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What visa should I apply for to get married in Thailand and convert it to a marriage visa?

Thai Marriage VisaNON-O VisaVisa RequirementsBank AccountMarriage ProcessExpat AdviceVisa Types in ThailandNON-O Retirement VisaVisa Application Steps
Feb 11, 2024
9 months ago
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, advice please. 🙏

My fiancee and I are looking at getting married in Thailand sometime this year. (she is Thai, I am British).

What visa should I have before I can change it to the marriage visa? (is it non-immigrant OA ?)

Also, can I open a bank account with a non-immigrant OA visa?

I'm pretty confused about what I should have, can't have, do this, do that!

We just want to get married, and for me to move to Thailand 😊
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A British expat is seeking advice on the appropriate visa to apply for prior to getting married in Thailand to his Thai fiancée. The most recommended options from other users include applying for a NON-O visa (spouse visa) after getting married but also suggest considering starting with a tourist visa or a multi-entry tourist visa (METV) which allows extended stays in Thailand. Additionally, users highlight the bank account opening process, which can be tricky but is generally possible under several visa types, including the tourist visa. Overall, the conversation emphasizes gathering necessary documentation and being aware of the paperwork involved in the marriage and visa conversion 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.
Alfred ***********
Yes I agree mate US Embassy, IRS and Trump!!!!
9 months ago
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John *********
My Thai wife did it all for us/me. Lucky for me my wife is smarter than most people. She and I have never agreed to pay an agent. We never paid to get any paperwork processed faster. We never paid a lawyer. We never paid a bribe for anything. My Thai wife got me the marriage visa and I can assure you it was difficult. The biggest hurdle was my own US embassy. There is a special place in hell for the US embassy people.
9 months ago
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Patrick ********
Just done it all myself - sent you a message in messenger mate. You don’t need an agent.
9 months ago
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Stephen *******
Apply first too the embassy it’s 50 quid , then get a date too go leave plenty time in advance get all the stuff translated into English get married which is easy and cheep just go on the government website
9 months ago
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Tony *****
I think you don't need any visa before getting the marriage visa. But after you got married, you can apply for a non-o spouse visa. It'd be a lot easier if you get married in Thailand which will save you a lot of time from doing translation / legalisation of your documents.
9 months ago
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Alfred ***********
My understanding is if you are on a non O retirement visa. Which you can only get if you're over 50 you just need the TM30, get an annual visa or a multiple entry, and report every 90 days. Thailand wants retirees as we're normally wealthier bring in a lot of money, and spent a lot of money. Tax wise if you pay as you go in your home country the additional thai taxes should be minimal.
9 months ago
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Alfred ***********
Whatever
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Alfred **********
 You need to take those rose tinted glasses from your eyes

“My understanding is if you are on a non O retirement visa.”

There is nothing such as a “retirement visa”

Either you have entered on a 90 days Non-Imm-O visa based on retirement and received a stamp for a 90-days stay permit, or you are on a one-year extended stay permit based on retirement (which is NOT a visa)

“Which you can only get if you're over 50 you just need the TM30”

This is absolutely bollocks – you don’t need a TM30 registration to apply for a 90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa in your home country.

You would only need to be TM30 registered if you choose to enter Thailand with a tourist visa and applied for the “change of visa type” to a 90-days Non-Imm-O visa on immigration

“get an annual visa or a multiple entry”

Again - there is no annual visa (except the 365-days Non-Imm-O/A visa) . . there only is an annual extended stay permit

“Thailand wants retirees as we're normally wealthier bring in a lot of money, and spent a lot of money.”

Thailand is laughing out loud at your statement. Just stand beside the Highway 7. Within 20 minutes, more wealth loaded on trucks, than you will ever be able to spend in Thailand, will be rolling past your eyes

Thailand does not need your money. It is YOU who needs Thailand for making your dream come true

“Tax wise if you pay as you go in your home country the additional thai taxes should be minimal”

