Marriage visa changes

[heretostay]

Hi to everyone Iam new on here, but been in Thailand 7 yrs,

applied for renewal of marriage visa 2 weeks ago, everything ok, showed 400k in bank, pic, etc

got a call today from immigration Hua Hin, "need to show 40k a month income, bank money no good!!"
checked various websites " sunbelt, thai visa" seems this the new rule from now on, but long as visa was issued before oct 2006, everything the same.

seems I will have to stand my ground here!

waiting for phone call from suan plu-- maybe another money making idea here in HH.
anyone here the same?

[lomuamart]

There seems to be a lot of confusion nationwide about this. As you rightly say, prior to Oct 1st 2006, you could get a marriage extension by showing 400k in a Thai bank account, or an income of 40K per month, or a combination of the two, as long as the total exceeded 400k annually.
There is only one option for those who apply for this extension now - 40k a month - but those, like yourself, who were getting them on the basis of 400k before Oct 2006 were grandfathered under the old regulations.
Take a look here. This is still the most recent Police Order in force at the moment. Section 7:17 covers your situation:
http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/2n ... p606EN.pdf
However, certain Imm Offices have been telling people "OK we'll grandfather you this year, but not next". How widespread this is, I'm not sure and you're right to try and get an answer from BKK.
What does surprise me is that HH gave you no notice of their intention to change things.
They're a wierd lot up there. I've had all sorts of trouble trying to get my marriage/family income extension (for different reasons) and when I queried BKK about this, I was told that HH had got it wrong.
Good luck. I'm pretty sure that if HH give you a hard time, you can apply in BKK. After all, HH does not grant the extension, Soi Suan Plu does. HH only process things. That's what BKK told me.

[heretostay]

thanks for the reply,

UPDATE- called bangkok, say as you said, long as had visa before 2006, " said to go back to HH immigration and confirm this, ONLY NEED TO SHOW MONEY IN BANK. asked could I take my passport to bangkok, they said once registered in HH had to wait for outcome there, as "PASSPORTS OR VISAS DO NOT GO TO BKK"

CALLED ONE OF THE HONEST IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WHO SAID" MY APLICATION HAS NO PROBLEM!!!"

Tthe Tel call was off one who looks for the black money , so off tomorrow to see the head honco there. have to call bangkok grom there if they say has a problem.

anyway this is Thailand!!!!!

If we all stop paying under the table then all this will stop.

[lomuamart]

Good for you. I'm glad everything is getting sorted out.
Interesting to see what BKK told you about having to apply in HH. As I said, I contacted them about my "troubles" and they said that doing it in BKK wasn't a problem. However, this will be my first extension, so I'm not actually registered with HH Imm. Maybe that makes a difference?
I can see what BKK are saying about your passport/visa, but no Imm office keep it for 30 days whilst you're under consideration anyway. Photocopies go to BKK together with the original application form etc etc. BKK wouldn't keep your passport either.
Please let us know how it all turns out. Perhaps you can also post the telephone number in BKK. I've got one also and it would be interesting to compare them.

[robby hh]

Got this from the immigration site.

7.17 In the case of a family
member of a Thai
(applicable only to
parents, spouse, child,
adopted child or child
of his/her spouse):
Permission will be
granted for a period of
not more than 1 year
at a time.

(6) In the case of an alien married
to a Thai woman, any party or
both must have a total income
of not less than Baht 40,000 per
month, except for aliens who
entered the Kingdom before
this Order came into force and
granted a permit to stay in the
Kingdom. If the alien does not
have the minimum income of
either party or both he shall have
an account deposit in Thailand
in the name of either party or
both of not less than
Baht 400,000. Proof
of account deposit for the
previous 3 months is required

By my reading of that 400kb in the bank is OK????

[lomuamart]

robby hh
Yes, your link is correct and is the one being referred to above. The 400K in a Thai bank account is OK to get the extension, AS LONG as the applicant has had an extension on this basis prior to Oct 1st 2006. New applicants after that date only have the 40k per month family income option.

[robby hh]

That would mean that someone getting married now who didnt have the required income would have to be here on some other kind of visa, retirement, work etc

[Wanderlust]

That would mean that someone getting married now who didnt have the required income would have to be here on some other kind of visa, retirement, work etc

Not necessarily - they just wouldn't be able to get the extension, so would have to leave the country every 90 days to either get another non 'O' visa or to start their next 90 days if they have a multiple entry visa (in which case they would need to apply for a new multi entry non 'O' visa every 15 months or so, probably in their home country, but not necessarily as i obtained one from Kuala Lumpur last year).

[fach3003]

Hi all....hope everyone is well

Havent been on the forum for a while as we have had
are first child!!!

I have been gearing up for the 40K a month thing....
But stoopid question....If you were married in Thailand in 2004
would you fall under the grandfathered 400K in bank rule????

Never had a visa in thailand before....Thought id ask the question
brain a brain fuzzy from the sleepless nights so dont shoot me down

[Spitfire]

It's strange that you can stay indefinitley in Thailand with a 90 day non-O and just leave the country, spend 8000 baht on your trip, get a new one and get asked no questions and be good for another 90 days, but if you want to do it properly and stay for a year, then you get all this sh.t.

Not quite worked this one out yet or the thinking behind it, as it's cheaper to get a new one every 90 days, if you can be bothered.

I am interested to know if anyone has an answer to this paradox.

Strange, but understand those that can meet the requirements would like to do it because the visa runs are tedious.

Edited for spelling

[heretostay]

after getting my extension and getting my 1 year stamp last week, with a small gift in a bottle for them. i was told showing the 400k next next year is not a problem, because once you are covered by one of the so called grandfather laws this cant be changed, unless you let your visa expire!!! and start again.

JUST SEEN THIS ON HULL IMMIGRATION WEBSITE.

NO MORE 1 YR TOURIST VISAS ONLY 60 DAYS!!!!!

Validity of Stay :
On entry into Thailand, nationals from 36 designated countries who hold a Tourist Visa will be permitted by the Immigration Officer to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 60 days. As for nationals from other countries not listed below who hold a Tourist Visa, they will be permitted to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 30 days. Should such nationals wish to extend their stay, they may apply for extension of stay at the Immigration Bureau for an additional 30 days but must not exceed the cumulative duration of 90 days from the day of first entry. The grating of extension of stay is under the discretion of the Immigration Office (application fee 1,900 baht).

The applicant can be apply up to 3 entries.Duration of stay not exceeding 60 days per entry

[heretostay]

JUST SEEN ALSO YOU CAN NOW APPLY FOR A 3 YEAR BUSINESS VISA!!

[Super Joe]

JUST SEEN ALSO YOU CAN NOW APPLY FOR A 3 YEAR BUSINESS VISA

Yes it's a Business visa that expressly forbids gaining employment here!! Clear as mud huh ?
It's for visiting business persons but not for getting a work permit and employment in Thailand, for that you need the standard non-imm 'B' visa.
Don't you just love it here.

SJ

[HHTel]

Heretostay wrote:

NO MORE 1 YR TOURIST VISAS ONLY 60 DAYS!!!!!

I don't believe there ever was a 1 year tourist visa. As far as I know, nothing has changed at Hull and 1 year non-o visas are still available.

[Randy Cornhole]

Bloody hell my head hurts...