What type of visa can an American in Afghanistan apply for to join his Thai wife without a bank account?

Feb 19, 2021
4 years ago
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello all

I'm an American who works and lives in Afghanistan. I have a wife in Thailand, I never had a chance to set up a bank acct because of covid I've been Afghanistan more than a year already. I always traveled as an American tourist no visa. Sometime around summer I should be retiring. Now I won't return to the US right away I'll transit through Dubai. What type of visa should I apply for without the required bank account?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An American living in Afghanistan, who is married to a Thai national, is seeking advice on the appropriate visa to apply for in order to join his wife in Thailand upon retirement. Due to an inability to open a bank account while in Afghanistan, he is concerned about meeting the financial requirements typically needed for specific visas. Suggestions from the community include entering Thailand on a visa-exempt basis, applying for a 90-day Non-O visa based on marriage, considering a Tourist visa, or exploring options with the Thai embassy in Pakistan where Afghanistan's visa applications are processed.
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Benjamin ******
I'm shutting this down. According to the OP:

"sometime around summer I should be retiring."

Summer, in most countries, start in June. It's February. A Non-O visa based on marriage is valid for 3 months, so if he gets one now, it'll expire by the time he enters.

My advice: Plan on getting your visa in about a month before you plan to depart. Procedures do chance because of COVID-19.

I don't know what visa you're planning on entering either (Non-OA? Non-O based on marriage? Elite? Visa Exempt?) which will change the documents that are needed.

If anyone thinks this post should be reopen, send a mod a message and we may reopen it. Good luck!
Cole ***********
It looks like Afghanistan is being covered by the Embassy in Pakistan. I would start by calling them. Maybe a Thailand Elite visa? It would be expensive but eliminate a lot of visa issues.

Royal Thai Embassy

Plots No.1 - 20 Diplomatic Enclave-1

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Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel. (92-51)
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70 - 80 Ext. 1122,1166 For Visa Section, Ext. 1112 For any other information

Fax. (92-51)
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Gregor **********
or apply for the 90-days Non-Imm-O based on marriage on an embassy or consulate in the USA. Finances can be either in a Thai bank or a US Bank on the date of application. Then after 15 nights quarantine, open a bank account and transfer the required 400K THB. They need to have seasoned for 2 months on the date of the application for the "1-year extension of stay permit based on marriage"
Gregor **********
or fly back to the States, apply for the 60 days Tourist visa at the embassy or general consulate in the USA, and the COE fulfilling all the requirements. In Thailand, before the 30 days extension of the60 days tourist visa runs out, apply for the 60 days "visit family" extension, This would give you 60 plus 30 plus 60 days for transferring 400,000 THB into a newly opened bank account in your sole name, and let it settle long enough. Then converse the "visit family" to a 90 days Non-Imm-O based on marriage to a Thai at the Immigration inside Thailand, and from there change to the "1-year extension of stay permit based on marriage with a Thai"
Tod *********
If you're not going to be in a country with a thai consulate long enough to apply for a visa BEFORE you wing your way here, just come in on a visa exempt entry (those are now 45 days to offset the time you spend in quarantine). Then you can get outta quarantine, get a bank account open and start down the road to getting a visa based on marriage to a thai..
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'll probably end up spending some time their myself. How are you getting the fit to fly from a doctor
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Dubai has an embassy
Vince **********
@Michael ********
I doubt you can get a visa in the UAE as a non-resident. I'm also an American contractor working in AF and I'm planning to enter TH on visa exempt basis (15+30 days) apply for the 30 day extension, open and fund a bank account ASAP and then apply for an in-country, non O visa based on being over 50, then apply for a year long extension of stay when my non-O has less than 30 days of validity left and the 800K has been seasoned for at least two months.
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Vince *********
I know we don't need visas as Americans just not sure how it works. Will you visit the embassy in Dubai?
Benjamin ******
@Michael ********
You can not use the Thai consulate in Dubai without having a residence permit that's valid for 6 months or longer. The CoE does take a few days to process.
Vince **********
@Michael ********
I hope not to, TBH. The only thing I should need is a COE which I should be able to acquire online.
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Vince *********
you don't have to visit the embassy for the coe with documents
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm curious do you have a personal scanner
Vince **********
As I'll be staying in DXB for a few weeks once I depart AF, I'll apply to the consulate in DXB for the COE. If you're only transiting through DXB I'm not sure if you apply for your COE in DXB or in the US.
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Vince *********
I don't want to travel back to the US at this time if I can help it. It's a 6 hr hop to Bangkok compared to 12-16 hours
Benjamin ******
@Michael ********
You do not need a scanner; you can use your phone to take the pictures of the documents using applications like "Tiny scanner" or "Scanner App"
Vince **********
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Vince **********
@Michael ********
the COE process is done online, not in-person.
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Vince *********
how does the embassy receive all of the paperwork required
Tod *********
@Mic****
I didn't know Dubai was in Afghanistan :P ;)

Contact what ever embassy that serves teh country you're in. (Most countries without thai embassies have designated embassies in other countries that serve them). See what the requirements are to get a 90 day non-O visa based on marriage to a thai and go from there. You've got plenty of time to figure it out seeing as you're not comin here until the summer
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
no it's not we have a charter that flies us to Dubai
James ********
Get a Non O as married to Thai...gives you 90 days on arrival into Bangkok.

Or..enter visa exempt

Gives you 30+15=45 days plus 30=75 days max stay in Thailand.

When are you planning to come to Thailand?
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
around end of June or July. I know alot can change by then. I'm just getting a feel for what I may have to do
Tod *********
@James *******
Is there even a thai consulate IN Afghanistan?
Amaël ******
@Tod ********
Afghanistan is covered by the Thai consulate in Karachi. I've helped people apply for visas there before, it was straightforward.
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Amaël *****
we don't leave the base it's shall we say, still unsafe! We don't stop in Kabul
Amaël ******
@Michael ********
you don't need to apply in person in Karachi, there are agents that can help you. However that means sending your passport internationally.
James ********
@Amaël *****
Thank You.
James ********
@Tod ********
then best he get a CoE from the Washington DC Thai Consulate...entering visa exempt...then proceeding with plan to retire as married to Thai.

I will look at stranded sites.. I believe there are posts of similar situations with expats in Afghan...using a neighboring nation Thai Embassy.

Here is one in Afghan

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Try jordan. Just confirmed. My friend m, working in Basra. Got the paperwork sorted via the British embassy in Jordan.
Benjamin ******
@Tod ********
To my knowledge, there isn't :( Assuming this is updated and correct

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Benjamin ******
What does "Transit through Dubai" mean? You need a Dubai visa to apply for a Non-Imm visa in Dubai

Source:

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Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm a US contractor we don't fly direct
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
I'm in Afghanistan we transit through im not in the USA. I'm afraid if I go back their I won't get back to Thailand
Benjamin ******
@Michael ********
You'll need a CoE (Certificate of Entry) before the Thai government will let you enter Thailand. I suggest contacting the Thailand Karachi consulate who represents the Afghan area for the Non-O visa/ Certificate of Entry. It seems like it's an easy consulate to do business with.

See

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James ********
@Benjamin *****
I think he will fly from Afghan to Bangkok...transit connect only ...onto the Dubai flight to BKK.
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