How difficult is it for a US citizen married to a Thai resident to live in Thailand?

Mar 13, 2024
8 months ago
Jeff *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello everyone. Please forgive me if my questions are too basic. I am marrying a Thai resident in May in Oregon and she is here on a green card. We would like to build a house for us to live in a small town near Nakhon Si Thammaret in the future. Her family lives there and we want to build on her ancestral land. My question is if I’m married to a Thai citizen, how difficult is it to live as a married couple in Thailand as a US citizen? The only advice I’ve received was to get a service to handle my visa where I would send them documents to maintain a visa to live in Thailand. No idea of cost and who does this work. Haven’t tried following up because it will be several years before we go and I imagine things could change there with rules.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Living in Thailand as a US citizen married to a Thai national is generally manageable, primarily through the Non-O visa designed for spouses. This visa allows for long-term residency and can be extended annually. It's advisable to consult the Royal Thai Embassy or consulate for the latest visa regulations and costs. While some expats recommend hiring visa services, many suggest that couples can handle the process themselves. Building a home on ancestral land might lead to challenges, particularly with family dynamics and property rights since Thai laws prevent foreigners from owning land directly. Couples are encouraged to explore various regions of Thailand before settling down to better understand the cultural differences and to determine the best place for their family.
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.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Troy ******
Immigration rules constantly change here. Worry about this when you plan to move.
Jon ********
Do you like the smell of fried fish with 10 chiles at 7:00 AM, betelnut red stains, tiger balm, bamboo, durian…..som tom laos with fish sauce ? You’ll need to.
David *******
It’s straightforward to get a visa and the an annual Extension of Stay so you could stay in Thailand indefinitely, or come and go as you please. If you are over 50 and don’t want to work in Thailand then it’s usually easier to get a Non O ‘for Retirement’ rather than one ‘for marriage’.

To start planning you should open a bank account in your name only the next time you are in Thailand so you can put the required funds when you need them.
Steve **********
How old are you, and are you still. Or need to work. Many farang live with family in the villages.

Age and work status, will get some experts to respond.

You didn't mention if you've been here before. Did you meet and marry stateside.

Defer any talk of agents, unless have been here, explored, etc.

It is an easy process if you meet requirements.

Been here 21 yrs.

Oh, love Oregon....big difference
Arch *********
Remember one thing ,marry Thai lady family Free 🤣🤣🤣
Arch *********
Too hard don't bother 😅
Deniz *********
Before moving to Thailand go and live there for a while with a non immigration O Visa.
Alan ********
Never allow wife to control YOUR money do not allow family to move in don't have a child they can blackmail you with make sure you have enough money in hidden bank account if you need to escape.
Durrant ********
@Alan *******
you obviously ignored the red flags 😀
Alan ********
@Durrant *******
no saw what happened to a few mates and vowed never to make the same mistakes one had to beg her for airfare home from his own money.
Terary **********
Most likely the rules will change in the next several years.

I am married to a Thai national. The last time I tried to get a marriage visa (90 days), no issues, I had to collect bunches of paperwork, but getting the visa was pretty easy. Getting the extension (1-year) as another story.

The few agents I talked to said they could do it for 60,000. They do retirement visa for
*****
. That should be an indication of the different complications. My scenario is a bit different than yours, my wife and I don't live together. If the two of you live together then it's less of a concern, but the process is still a pain. The take away, if your 50+ then a retirement visa will be easier.
Jeff *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Terary *********
I’m retired on a pension. Im 57 so a retirement visa sounds like a good option
Terary **********
@Jeff ********
Most people see it that way.
Chizel *******
How many years have you lived together?

How long have you lived in Thailand before?
Aaron *******
In case you are not aware, non-Thais cannot own land in Thailand.
Luigi ***********
Desist, better than cure in the intricacies of one-way laws for Thai citizens.

