Answered5 years ago

Can I change my O-A visa to a Support Thai Wife visa in Thailand or do I need to leave the country?

Thai visa types Support Thai Wife visa O-A visa Visa change process Immigration in Thailand Visa requirements for married expats

Ian *******

asked Feb 20, 2022

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Hi - I have recently married my Thai girlfriend of 2 years, and I want to change my visa status from the current O-A visa that I on, to a "Support Thai Wife" visa.

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to change visa types in Thailand, or if I have to travel outside Thailand and re-enter Thailand on a different visa type, and, if I have to leave Thailand to effect a change of visa type, do I have to go back to my home country, or can it be a country close by?

I am aware of the Thai Immigration requirements I have to meet to qualify for the "Support Thai Wife" visa, other than the question I have raised above. My current O-A visa expires at the end of April this year.

Answer summary

The user is seeking guidance on whether it's possible to change their current O-A visa to a Support Thai Wife visa within Thailand or if they must exit the country and return on a different visa. Comments clarify that the user has been on yearly extensions of stay from an O-A visa and that they can typically change the reason for their extension at the immigration office as long as they meet the necessary requirements.

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Dick ********

Don’t extensions based on OA need insurance though?

5 years ago

Ellie *******

@Dick *******

you need to have insurance only when you apply for an extension based on being over 50 (retirement) on the stamp that can be connected to non-OA entry.

5 years ago

Tod *********

okay, the O/P is NOT on any O-A VISA at all. 😮

They have been getting yearly extensions of stays for many many years now from the immigration office FROM an OA visa they had.

SO all they need to do is keep meeting the requirements for the current OA extension they're on now AND meet the requirements for the NEW extension of stay they want to apply for based on marriage to a thai.

When there's about 30 days or less left on it they go into the immigration office all they will be doing is "changing the reason" for their extension from one based on 'retirement' to one based on 'marriage to a thai'.

People do it all the time

5 years ago

Tod *********

Remember though you will have to continue to meet the requirements for the extension you're on (IF you used banked money method to get it) AND meet the new requirements for the year extension based on marriage that you will be applying for.

That means if you're using banked money method for this current extension you're on you'd need to keep the 800K baht in the bank account for 3 months AFTER you got the extension granted and then never let the balance go below 400K baht the rest of the year until you applied for the new extension based on marriage

5 years ago

Phuket ******

@Tod ********

would you still need to meet the medical insurance requirements that are required for an OA retirement extension if you have now changed to extensions based on marriage to a Thai?

5 years ago

Phuket ******

@Tod ********

ok thank you.

5 years ago