Can my fiancé switch her visa to a dependent visa without leaving Thailand after we marry?

Question

Switching visa type

Would appreciate some feedback on this.

I am about to get married to my long-patient girlfriend. She is currently on a DTV (Thai Soft Powers), and once we are married will change her visa to a dependent visa (retirement). When doing some research online, I read that we can do this without leaving the country, and just need to book an appointment at our local IO, take along the marriage documentation, and show an increased payment per month into my account since the marriage (I use the 65k a month method, and apparently I have to increase this by 32,550 a month for my dependent wife). No issue with any of this. So, I went to my local IO today to outline my intetions and ask (i) what docs will they require, and (ii) how to make an appointment. BUT, the IO told me that I could not switch within country and she will have to leave Thailand and apply for a Non O at an embassy/consulate then re-enter Thailand on her new Non O, and then book the appointment at the IO. This totally contradicts what I had read so I was totally confused.

Can any of you guys please give me your advice, particularly based on actual experience rather than what you have heard.

I am also not interested in replies along the lines of 'Your IO have already told you that you can't do it, so what are you asking here'. Well the reason I am asking is  - I read this in several places (that we could switch without leaving Thailand) and it would not be the first time an individual IO is misinformed and tells you the wrong thing. I have had that happen to me before and I went back a 2nd time (on a completely different issue), and hey presto I got what I wanted.

Ask Thailand · Answer

The user is seeking advice on whether their fiancée can switch her visa from a DTV to a dependent visa after they marry while remaining in Thailand. An immigration officer advised that she must leave the country to apply for a Non-O visa at a consulate. However, other commenters suggest it's possible to transfer to a Non-O dependent visa from within Thailand without needing to leave. They also clarify that the financial requirements for sponsorship may not be as high as initially suggested.

Dan ********* · Answer

It seems you already got correct advice from Immigration.

1) The wife has to travel to a neighboring country, and apply for a Non-O Dependent (E-Visa portal) from there. She can re-enter Thailand on the new Non-O stamp, which automatically supersedes the DTV.  After 60-80 days, you both go to the local office to extend her stay.

2) You do not need more money to sponsor her. The same 65,000 (or a 800K deposit) is required, there's no 32,550 THB increase for piggybacking.

3) Also consider to keep her DTV. It has some advantages, like she can do online work, plus reduces implied risks associated with her fully tied visa.

Wannikea ********* · Answer

I think you're going to be in for a world of hurt. Let her continue on the DTV, she has quite a few years to sort it out.

John ********** · Answer

Thailand, and many Thai consulates, will no longer issue a Non-O dependant visa when the primary person is on a Non-O based on retirement. She'd either have to apply for a Non-O in her own name if she qualifies or she could apply for some other Non-immigrant visa such as an ED visa and, extend it once, and when applying for the 2nd extension request to change the reason for the extension to a Non-O dependant on you

Can my fiancé switch her visa to a dependent visa without leaving Thailand after we marry?

Activity

Related

Resources