Enjoy the 100 years of life you have left. Avoid problems.
Baz ******
My advice would be

NEVER build a house near family and NEVER build a house near a temple
Cliff **************
@Baz *****
I'm in a house directly across the road from the temple. Mother in laws house. My mother in law also manages those markets for the monks. It is definitely a drop in house and only the MIL alco brother lives in the old shack down the back of the block. I built a granny flat attached to the main house (less outlay). We have a block outside the village to build our forever home away from all the noise and people.
Arisara *********
@Baz *****
good advice. Buy a block of land in her name, build a house in the block then get her to lease it to you a 30 year lease of land, so whatever happens to one of you, one of you has a peace of mind that you both be safe and not being homeless
Dee ***********
Damo ***********
@Baz *****
good advice.. he wants to build on her family's land it appears. In the unfortunate event his wife passes before him, the locks will already have been changed in the house before he arrives back from the funeral. 🤦🤷
Putt ********************
Typically, non-O visa is not too complicated and even can be handled by you and your wife. Foreign partner usually stays in Thailand with Non-O Spouse or Non-O retirement.

Not sure how much it cost for US citizen to obtain the first non-O, but annual extension cost 1900 THB plus 3800 THB to obtain multiple reentry.

If Non-O Spouse, your wife needs to update her marriage status, obtain Kor Ror 22 document in Thailand first, then you need to open bank account and deposit 400K THB.

If non-O retirement, you must be above 50yr, and deposit 800K THB.

Required documents for typical non-O Spouse extension process can be found below. Good luck.

******************************************
Frank **********
I must be an exception.to the norm. Stay in the same village as my wife's parents. They stay in their house on their farm. We stay in our house. We drop by occasionally. They never ask us for anything.
Stephen ********
Im from portland also
Jeffrey **********
I'm from Portland, and have lived in Thailand for 28 years. Fairly straightforward getting a long-term Visa here things change yearly but it's still fairly easy. As for the home the area where your wife's from might not be the best place for you to live. And where others have said right by the family again I have to agree with them I'm four and a half hours away from my in-laws and that's just about right and get there if something happens but they're not dropping by every single day for something. Personally I would suggest coming to Thailand seeing different areas such as beach towns, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and others. Maybe make several trips and stay in several areas for a month or maybe three. And remember making a home here is unlike in America and the home is technically hers
Jeff *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeffrey *********
I’ve seen most places in Thailand. We are going to rent in Bangkok for a year before building. If the land price isn’t too bad it probably will be in a different place
Arisara *********
My hubby did a Non O visa and stayed for a year to experience living in Thailand. We loved it, but he missed our lives in Australia too. We decided to live in both countries to be with our parents and enjoy our lives in both countries.

Take your time to explore it, don't jump in without your first hand experience to make a decision. Good luck!
Steve **********
@Arisara ********
absolutely take time, dual cultures, must be experienced and accepted....good luck
Arisara *********
I own the property in Thailand, my children have a dual citizen but not my husband. In my case my children should be able to look after the dad in case I am not there.
Dianne *****
@Arisara ********
good advice
Steven *******
@Arisara ********
That's what I've been doing for the last year and plan to continue to do, especially with the new tax law going into effect.
Kent *********
Best way to do this is put, about $11,000 into your American Bank account, apply for a 90 day VISA. Go to Thailand open a bank account with Bangkok Bank in your name, then apply for a multi entry marriage Visa, transfer 400,000 baht to Bangkok bank for yearly renewal and as another has stated check immigration website for exact info…
Graham ******
@Kent ********
The in country Non-O based on marriage is not multi-entry, it is a 90 day stamp
Steve **********
@Graham *****
but can extend year to year easily
Steve **********
I've done it 21 years .
Kent *********
@Graham *****
wait so when I apply for the marriage VISA while in country, I can’t make it a multiple entry type of VISA?
Graham ******
@Kent ********
You can by purchasing a separate multiple re-entry permit foe 3800B
Kent *********
@Graham *****
I realize the initial 90 day is not a multiple entry, however this from Siam -legal.com

For marriage visa.

“Re-entry Permit

If you plan to travel in and out of Thailand during the year of your visa validity, you will need a multiple re-entry permit to do so and to avoid your visa from getting canceled. If you plan to stay in Thailand for the duration of your visa, no such permit is required.

If you need to leave the country quickly for whatever reason, you can apply for a re-entry permit at the nearest immigration office or at an international airport before leaving the country.”
Chris ******
Starred building a house in buriram I left the wife when son was 3 months old her brother was using place as a garage when told her he has 5 minutes to start moving it all out her reply was brother number one and house still remains the same and we are divorced 8 year later don't see my son and the brother is still number 1 just think about that when you build a house remember you are at the bottom of the ladder the family will live do what they like no matter what your opinion of them using house you will never have a say when they all sleeping pissing and crapping everywhere eat everything you are just a cash machine simple as
Steve **********
How old are you ? and are you still. Or need to work ? Many farang live with family in the villages.

