What are the current requirements for a NON O married visa in Thailand, and why are home visits becoming more common?

Nov 28, 2023
a year ago
Hi, just a quick note for everyone who is on a NON O married visa. I went to immigration office in Samut Sakhon yesterday and they required me to obtain 4 months of Bank Statements to show 400,000 baht in the account and I had to have 40,000 baht a month also deposited into my account. I know that the requirements state either 400,000 baht or 40,000 baht deposited into your account but they insisted on this before they would submit it for my 12 monthly stamp in a month. They also made an appointment to check out our home and take more pictures. Does anyone know why they are doing this to people now.. Fortunately I deposited my 40 +K every month and always maintained my bank balance. Have the rules changed? Have a great day.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion highlights recent experiences with the NON O married visa process in Thailand, particularly in Samut Sakhon, where individuals were required to present both 400,000 baht in their bank account and a monthly deposit of 40,000 baht. This deviation from the established rule of choosing one requirement raised questions about whether immigration practices have changed. Several commenters noted that home visits are increasingly common, purportedly due to concerns over fraudulent applications. This trend appears to be leading to stricter enforcement and review processes for visa extensions related to marriage and potentially retirement.
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Andreas *********
the Immigration Samut Sakhon, sadly, has a bad reputation of inventing bullying new rules to a random number of applicants. You could consider, that when your application comes due, relocate accomodation and TM30 to a hotel or resort within the jurisdiction of a different immigration office.
Sebastien ***************
I love it when immigration makes new rules.

1. I would show them their own website.

2. And I would teach them the word «หรือ » which means “or” in English.

Pronounced it “Reua” more OR less.
Sebastien ***************
Immigration or any government officers are under the administrative court. So if you feel that they do not respect the law, you can bring them there. However, I would NOT advise anyone to do it. Immigration will always remember you. I did it twice. I won twice. But the second time, I already had permanent residency and that is more OR less my job…
Sebastien ***************
Here
Erikh *********
Pablo ********
Interesting. I'm not sure if the rules have changed.
David *******
They are making it harder in phuket too. They dont like us but would miss us if we voted with our feet. Cambodia is looking a lot nicer nowadays.
Christopher ******
@David ******
agreed we have been in Thailand for 5 years now and also looking at Cambodia 👍
Steve ********
@David ******
So you think there's going to be a mass exodus because immigration might do a home visit? 🤣🤣🤣. Cambodia looks as shit today as it did ten years ago. Off you go! I don't think there will be too many following you !
Vinny **************
Can you get visa based on pension also

From uk
Steve ********
@Vinny *************
You have to transfer
*****
baht from your pension each month to get the retirement visa
Vinny **************
@Steve *******
yes sos mate I wasn't specific. Based on marraige to a thai national. I understand most of things

Can you do a combination of say 200.000 baht in bank and monthly pension income

Or does it have to be 400.000 baht
Steve ********
Home visits have always been part of marriage visa extensions, and some reports are now suggesting that retirement extensions are also subject to home visit
Will ************
@Steve *******
they’ve been doing home visits in Nakhon Nayok for retirement for a few years
Faye *********
@Will ***********
just curious why a home visit for retirement? As part of the marriage visa you must live together so they come to check. There are many people who pay a fee to be married but aren't really.
Steve ********
@Faye ********
It's to ensure you live where you say you live. Many people use agents who pay bribes to immigration offices in different provinces from where the applicant really lives. Happened to a buddy of mine. He lived in Chiang Mai, paid an agent in Pattaya to "fix" his visa, and the agent was bribing an IO in Khon Kaen, which is where the TM30 was lodged. There was a home visit to an address where no-one had heard of him. Game over!
Faye *********
@Steve *******
that makes sense.
Will ************
@Faye ********
because they can
Incognia **********
There must be misunderstanding something.They dont want both 40K and 400K.Want one of them.
David ************************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stelar ******
hi mate, They wanted both. Fortunately I had both and I am married to a Thai Police officer who is an instructor. She argued the fact why. It meant going to the bank twice to get the appropriate statements.
Michael ********
Samat Sakhon always do home visits, even though one of the officers lives just down the road from us they still did it. They did offer a 4000 baht special to not do home visit 555
Will ************
They will do home visits every year during the 30 day consideration period for marriage extensions and more and more provinces are doing home visits and giving 30 day consideration periods for retirement extensions. Just means they are being more thorough on what they do. This has been coming for a long time… don’t expect the rules to get easier
John **********
If you don't have a full 12 calendar months of 40k baht transfers prior to you applying for the extension then you can't use that method. You can only use the 400k baht method.
Paul *******
Recently my local immigration office came to check I was really living at my address. My Thai wife and I asked them why and the officers said too many fake applications so they have to check people are really live at the nominated address and also married.
Coilean *********
Not qualified to give advice here. But I have already had 3 extensions based on marriage they look for 400k in bank account 2 months prior to day of application. The home visit is always for a first application but I am sure they can do it anytime it's really up to them.
John **********
they not change the rules..they check you before they give the ok for the mariagevisa because they affraid it is maybe fake so they come to your house and they also wanted the neighbour telling them you living there already for the real...you also have to show the paper from your bank like a garanty paper the 400.000 stay there already over 3 month...when you ask the bank they know..this is how it goes with me last year...
Wylie *******
@John *********
the official requirement is 400k for two months. You're also not required to ALSO show 40k per month. It's an either or thing. So that is definitely not normal.
Jorge ****
@Wylie ******
they make the "official rules" as they see fit, ad hoc on the spot, kind of cowboys shooting' from the hip...
Wylie *******
@Jorge ***
yup, just hadn't heard of that particular trick shot.
Jorge ****
@Wylie ******
I did my first Non-O marriage based extension with the seasoned 400k. After it was granted, I asked them if for the 2nd, I could have 12 mo of >40k foreign income, as *their* docs in English and Thai spelled out, and they said "we do not do that at this office, you need seasoned 400k". So they made their laws on the spot. Can I change that?
John **********
@Wylie ******
only needed the 400k yes..not the 40 k also and they not accept you only get 40 k every month..you must have the 400k on the bankaccount even it is 2 month before
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