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How do I apply for a marriage visa in Thailand if I need to leave and re-enter due to time constraints?
Non-O VisaMarriage VisaVisa Application ProcessBank Account OpeningImmigration RulesExpats in Thailand
Jan 17, 2024
2 years ago
Rj ******
ORIGINAL POSTEROk silly question for some, i just got to thailand 5 days ago. I am planning to stay and will open a bank acct with help from a service. Tried and could not do it as rules have changed i was told over and over. So now i need to wait 69 days to apply for a marriage visa, get my usa marriage cert translated and ect. So i need to leave and re enter thailand because of the time? Im just confussed. Help me please.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking clarity on applying for a marriage visa in Thailand after entering the country with challenges related to documentation and time constraints. They mention needing to leave and re-enter Thailand to meet the application requirements, including having enough time left on their stay and fulfilling financial obligations. The community responds with various experiences and suggestions, including using an agent for the process and the need to have funds in a Thai bank account for the marriage visa application.
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.
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Dennis *********
there's no rules against it, just you might spend days searching for one that will. a visa agent can assist you, maybe 90 minutes more or less of your time.
Steve *******
No rules on opening bank accounts have changed. Just keep trying different branches/banks or pay an agent.
Rj ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve ******
agent is just a hourSteve *******
@Rj *****
I dont know, I went to Bangkok Bank and opened an account without any problemsRj ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve ******
when? How long ago, rules changed about 1 year ago they all saidSteve *******
@Rj *****
No rules changedRj ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve ******
again when did you open it, and i can only talk from what 3 differant banks told me, the only 1 is Bangkok bank and they do it through agents and you must buy the 8900 baht insReply to
Rj ******
Reply
Andrew ********
I came 3 weeks ago on a non o visa and went to my local kasikorn branch and opened it no problem? They are the easiest
Rj ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andrew *******
you are lucky i went to sevrral branches and a few bank names. All said needed a long term visa first and a few things. I use a agent it took 2 hours for all and visaReply to
Rj ******
Reply
Terary **********
You can apply for the marriage visa online. Then leave/come-back and you will be on the marriage visa.
When filling out the application the first page will ask you something like "Where are you?" and "What is your nationality?", in both cases indicate USA. (this is not the actual application).
When you get into the actual application it will ask you the same question a little differently, "Where is your permanent residence" and " what is your nationality". For permanent residence, indicate USA and use your driver's license as proof. For nationality, obviously use your passport.
You will still have to show travel to Thailand. In your case I would buy a plane ticket to/from Singapore or whatever is cheap. And use that as proof.
You can not activate the visa until you enter Thailand. Because you are already in Thailand you will need to leave. You can take the plane you just purchased tickets for, or you can come/go however you want.
This approach has risks but it's worked out for me so far.
Also, during the visa process, they'll probably ask for some supporting documents, when you provide those, explain your situation, that you are in some other country near thailand and you are trying to get your affairs (marriage, home, etc.) in order, that you traveled to the near country to apply for the visa.
Bali is about $200 round trip. Bali has no US Embassy (it's in Jakarta) which makes a good excuse why you need to apply for a visa online at the Thai Embassy - USA.
The website is rigid but I have found the people processing the application are flexible and friendly, like Thai people usually are.
When filling out the application the first page will ask you something like "Where are you?" and "What is your nationality?", in both cases indicate USA. (this is not the actual application).
When you get into the actual application it will ask you the same question a little differently, "Where is your permanent residence" and " what is your nationality". For permanent residence, indicate USA and use your driver's license as proof. For nationality, obviously use your passport.
You will still have to show travel to Thailand. In your case I would buy a plane ticket to/from Singapore or whatever is cheap. And use that as proof.
You can not activate the visa until you enter Thailand. Because you are already in Thailand you will need to leave. You can take the plane you just purchased tickets for, or you can come/go however you want.
This approach has risks but it's worked out for me so far.
Also, during the visa process, they'll probably ask for some supporting documents, when you provide those, explain your situation, that you are in some other country near thailand and you are trying to get your affairs (marriage, home, etc.) in order, that you traveled to the near country to apply for the visa.
Bali is about $200 round trip. Bali has no US Embassy (it's in Jakarta) which makes a good excuse why you need to apply for a visa online at the Thai Embassy - USA.
The website is rigid but I have found the people processing the application are flexible and friendly, like Thai people usually are.
Brandon ************
@Terary *********
you have to show travel to Thailand from the country you're applying at. A flight from Singapore to Thailand would result in a denied application.Terary **********
@Brandon ***********
Four times times now, that has not been the case for me.Reply to
Terary **********
Reply
Steve *******
And this is exactly why getting your Non Immigrant visa before you arrive in Thailand makes life so much easier!
