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Answered6 years ago

Can I apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa based on marriage while in Thailand, or do I need to return to the UK?

Hugh ********
asked Aug 7, 2020
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Question, help please. I'm here as a tourist and married to a Thai lady. I want to apply for the non immigrant type o visa based on marridge... but it seems I have to go home to the UK to do it .. seems a bit of silly to do. Pay for flights, travel lots, spend loads and quarantine loads... is there anything I can do?
Answer summary
The original poster is seeking advice on applying for a Non-Immigrant O Visa based on marriage while in Thailand, expressing frustration at the possibility of being required to return to the UK for the application process. Community responses highlight several alternatives, including applying for the visa in neighboring countries like Laos or Vietnam, utilizing a marriage visa process in-country depending on current regulations, and consulting with Thai immigration authorities. Some users mention that applicants on tourist or amnesty visas may face complications, but there's an encouragement to explore options locally rather than incur the costs and risks associated with international travel.
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Steve ********
Steve ********
how old are you Buddy . in box me please think i can help
Steve ********
Steve ********
i am not an agent .just helping a fellow expat
Peter *********
Peter *********
Steve Wallis any info on same subject would be appreciated mate.
Garrett ***********
Garrett ***********
Tony has been removed from the group. This is NOT a group for visa agents, we DO NOT solicit members for services here. If you have information, post it. Otherwise go spam and BS any of the other 1000 expat groups.
Gary ***********
Gary ***********
FYI darls....
David **********
David **********
We can only hope that the current situation will prompt some sensible changes.
Alan ******
Alan ******
Pay an agent if you have the funds.
Kuan ******
Kuan ******
You cannot apply now because u have no valid visa - u are on amnesty.

But I heard you can get a visa agent to do it for a small princely fee.
Russell ********
Russell ********
I always maintain that any questions related to “Red Tape” issues aren’t ever straight forward.

Speak to ten different Falunge and you’ll get ten answers.

It also seems to vary from area Immigration departments.

Apparently the one in Jomtien you get treated like a Jew visiting the Reich office in 1940!😬
Paul *********
Paul *********
Under the table. 20k
Shane ******
Shane ******
First get 60 day visit family, then apply for non O based on marriage. Go talk with immigration, or find a visa rep to help ya out.
Luc *********
Luc *********
Just divorce. From far easier
Andrew ********
Andrew ********
I did mine in country no problem at all.
Hugh ********
Hugh ********
OP
Amnesty yeah 😭
Roy ***********
Roy ***********
@Andrew *******
I did as well, but I was on a tourist visa. Probably he is here on amnesty, and is told he can not change from amnesty to Non O visa in Thailand.
Steve *******
Steve *******
You can apply at any country that will let you in and have a Thai Embassy/Consulate open. You dont have to return to the UK.
David *********
David *********
You can get a one year visa or married visa from Laos savanaket but the problem is I think you can go there but it will be hard to come back into Thailand if you could come back you would have to do 14 days quarantine

I got my marriage visa there before the virus it just ment I had to leave every 90 days and come back till the boarders closed
Dominique **********
Dominique **********
The best advise is to speak to immigration with your Thai spouse, be nice and you may be able to apply while in Thailand.
Steve *********
Steve *********
@Dominique *********
Always worth thaking your wife.
Brian **********
Brian **********
Get a 60 day extension for visiting a thai family, then immediately apply for your marriage extension because you'll be back on a stamp. Requirements vary wildly so you will have to speak with immigration
Steve *******
Steve *******
@Brian *********
He needs a Non Imm visa before he can apply for the yearly extention of stay based on marriage.
Joe ***********
Joe ***********
IF - one could go to Savannakhet Laos or Ho Chi Mihn City Vietnam and return to Thailand... one could visit the Thai Consulates there and buy a Non immigrate Multi-Entry Entry O Visa with minimum documentation and no financial requirements except 5000 Baht Visa Fee. However this Multi-Entry One Year Visa requires exiting and reentering Thailand every 90 days to get another 90 day stay.
Dominic ***********
Dominic ***********
Gary ***********
Gary ***********
You can get a Non-O based on marriage from either Savannakhet or Ho Chi Minh consulates without showing money in the bank. Unfortunately you can't go into either country at present.
Steve *********
Steve *********
@Gary **********
this might prove a small problem 555
Gary ***********
Gary ***********
@Steve ********
It is about for me as I need to renew my work permit.?. Lol
Steve *********
Steve *********
Unless the rules changed, last year Thai Embassy in London stopped issuing all visas.

