What is the best visa option for a 53-year-old expat moving to Thailand with a Thai wife and child?

Non O based on marriage. 400k in the bank and apply. Don't need an agent. Ask the immigration where you're going to live for the required paperwork.

I just did a marriage visa. I hired an agent. It wasn't too expensive but I guess I could have done it without an agent. Two problems doing it on your own, there is a BUNCH of paperwork at the has to be filled out at different government agencies. I think some paperwork has to be done at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and I am not sure how you would do that on Koh Samui. No doubt people do but I don't know how. The second issue, from what I understand is that it can take a couple of months to complete.

I am not sure if there is a lot of difference between Marriage visa and Dependency visa. I think the dependency visa will require your name is on the birth certificate or that you've gone to court to have paperwork that states your the father.

Does anyone know of any good visa agents in uk ?

This post can help you

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On a retirement extension you can't work at all on a marriage or a family extension you are able to get a work permit or volunteer. My friend went to an agent to get a Marriage extension and was told family extension was a better option

the so called energy crisis is a made up problem to feed the climate narrative. Don't worry about it.

Oh dear oh dear, many people offering conflicting advice and overlooking your complete situation through lack of knowledge. To simplify you have 3 option which are 1) retirement visa as you are over 50, 2) Marriage visa as you are married to a Thai 3) Thai family visa as you have a Thai child. These are all broadly the same apart from the financial aspect. For retirement you need 800k in the bank, for marriage or Thai family you need 400k in the bank. For marriage that money must be in there for 60 days before applying, for Thai family it only has to be in there on the day of application

Make sure you have a exit plan

These replies often confuse. So most people turn to am agent for reassurance. Particularly in Samui where the immigration office is hideous. But I would suggest this. Come on a visa on arrival if you can. Deposit the money 800 k now and leave it. Go to Surat Thani immigration with your bank books. They will advise the rest. Take a visit to them, do as they ask, they will issue the non o. Easy. Samui will not. You don't need to go out of country. Ask them and you will see. You defo do not need to spend 40k on corrupt agents.

It's pretty straightforward. You need to deposit 800k thai baht and leave it there for min 3 months. If you goto the immigration they will freely guide you. My brother found the office in chaing rai particularly friendly. They immigrantion office helped him get hia insurance and guided him on each step. Do not use lawyers. That is my advice. I lived in Thailand for 20 years but now here until kids schooling is complete

Non imm O based on marriage then yearly extentions of stay with 400k in a Thai bank.

Lot of conflicting answers gentlemen

The best and cheapest option would be a family based non-O visa / extension. You can check out or legal robot that will answer all your questions 🙂

Depending on your financial situation of course.

Do you have 800k baht to be deposited into a Thai account?

If so a non-o 90day visa based on retirement would be your easiest to obtain out of country and then apply for your extension when the money is seasoned.

A non-o based on being married to a Thai national is cheaper 400k but infinity more didficult to sort out.

Easier path is retirement non-o and later down the road change the reason of extension to marriage once you get a handle on everything needed.

If you are planning on staying for a number of years, and actually anything over 3 months, you want to get a long term type O visa/extension, based on marriage/Thai wife. This visa is easy to get, and you can work, and get a work permit, something you can not do if you get a type O based on retirement. The financial requirements are allot less too.