the requirements for the "change of visa type" can be seen on this webpage of the Thai Immigration. Click onto number 6 to open the pdf. list of requirements for the "change" to the 90-days Non-Imm-O marriage visa

In order to change to a Non-Imm-O family visa, you first must invalidate your existing stay permit (i.e. the Non-Imm-O/A visa)

A Non-Imm-O/A visa cannot be made invalid in the first year, because it is a multi-entry visa type.

You will need to await the date after the visa validity has expired.

After this date you won’t have a re-entry permit any more, which means that when you exit Thailand, your previous stay permit will become invalid, and the visa will also have expired

Only now the path is free to apply for another visa.

Only then, you can re-enter Thailand visa-exempt, visit Immigration ASAP and ask for the “change of visa type” from the 30-days exempt-entry.

You will need to show proof of your marriage, Immigration does not accept foreign marriage documents, they only accept a freshly printed marriage registry document, the “Kor Ror 22” from the local Amphoe office.

You will need to show 400.000.- THB in a bank account in your sole name. No seasoning required at this point.

After having been granted the 90-days Non-Imm-O family visa, you need to wait for the deposit to season for 2 months, before you apply for the “one year extension of stay based on being married to a Thai wife”

@Jolene **************

It seems you received a multi entry 6-months Tourist Visa (METV)

It is valid for use for unlimited entries into Thailand, for 6 months starting from the date of its issue, which was June 24th, 2024

The visa validity expires on December 23, 2024

You intend to enter Thailand on a 30-days visa-exempt entry? You cannot.

The Immigration officer at the border will see your METV on the computer, and he will insist you stamp in on the METV. This is not a “I grant my wish” show.

Every travel plan from thereon relies on how you use the METV. It will get you stamped in on every entry for a 60-days stay permit. These 60 days can be extended once, for 1900.- THB on Immigration, with 30 more days.

Before the 60 days stay permit or the 30 days extension expires, you will need to leave Thailand. And activate another 60-days stay permit upon your next entry. If you re-enter Thailand on December 22, 2024, you will get stamped in for 60 days for the last time. This will get you a stay permit until February 21st, 2025

@David *******

how would you be issued a METV after you entered by a 30-days visa exempt and extended it by 30 days? You can apply for the METV in your home country only. You can't apply for it in any of Thailand's neighbouring countries, and you can't get it inside Thailand

@David *******

David Walley you should run a count, again. You can only get close to 9 months, not close to 10 months. It's six months visa validity, which gets you "close" to six months or 180 days (you loose the days between issue of the visa and your first entry), so when you do a border run close to the expiry of the validity, you will get another 60 days, which you can extend once for 30 days. Which sums up to a theoretical maximum of 180+60+30 days = 270 days = 9 months. If you try to let it follow by another border run with a 30 days visa exempt entry to reach your alleged 10 months, you will most likey be denied entry. Some Immigrations might not even allow you the last 30 days touristic extension, which would result in "only" close to 8 months

a BTS station near a beach? There is nothing such, The fartest the BTS can carry you is KEHA station. from there, a taxi ride can get to the the shoreside

@Angelo **********

is this ENOUGH info for you, or will you ask for more? Because I will leave this stupid discussion right here

@Angelo **********

Fines have become very expensive for airlines, as many countries have drastically increased them on January 1st of this year (the article still mentions the old fine amounts). Most Schengen countries, like the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others, have now increased the fine to USD 10,000 per rejection case, and Thailand has also increased the fine from USD 1,300 to USD 5,000. You can read the English-language article from the IATA magazine here:

/13/document-verification-travel-trouble

The IATA introduced the TIMATIC database years ago to protect airlines. Swiping (or more modernly scanning) your passport at check-in not only book your flight, but also checks your passport for nationality and the travel details for transit and entry stored in the booking, with reference to the required documents and validity periods. It also checks the verification number verified in the passport and, when scanned, for other signs of forgery. The "simple" visa information from the TIMATIC database for travel is also publicly available to everyone on the Internet.

Conclusion: The airlines know how to protect themselves and are increasingly relentlessly combating the fakes of dishonest passengers. It is therefore not worth taking the risk of being refused boarding and the total loss or even the consequences of being refused entry and possibly even criminal proceedings.

@Angelo **********

Proof of onward travel means that airlines and governments want to make sure you are not illegally immigrating to their country, so they need to see proof of a return ticket home. What is this? Basically, some countries want to make sure you aren't attempting to move there on a tourist visa and never leave

They are trying to prevent illegal immigration.

