For anyone who doesn't know. Tod is the super expert of this group and hero to many of us whose advice has saved thousands of headaches.

I'm no expert. Listen to people like Tod, but it seems like you're good.

Seems like you got more than you bargained for. Wish they'd done that in my passport.

An admin wrote this on December 20, 2017. Tod Daniels.

did you see this? The difference between a "marriage visa" and a "yearly extension of stay based on marriage"

This topic comes up quite a lot. So let's take a minute and go over these two very different things.

I hate to break it to you all but a "marriage visa" actually doesn't exist. No matter what thai immigration staff or thai consulate staff or foreigners call it, there is no such animal.

It is in reality a Non-Immigrant Type O <-(O meaning OTHER) visa. Non-O visas are issued for a variety of things, marriage to a thai, raising children, being over 50 (retirement), married to a foreigner who legally works here, volunteering, etc.

If you are married to a thai you can stay here two ways;

Go to a thai consulate and get a year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O visa based on marriage to a thai.

Right now the thai consulate in Savannakhet Lao and Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam will issue these visas without any proof of finances.

On this visa you get stamped in for 90 days, when that 90 days runs out you to go the border, stamp out of thailand, stamp in&out of another country and then stamp back into thailand for another 90 days. You do this for the validity of the visa itself which is one year from the date it's issued. Most people get 15 months out of this visa because by exiting and reentering the country just prior to the "enter before" date on the visa itself you get stamped in for another 90 days (taking you to 15 months).

A person on this visa NEVER EVER does a 90 day report at the immigration office (because you can't stay in the country longer than 90 days at a time).

The other way is to get a 90 day single entry Non-Immigrant Type O visa (either from a thai consulate or at the immigration office) and then apply for a yearly extension of stay based on marriage to a thai at the immigration office in your area.

You meet the financial requirements of 400K baht banked in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months prior to your application OR by using a notarized letter from your consulate stating you get 40K baht a month in income from abroad. You submit a pile 'o documents, photos, and paperwork and the application goes under consideration for 30 days.

Then you go back and get the year extension inked into your passport. During the 30 day under consideration some immigration offices do an in home inspection and talk to your neighbors.

If you are going to leave the country during the year after you get your extension of stay you would need to buy a re-entry permit.

A person on this extension DOES do 90 day reporting if they stay in the country 90 days.

I hope that was understandable, feel free to ask any questions you want to." - Tod Daniels

BEWARE: The RED STAMP means that you will be EXECUTED at the border.

The only place that questioned me was Cambodia. That's why I never went to another country besides Laos again. In Vientiane, I also go INSIDE the building for the Consulate and pay 50 baht for them to write the form for me. I have sloppy handwriting and after they fill in the form for you, they stamp it. I don't know why, but I've been told that stamp helps. Maybe if they see that you are rich enough to pay for someone to fill in the form for you, they say you are rich enough to be a tourist for a long time. I recommend the service center inside the building (not outside).

Dude. Just get an Education Visa.

I got 6 back to back (5 in Vientiane and one in Cambodia), but I literally have a huge passport with extra pages added twice from American government. I also have many other visas and stamps from other countries. I guess I got lucky.

Luke Hansford Also... If you are going to go back to back for a long time. I think Vientiane is more relaxed about their visas than other embassies. I went to Cambodia once, and I needed to buy a ticket so I could prove I was leaving after 60 days. It's possible to cancel your flight ticket on expedia (American site) for 24 hours. They also hassled me about 3 back to back tourist visas before, and told me they weren't sure if they could give me a new visa. The thing is I really was a tourist for over a year in Thailand. I was actually following all the rules, but sometimes they just assume you are working illegally with the back to back visa runs. In Laos, there aren't any questions. they take your paperwork and give you a number to comeback the next day. Luckily, I did my last visa run in December. Good Luck to You!