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Can a person with a past criminal record apply for a marriage visa in Thailand?

Thailand marriage visaThai immigrationcriminal record checksexpats in Thailandvisa application processNON-O visaexpungement of criminal records
Nov 20, 2024
a month ago
William *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Well I never expected that 45 years later I would have a problem with my past. I am married to a Thai woman and want to move permanently to Thailand yet everywhere I look must not have a criminal record

Is there any help for me?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user expressed concerns about moving permanently to Thailand due to a past criminal record from 45 years ago. Responses from the community clarified that the marriage visa (Non-O visa) does not typically require a criminal record check. Users suggested alternatives, like expunging the record, and many shared experiences indicating that minor convictions, especially from many years ago, are unlikely to affect visa applications. It was noted that many expats, regardless of their past, find ways to live in Thailand without issues related to previous legal troubles.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
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  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Det *******
Use a Non immigrant O type education visa (no criminal record check) to come in on, then after a year or two convert to a Non-O retirement.
a month ago
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Brandon ************
@Det ******
 there's no criminal record check for non-O retirement visa either. So why waste time and money?
a month ago
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Det *******
@Brandon ***********
 Then I don’t understand what the issue is for the OP.
a month ago
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Brandon ************
@Det ******
 exactly
a month ago
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Brandon ************
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Andy **********
Same in Australia, and US, and others. Usually relative to sentence is it not?
a month ago
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Mary ********
I don't recall it even being a question nor having to get any police clearances for our non-O retirement visa. (They did need that when I immigrated to Australia - the process for Thailand was easier)
a month ago
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Peter *******
Thailand love people with criminal records, come on down
a month ago
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Jeff *********
Never heard of a criminal background check before, are you sure?
a month ago
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Bradley *********
@William ************
just apply for the married visa once you get here. I was never asked for a police background check. I’ve been here for a couple decades and a police background check has never comeup. Although I’ve never been arrested, I know it’s not a requirement if you apply in country.
a month ago
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Bradley *********
You’re fine. All of us old time expats are well aware that there’s a farang living here who murdered his mother in a heinous way. As if there’s any other way? It was so brutal how he did it. He served his time, got released and moved to Thailand. The Thai authorities and immigration know all about the killing and all us expats know about it too. He even bottled some guy in bar here a few years back. He still gets his visa extension approved year after year. We avoid him like the plague.
a month ago
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Jacob ********
@Bradley ********
 One of the numerous reasons I avoid most NOT ALL foreigners here like the plague. Too many with very shady backgrounds just wander right on in. It has been going on for decades.
a month ago
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Jacob ********
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Ronald *****
You just don't declare, thai side won't go n check if you got any records
a month ago
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Neale *********
Might be a blessing in disguise!!
a month ago
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David ******
Did you do FBI check or local? When I was adopting I wrote down a disorderly conduct charge. There was absolutely no record of it anywhere. Took me more effort to explain why there was no record of it, I had to get affidavits from city and state saying they could not find a criminal record. Moral of the story don't disclose frivolous stuff, especially if you had no conviction on a misdemeanor 🤣.
a month ago
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Kevin ********
I was a convicted felon,marijuana. I had no problem with marriage or visas.
a month ago
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Trevor ********************
@Kevin *******
 How shocking to even think of marijuana getting someone a felony in 2024. What was our government thinking? Glad all goes well for you.
a month ago
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Kevin ********
@Trevor *******************
 It was many years ago. Cost me my home and helped to kill my marriage. Now they charge me 125$ a year to do the same thing legally.
a month ago
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Trevor ********************
@Kevin *******
 So so sorry. Now the American VA is studying cannabis use for vets with PTSD.
a month ago
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Trevor ********************
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William *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kevin *******
 can u elaborate did they ask on a form or ask for police report from you country? Or just get a non o visa then extend for a year when I reach thailand and of course the required deposit in thai bank? Thanks for any help you can offer.
a month ago
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Kevin ********
@William ************
 They never asked for criminal info on my marriage papers.
a month ago
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Kevin ********
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John *******
How do you know which check have you done
a month ago
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William *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
 yes I had a fbi check came up three misdemeanors.
a month ago
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John *******
@William ************
 I very much doubt that will be a problem even if you actually need to submit it
a month ago
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John *******
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Matthew ********
Just don't declare anything . If it was a mister meaner it should be spent.

Only sentences over 5 years are never spent
a month ago
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Neale *********
@Matthew *******
 misdemeanor??
a month ago
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Trevor ********************
@Neale ********
 It is now 2024. We must call them "They/themdemeanors".
a month ago
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Matthew ********
@Neale ********
 that's what the guy who put the post up called it "a mistermeaner " not sure how to spell it . I'm guessing it's a conviction that he didn't go to jail for .
a month ago
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Matthew ********
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Dave *******
@Matthew *******
 correct only on your record for so many years 👍
a month ago
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Dave *******
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Garry *******
Also depends on major or minor conviction
a month ago
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Robert *********
@Garry ******
 ✅
a month ago
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William *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garry ******
 misdemeanor
a month ago
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Dave *******
@William ************
 doesn’t make the slightest difference . After so many years not even on your record any more
a month ago
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Ralph *******
@Dave ******
 It depends. Can do a deep search and it’s still there.
a month ago
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Ralph *******
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Chris ****
45 years ago is ancient history. Nobody should be held to account for that long ago. Thais are not judgmental like some countries.
a month ago
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David *********
Depends what the offence was !
a month ago
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Robert *********
@David ********
 👍
a month ago
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Chris ****
@David ********
 true
a month ago
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David *********
@Chris ***
 Gary Glitter comes to mind !
a month ago
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Chris ****
@David ********
 Gary never paid for his crimes. I think the OP is saying he was indicted, charged and penalized. So in fact paid for his error.
a month ago
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David *********
@Chris ***
 oh I see! Could you explain why the reptile is still in prison in England having been convicted ex-territorial for some of the crimes he committed?
a month ago
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David *********
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Carlos *********
Get the record expunged.
a month ago
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Brandon ************
Not sure where you're looking. Out of all the visas relevant to you, only 1 has requirement for criminal records check. Marriage visa is not one of those.
a month ago
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Keith *********
@Brandon ***********
 Yes Brandon that's 100% correct. I've just been through the process of getting a non-o and converting it to a non-o based on marriage. There was no criminal record check.
a month ago
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William *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 thanks for helping .
a month ago
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William *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 is there a question on the application about a record. Or Thai immigration does not look for that.
a month ago
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Dirk **************
@William ************
 no, there is not.
a month ago
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Brandon ************
@William ************
 there is no question and Thai immigration doesn't look into it
a month ago
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Dave **********
@Brandon ***********
 shame seeing some of the people in Thailand and certain behaviour! 😆
a month ago
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Dave **********
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Roy *********
@William ************
 No problem. Only the OA visa requires criminal records check
a month ago
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William *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for helping
a month ago
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William *************
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