Answered6 years ago
Can an American obtain a Certificate of Entry (COE) for Thailand and apply for a NON-O marriage visa afterward?
Happy Sunday everyone,
Im an American could I obtain a COE just to gain entry into Thailand? Then once their I apply for an O type marriage visa as Im married to a Thai.
Im an American could I obtain a COE just to gain entry into Thailand? Then once their I apply for an O type marriage visa as Im married to a Thai.
Answer summary
An American can enter Thailand on a 45-day visa-exempt basis, after which they can apply for a 90-day NON-O visa based on marriage. It is recommended to apply for the NON-O visa before entering Thailand to avoid complications. While in Thailand, they can apply for a NON-O by ensuring the required funds are in a Thai bank account, but these funds do not need to be seasoned. It's crucial to complete the application process promptly due to the 15-day extension rules and the documentation needed for converting visa statuses.
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Tod *********
You could indeed come into the country on a 45 day visa exempt entry, get thru the 15 day quarantine, get the 400K baht into a thai bank account in your name only and then go apply for a 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage to a thai with the correct documents and bank letter
There is no requirement that the 400K baht be "seasoned" (be in the account any length of time), and as soon as you have the money in the account you could apply for the 90 day Non-O.
In Bangkok you need 15 days left on your current stamp to apply for the 90 day Non-O via (because the application goes under consideration for 14 days before you go back and get the Non-O visa and new 90 day stamped inked in)
There is no requirement that the 400K baht be "seasoned" (be in the account any length of time), and as soon as you have the money in the account you could apply for the 90 day Non-O.
In Bangkok you need 15 days left on your current stamp to apply for the 90 day Non-O via (because the application goes under consideration for 14 days before you go back and get the Non-O visa and new 90 day stamped inked in)
Tod *********
@Michael ********
if you're married to a thai, why not just submit the documents and get a 90 day Non-O visa from a thai consulate in your country BEFORE you wing your way here? That is far easier. 
Michael *********
OP@Tod ********
I'll give it a shot. What do you think is happening with the political climate? The police have kicked it up a notch along with sending in plain clothes army with white hard hats. Do you think coup is in the cards Michael *********
OP@Tod ********
I'm thinking about road blocks and limiting travel. I'm heading to buriram. I've been through the army road blocks Tod *********
Plain and simple
It's for the thaiz to hash out on their own.
AND
as a rule they never target foreigners here during what ever political upheavals are going on.
It doesn't matter in the least to me.
@Mic****
I don't think about it. It's for the thaiz to hash out on their own.
AND
as a rule they never target foreigners here during what ever political upheavals are going on.
It doesn't matter in the least to me.
Greg *********
And does a non-O visa allow working in the country, or is that an entirely separate process?
Greg *********
Got it. So the work permit application is contingent on a firm job offer. It's not just an "open work permit" allowing you to seek employment.
Tod *********
@Gregory ********
correct, and you can only work on a non-O if it was issued based on marriage to a thai or raising children here, you can't get a work permit on a Non-O based on retirement (not anymore anyway) Greg *********
Thanks. Are they difficult/stringent to meet?
Kool *******
@Gregory ********
you need a legal job, or start a legal business. You can not just get a work permit.
Bobby ********
Gregory Johnson. Because your prospective employer will supply the documents for the work permit
Greg *********
@Kool ******
Sorry, I'm confused... how can you have a job before you have a permit to work?Kool *******
@Gregory ********
you must have a job, not a job offer, then your employer supplies all the documents the labor department requires in order to issue you a work permitGreg *********
@Kool ******
You must have a job offer before you apply for a work permit?Kool *******
@Gregory ********
it does, but you still have to meet the work permit requirements.Greg *********
Do you have to stay in Thailand while the bank account funds are seasoning? Or could I open an account while I'm there just to have it for (possibly years) later?
George *************
@Gregory ********
You need to be in Thailand to open the account but once opened you can have it there indefinitely whether or not you're actually in Thailand. So, no you don't have to be in Thailand while the funds are seasoning. For example, if you had an existing account at a Thai bank you could transfer money into that account from abroad, and assuming a balance in excess of the minimum required it would start seasoning from the moment it's in your account whether you are in Thailand or not.Greg *********
@George ************
Perfect. Thanks!Kool *******
You do not want to use the visa exempt option, as you will be short just a few days if you do not already have a Thai bank account in your name only. After you get out of quarantine you have just 30 days+a 30 day extension in order to meet the full 2 month requirement of your money in a Thai bank account. If you take an extra day to get your bank account, which will happen, or if one of the months has 31 days, which is also very realistic, you will not meet the two month requirement. Also, if they stop the 60 day extensions because of unable to travel because of covid-19, as March 31st is currently the last date, you will be short a few days with no easy options. Your best visa in your situation, as you are already married, is to get copies of your marriage documents, there are two, a copy of your wife's ID card, and a copy of the house book she is listed in, then you can get a 90 day type O visa based on marriage from the Thai embassy, then you have enough time to get everything together for your type O one year extension after you get out of quarantine.
