Change to 'marriage' visa financial requirements

[caller]

I've been quietly following this one, with rumours abounding etc. But the Thai consulate in Hull (and others presumably) have now changed their forms showing the financial requirements for a visa based on marriage has increased to equal that of the retirement visa i.e. 800,000b / 65kpm.

Not sure if this is just for the initial application only or also includes annual extensions?

Would most people in LOS apply for this initially outside of Thailand?

http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/download.a ... 0916155059

[kendo]

I've been quietly following this one, with rumours abounding etc. But the Thai consulate in Hull (and others presumably) have now changed their forms showing the financial requirements for a visa based on marriage has increased to equal that of the retirement visa i.e. 800,000b / 65kpm.

Not sure if this is just for the initial application only or also includes annual extensions?

Would most people in LOS apply for this initially outside of Thailand?

http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/download.a ... 0916155059

Hi Caller if you PM me you're specific requirement I will phone them for you tomorrow but I am just off to the pub now.

Kendo.

[caller]

Thanks Kendo, but I'm back in blighty now and its not the route I plan on using in any case. I think the other questions will have to be answered by those in Thailand.

[DSB]

I have to get a marraige visa re-newal next month in Singapore, no sign of the increases bank deposit on their website at the moment - I'll let you know when I renew my visa next month.

BTW - last time I got a visa at the Glasgow consulate (2011) no bank statement was required.

[usual suspect]

Many of my friends ask me how long I will be going to Thailand each year for 8/9 months (as I've done now for 10 or 11 yrs)...& my answer to them over the last year or so has been "Till visa requirements change & I am forced to stay in the UK"
And I have expected that my 'Marriage' entitlement allowing me to obtain a Non O multi-entry to change to
financial status, thus terminating my life in the L.O.S. was only a matter of time.
So thru' no fault of my own (except for the fact that I'm a 'working-class' man with only little savings..I will have little option but to kiss the wife, house, pick-up, motor-bike, ex-pat friends, & Thai lifestyle goodbye!
(Thai lady wins again.. T.i.T.)
How many other 'long-stayers' will be in the same boat as myself..??
No we do not have 400,000/800,000 to sit in a Thai bank, but we DO spend our hard-earned within the Thai kingdom everyday whilst we are staying here..be it £300/month or £1000/month..then when our money gets low most of us go back, work, earn, & start all over again...(& that money is coming only 1 way).
So then gents..will it be Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam who sooner or later will see more & more of us staying there and spending our hard-earned..??

[Dannie Boy]

Many of my friends ask me how long I will be going to Thailand each year for 8/9 months (as I've done now for 10 or 11 yrs)...& my answer to them over the last year or so has been "Till visa requirements change & I am forced to stay in the UK"
And I have expected that my 'Marriage' entitlement allowing me to obtain a Non O multi-entry to change to
financial status, thus terminating my life in the L.O.S. was only a matter of time.
So thru' no fault of my own (except for the fact that I'm a 'working-class' man with only little savings..I will have little option but to kiss the wife, house, pick-up, motor-bike, ex-pat friends, & Thai lifestyle goodbye!
(Thai lady wins again.. T.i.T.)
How many other 'long-stayers' will be in the same boat as myself..??
No we do not have 400,000/800,000 to sit in a Thai bank, but we DO spend our hard-earned within the Thai kingdom everyday whilst we are staying here..be it £300/month or £1000/month..then when our money gets low most of us go back, work, earn, & start all over again...(& that money is coming only 1 way).
So then gents..will it be Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam who sooner or later will see more & more of us staying there and spending our hard-earned..??

Won't you be able to use the regular income option, rather than fixed amount in savings?

[christopher1]

I used to do the 'marriage' one, I now do the 'retirement.'
My friend renewed his 'marriage' extension last month in Thailand.
Nothing much has changed. 400,000 in the bank or income 40,000 per month.

[Takiap]

US - I really feel for you because I am in much the same boat. Like you, I also don't have 400K to leave in a bank for months, and my income comes from online sources, so I'm not employed as such, and money doesn't go into a foreign bank account before being transferred to Thailand. In short, I DO NOT work in Thailand, and I cannot show proof of income in the manner my embassy requires in order for me to get the fancy letter.


Basically, if the marriage visa option is taken away or put beyond my reach, 13 years of marriage will most likely come to an end, and three kids will be left without a father. At the end of the day, and despite what most Thais like to preach, money is FAR more important than family values and etc.

Nonetheless, I have never expected anything more. Fortunately I was born with the gift of being able to recognize bullshit when I see it, so when the day comes, then so be it. I just feel sorry for my kids, but I guess I only have myself to blame, and who knows, maybe it will be an eye opener for my kids once they get older.

[buksida]

Basically, if the marriage visa option is taken away or put beyond my reach, 13 years of marriage will most likely come to an end, and three kids will be left without a father. At the end of the day, and despite what most Thais like to preach, money is FAR more important than family values and etc.

spot on.

[hhfarang]

No dig at you guys here on a marriage visa, but I've always questioned the reasoning of the lower financial requirements for that over a retirement visa. It seems to me you need more money to support a wife and family than you possibly do to simply retire here. I've always thought those financial requirements were back asswards, but have just written it off to TIT reverse logic.

[sargeant]

Takiap i cannot say for certain but i think almost every change to immigration laws have normally grandfathered in those that are already qualified for at the rate / rules they qualified on.

[caller]

These changes have only gone on-line in the last day or so. What will be interesting is whether there is a change to the requirements for an extension?

Is it the case that you have to apply for the 'marriage' visa outside of Thailand initially?

[kendo]

If you got stuck with proof of income or bank balance could you go down the route of something like a student visa and just go to a couple of classes a week to make it plauseable.
Not ideal but if it gets you back out there needs must!

Kendo.

[caller]

There's been debate about these changes all over. It seems Hull have beaten everyone with the changes and others may or may not be catching up. The London Thai Embassy has now amended its website in line with what Hull have done.

[Takiap]

Takiap i cannot say for certain but i think almost every change to immigration laws have normally grandfathered in those that are already qualified for at the rate / rules they qualified on.

I think you're right sarge, but without the necessary funds in a Thai bank account, I can't get yearly extensions so I can't benefit from the whole grandfathering thing. I just get one year visas each time down in Malaysia, but as has been mentioned, that door might soon be closed.