Is a Non O (marriage) visa better than a Non B (work) visa in Thailand?

Aug 4, 2021
3 years ago
Bonny **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all

I have just returned from immigration (Samut Prakan). I was told not to bother getting my Non O (marriage) visa as I currently have a Non B (work) visa. The immigration officer said there is no benefit in transferring my visa. According to her, a Non B is superior.

Any advice for those of you who have experience this?

Im curious to know if I would still need to do things like 90days reporting and pay for re-entry permits on a Non O.

Thanks for you help!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster (O/P) sought advice after an immigration officer advised against switching from a Non B (work) visa to a Non O (marriage) visa, claiming the Non B was superior. The responses highlighted the benefits of the Non O visa, including security in case of job loss, lack of financial requirements for female foreigners married to Thai nationals, and easier application processes. Others confirmed that both visa types require 90-day reporting and re-entry permits, but many argued the Non O visa provides more stability and advantages.
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Tod *********
and just like that we're done.

I think the O/P
@Bo***
has more than enough information to decide whether she wants to get off her extension of stay based on employment and go on to an extension of stay based on marriage.

Now as far as whether she can or can't apply for thai nationality after meeting the requirements. That sadly is NOT a visa related topic

AND

if she has questions about her ability to acquire that she should post on the group that
@Chris *******
runs called Thai Citizenship

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9/
Tod *********
@Bo***
that officer is feeding you malarkey :O

Hands down the marriage extension is far superior to an extension based on employment. (y) Especially so in your case :)

For one reason IF you're on an employment extension and you lose your job you lose the extension, where as if you're on an extension based on marriage and are legally working but lose your job the extension is totally unaffected because it's not thai'd :O err tied to your employment.

EDITED: as it was brought to my attention you are a foreign female married to a thai national.

There is no financial requirement that you meet to get a marriage extension AND after 3 years of marriage extensions to a thai national you can apply for thai citizenship (no need to get Permanent residence status or anything)

I'd say get OFF that Non-B employment extension and switch the reason over to "married to a thai national" as soon as you can.

You would probably need a letter from your employer stating they know you're going to cancel your Non-B extension and switch to married to a thai extension but with that letter and the documents for the marriage extension you should be able to go in, cancel the NonB extension and then immediately apply for a year extension based on marriage to a thai. You'd pay the 1900baht get a 30 day "under consideration" stamp when you apply and then a month later go back and get the year extension inked in

Of course you'd still do 90 day reports (everyone does those :/ ) and of course you'd still need a re-entry permit if you were going to leave the country.

All you're doing is changing one yearly extension (the one you have now based on employment) for another yearly extension except this one is based on marriage to a thai national
Benjamin ******
@Tod ********
The foreigner is female, so she doesn't even need the money requirements.
Tod *********
@Benjamin *****
I edited my post to show that, thanx, didn't even notice it
David ************
I believe if your job ends while on a non-b extension that extension ends. I you are on a non-O extension due to marriage and your job ends it has zero impact on your extension
Daniele ********
Non b is more complicated to get vs non o just 400k in the bank ..

Less papers
Benjamin ******
@Daniele *******
There is no financial requirements for being a female foreigner married to a Thai man
Daniele ********
@Benjamin *****
then it is a piece of cake
Daniele ********
@Benjamin *****
isshe a female? Did not read her/his name
Benjamin ******
@Daniele *******
According to a thread:

> I thought it was 5 years for marriage. Maybe I have been misinformed. I’m South African and my husband is Thai.
Daniele ********
I know rules are different from male and female
Ellie *******
90days reporting and re-entry permit fee are the same if you are on extension based on marriage or employment.

Personally, I wouldn't agree with "Non-B is superior". Which is better for you totally depends on your preferences.
Benjamin ******
I'm curious, why do you want a one year extension of stay based on marriage vs. a one year extension of stay based on employment?
Ana ************************
Its all the same, both one year, both 90 days and reentry permit
Bonny **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
I thought it was 5 years for marriage. Maybe I have been misinformed. I’m South African and my husband is Thai.
Benjamin ******
@Bonny *********
Since you're a female foreigner married to a Thai man, I HIGHLY recommend getting a one year extension of stay based on marriage. After five years of having a one year extension of stay based on marriage you SHOULD be able to go straight to Citizenship. Unlike a foreign man marrying a Thai female, there is *NO* income requirements.

Take your husband to the immigration office, with the following documents:

1. Your passport and a copy of:

- Your data ("picture") page

- Your Non-O visa

- Your entry stamp

- Your departure card

2. Your HUSBAND PHYSICALLY next to you, and

- His ID card and a copy of his ID card

- His housebook, and a copy of the first page

3. Marriage certificate (either the rose border certificate, OR a translated copy from your home country)

4. The application form

5. 2x passport pictures

6. 1,900 THB for the processing fee.

And insist on getting that extension of stay
Bonny **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
Wow! I didn’t know this. Thanks for this advice, it so helpful.

I think I’ll prepare what you’ve mentioned and go back.

They did say I need a witness to join and scanned photo copies of all documents (we had taken photos and printed from that.)
Andy ********
@Bonny *********
if they have asked for a witness to come along then they will need to bring along 2 copies if their ID card and blue house book (Tabien Bahn)
Benjamin ******
@Bonny *********
>They did say I need a witness to join and scanned photo copies of all documents (we had taken photos and printed from that.)

Bring that along with you too :)
Bonny **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
Oh, another thing, in case anyone reads this and plans to do the same. Immigration want two copies of everything.
Diana *****************
@Bonny *********
no def not not non O is 1 yr
Bonny **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Diana ****************
oh sucks 😅

Ok so what do you recommend? Just stay on a working visa?
Monti ********
@Bonny *********
You can extend a Non-B for marriage. You are just changing the reason for the extension. No reason to change to a Non-O. Non-B and Non-O for marriage have the same identical privileges. I am on a Non-B from 2007 and have extended it for marriage many times. Keep in mind the first time you change the reason for the extension your one year extension starts from the date you apply. The next time you extend the one year will be added to your current extension.
Bonny **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Monti *******
Perfect. This is the answer I’m looking for. Thanks so much. 🙏🏻
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