Same-sex marriage glitch
I’ve been on a retirement visa for 6 years, and living with my same-sex Thai partner.
When it became legal in January, we got married. So I assumed that meant I could get an extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national.
But it turns out that the Immigration office in Chiang Mai (and elsewhere?) doesn’t agree—they refuse to accept my application, according to two reputable visa agencies.
Any explanation? Workaround? I let my savings go down below 600k on the assumption that I’d only need 400k for the next extension, so now getting my retirement extension looks problematical.
TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat in Thailand on a retirement visa faced challenges when trying to apply for a visa extension based on his recent marriage to a same-sex Thai partner. Despite the legalization of same-sex marriage in January, the local immigration office in Chiang Mai rejected his application, leading him to seek guidance on potential workarounds and clarifications on visa regulations. Commenters offered various perspectives, including suggestions to consult directly with immigration officers, caution against reliance on visa agents, and the need for ongoing advocacy for clear guidelines regarding same-sex marriage and immigration in Thailand.
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.