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What is the best visa option for an American married to a Thai citizen and living in Thailand?

Non-Immigrant O VisaThai marriage visaThai immigrationVisa options for expatsDisability benefitsVisa extension optionsStaying in Thailand long-term
Aug 22, 2019
5 years ago
Donnie *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
So I have a thai wife and daughter, in thailand. I am American, currently in America. I am 48 and just got approved for my disability benefits beginning in December. I have been told many different ways to get visa to stay in Thailand but would like to hear what people here think would be my best option. Thanks.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, an American married to a Thai citizen, inquired about the best visa options to stay in Thailand. Responses highlighted the Non-Immigrant O Visa based on marriage, detailing that this visa allows for long-term stays and can be obtained with minimal documentation at specific consulates. Other options like ED visas and tourist visas were advised against, and the necessity of showing financial proof for certain visas was discussed.
James ********
@Donnie ******
 you have excellent advice from
@Tod ********
 among others. Good Luck to you. I close commenting.
5 years ago
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Tod *********
okay, you're too young to get a retirement visa so that's off the table.

That means it comes down to a marriage visa/extension or raising half thai child visa/extension.

As people said the easiest and most trouble free VISA would be to go to the thai consulate in either Savannakhet Lao or HCMC Vietnam and get a year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O visa based on marriage to a thai. Those consulates do NOT require proof of funds so you could get it with minimal documentation. Now that visa is valid for a year, and when you enter you get stamped in for 90 days, when that runs out you go to the border, stamp out of thailand, stamp in and out of another country then back into thailand to get a new 90 day stamp. You can get 15 months of stay (in 90 day increments) out of that year long visa.

Hands down that is the most trouble free way to go.
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 wow thank you very much👍
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
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Tony *********
If your married and have the marriage certificate with the rose border you can get a non o based on marriage
*****
0bt in a thai bank in your name only seasoned for 2 months.

Or you can go to savenerket loas or HCMC VIETNAM

And get one with out showing funds.

Retirement is
*****
0bt seasoned for 3 months and you can't let the funds go below
*****
0bt
5 years ago
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Robert *******
For retirement (you talk about visa or Extension of Stay) there is no requirement that 800.000 Thb has to be seasoned for 3 months.
5 years ago
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Robert *******
@Tony ********
 it is a nice mix of requirements for an Extension of Stay at immigration and applications for a Visa, but to get to the correct answer it must be a very lucky draw. Just as example: Thai Consulate in Los Angeles, usa, to apply for a Non Immigrant O visa the financial requirements are: A copy of recent bank statement ($700 per person and $1,500 per family)
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony ********
 thanks 😉
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
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Robert *******
Worst advice is getting visa exempt entries and tourist visa, slightly more better is getting ED visa's to bridge 2 years. As you mention you have a Thai wife and a half Thai daughter, you can apply for the Non Immigrant O visa or based on being married to a Thai National or based on having a half Thai child.
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 oh I have no doubt at all. I believe he has given me some great advice before regarding my passport expiring while in Thailand 👍
5 years ago
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James ********
@Donnie ******
 as I said...
@Robert ******
 is expert on Married to Thai visa options. The advice given is perfect IMHO.
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
 thank you sir 👍
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
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Marty *********
You can stay long term based on being married to a Thai. You can wait two years and come using an O-A visa. Look at the Thai Consulate websites for the several requirements for an O-A visa. Search this group for the requirements for stay based on being married to a Thai.

Long term stays for people under 50 years of age are difficult. I guess I would add that you shouldn’t abuse tourist and education visas.
5 years ago
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Don ******
@James *******
 Be aware of that for your wife to receive a death benefits from Uncle Sam she needs to have lived in the US more than five years legally own a green card or by naturalization
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 it’s not service related but thanks anyway 👍
5 years ago
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James ********
@Donnie ******
 good thinking. Best wishes to you with family in Thailand.

If your disability is service connected, be sure to contact the VFW posts in Thailand...their service officers are a wealth of information on medical benefits etc
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 thanks I do plan to do that eventually, right now just wanna stay there with them for while longer.
5 years ago
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James ********
@Donnie ******
 as a side note ..getting them to the USA would entitle them to your disability and social security benefits. That can be huge benefit in event you die...married to Thai and in the USA.

Now back to your visa need...😉
5 years ago
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James ********
I am sure our two Married to a Thai experts will reply...
@Robert ******
@Tod ********
.
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
By the way I am hoping to stay as long as possible since I will not be working anymore and can stay with my family there rather than go through the hassles if getting them to US
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marty ********
 well I stayed there for a year and a half until February this year when my dad passed, then came back to US. While here I ended up filing for disability and it has just been approved. I have been to Thailand many times over the last 8 years. I did have extended stay but not actual visa when stayed for year and half.
5 years ago
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Marty *********
@Donnie ******
 Also any attempt to come now, in this age of stricter enforcement of Immigration laws, is going to depend on your previous travel history to Thailand. You will have to tells us more about your history to get useful advice about short term entry.
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Marty Pollard thanks that’s kinda what I thought,I just wanted to get some feedback from some in this group. Thanks again
5 years ago
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Donnie *******
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