Again, bollocks!
9 months ago
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Alfred ***********
See it says visa visa visa
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
is that an overstay fine waived stamp below your 90-days Non-imm-O visa?
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Alfred **********
 it is a VISA, but it does not allow you to stay for one year. . . . I never said ANYTHING different: it is a "90 days single entry Non-imm-O visa" based on reason over 50 years old /retirement". It still is NOT the stamp you will receive when you have applied for the "1-year extension of stay based on being over 50/retirement". Once on an EXTENSION, you do not hold a visa. And once ENTERED with a 90-days visa, you are in Thailand with a 90-days stay permit after entry, as this was issued because you entered with a visa-class that would get you a 90-days stay permit. NOTE: your VISA becomes invalid after entering Thailand !
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
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Alfred ***********
@Nongnuch *******
 hey look preach to someone else. Not me I have lived here 5 years and complied with everything each time
9 months ago
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Alfred ***********
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Nongnuch ********
@Alfred **********
 I am not gonna explain the difference of a 1-year Non-Imm-O/A visa to a 90-days Non-imm-O visa plus the subsequent 1-year Extension of Stay Permit out of it, to you. You can use that famous "CONCIERGE" to answer your questions. Best, you do your research - the Holy Bible says "those who are searching will find"
9 months ago
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Alfred ***********
@Nongnuch *******
 I was just putting out my experience. There was lots of good advice there. And your reference to the holy Bible is inane. Flawed book written by flawed men
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Alfred **********
 however you got your wires crossed a bit, when you tried to explain to us EXPERTS the process on how to go from the 90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa, to the 1-year extensions of stay permit based on retirement, and the purchase of a multi re-entry permit for the "retirement extension"
9 months ago
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Alfred ***********
@Nongnuch *******
 I didn't try to be an expert I just put out my experience that all. It wasn't expert advice. But then you ask 30 experts for advice and you'll get 30 different answers
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Alfred **********
 misunderstanding arises, because Thai Immigrations calls Extensions of Stay Permits "visa extension". This is just piss poor English. All they "extend" are stay permits. One cannot "extend" a visa, it is technically not possible
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Alfred **********
 that's, sadly to say, true. Many Facebook "experts" can be a nuisance
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Alfred **********
 agreed!
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
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Nongnuch ********
@Alfred **********
 😂 🤣 😂 😃 😁 Thailand doesn't need your money. If you don't meet the requirements, there will be no longstay in Thailand for you.
9 months ago
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Alfred ***********
@Nongnuch *******
 oh so there's a social system for the poor, disadvantaged and disabled then. The unemployed or chronically I'll. Get real really and don't send me any more inane nonsense.
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Alfred **********
 your presence won't change a jota to the lives of the poor, disadvantages and disabled. Go get real. Thailand does not need your money. Your are welcome to spend it, but that's what's to it, it does not grant you any special rights or special treatment
9 months ago
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Alfred ***********
@Nongnuch *******
 oh you know so little about me so don't judge. I have made a significant impact on the poor and disabled. Adopted a refuge as my charity. Dogs and and and... go away and leave me alone and I'll leave you alone agreed?
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Alfred **********
 this is an open and public forum, you will have to go with my presence, and I am going to react to your inadequate postings as long as you won't stop it. You seem not to have understood the culture in Thailand, so please don't try to lecture me
9 months ago
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Alfred ***********
@Nongnuch *******
 don't lecture me and I'm aware this is an open forum just leave me alone that's all I ask
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Alfred **********
 you are not in this world alone! And never will be! We got an eye on you!
9 months ago
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Alfred ***********
@Nongnuch *******
 stop it now stop it and don't threaten me
9 months ago
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Alfred ***********
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Sven ********
First step is to get married in Thailand. Your long term visa is not a priority right now. You can apply for a METV Tourist visa that will give you around 6-9 monthsto stay legally in Thailand. Ask the Thai embassy what documents you need (for marriage) from UK governement and collect these documents while you are still in the UK. In the meantime your lady can also collect her documents in Thailand. When you have all the documents you can now travel to Thailand and get an appointment at the Amphur office. Let your lady handle the paperwork in Thailand if you don't speak Thai. Once you have the marriage certificate you can talk with an agent to see wich visa is best in your situation (marriage or retirement). You can also use a agent to get everything in order to be able to get married in Thailand. I've figured out that Thailand is an "Agent" culture and everything will just go more smoother with the right agent. You can do all of this yourself but up to you if you want to save some money and try to complete it yourself. Some people losing their minds if they think about paying an Agent £1000 to get everything fixed and other people are very happy to pay the money and go on with their day and don't have to think about it anymore 😀
9 months ago
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Bob **********
Just apply for a single entry tourist visa then apply for non-o marriage get your 400k in the bank as soon as you can
9 months ago
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Simon **********
I live here and I am married to a Thai. I got married when I was here on a visa exemption. If you are over 50 I would recommend getting the Retirement visa rather than the Marriage, aside from the higher bank balance requirement, everything is much much simpler for the Retirement visa.

