What is the process for obtaining a Non-O visa for marriage in Thailand from Savannakhet?

May 16, 2023
2 years ago
Patrick ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello wise visa wizards!

I am a British National married to a Thai national. Our plan was to get her a visa for the UK, but considering the outrageous fees, we have decided the money would be better spent developing our lives in Thailand, rather than in Rishi Sunak’s back pocket.

We do not have £10,000 spare to sit in a Thai bank account for 3 months either 😐

I have searched your lovely page for information on obtaining a visa from Savannakhet (marriage).

Could one of you kind people please confirm if I have got this straight? I’d be grateful for any suggestions on how I could potentially get a longer stay out of it - more bang for my baht!! 🤣🙏🏻 So…

…I enter Thailand on a 90 day Non-O issued by Thai embassy in UK.

On day 90, I would leave Thailand for Savannakhet, Laos, and get a years worth of 90 day Non-O visas - but I must leave the country every 90 days?

Hopefully by then we’ll be able to put 400,000 baht away, but if not would we just repeat the process again?

Thank you 😊🙏🏻
2,666
views
12
likes
83
all likes
36
replies
3
images
13
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
A British national married to a Thai citizen is exploring the process for obtaining a longer stay in Thailand using a Non-O visa. They plan to enter Thailand on a 90-day Non-O visa and then travel to Savannakhet, Laos, to secure a multiple-entry Non-O visa, which allows them to stay in Thailand for 90 days at a time, exiting the country every 90 days. The community discusses requirements for the Savannakhet visa application, including necessary documents such as a marriage certificate and bank statements, and shares experiences regarding the visa process.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Jeffrey **********
was just in Savannakhet a few days ago

can go there any time

doesn't matter what you're on as they issue new.

ONLY NEED 100,000bt in the bank but they have never checked in all my visits there in the last decade.

Copy of marriage certificate

copy house book

copy her ID

your passport

5000bt

get a Non O M

good for upto 15 months

90 days at a time and step out and immediately return for 90 more days as often as you like

no 90 day check ins

very easy to deal with
Glen *******
@Jeffrey *********
do you mean the Thai consulate in savannakhet?
Gary *********
Gary *********
@Jeffrey *********
I never heard about the 100K Thai bank ballance. Where did you see that written? Anyway, I will not take a chance and I will make sure that I have 100K even if I have to borrow from my wife!
Roger ********
How much is a UK 6 month visa these days?
Patrick ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Roger *******
£100 odd + messing about getting to Bangkok. The family visa and settlement is a cost of £10,000+ over 5 years when all said and done.
Roger ********
@Patrick *******
been a while since l took the wife. May be a while longer yet ;-)
Patrick ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Roger *******
🤣 You can also spend £348 on a 2 year visitor visa if you wanted to.
Roger ********
@Patrick *******
Yea gods, last time she went it was on a 5 year tourist visa.
Gary *********
I have been going to Savannakhet for years to get my annual marriage visa multi entry marriage visa for 5000 baht without having to show income. I have done this 5 times already over the years. The last time we drove our Ford Ranger accross the border because there was a 4 day holiday. We left my passport at the Thai consulate and drove south to Pakse and spent three days and nights at a wonderful restaurant with a swimming pool. We went to visit the waterfall with the zipline. Other than the huge potholes in the road, the trip was just perfect. Laos was cheaper than Thailand in all ways. The food in the restaurants was great! When we got back to Savanakhept on Monday morning the passport and visa were ready and there was no line. The last visa run was in August 2022. You can get an extra 60 days at the very end by going to your local immigration office for 1900 baht. But for us, it is not worth it. We love visiting and exploring Laos and look forward to returning to Savannakeht and Pakse in August this year. Maybe we will get up the courage to do the zipline this time!
Glen *******
@Gary ********
did you get the visa first there? And put up the 400k?
Patrick ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Gary ********
I’ve not been to Laos yet so it will be a great excuse to explore! Sounds like you had a cracking time 👍🏻
John ********
@Gary ********
I’m on a retirement non o visa expires jan 2024. Can my wife (Thai) and I drive to the border leave the car thai side turn up at the Thai embassy Lao and can I change from retirement to marriage and what documentation would we need
Gary *********
@John *******
There is a covered parking lot with security and CCTV cameras on the Thai side of the order. Prices are reasonable for overnight parking. (200 baht per night) You need to park your car before 8 am and then you can ride the bus or a tuk tuk to the Thai consulate. It is really important to arrive early because there could be a long line at the consulate. You will need a Laos visa for $40 US. Must be clean crisp like new $20 bills. If you use Thai Baht you will get a horrible exchange rate. I think you may need two passport photos for the Laos side of the border for your visa.

