What are the steps and documents required for changing a retirement visa to a marriage visa in Thailand?

@Bart *************

, genuine question, why is it better to have a retirement visa than a marriage visa, what are the drawbacks to marriage visa, I want to marry my girlfriend and not have to have 800,000thb sitting in a thai bank doing nothing.

@Joe *******

it's just the way you're generally being approached by immigrations, and by the nonsensical rules they subject you to. They'll visit you to check if your marriage is de facto (not just legit). They'll interview people in your neighborhood to confirm your statements. If your neighbors are not home (but at work, to name an example) you risk that they cannot retrieve the required confirmation and have no choice but to reject the application. Friends of mine had to arrange that their neighbors stayed home on a particular day and they even had to supply personal docs of those neighbors as part of the initial application. The inspection visit also makes that you don't get the extension right away, but after a consideration period, requiring an extra visit to immigrations. And you can't go alone but you need to go with spouse.

@Bart *************

thank you your reply, yes they don't make it easy for us, I heard that immigration will come to the house and talk to the neighbours, we have friends on one side of us so hopefully that might help.

@Kev *********

What does the visa say? If possible can you send a picture with any personal data hidden.

@Stuart ********

I think the problem is he's trying to change now and because he's not in the last 30 days the won't let him change. He should stay on his retirement extension of stay until it's time to renew it then just change the reason for the extension at that time. Much easier