Getting a bank account is a spin of the wheel of luck. I gave up and used an “agent”, cost me 1000baht.

Your biggest hurdle is getting the permission to marry certificate. That is going to be your main priority.
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Simon *********
 1000.- THB service fee for opening a bank account, was a bargain. . . . . Nowadays, No agent will do it any more for this price
9 months ago
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Simon **********
@Nong****
 to be honest it wasn’t exactly an agent, more a “fixer”.
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Simon *********
 did you have to buy a life or accident insurance next to opening the account?
9 months ago
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Simon **********
@Nong****
 there was some kind of insurance policy that came with the account I think. That was another 1000 I think? It was a good few years ago.
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Simon *********
 have you cancelled it in the meantime or are you still paying year for year for a meaningless insurance? Thai banks nowadays will sometimes allow a foreigner to open a bank account on a Tourist Visa, if they buy a 5000.- THB accident insurance. One could agree, but cancel this by-trade immediately, before the bank deducts 5000.- THB every other year
9 months ago
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Simon **********
@Nong****
 no it was a one off.
9 months ago
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Marty *********
@Nongnuch *******
 I had this 5000 baht insurance. I had an accident and Kasikorn paid in full.
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Marty ********
 😉 Lucky man!
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
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Bart **************
Any non-immigrant visa allows you to change your reason of staying in Thailand to 'based on Thai spouse'.
9 months ago
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AxMdob *******
If you re confused don t marry , marriage is not a game it s like war , and it burns each days tons of money,

Stay strong don t own TWF just rent them
9 months ago
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Amanda ****
Just come with tourist visa, free visa exempt, then renew with that visa, until your married paper process done, before your last visa end, you can apply Immigration for Thai wife marriage visa, they need you to have Thai Bank bank under your name for 2 months, before you can apply it, 400,000 baht, no movement lower than that before you can apply marriage visa
9 months ago
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Rod ********
We are Canadians planning to retire in Thailand our pensions are more than the requirements. We are visiting friends on a tourist trip tomorrow are we ABLE to open Thai Bank accounts before we obtain the OA Visa?
9 months ago
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Phil ******
@Richard ******
 getting married here you go and then follow the steps for visa

********************************************************************************************
%20need%20to%20make%20an,consular%20staff%20at%20the%20embassy.
9 months ago
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Jordi ********
You definitely need to do some research and get ready for a shitload of paperwork if you want to do this yourself. Still better than using an agent. I've got an income paper from the Dutch embassy instead of the 400k in the bank. Not all embassy do that though.
9 months ago
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Kool *******
Your best visa to get initially to make this whole process the easiest from the beginning is to get the multi-entry tourist visa, METV. This is good for 6 months, and during that six months you get stamped into Thailand for 60 days every time you leave and return, and can extend those entries for another 30 days inside the country. With just two times crossing a border and returning for another 60 days, plus the 30 day extension, you can stay almost 9 full months inside Thailand, giving you plenty of time to get everything done inside Thailand, like having enough time to get married before a long term visa extension is even a consideration. You will understand about what is best in your situation more so by dealing with what is needed, and when for your long term stay inside Thailand.. An OA visa is not your best option.
9 months ago
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Andy **********
Remember, you need to book time at the embassy for the marriage declaration, and the embassy only does bookings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Generally you need to book online about 4 weeks before and pay the fee. Then get everything translated for the MFA. The MFA close at 3pm, closed weekends and will take 3 working days to process. Then you can go to the Amphur, which you will find fully booked.
9 months ago
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Stuart ***********
The non o retirement visa is much easier to obtain than marriage visa( if you are over 50).

Getting married in Thailand is difficult enough without making things more complicated with a marriage visa.

Before you come to Thailand get an online 60 day tourist visa, you can then extend it for a further 30 days in Thailand. This should be plenty of time to open a bank account here, deposit the money and get the non o visa.

