if on a spouse visa, 800k if on a normal. The cash only needs to be in the bank 90 days prior to renewing it does not have to be in the bank the entire year
4. You always get stamps in your passport plus a piece of paper.
5. I also hate the stamping issue, there is really no need for it these days. I fill up a 10 year passport every 3 years maximum but there is nothing you can do about it except have two passports which is no problem if you are British.
6. I have one year Immig O visa but still travel a lot, I could make do with just a 30 day visit visa but I worry that one day the system will change and then I may not qualify for a one year visa so I would sooner renew it each year.

[Takiap]

As has been said, you will be entitled to remain in the country for one year on the extension, and yes, you will get a stamp in your passport.

[barrys]

Allow for 1 page of stamps per year for the extension!

[lomuamart]

By the sound of things, the OP will need a re-entry permit. If you travel out of Thailand regularly then get the multi variety. Cost 2,800 THB (if I remember correctly). 1,000 for single re-entry. Any re-entry will give you a stay up until your extension expires.
The extension and re-entry permit should only take up a page. You will have entry and exit stamps as well though so depending of how many times you travel, it might well come to more than one page a year.

[Takiap]

As a matter of interest, a friend of mine who lives here but works in China has recently be trying for a "one year visa" based om marriage. He's being doing this in Thailand and I've advised him that you cannot get such a visa in Thailand, and that he's actually applying for a one year extension. I also pointed out that he would need a re-entry permit for each trip out of Thailand. As fa as I know I'm correct, but if not, please advise.

Surely, given he has to come and go all the time, it would be better for him to just get a one year multi O visa?

[thebears]

Thanks to all of the above for your comments. I cannot tell from those comments however, if I were to apply for this 360-day extension of stay, if I still have to report every 90 days and get a stamp at those 90-day points also. My apologies for my naivety, but I have little knowledge of this.

At present I travel into and out of Thailand on business very frequently, but soon that will stop almost completely. I am not eligible for a retirement visa yet, due to my age. However, the current frequent travel will stop soon and I want to obtain some form of legal stay. And of course, we plan to marry, so that can be factored-in too.

So can I assume that I am able to remain in Thailand permanently, by obtaining 360-day extensions and a stamp in my passport every 360 days? If so, that would mean a ten-year passport would never become full, correct?

[thebears]

... except have two passports which is no problem if you are British.

Thanks for the helpful information. I have replied separately above also. What would the advantage be, in obtaining a second passport? Would it simply be the advantage of many more additional blank pages, or is there some advantage in not having to have the same passport stamped. I do not travel back to Europe any longer.

What is the procedure to obtain a second passport and is it straightforward?

[lomuamart]

You just apply for an annual extension to a Non Immigrant visa on the basis of marriage to a Thai. Financial requirements are either 400K in a Thai bank account that has been there for 3 months before application or an overseas income of 40K per month. Evidence of that is demonstrated by getting a letter from your Embassy in BKK. Different Embassies have different requirements for income proof.
You will need to prove that you are married de facto and de jure so your wife will need to accompany you. At first, Imm will give you a 30 day "under consideration" stamp whilst they send all the documents to BKK (all marriage extensions are approved there, not locally). Return on the appointed date and get your remaining 11 months.
The marriage extension process is slightly more complicated than retirement but easy to get as long as you're well prepared. You can apply for the extension within the last 30 days of the 90 days your Non O visa will give and my advice would be to do so earlier rather than later in case Imm want to see more documents. You can also visit Imm and they'll give you a list of what they want to see.
Incidently, the cost of a multi re-entry permit is 3,800 THB not 2.800 as I thought last night.

[VincentD]

By the sound of things, the OP will need a re-entry permit. If you travel out of Thailand regularly then get the multi variety. Cost 2,800 THB (if I remember correctly). 1,000 for single re-entry. Any re-entry will give you a stay up until your extension expires.
The extension and re-entry permit should only take up a page. You will have entry and exit stamps as well though so depending of how many times you travel, it might well come to more than one page a year.

Lomu
each transaction costs 1,900 baht now. So renewal of my non-quota immigrant visa costs 1,900 baht, AND the multiple re-entry costs 3,800 baht (single entry 1,900. Multiple = 1,900 X 2).
So total cost per year is 5,700 baht.

[lomuamart]

When did that go up? For the single re-entry?
I paid 1,000 at Swampy on Dec 31st last year.

[VincentD]

Paid at Chaengwattana Immigration department. Do note that I have PR so the single entry is tied in to the entry in the Residence Book/ passport and is valid for a year. Have not done this (single entry) for a while as it is a hassle to redo once used. Done on Dec 17 last year, so about the same time as you.
Have not included the cost of the Alien Certificate renewal, which is done seperately at the police station you are registered at.

[barrys]

Thanks to all of the above for your comments. I cannot tell from those comments however, if I were to apply for this 360-day extension of stay, if I still have to report every 90 days and get a stamp at those 90-day points also. My apologies for my naivety, but I have little knowledge of this.

So can I assume that I am able to remain in Thailand permanently, by obtaining 360-day extensions and a stamp in my passport every 360 days? If so, that would mean a ten-year passport would never become full, correct?

You would have to report to your local immigration office every 90 days, but your passport is not stamped on those occasions.

The answer to the 2nd half is yes - your passport would be stamped each year. If you do feel you have to travel abroad more than 3 times per year, you can get one multiple re-entry stamp as already mentioned.
So under normal circumstances, your passport would not be full within 10 years.
If you are that concerned, isn't there an option of applying for a 36 or 48-page passport?

[Bristolian]

Thanks to all of the above for your comments. I cannot tell from those comments however, if I were to apply for this 360-day extension of stay, if I still have to report every 90 days and get a stamp at those 90-day points also. My apologies for my naivety, but I have little knowledge of this.

So can I assume that I am able to remain in Thailand permanently, by obtaining 360-day extensions and a stamp in my passport every 360 days? If so, that would mean a ten-year passport would never become full, correct?

You would have to report to your local immigration office every 90 days, but your passport is not stamped on those occasions.

The answer to the 2nd half is yes - your passport would be stamped each year. If you do feel you have to travel abroad more than 3 times per year, you can get one multiple re-entry stamp as already mentioned.
So under normal circumstances, your passport would not be full within 10 years.
If you are that concerned, isn't there an option of applying for a 36 or 48-page passport?

Because i travel frequently, I use a 48 page passport. For a British passport 48pp the prices are here:-
https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees

[Dannie Boy]

When did that go up? For the single re-entry?
I paid 1,000 at Swampy on Dec 31st last year.

I did my re-entry at the beginning of July and it is 1000 single or 3800 multiple