There was talk that you could get marriage visa in Vietnam if you did not want to provide bank details.

As I say though this may have changed.

Worth looking into though b4 booking expensive flight back to UK.
Hugh ********
Hugh ********
OP
You're not going to be able to make multi trips during covid anyway
Steve *********
Steve *********
@Steve ********
not sure when you are referring to as I got a non-imm multi entry OA from the London Thai Embassy in September of last year ?
Garrett ***********
Garrett ***********
@St***
Right, he said except for the OA. 1 year Multiple entry Non-Os aren't issued by most embassies anymore, just a single entry 90 day.

The non-OA is a different visa.
Steve *********
Steve *********
@Garrett **********
that makes sense, well to Thai Government anyway 555
Steve *********
Steve *********
@Garrett **********
that explains it.
Garrett ***********
Garrett ***********
@St***
Fake news
Steve *********
Steve *********
@Garrett **********
so it was never implemented?
Garrett ***********
Garrett ***********
@St***
Correct, there are only s couple embassys that will still issues multiple entry Non-Os. Steve's comment said the Thai embassy "stopped issuing all visas." Which is what I was contesting.
Steve *******
Steve *******
@Garrett **********
The Thai Embassy in London stopped issuing Non Imm multi entry visas last year, apart from the Non Imm OA. All others are single entry only.
Steve *********
Steve *********
Garrett ***********
Garrett ***********
@St***
The Thai embassy in London still issues visas.
Garrett ***********
Garrett ***********
If you have 30 days left on a tourist or non exempt entry stamp you can apply for a Non-O in country. If i remember correctly though, that does not include the amnesty extension.
Hugh ********
Hugh ********
OP
I cant apply on the evisa online, my misses phoned them, thay ssid I had to go home and apply. Maybe i should just go in person
Steve *******
Steve *******
@Garrett **********
I dont think you can apply based on marriage, only being over 50 (retirement)
Garrett ***********
Garrett ***********
@St***
Yes, any Non-O can be obtained in country. That includes education and vollenteer based visas. You must have enough time on your current entry stay, and you cannot be on the amnesty.
Steve *******
Steve *******
@Gar****
So why does everyone go to a neighbouring country to obtain their Non Imm visas? They're even told by employers/schools/ NGO's that they cant obtain a Non Imm visa in country.
Bobby ********
Bobby ********
@Garrett **********
. I'm pretty sure you're right. Getting an O visa means applying 14 days before your hard stamp expires (so that would exclude amnesty as there's no stamp). The application then goes "under consideration" and you're given a date to go back to pick up the visa. The OP should be asking the question at immigration NOW (not waiting for 26 Sept), as there may be leniency in view of the current situation. I'd certainly be visiting immigration before handing over a stack of money to an agent
Bim *******
Bim *******
@Steve ******
I had a friend who did it in country on a tourist visa whoever if the visa has expired he is now on Amnesty so doesn't count.
Steve *******
Steve *******
Welcome to the moronic idiocy that is Thai bureaucracy 😊 some agencies seems to help people get their visas without leaving the country. Thai immigration has also said they are considering doing it themselves since it's hard to travel now.

I hope it works out for you!
Hugh ********
Hugh ********
OP
Cheers. I know they are all over the place

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