Do I need a new passport after issues with my visa extension based on marriage in Thailand?

Feb 6, 2023
2 years ago
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Last year, I went to CM immigration and did everything to get a one year extension based on Thai family/marriage to Thai husband. My original visa was ED, extended for Covid, then supposedly extended for Thai family.

I moved to Jomtien and today went to Pattaya immigration. They said there is no note for Thai family in my passport and that I can’t extend based on marriage. I have to leave the country and start over (which I already have plans to do so that part is fine).

But they also said I need to get a new passport first. They said my current stamps would prevent me from getting a NON-O because I did something illegal/wrong (since CM gave me one year extension apparently based on ED, not Thai family). Do I need to worry about getting a new passport?

The lady was in a terrible mood, basically yelling at us as soon as we sat down, so I’m not sure if she was just being like that or I actually need to attempt to get a new passport.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user experienced issues when trying to extend their visa in Pattaya as they were previously granted an extension based on an educational visa (ED) rather than their marriage to a Thai citizen. Despite having moved to Pattaya, immigration officials indicated the absence of the proper marriage extension in their passport, which may require them to leave the country and reapply for a different visa. Concerns were raised about needing a new passport due to previous stamps and potential illegal status. Comments provided ask for clarifications on marital status, residency, and necessary paperwork to resolve these immigration challenges.
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James ********
James ********
Hmmmm... Let's try to see what's happening...

Are you STILL Married to Thai?

Are you BOTH now living in Pattaya Jomtien area?

Have you filed a TM30... That you live in the Pattaya Jomtien area?

In your passport there should be a One year extension of stay as MARRIED to THAI... Do you see it?

From your profile, I see that you were married to Thai in May 2022.

So what is the date STAMPED in your passport as the ending date of your permission to stay in Thailand ?

BOTTOM LINE...

You need to be Married to Thai...

And IF your Thai husband lives in Chiang Mai, you will need to show PROOF of your living together in Chiang Mai and Apply for the One year extension of stay at Chiang Mai Immigration... NOT 🚫 at Jomtien Immigration office.
James ********
What did the Thai Immigration Officer say that you need to do?
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
she told me I need to 1. Leave the country and start over with a Non-O. 2. Apply for a new passport as I may not be granted a Non-O visa due to a past incorrect stamp.
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am leaving the country anyhow, and I’m fine with starting new with my visa when I get back. I’m more worried about the incorrect stamp and needing a new passport.
James ********
@Amber *********
ask Chiang Mai Thai Immigration as it's their STAMP which apparently is in error...
James ********
I have asked our Mods to translate
James ********
But without any notation of why it was granted
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
yes, that’s right. Unfortunately, I can’t find any other paperwork from the time. All I have is my receipt of payment from 28 Feb 2022.
James ********
@Amber *********
what does the receipt say ?
James ********
@Amber *********
delete and remove your personal 🪪 ID and repost
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
James ********
Then you returned as instructed and the One year extension of stay was granted
James ********
James ********
Look for any other STAMP in your passport
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
I checked and only have these two stamps, everything else was from ED or Covid extensions.
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
okay, maybe a quick trip to CM is the best option.
James ********
Do you see an Under Consideration STAMP in your passport? With a date to return to the Thai Immigration office to CLOSE the Under Consideration STAMP ???
James ********
I see the Under Consideration STAMP... You shared it.
James ********
Did you keep any of the paperwork submitted to Chiang Mai Immigration when you applied... And any instructions from them when it went UNDER CONSIDERATION?
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
I will check now if I have any other paperwork from then - possibly.
James ********
@Amber *********
I have asked other members of our Moderator Team for their suggestions... As I have not seen this before. Without the reason notated on the extension of stay STAMP
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
thank you so much for your help! 🙏🏻
James ********
BEFORE Jomtien Immigration can accept any application for visa or extension of stay, the Ed Visa MUST BE CANCELLED with the Thai Immigration office that issued it, with a letter to Thai Immigration from your school stating the ending date of your study's.
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
I did cancel the ED visa in 2021.
James ********
@Amber *********
that's an important question.... And likely the reason you were denied a new extension today at Jomtien Immigration
James ********
@Amber *********
did you have an Ed Visa for study of Thai that you obtained in Chiang Mai?
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
yes, originally I had entered on a tourist visa in 2020, then switched to ED in 2020, extended regarding Covid, and then extended based on marriage.
James ********
@Amber *********
I don't see any mention of your having an extension of stay based on Married to Thai...

Did you cancel the Ed Visa before you applied for the Married to Thai visa/extension of stay?
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
I did just find proof that my last extension was related to Thai family! Which I wasn’t able to find while she was yelling at me 🥲 maybe this solves my problem.
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
And yes, that’s right. It was ED from Chaing Mai.
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
James ********
@Amber *********
you have a one year extension of stay... BUT it fails to show the reason why... Which is ALWAYS notated on the STAMP by the issuing Thai Immigration Officer.
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
seems like a strange problem to have. Any advice on how to move forward if the reason is missing?
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
There is a number on top of the one year stamp that matches the number on the 30 day under consideration stamp. Maybe that can help the situation?
James ********
Another course of ACTION by you .. Make a NEW application for the Non O Visa as Married to Thai or if possible an extension of stay as Married to Thai with the Thai Immigration office in Jomtien.
James ********
What is your ending date of your permission to stay in Thailand?
James ********
@Amber *********
be sure your personal 🪪 ID info is deleted on whatever STAMP you share
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
yes, still married. Both living in Jomtien, have a TM30 that we live here.

Problem is the extension of stay does not say because married to Thai. I will attach a photo of the stamp. We had our wedding in May but went to the amphur in February and did my visa in February.
James ********
@Amber *********
you may need to return to Chiang Mai Thai Immigration and ask them to correct the stamp given you or a letter to Jomtien Immigration stating the extension of stay was based on being MARRIED to THAI.

I think they can enter notation in your Thai Immigration record. . BUT a corrected stamp would be better.
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
thank you for your help and advice! I will see if I can get it fixed in CM and will share the results.
James ********
@Amber *********
🙏🙏🙏
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
this was what they told me was 30 days under consideration? And the first photo I sent was when it was supposedly accepted.
James ********
@Amber *********
pardon me... YES it was an under consideration STAMP...

Did you go back to Thai Immigration as instructed to get your One year extension of stay as Married?

Did the Thai Immigration Officers make a home visit during that time period?
Amber **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
yes, I did go back to get it. The problem today was that last one year stamp doesn’t say the reason for the extension.

And technically no, they did not come to do a home visit because they didn’t want to. They told us to take pictures ourselves and bring a witness instead, but we did a trip to immigration specifically to confirm where we live with a witness.
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