Age and work status, will get some experts to respond.

You didn't mention if you've been here before. Did you meet and marry stateside.

Defer any talk of agents, unless have been here, explored, etc.

It is an easy process if you meet requirements.

Been here 21 yrs
Steve **********
@Chris *****
land will always stay in family, farang come, pay, then go.

Always #1 son or mother run the show.

Been the farang bldg on family land in Petchabun 20 yrs ago.

Learned game early.

Get that lesson out of the way, and keep smiling.
Chris ******
@Steve *********
son mother and family learnt early not to fuck me about and now they cry for money I like to send them a picture of my money 🤑
Steve **********
@Chris *****
no offense meant Chris, but I assure you son and family were being Thai. All land in Thailand remains Thai..always !

Thai way isn't to f--- with you, it's to protect family.

Thais enjoy the contribution from farang. But it's not going to hurt them...a Thai family is 70M strong.

Suggestions: read 'Thai Fever, ' 1st edition
Chris ******
@Steve *********
trust me it's hurting them financially learnt hard way now the ex wife doesn't speak to it's brother or it's wife no more because he used house as a garage got a girlfriend in Thailand own house car doesn't ask for nothing unlike ex wife having to go work in a bar her fault not mine
Steve **********
@Chris *****
He's #1 son, was then, is now, always will be.

Put it behind you ! There's so much here to make you smile...try it !
Chris ******
@Steve *********
already have
John *******
Watch every single episode of thai talk with Dan

Hopefully it sinks in
John *******
You don't know what your talking about wrong guy
John **********
@John ******
Yes🤣🤣🤣
Tom **********
Oregon is beautiful in May
Jeff *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tom *********
It is beautiful. Love it here that time of year
Peter *****************
A piece of advice(Non Visa).Don't let your wife family shift in to stay with you.Culture change for them and you.You might not like it in future.Goodluck dude.
Xjwhudkwhry ********
@Peter ****************
yes, only take in the family buffalo, they're making a great pets!
Peter *****************
Rod *******
My wife is Thai and also from Nakhon Si Thammarat and retirement married to Thai wife is visa I will go with as stated by prior comment.

My wife is there and we started building home on family land there last Oct. in Pho Sadat. I came back in Nov. And wife went back to finish construction and hope to join her in July.

You need help with anything just message me.

Best of luck.
John **********
The secret to a Long and happy life is. Move as far away from the parents as you can. Building on ancestral land...... Really! 😲 There is a rule, the more bedrooms your house has, the more freeloaders that can move in. If you are a typical westerner it might test your patience.
Steve *******
@John *********
you are 100% correct.
Mark ******
@John *********
Yes. I'm two plane flights, or two days drive, away from the family up north. Very peaceful.
John **********
@Mark *****
I live up north when I am in town. I can't walk and exercise without the old ladies in the village wanting to drag me in for moonshine. So I exercise in the next village. Every night of the week they want to party. Not my idea of a peaceful retirement.
Dee ***********
@John *********
100% with you
ฉันเป็นทางของประชาชน *********
Dirk **************
Living in Thailand as a US citizen married to a Thai citizen is generally not too difficult as long as you follow the necessary steps and requirements. As a spouse of a Thai citizen, you are eligible for a Non-Immigrant O visa, which allows you to stay in Thailand for a longer period of time.

It is recommended to consult with the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in the US for specific visa requirements and procedures. They will be able to provide you with the most up-to-date information on visa options, costs, and any changes in rules that may affect your situation.

Additionally, there are visa service agencies that can assist you with the visa application process and provide guidance on maintaining your visa status in Thailand. It is important to do your research and choose a reputable agency to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience.

Overall, with proper planning and preparation, you should be able to live as a married couple in Thailand without major difficulties. Good luck with your future plans and congratulations on your upcoming marriage!
Tony **********
Where in Oregon are you? I'm in Vancouver Washington.
Jeff *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *********
I live in Aurora. My wife to be works in Vancouver so I’m there often.
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