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How can a spouse obtain a Non-Resident O visa based on their partner's residency status?

Thai Visa Non-Resident O Visa Visa Renewal Spousal Visa Options Retirement Visa Immigration Rules

May 6, 2019

6 years ago

George ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Recently my wife and I renewed our non-resident O retirement visas. While I had no problem getting mine renewed based on my pension, my wife did not have enough pension income to get hers renewed, and since our local account is joint they wouldn't accept that as part of her eligibility.

The immigration officer then said "your wife can renew her visa as your spouse. Just get your marriage certificate certified at your consulate." We did that, and my wife got her visa. 

My question is this: why had I never heard of this way to get a visa? I never read of it or heard of it before. Was this a fluke? Or have I missed this way of getting a visa for all these years?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user inquired about the process of renewing a non-resident O visa for their wife, who did not meet the income requirements but was able to obtain the visa based on their marriage. Several commenters explained that it is a known option for spouses of individuals with qualifying visas, particularly when one partner is over 50. They noted that this method has been a part of immigration rules for years, and it often goes unmentioned in discussions about visa renewal strategies. The requirement involves getting a marriage certificate certified, which the user successfully completed.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
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Han ********

But it was certainly discussed here in this group!

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Chris ********

Just a question on this one. What are the requirements for the spouse. Do they need money in Thai bank a account etc

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Caroline *********

. Thanks very much

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Tod *********

@Caroline ********

Oh, and if you're on extensions of stays based on being over 50, you're not on ANY visas (not a Non-O, not an anything) you're on yearly extensions :)

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Tod *********

@Caroline ********

you'd need to go to the Chiang Mai immigration office (or the one you use for your yearly extensions) and see what it is they require to do a "trailing spouse extension". You might need to have your marriage certificate certified by your consulate, maybe translated into thai, maybe certified as accurate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it's down to what that office wants as far as documentation for that extension.

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Caroline *********

We both have the non immigrant O visa

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Caroline *********

This makes life easier. So, I am an Aussie, my American husband and I were married in Australia. I can therefore have the

*****

0 in my thai bank and he can trail me for our 3rd retirement extension. Would he need his consulate in Chiang Mai to certify our marriage certificate?

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Tod *********

Vincent you saw reports where the immigration office didn't want to do and and the people were too scared to stand up to them.

There is nothing in the rules that says IF a spouse of a foreigner on an extension of stay based on being over 50 is also over 50 that they have to get their own extension by meeting the proof of funds on their own.

I would have filed an appeal at that immigration office if some officer tried that on me and my foreign wife (who was over 50 ;) )

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Vincent *************

Tod Daniels just as a matter of interest.. what if both man and wife are over 50 and the husband satisfies the requirements financially but the wife doesn't? Can she "trail" piggy back the husbands extension? I saw it reported that this is not possible if both are over 50 i replied to these posts but was shouted down

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Chris ********

Thank you so much Tod. This is what my husband and I will do when the time arrives.

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Tod *********

nope, they are "trailing" the person who has the year extension. It's usually just the marriage certificate, the passport copies and visa extension of the one person they're married to

Now, depending on the immigration office you might need the foreign marriage certificate translated into thai and certified as accurate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office OR you might just need the marriage certificate certified by the consulate from your country.

It's best to check with the immigration office and see what they require.

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Tod *********

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Tod *********

It has been an immigration rules for YEARS and years that if a foreign couple is married and one is over 50, that person meets the financial requirements and the spouse gets a matching extension based on being married to a foreigner who has a long term extension here.

It's in the current police order (

********

) as Clause 2.20 number 3.

I think you just weren't told about it and seeing as you were meeting the requirements to get both of you yearly extensions the immigration office never bothered mentioning it to you..

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Paul *********

I know a few couples who straddle the 50year age, the older gets the non-0 (>50) and subsequent extensions and the younger gets a non-0 and extensions based on marriage to the other. This also applies to married couples both over 50, - only one needs to meet the non-0 (>50) requirements and the other can "trail" on the 'primary' visa/extension.

That you hadn't realised / thought of, or been told of this way for you and your wife is any ones guess. BUT on the good side, you know now :-)

On an aside does seem to be a little discriminatory against singles >50.

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John *********

Friends of mine just renewed theirs the same way George. I can't quote the regs, but I believe it is pretty standard.

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Reiner *********

Well I think the last sentence of yourself explain it perfect.

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Reiner *********

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