What is the best plan for a British expat to marry a Thai citizen and apply for a NON-O visa?

May 10, 2021
4 years ago
Pawarat **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am using my girlfriend FB account

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Hello, I am British and 28 years old. My girlfriend is Thai. I plan to go to Thailand with a single Tourist visa (60 days). After this, we plan on getting a marriage certificate and applying for NON - O visa based on marriage for staying longer.

This is our plan for getting this process completed:

1. Get a marriage Certificate

2. Open a Thai Bank account by using a married certificate. (I do not have a work permit, due to remote - working in a UK company)

3. Deposit money as 400000 Baht for 60 days

4. Extend the tourist visa for an additional 30 days

5. After 60 days (the bank deposit time), we will start doing the NON-O visa application.

In the above plan, it looks like the timeframe for getting the TR visa is very tight.

Could you please advise us if there's a better way to do this or if this plan is okay?

Is there a way I could get a longer tourist stay in Thailand? Or maybe get a visiting family extension after the marriage is complete?


Thank you in advance.

Alex and Im
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A British expat plans to marry his Thai girlfriend and transition from a 60-day tourist visa to a NON-O visa based on marriage. The proposed steps include getting a marriage certificate, opening a Thai bank account, depositing funds, and applying for a visa extension or the NON-O visa within a tight timeframe. Community comments offer detailed guidance on the process, including the bank deposit requirements and recommended procedures, such as obtaining necessary documentation from the UK consulate and being cautious about remote work considerations.
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Tod *********
okay, thank you one and all for your contributions on how the O/P goes about getting married (y)

Unfortunately, this is the thai VISA advice group, not the "how can I get married in thailand" group. :O

I think the O/P has more than enough info to figure out how to get married AND how to go about converting a 60 day tourist visa entry to first a 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage and then a yearly extension based on marriage

Again thanx one and all for the helpful advice, good luck to the O/P in his endeavor
Pawarat **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank all of you for helping us. We really appreciate all your comments.

We make a to-do list every single step attaching required documents.

Hopefully, we get it done in time.
Simona ***************
My son came to Bkk on a 60 days tourist visa. Last week he went to extend and they gave him 60 days extension . On the stamp it says something in Thai and I google translated and the result was 60 days to COVID-19 law. He didn’t need 60 days but that was the format of the extension
Tod *********
@Sim***
60 day covid extensions are available until May 29th
Simona ***************
@Tod ********
oh ! I didn’t know
Tod *********
Here's the steps to take;

- get the affirmation of freedom to marry from the UK consulate here

- get it and the data page of your passport translated into thai AND certified as an accurate translation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office

- go to an amphur and register the marriage

In the mean time open a bank account in your name and get the 400K baht transferred in

Go to the immigration office

- apply for the 90 day Non-O visa for 2000baht

- wait the 2 week under consideration period

- go back, get the Non-O and new 90 day stamp inked in

- wait until the money is seasoned the 2 months

- go apply for the year extension for 1900baht

- wait the 30 day under consideration period

- go back get the year extension inked in
Biff *******
There’s a few steps you need to do before you can get married. Check the U.K. in Thailand page by the British embassy. There’s a bit of running around in Bangkok to do before you can go to the Amphur office. You’ll need an affirmation of freedom to marry. That needs to be translated into Thai and stamped by the Thai MFA.
Biff *******
Check it out here

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James ********
Hope everything goes well...

BTW you got the best advice possible from our Admin
@Tod ********
with his 20+ years providing helpful and correct advice to folks like you 😊
Phil *******
Check that you have all the documents you need for the marriage certificate. I seem to recall a letter is require from the embassy saying you are free to marry and an officially translated passport are required.
Sam ******
You should asap attend your local Immigration Office and ask for their particular requirements... photo photographs etc.

Again ... asap book an appointment with your local Ampore Office re marriage certificate, there has been delays due to "covid".

(Otherwise... you'll find the timelines work out quite well) good luck.
Pawarat **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sam *****
Thanks.. I will call Ampore office and book an appointment as soon as possible.
Tod *********
Get married, open the bank account, transfer in the money and then you can apply for the Non-O 90 day visa without it being in the account for 60 days

There is no seasoning requirement on the initial 90 day Non-O application (it can just be transferred in) BUT you do need at least 15 days left on your current entry stamp OR the 30 day extension from that stamp to apply for the Non-O visa in country at most offices.

Once you apply for that Non-O, you'll pay 2000baht and it will go under consideration for 2 weeks, then you go back and get the visa and a new 90 day stamp inked in

THEN you wait the 2 months for the money to be seasoned to apply for the year extension based on marriage
Ken ********
@Tod ********
your marriage visa can be under consideration from 2 weeks up to 2 months

TIT
Tod *********
@Ken *******
, not actually, when you apply for a 90 day non-O visa it goes under consideration for 14 days at MOST offices (Chiang Mai is 20 days) then you go back and get the Non-O visa, and new 90 day stamp inked in

AND

When you go apply for your yearly extension you get a 30 day under consideration stamp (at most offices) and during that time you get a home visit from the immigration officers then you go back when that stamp is up to get the rest of the year extension inked in
Pawarat **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Ohh we do not know about the Non-O 90 days visa. We will work on it.
Tod *********
@Pawarat *********
you FIRST apply for the 90 day Non-O based on marriage by showing the 400K baht in a thai bank account in your name only. THEN once you get that visa issued you wait for the money to be in the account for 2 months before you apply for the year extension
Tod *********
sounds like a workable plan
Pawarat **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Thanks... I am very pleased to hear that.
Cathy *******
I can’t help you I’m sorry but be careful telling them you are working remotely... I can cause issues with needing a work permit.
Pawarat **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Cathy ******
Thanks, we will be careful about it.
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