What is the best visa option for an expat marrying a Thai citizen and having a child together?

As far as getting a yearly extension based on having a child (when you're married to a thai) OR getting the extension based on marriage to a thai the difference is only that for the extension based on raising a thai child you do not need the 400K baht to be seasoned any amount of time, and for one based on marriage you need to 400K baht to be seasoned 2 months before you apply for the extension.

BOTH applications go "under consideration" for 30 days when you apply for them and then you go back to the immigration office to get the year extension stamped into your passport

alright there is no difference in the documentation needed at either Vientiane or Savannakhet for the 90 day single entry Non-O based on marriage

you need the original marriage certificate (if married in thailand it's the one with the rose border)

you need copies of:

front&back of the original marriage certificate

front&back of your thai wife's i/d card

thai wife's house book listing

data page of your passport

lao visa and entry stamp

2 passport sized photos and a filled out application

you sign everything with your name on it, your wife signs everything with her name on it meaning you both sign the marriage certificate

Those things and 2000baht get you a 90 day single entry Non-O visa based on marriage.

As a rule getting a year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O visa based on having a thai wife in Savannakhet needs this documentation:

marriage certificates front & back (thai or foreign ones translated into thai)

copy of your thai wife's thai I/D and her house book listing

copy of your passport data page

your visa to Lao

your entry stamp to Lao

That and 5000baht gets you the visa..

South Korea have stop doing it now.

So in Thailand.

Vietnam or loas

Ho Chi Minh will give a year-long, multi-entry Non-O based on marriage from them.

original marriage certificate

copies of:

front&back of the marriage certificate

front&back of your thai wife's I/D card

thai wife's house book listing

data page of your passport

You also need a letter from your wife asking that the consulate issue the visa.

Remember the thai consulates in Vietnam ONLY take US dollars and the year-long, multi-entry Non-O is $200 USD

There are a couple ways to go about it. First there is no visa called a marriage visa. There is a Non-Immigrant Type-O <-other which is issued for a variety of reasons, marriage being one..

To get a "yearly extension of stay based on marriage to a thai national, you'd need 400K baht in a thai bank account in your name for 60 days before you apply at the immigration office for the extension, OR you'd need a letter from your embassy stating you had income of 40K baht per month. There is also documentation like the thai marriage certificates, copy of your freedom to marry affidavit, pictures of you & your wife standing in front of the address numbers where you live, a couple pictures of the wedding, and couple of you two sitting around the house.

A lot of people who don't meet or don't want to meet the financial criteria for an in country extension of stay go to the Thai Embassy in Savannakhet Lao and get a year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type-O visa.. They don't require proof of financials there and that visa is good for 90 days at a time in country, then you exit/re-enter and get another 90 days. You do this for the entire year..

Good luck

If you are on a Visa Exempt Entry of Tourist Visa you can change to a Non Immigrant O based on marriage at your Immigration Office. Make a visit to the Immigration in Phuket and ask for the hand out with requirements.

Paul, I was told on this group that I dont need to go out of Thailand to get non-O visa, just go to your local immigration office and they will change your current visa to no-O. Maybe another option for you too.

I dont know about your local imagraion office but in maehongson there very helpfull..on fb you will get good advice and confusing advise..Good luck and congratulations an your marriage and the birth of your child.

You not need to show much if you get the 3 month visa without extension if you want the extension you need money in the bank etc basically they are the same. Even with the Child you still need the document from the wife amphur etc but with the Child you need the Child papers. The most important thing with you being married is for me that now you have the RIGHT to your child and your house. law in Thailand congrats!

I would say stick with your plan. Get married, arrange a Single Entry Non Immigrant O visa based on marriage with Thai citizen and apply for the 1 year Extension of Stay.