Answered5 years ago
What visa options do I have in Thailand as an expat on an expiring Thai Elite visa without doing a border run?
Hi I’m currently on a 5 year thai elite which expires at the end of this month. I do not want to renew the thai elite as eventually when things get back to normal I intend getting a non IMM B. I hold a British passport, I am married to a Thai with a Thai child and over 50. My question is what options do I have for a new visa in such short time without having to do an in/out which I don’t want to do for obvious reasons.
Answer summary
The user, a British national married to a Thai citizen, is seeking guidance on visa options as their 5-year Thai Elite visa is about to expire. They prefer to avoid a border run and are considering transitioning to a Non-O visa based on marriage or possibly extending their stay based on their marriage. Community responses suggest checking with immigration for an in-country Non-O visa or an extension based on marriage. Additionally, they mention the possibility of a temporary COVID-19 extension as a way to buy time before making further plans.
18 repliesnewest first
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Tod *********
Thanx for the update
@Pete *****
, glad you got the covid extension, that buys you time to make an exit/re-enter strategy 🙂 Good luck with it
Daíthí **********
right now they have covid visa, i think everybody can get it and it lasts 2 months
Benjamin ******
@Daíthí *********
They have a 60 day extension of stay based on unable to travel due to COVID-19. I haven't heard of any rejections for people applying for the first 60 day extension of stay based on unable to travel due to COVID-19.Tod *********
@Pete *****
unless I am greatly mistaken you cannot go from an Elite visa to any other type of in country anything (no Non-O, no Non-B, no extension based on marriage retirement etc). I think you're going to have to leave the country, stamp out on that elite entry stamp (or the extension from it) then come back in with either a tourist visa (that you buy from a thai consulate) or visa exempt and THEN start the process of getting a Non-O based on being married to a thai (seeing as that visa/extension type allows you to get a work permit and work here)Get the 60 day covid extension to buy you time to see what if any nearby countries are open in a few months more and if the entry requirements to thailand ease up or not
Felix ****
@Tod ********
After getting the covid extension you are still officially on a tourist visa/exemption if you entered on one of those right? Or is the covid extension a special type of visa?Tod *********
@Felix ***
, a covid extension doesn't change what entry stamp you came in on.
Pete ******
OP@Tod ********
thanks Tod, that’s what I was worried of. Looks like 60 day Covid extension to buy me time is the way to go.Pete ******
OPHi Tod, just to clarify their was no way of changing my visa without leaving and re entering thailand. I have just obtained a 60 day COVID extension and intend to leave thailand in March and return on an exempt later that month. Hope this helps anyone else in the same predicament as me.
Brian **********
@Pete *****
bring your wife and have her ask.Tod *********
@Pete *****
you're out nothing by asking them when you're out there IF you can apply for an in country non-O visa or not, I mean the worst thing they can say is no you can't 😉Ellie *******
5years means you are at the end of exactly 5years or at the end of the 5th extension on Elite (almost 6 years)?
Pete ******
OP@Ellie ******
my 5th year is finished as well as the additional 6 months given due to Covid.Ellie *******
@Pete *****
, thank you.Then maybe your best shot would be Non-O based on marriage to a Thai as Benjamin says above or Non-O based on father to a half-Thai-child with similar requirements.
Why I asked you like above, if you were still in the 5years Elite program period, you might have been able to squeeze to apply for 5th extension (going to 6years total) to get the time to sort your things out. But apparently 5years was gone, so this is out of options.
Pete ******
OP@Ellie ******
ok thanks for the answer, will I have time for this as I only have 3 weeks until my current visa ends or should I just go for a 60 day Covid extension first then the non o based on marriage?Ellie *******
So you got 5 years (by four X extensions) THEN two X Covid extensions now?
Pete ******
OP@Ellie ******
maybe my words are wrong, it’s not a Covid extension as such it’s an additional 6 months on my original Thai elite due to restrictions due to Covid I think.Pete ******
OP@Ellie ******
no I originally had 5 years which expired in July 2021 at which time I got the 6 month Covid extension at which time they put a new Thai elite visa in my passport expiring at the end of this month.Benjamin ******
If you are married to a Thai, and you meet the 400K THB seasoning requirements, I would go to the immigration office and ask if they can do an in-country non-O visa based on marriage OR a one year extension of stay based on marriage off from an elite visa.
This extension of stay allows a person to work in Thailand
This extension of stay allows a person to work in Thailand
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