You will need to show the following documents at the consulate and you should have copies of all the originals.

1. Original marriage certificate to show them plus a copy to give them.

2. Koro 2 proof of marriage certificate from any Ampur in Thailand. You and your wife will have to apply for this together. This document must be dated less than one week from the day you get it and until you apply for your visa in Laos.

3. Tambian ban (house book) original and one copy.

4. Wife's Thai ID card (original and signed copy).

5. Your passport with more than 6 months validity.

6. You may need to provide photo copies of your passport including all pages with Thai stamps either entering or departing Thailand.
Kris ********
@John *******
check the website of the Thai Consulate Savannakhet ...
Kris ********
@Gary ********
I do it also this way...it's perfect...
Gary *********
@Kris *******
the only thing that I hate is having to leave my labrador retriever behind!
Jonathan *******
What do mean a years worth of 90 days visas? I assume a multiple entry non o. If so, then yes you would have to leave Thailand every 90 days
Patrick ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jonathan ******
exactly what I meant.
Clint *********
.
Will ************
UK tourist visa is about £100
Henry *********
@Will ***********
I think he was referring to the costs of a UK Settlement Visa.
Patrick ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henry ********
yes, should have been more specific.
Patrick ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Steve *******
Get your 60 days extention from your single entry non imm O first then go to Savannakhet for the multi entry non imm O. You can get nearly 17 months from it by leaving just before it expires for your last 90 days then another 60 days extention of stay.
Jeffrey **********
@Steve ******
it's upto 15 month

can be from any visa or even visa exempt

the actually amount is 100,000bt but they never have check in over a decade of doing this
Steve *******
@Jeffrey *********
It's 17 months with the 60 days extention of stay and there's NO financial requirements at the RTC Savannakhet for the multi-entry Non Imm O visa. Only the 60 days extention is from any visa or visa exempt
Peter ****************
@Steve ******
. With the 60 day extension, you mean the '60 days visiting family extension' ? This because you can do this only once a year I thought ? Or is it indeed once per entry 🤷‍♂️
Steve *******
@Peter ***************
Usually once per visa/visa exemption, so just once on the multi-entry Non Imm O. The extention is based on visiting Thai dependant relatives.
Patrick ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
Thank you Steve! Extension of 1st single entry non-O done at immigration in Thailand?
Brandon ************
Patrick ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
Very helpful, thank you! 😊
Steve *******
Patrick ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
Brilliant, thanks for your help 👍🏻
Peter ****************
@Patrick *******
Maybe it's also wise to already look to the future. If you already have a Thai bank account, start transfering (as international transfer) a bit more than 40,000฿ (if legaly maried for Thailand) every month. Cannot look into y'r pocket ofcourse but hey, you need some Baht in Thailand anyway. If you have done this 12 months, after that, you also can ask for a year extension with no need for the 400,000฿ banked money. Then don't forget a re-entry permit if you want to leave and come back to Thailand within tis year extension. Good luck ! 🙏
Patrick ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Peter ***************
Thanks Peter! If I had 40,000 baht a month spare, I would 😂 My wife is actually the main bread winner hence our reluctance for her to leave her job and join on a tourist visa here where she can’t work. Tricky situation but we won’t be put off 😊

I was always under the impression it was 400,000 or nothing - I didn’t realise you could do it that way so thank you for taking the time to comment 🙏🏻
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else