What are my options for extending a 90-day Non-O visa in Thailand with limited income documentation?

Feb 8, 2022
3 years ago
Darren ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi All,

Thanks for accepting the request to join, in the past 2 hours I think I've learned more than the last two months of reading the various information available online and I'm no novice to this as I've had the misfortune of dealing with Australian immigration for the last 7 years for the Mrs and Myself.

Figured I'd start my own post instead of continuing to hijacking Aleksey's.

Long story short, we're looking to relocate from Australia to Thailand for the next year or two to be closer to the Mrs Family and enable my family to come visit us from the UK, as currently where we live in Aus this isn't possible due to covid restrictions, we've two young kids one of which none of them have met yet so it's taking it's toll.

Based on everything we had read online from official sources and My Wife talking to the Thai embassy in Canberra it seemed like we could get away with applying for the Non-O Spouse visa from here and then applying for the extension while in Thailand based on using the monthly income method of depositing 40K Baht in to a Thai bank account in my name for the first couple months. The Thai embassy advised that wouldn't be an issue and it was implied the affidavit from the Aussie Embassy wouldn't be required.

From Tod's comments on Alekysey's post, it seems like this isn't going to be a viable option even though it's technically allowed and the fact the Aus and UK embassy won't issue an affidavit is likely going to cause me issues.

While the odds are against me, assuming I get lucky with an immigration officer that will accept the 2-3 months of bank statements (...I know I'm reaching here), is there anything I should be mindful of to make sure all other i's are dotted and t's crossed? From a documentation standpoint we have everything in both English and Thai and we're aware we need to have our aussie marriage registered in Thailand to get the Kor Ror 2.

Assuming that without the 400k in the bank or the 12 month deposit history, are there any other options available to me to extend the 90 day Non-O visa that'll allow me to build up the bank history until I either have the 400k in there or the 12 month history (or is the monthly income just a no go?).

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers,

Darren
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking guidance on extending their 90-day Non-O Spouse visa after relocating from Australia to Thailand. They have been advised by the Thai embassy that they could use a monthly deposit method in a Thai bank account for visa extension but are uncertain about the feasibility of this approach, given that they may not meet the requirement for a 12-month deposit history or 400,000 Baht in savings. They are also considering the impact of COVID-19 on their plans to reunite with family and the complexities of registering their marriage in Thailand.
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Ryan ********
I see a lot answers here are very involved, but I have a simple solution. Since you plan on coming "in a year or two," just fly over for a short stint and open an account so you can start sending 40k+ into it every month. Then by the time you're ready for your move you'll already have a year of transfers to show.

It can be hit or miss opening an account on a visa waiver stamp, but with enough effort you should be able to do it. The you can return to Aus or whatever you want to do.
Darren ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ryan *******
Cheers Ryan, I'm sure that would work but we had lined up plans based on what was available on the immigration and embassy sites, which didn't mention the need for the 12 month history.
Tod *********
Also while not techncally a visa question, IF you were married in Australia contact the thai embassy/consulate there to see if you can get the marriage certificate 'certified' by them (some will do it some won't)

You won't be able to get a Kor Ror 2 here in thailand <- that is a form you get when you register a marriage (get married) INSIDE the country

What you need to use the marriage to a thai as a way to get an extension is called a Kor Ror 22 (ค.ร.๒๒) and that is the form you get from the local Amphur for a thai married abroad <- that's what you need to show immigrations
Tod *********
Honestly I have never ever seen someone come in with a 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage dump 3 or 4 months of 40K baht deposits in to a thai bank account in their name only from abroad and be able to pull off a yearly extension. Not even a single case 😮 😕

With that being said, the only way to maximize your time would be to come in, get the 90 days on the Non-O, then take the ONE 60 day 'visit thai family' extension you are allowed per entry. That'd give you 5 months but again, you're well short of the 12 months incoming required transfers.
Tod *********
almost everyone banks the 400K baht for the 2 months before they apply for their first year extension THEN start their 40K baht a month transfers and apply for the next year extension using them.
Darren ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Cheers Tod, really appreciate in the insight. We'll go re-evaluate our options, if we attempt the extention I'll be sure to post back advising if crashed in flames or we ended up getting lucky.
Tod *********
@Darren **********
another option (which is not all that workable with the land borders closed right now) would be to get a year-long, multi-entry Non-O visa based on marriage (if your consulate will sell it). That visa stamps you in for 90 days, then you would exit/re-enter the country, get another 90 day stamp, and do that for the whole year the visa is valid for BRINGING in your monthly transfers every month to build up the history you need
Darren ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
That's one thing we're looking at, another complication is that our youngest daughter doesn't have her Thai citizenship yet (agian, covid restrictions) so she needs to be included in my first 90 day Non-O as an Aussie then get her Birth Certificate and Passport sorted after we land. Again, the Canberra embassy advised we'd need to then leave and come back in on her Thai passport so the Mutli-entry Non-O visa may actually make one thing easier.
Tod *********
@Darren **********
what I meant is you can put that "get her thai passport" business on the back burner for a good while

BUT the embassy at least is correct in what they said, your daughter would have to fly out on the auzzie passport and re-enter on her thai one to switch nationalities
Tod *********
@Darren **********
actually she can just enter on her auzzie passport then get a year extension by her mom showing her thai i/d and the birth certificate at the immigration office. There's no gun to a thai who enters on another countries passport to sort it out quickly at all.
Darren ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
You legend, I'll let the Mrs know.
Tod *********
First off here's a pro-tip

NEVER EVER trust a thai embassy outside of thailand telling you anything about what you can do at the immigration office inside thailand

AND

NEVER EVER trust an immigration office inside thailand telling you anything about what you can do at a thai embassy outside thailand

They are two completely different government offices and have abso-tively, posi-lutely NOTHING to do with one another 😮
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