Answered6 years ago

Can I change from a 60-day family extension to a Non-O visa while in Thailand?

Non-O Visa Family Extension Visa Rules

Ray *******

asked Jul 22, 2020

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Greetings. I had an ED visa, expired last month. On amnesty now. I am legally married to Thai citizen. I am planning for a non o Visa in-country next, but I don't think it's possible to go from amnesty to non o. So I plan to go from amnesty to 60 day family extension, which I've confirmed with my local immigration is possible. So my question is can I go from 60 day family extension to non o in-country? And what is the difference in requirements for getting non o in country vs out? Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

Answer summary

The user has an expired ED visa and is currently on amnesty, legally married to a Thai citizen. They intend to switch from 60-day family extension to a Non-O visa and seek clarification on whether this is permissible while in Thailand and the differences in requirements for applying in-country versus out.

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Tod *********

Were you on an extension of stay from the immigration office based on education

OR

were you on the original 90 day entry from an ED visa entry

It makes a difference on what you're trying to do.

6 years ago

Ray *******

@Tod ********

extension from education visa, the last one I was eligible for.

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Ray ******

Then you'll get a letter from your school cancelling your ED extension officially and immediately apply for a NEW yearly extension based on marriage by meeting the proof of funds and submitting the required documents. You do NOT need a Non-O visa, you just are changing the reason for your extension from education to marriage.

6 years ago

Benjamin ******

>So my question is can I go from 60 day family extension to non o in-country?

No, you can go from a 60 day extension of stay based on visiting Thai family to a one year extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national.

>And what is the difference in requirements for getting non o in country vs out?

People who leave Thailand to get a non-O visa are people who usually get multiple entry Non-O visas because they don't need the minimum requirements.

The requirements to get a one year extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national depends on each immigration office, but all of them require 400,000THB in a Thai bank account, or 40K THB in monthly salary.

6 years ago

Benjamin ******

>What about acquiring a non-o visa in-country, not from amnesty, but from the 60 day family extension.

You *WILL NOT* acquire a Non-O visa from inside Thailand. You *DO NOT* want a Non-O visa. What you want is an extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national. If you ask immigration for a Non-O visa, they will get confused.

> just the 60 day family extension and then the 1 year marriage extension. If I understand that correctly. I am OK with that.

Yes! That's what you want.

>Does the 400k have to be transferred in from outside Thailand all in one shot?

I don't think it matters how often the deposits occur, BUT the entire 400K must be seasoned in your bank account for at least 60 days.

6 years ago

Ray *******

@Benjamin *****

thanks for your reply. So then how and when would I get a non Visa? You said I can go from 60 day family extension to one year marriage extension. But I still won't have a non o?

Also, I have heard that the difference in the financial requirement for obtaining non o Visa in country vs out, is that you have to have the 400k transferred in all in one shot from outside the country with no specified amount of time for that money needs to be in your Thai account vs having the 400k sitting in Thai account for minimum of 2 months, respectively.

6 years ago

Michael ********

@Ray ******

You don't need a NON Imm visa. You already had one before, when you entered the country. The ED visa is a NON Imm visa, after which you got an extension of stay and then went on to Amnesty. So you will then do a 60 day family visit extension of stay, and then a year extension.

It is possible to get a NON O in country, but NOT while on amnesty. You are basically just changing the reason for extending your stay in Thailand to marriage from education...

6 years ago

Michael ********

@Ray ******

Good Luck. I just got my NON O in country last month (because I never had a NON IMM visa before and was NOT on amnesty) and will be getting my 1 year extension of stay next month.

6 years ago

Ray *******

@Michael *******

got it. Sound advice all around thank you kindly guys! All of this confirmed by my local immigration as well. Cheers

6 years ago

Michael ********

@Ray ******

As Benjamin has said a few times, forget about the NON O....But normally (Not now). Yes you normally can get a NON Imm visa in country from a 60 day family extension. BUT you ALREADY had a NON Imm before and are on amnesty.....For a NON Imm in country, you need to transfer the 400k in from abroad. For the 1 year extension it doesn't matter where the money comes from, as long as the balance has been above 400k, in your account, in your name, for 60 days. Also the best solution is to ask immigration directly, as these are not normal times.

6 years ago

Ray *******

@Michael *******

Thank you. I think I understand now. I definitely understand about the extensions.

"It is possible to get a NON O in country, but NOT while on amnesty." What about acquiring a non-o visa in-country, not from amnesty, but from the 60 day family extension. Do you know if that is possible?

Either way, it seems like the consensus is that I do not need to acquire a non-o visa at all, just the 60 day family extension and then the 1 year marriage extension. If I understand that correctly. I am OK with that.

However, I still need to know about the specifics of the financial requirement. Does the 400k have to be transferred in from outside Thailand all in one shot? (That is what I've heard for acquiring a non-o in-country) Or the money can be in my Thai account already by whatever means but needs to be in the account for a specified amount of time, 2 months for example. (That is what I've heard for acquiring non-o outside the country).

Thanks

6 years ago

Benjamin ******

@Ray ******

>So then how and when would I get a non Visa?

You won't need a Non-O visa; you should be able to jump from a 60 day extension of stay based on visiting Thai family to a one year extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national.

The visa is what gives you the right to enter Thailand, the extension of stay is what gives you the right to stay in Thailand. You're currently in Thailand, "legally", and you want to stay in Thailand.

> I have heard that the difference in the financial requirement for obtaining non o Visa in country vs out,

Might be immigration office specific. Did you ask for the handout for the one year extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national?

6 years ago

Benjamin ******

@Ray ******

> I guess I am a little confused. I am talking about obtaining a non o Visa from inside Thailand.

In *almost* all cases, you can not get a visa inside Thailand, only extension of stays. Visas are what let you enter Thailand, extension of stays are what let you stay in Thailand.

>I wasn't aware that a one-year extension was an option, seeing how my current Visa is an education Visa, expired, on amnesty now.

Usually it isn't, but it is possible (and extremely common) to jump from a 60 day extension of stay based on visiting Thai family (which your immigration office says they can issue), to a one year extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national.

> No need to obtain a non o visa. Is that correct?

That is correct

>And I should check with my local immigration office on the financial requirements for obtaining the one year extension in-country.

Yep, they will give you a piece of paper with the requirements and their expectations

6 years ago

Ray *******

@Benjamin *****

I guess I am a little confused. I am talking about obtaining a non o Visa from inside Thailand. I wasn't aware that a one-year extension was an option, seeing how my current Visa is an education Visa, expired, on amnesty now. I thought you have to have a valid Visa in order to extend it in any capacity.

So I just want to be clear. What you are saying is that I do not need a non o Visa. I can get a 60-day family extension from my current expired Visa / amnesty, then get a one year extension based on marriage. No need to obtain a non o visa. Is that correct?

And I should check with my local immigration office on the financial requirements for obtaining the one year extension in-country.

6 years ago