Rok ********
@Steve ******
… but you need health insurance?Steve *******
@Rok *******
Depends on the Embassy/Consulate where you apply. If you do it's only 90 days and most people have insurance anyway.Rok ********
@Steve ******
just any travel insurance (like eg Safetywings) as i saw somewhere it must be a thai based insurance co.?Steve *******
@Rok *******
Only Thai based for the Non Imm OA I believeReply to
Steve *******
Reply
Steve *******
You should have got your Non imm O before you arrived. So much easier
Albert ********
@Steve ******
my Thai wife applied for me in USA on the computer for the second year in a row.its called a non O visa.Steve *******
@Albert *******
Non Immigrant O visa as I stated in my original comment.Albert ********
@Steve ******
yes sir.Reply to
Albert ********
Reply
Rj ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve ******
not asking you for your opion on what i should have done.Steve *******
@Rj *****
WTF are you asking for then? You got my advice, not my opion. No worries but it would've made your life a lot easier opening a bank account!Rj ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve ******
i know that todayKevin *********
@Rj *****
They told you what to do in the beginning of the thread. Walk into an agents office and tell them what you are looking for, they most certainly will get it done. Read around the edges my friend. Like someone said the agents know all the backdoor ways to get you what you want. It will cost you but it shall be done.Reply to
Kevin *********
Reply
Struyf *********
Ask advise with thaivisacenter
Rj ******
ORIGINAL POSTERThe 400k for marriage visa i was told needs to be in acct 60 days
Nongnuch ********
@Rj *****
For the "change of visa type" from a visa-exempt entry or a tourist visa to a 90-Days Non-Imm-O family Visa, you only need 400,000 THB sit in your bank account (no seasoning required at this point!). AND you need a minimum of 15 working days left on your stay permit stamp. Only when you apply for the one-year extension of stay permit based on marriage, the 400,000.- THB must have seasoned in your account for TWO months . . . it only is that the Immigration in Pattaya has made up their own rules, they want to see a 2-month seasoning for the application to the visa! Every other Immigration does not have these requirementsSteve *******
@Rj *****
That's for an extention of stay not the visaBrandon ************
@Rj *****
i don't know any immigration offices that require this. Some require it for retirement visa.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Brandon ************
In order to apply for a non-O marriage visa you must have the 400,000 in your account, meet all the paperwork requirements, and ALSO you must have at least 14-21 days left on your stay, depending on the immigration office. If you won't have that long left once you get all of your paperwork settled, then you'll need to leave and re-enter to get additional time.
Bart **************
@Brandon ***********
are you sure you can leave when you have a marriage extension under consideration? Logic would imply that if you leave the country, you lose any extensions under consideration.Brandon ************
@Bart *************
you can leave if immigration approves and you get a re-entry permit. You'd need to get their approval though since that period is when they might do a home visitReply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Rj ******
ORIGINAL POSTERAnd cant i get a month exstenion
Brandon ************
@Rj *****
Yes you can apply for a single 30-day extension on your visa exempt entry. But you said you need 69 days so that will not get you enough time.Rj ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
need 60 days from when i open bank i was told. The agent wants me to do a retierment visa as he says thats easierBrandon ************
@Rj *****
you are talking about marriage certificate in your post. A marriage visa does not require you to wait 60 days but a retirement visa may, depending on your immigration office. A marriage visa requires 400,000 while a retirement visa requires 800,000 in the bank.If you're going to get a retirement visa then don't mention your marriage certificate etc because it makes no difference for a retirement visa.
Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Rj ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
leave for how longBrandon ************
@Rj *****
There is no requirement for how long you leave for. Just that you stamp out of Thailand, stamp into another country, and then you can return.Rj ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
because my money in bank must be 60 daysBrandon ************
@Rj *****
what immigration office? I don't know if any immigration offices that require the money to be in the bank for 60 days to apply for the 90 day non-O visa. The money must be in the bank for 2 months to apply for the 1-year extension after you have the non-O visa.
Did the immigration office tell you that you must wait?
Marine *********
@Brandon ***********
don't need money in bank for 60 days on non o 90 daysBrandon ************
@Marine ********
I literally said thatJohn **********
@Brandon ***********
I believe Pattaya has this 60 days seasoning requirement to apply for the Non-O visaRj ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
i was told by the agent place i must wait 60 days and need to leave and get re stamped.Kool *******
@Rj *****
that agent is wrongNongnuch ********
@Rj *****
For the "change of visa type" from a visa-exempt entry or a tourist visa to a 90-Days Non-Imm-O family Visa, you only need 400,000 THB sit in your bank account (no seasoning required at this point!). AND you need a minimum of 15 working days left on your stay permit stamp. Only when you apply for the one-year extension of stay permit based on marriage, the 400,000.- THB must have seasoned in your account for TWO months . . it only is that the Immigration in Pattaya has made up their own rules, they want to see a 2-month seasoning for the application to the visa!Reply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Ian ********
Get a agent to do it all
Rj ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ian *******
so whats better for me the marriage or retire visa. Im ok with 409k or 800k depSteve **********
@Rj *****
retirement...no question about it.Leo *********
@Rj *****
I agree, end your worries and let an agent do the work for you.Ian ********
Walk into a visa agent he/ she will know all the backdoor ways
Reply to
Ian ********
Reply
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