Opening a bank account is the most difficult part of the visa process and these days it seems you need to pay an agent to help, it costs 4 to 5,000 baht, but you can do this on the 60 day tourist visa.
9 months ago
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Chris ******
Just get retiirment forget getting married 🤣
9 months ago
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Marty *********
At first an OA visa requires health insurance. You will have to do this the first year. If you have then extend your OA visa for 1 year as married then, I believe, you no longer need health insurance. Check the details on this with Tod Daniels in this group or the Thai visa advice Facebook group.

If you extend an OA visa as retired then you need insurance. If you extend as married, I don’t think so.
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Marty ********
 and
@Graham *****
 you cannot change the "reason" of a Non-Imm-O/A retirement visa or it's 1-year Extension of stay, from "retirement" to "marriage" as long as the O/A visa or its Extension is still valid. First off you need to invalidate the Non-O/A visa or the extension from this visa, in order to be able to apply for another visa class or the 90-days Non-Imm-O family visa. You can only change the "reason" from one Non-O extension to another Non-O extension. So for example you can always change from the "retirement 1-year extension" to the "1-year marriage extension", or vice versa, if you got the financial proofs and the documents that show your marriage approved in Thailand (Kor Ror 2) . .
@Marty ********
 you would find Tod Daniels will agree with me
9 months ago
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Marty *********
@Nongnuch *******
 I am not suggesting changing the reason of the visa. However you can choose retired or married for the visa 1 year extension after the first extension. I could extend my OA visa as married if I chose to. I’m happy to let Tod weigh in on this.
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Marty ********
 what you could do when you are on the first one-year extension of stay permit from a former Non-Imm-O/A visa, just exit Thailand without a re-entry permit. This would void your extension of stay permit. Then enter Thailand visa-exempt, put the 400,000.- THB onto your bank account (if not already accomplished) and apply for the "change of visa type" from the visa-exempt entry to the 90-days Non-imm-O Family visa. And as soon as 30 days are left on the 90-days stay permit, apply for the one-year extension of stay permit based on bein married to a Thai wife
9 months ago
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Marty *********
@Nongnuch *******
 I know how to get rid of an OA. I’ve seen Tod address this issue with the opposite results you describe. I’ll go with whatever Tod says but I suspect the OP will go with a non-O to begin with. That’s what I would suggest these days. I went from my OA to an LTR a year ago.
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Marty ********
 I describe the exact same route as T Daniels does, in order to get rid of an O/A Extension you need to exit Thailand without a re-entry permit. Or wait until the extension has expired. . . . It is not possible to do so in the first year of the O/A visa, because it comes with a multi re-entry permit
9 months ago
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Marty *********
@Nongnuch *******
 You are really wasting a lot of text on me. Time to move on.
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Marty ********
 no you cannot change the reason of a Non-Imm-O/A visa or reason for the Extension from out of this visa, from retirement to marriage. Immigration won't let you do it, and the Boss in Bangkok will be very angry if any officer would allow you to do it! I have had that conversation before with Tod Daniels, a few years ago. It is not possible. You need to invalidate your O/A visa or the extension from it, before you can apply for a new 90-days Non-Imm-O visa based on being married to a Thai wife, and later apply for the subsequent 1-year extension based on marriage
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
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Graham ******
@Marty ********
 Your first extension must be for the reason the Visa was issued then in subsequent years you can change
9 months ago
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Marty *********
@Graham *****
 OK two years and then he can switch but the interesting question is dropping the insurance if extending as married.
9 months ago
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Marty *********
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Grant *******
if you are over 50 get a non O retirement
9 months ago
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Brandon ************
An OA is a retirement visa that you can only get from your home country.

A marriage visa is a non-O visa. You'll need the money in the bank before you can apply to convert to a non-O visa.
9 months ago
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Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 How can I open a bank account before I convert to a non-O visa? I have tried to do it with my current tourist visa, but the banks wouldn't accept it. If I don't mind , can you please explain to me step by step instructions as im completely and utterly confused. Thank you.
9 months ago
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Chris *********
@Richard ******
 after your married , easy to open bank account get bring marriage certificate to bank and it was easy for me to open bank account on a tourist visa
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Richard ******
 use an agent like
@Stefan *******
 F.S. Consulting Co. or Mot's Service in Pattaya, they help you open a Thai bank account on a tourist visa, it is easy. Costs 4-5000.- THB
9 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
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