Michael *********
OPI'm just trying to figure out the best way to go. I still have a few months to go and the requirements will probably change again
Tod *********
@Kool ******
there is no requirement that the 400K baht needed to apply for the INITIAL 90 day Non-O visa be seasoned in your account any length of time. You can go apply for the Non-O as soon as the money is in a thai bank account in your name only. 
Vince **********
@Tod ********
Thanks for confirming that Tod - I was sure I had seen you explain this in the past. Am I correct in saying that the Jomtien Immigration Office is one of the ones that will allow the conversion from a visa exempt entry to a 90 day non-O based on 50+ yoa assuming the 800K is in a Thai bank account in my name only, all other requirements have been met and there's 30-15 days of validity left on the stamp or an extension of same?Tod *********
Thanx for the thanx
I help like a LOT of people do on the pages for visa questions. :)
@Vi***
but let's not go overboard, I help like a LOT of people do on the pages for visa questions. :)
Vince **********
@Tod ********
thx you Tod for your expert guidance and willingness to help others. Legend!Tod *********
@Vince *********
Jomtien has no problem doing a 90 day Non-O from a visa exempt entry as long as you have the 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only and you have at LEAST 15 days left on your current entry/extension stamp Michael *********
OP@Kool ******
here's the situation. I never planned on this wuflu like most people didn't. I have to check what documents I have with me Michael *********
OPI'm in Afghanistan working
Michael *********
OP@Kool ******
yes it would be a problem here one still a war zone, 2 it's like I'm living in the dark ages here Michael *********
OP@Kool ******
yes, Tanx I have time and I hope no Thai coup in the meantime Kool *******
@Michael ********
your wife should be able to copy/take pictures of the documents, and email them to you. You would need to get the COE from a Thai embassy, so it would be the same place to get the visa, unless registered mail is a problem.
Ադամ ********
@Kool ******
Is not the visa exempt now 45 days, then can extend still one time 30 days?Kool *******
@Adam *******
yes, and the first 15 days is spent in full quarantine. That is why it was extended to 45 days, so with the single extension a tourist could still spend 60 days total in Thailand. The problem is the money requirement for the type O year extension is not based on 60 days, but two months, no matter how many days are in the months. Also, during that quarantine period the person can not open a Thai bank account.Ադամ ********
@Kool ******
Yep. I did it. 15 nights in a 5 star jailVince **********
@Kool ******
I'm sure I've seen @Tod ********
state on more than one occasion that the two month seasoning requirement for funds in a Thai bank applies to the the year long extension of stay submission and not the initial 90 day in-country non O visa, which (I believe) only requires that the funds be in the account but not seasoned for any length of time.Kool *******
@Vince *********
not true. Once in Thailand the bt400,000 must be in a Thai bank account in your name only for a minimum of two months in order to qualify for the type O one year extension. In order to initially get the 90 day type O visa from the Thai embassy there is no money requirement, but once you get here and apply to extend it for the one year it is a full two month requirement. You can not get a 90 day type O visa inside Thailand.Vince **********
@George ************
- thx George! I know not all IO's will do this but I know I've seen commentary on this and other forums that some will in fact do the VE to 90-day non-O in-country conversion (assuming all criteria have been met).George *************
@Vince *********
I believe you can get a Non-O visa inside Thailand if you meet all the qualifications. For example in Phuket: ******************************************************
Vince **********
@Kool ******
"You can not get a 90 day type O visa inside Thailand." You're certain of that?
Steve *******
Why not apply for the Non Imm O before you enter, much easier than getting it in Thailand.
Bobby ********
No you don't need a visa. You can enter on 45-day visa exempt basis. It's tight, but will give you just enough time to get a non-O married to Thai in the country.
Ryan ********
@Bo***
once out of quarantine he could go get the 30 day extension as well. Which should give more then enough time to get changed over to the non-o visa. Bobby ********
Ryan Proulx. I'm thinking more of the two months required to season the 400k in the bank. July/August might pull it up as each month has 31 days, but it would be tight. It would mean opening the bank account the day he comes out of quarantine. He'd be better on the TR visa. He'd do it comfortably
Steve *********
Do you mean enter WITHOUT a visa?
Michael *********
OPAmericans don't require visas just coe
Steve *********
@Michael ********
many countries don't require visas for 45 days (extendable once) - but some still use them. What basis you enter on can subtly affect your next step.Activity
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