I got married yesterday and currently I’m on a METV valid until 20 May. I already have a Thai bank account with 400,000 THB deposited for about a month.
What are my options to obtain the initial 90-day Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage?
Can I convert my current visa to the 90-day Non-O while staying in Thailand, or do I need to leave the country and apply from a Thai embassy/consulate?
If conversion inside Thailand is possible, are there any specific requirements or timing issues I should be aware of?
Thanks in advance for any advice 🙏
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The poster is seeking advice on converting their current METV into a 90-day Non-O visa following a recent marriage in Thailand. They inquire whether this conversion can occur while remaining in Thailand or if leaving the country is necessary to apply at a Thai embassy. Community comments suggest that while conversion may be possible in some cases, immigration offices often prefer that couples wait for 2-3 months of marriage before allowing the conversion. Individuals recommend consulting the local immigration office to clarify requirements and also suggest that if conversion isn't feasible, the poster might need to exit Thailand and reapply elsewhere.
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Hello, can I ask how did you get your bank account on a tourist visa? I can’t open one for my husband so we can’t get the non-o visa marriage inside the country…
In theory you can convert but heard plenty of stories of it being if the Immigration office feels like it. Easier for them to tell you to leave the country.
James Bailey when they tell you to leave the country it's usually because the applicant does not have a Thai bank account so without an Embassy affidavit the financial requirements for an in country Non-O cannot be met
You should go to the immigration and ask them, tell your wife to go with you, she speaks Thai, it's much easier. I never deal with my visa, my wife gets it done for me every year, I just follow her to immigration, I give her any documents she asked for and it's been like that since 2010.
Most immigration offices will require you to be married for 2-3 months before they will allow you to convert to a non-O visa based on marriage inside of Thailand. That means you won't have enough time based on your current permission to stay. You will likely either need to leave Thailand and then apply for a non-O visa from the Thai embassy in the country you leave to, or you will need return as a tourist again and wait until enough time has passed for you to be able to apply inside the country.
I would recommend going to your immigration office and asking for their list of requirements to do the conversion, and also ask them how long you have to be married before you're allowed to do so. You can make a plan based on what they say.
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