Government officials need to see proof that you plan on flying out, respecting the rules of their tourist visa.

They want to see proof of onward travel back to your home or at least to another destination.

So while you can technically travel on a one-way ticket, they also need some kind of official return ticket confirmation showing that you are leaving the country eventually.

They won’t necessarily care where that ticket goes, just as long as it’s out of their country.

Airline Flying Requirements

Many countries actually pass this responsibility on to airlines, meaning that it’s the airline check-in desk who will ask to see proof of your onward travel before they let you board the flight.

Because if they don’t check, and allow you on the flight with a one-way ticket, but immigration officials refuse to let you in, the airline will be responsible for the costs of flying (deporting?) you back to your home country, along with possible fines.

Some airlines are very strict about the proof of onward travel rule.

If you can’t provide proof, you won’t be allowed to board your flight. Or they’ll ask you to buy a return ticket from them right then and there — which can often cost hundreds of dollars more than you want to spend.

Onward Travel Rules & Digital Nomads

If you’re a digital nomad too, I feel your pain. Why can’t they just make it easy and allow me to travel on a one-way ticket, trusting me when I tell them I plan to leave in two months?

Some of us prefer to travel spontaneously, without plans!

Most backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads are on a tight budget, trying to make their money last as long as possible. Or they aren’t exactly sure which country they want to visit next. Or they want to travel overland by bus.

Buying round trip tickets just isn’t in the cards for everyone.

Don’t take it personally though. These are their rules for onward travel, and we have to respect them. We have similar laws for foreigners attempting to visit our own countries.

Luckily there are a few easy (and legal) ways to get around this proof-of-onward-travel requirement, so you can travel on a one-way ticket, and not be forced to plan your entire trip down to the last detail.

How To Get Proof Of Onward Travel

If you think you may need proof of onward travel during your travel adventure, there are a few legal ways to get around the rules without having to buy round trip tickets everywhere you go.

1: Buy A Refundable Ticket

If you don’t mind waiting a while (sometimes months) to receive a refund, buying a fully refundable second one-way return ticket is definitely possible.

To make it work, you’ll need to buy that second ticket before you leave for your destination.

Once you’ve entered the country, cancel your exit ticket, and wait for the refund.

Just make sure to read the fine print — because some airlines charge cancellation fees, or only refund tickets using flight vouchers instead of cash.

2: Rent A Ticket Confirmation

The safest/cheapest option is to “rent” an airline ticket confirmation from a real-life travel agency. This is what I usually do.

OneWayFly.com is a service that books a real return ticket in your name, then cancels it for you later.

It only costs $19, and you’ll get your official ticket confirmation within hours. It’s cheaper than buying your own ticket and safer than trying to forge one (don’t do that!).

3: Book With Your Airline Miles

If you are a travel-hacking whiz and have accumulated a ton of points or miles on your travel rewards credit cards, you can use those points to book a one-way return flight and then cancel it later.

Most of the time you’ll find that your points or miles are refunded right away, making it a no-brainer.

4: Buy A Cheap Ticket On A Budget Airline

Extreme budget airlines around the world can have some amazing flight deals. While the airline itself might not be the best — if you don’t plan on actually using the ticket, who cares!

Find the cheapest one-way ticket to a major city in the country next door, and eat the cost. Maybe $50 or $100.

This works best in cheaper areas of the world, like Asia or Latin America. Some examples of budget airlines include EasyJet, AirAsia, Volaris, etc.

5: Buy A Bus Or Train Ticket Out

Some airlines might be placated if they can see you have a bus or train ticket that leaves the country. This is obviously much cheaper to buy than a plane ticket ($50?), and you don’t even have to use it.

In my experience, sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn’t. I think it depends on the mood of the check-in agent. It’s a risky option.

What About Forging One?

I do not recommend forging your ticket confirmation. If you get caught, it could end up badly.

Especially if you try to show a fake piece of paper to actual immigration officials rather than airline employees.

Lying to immigration officials is illegal, and could land you in jail.

Some people do this, but it’s extremely risky, and can get you in a lot of trouble!

Which Countries Require Proof?

Many countries technically require proof of onward travel, however, they don’t always enforce the rule.

To reduce your chances of them asking, it’s wise to avoid dressing like a bum/hippie/vagabond with no money.

Business casual always works best at airports if you want to avoid questions.

A few countries definitely require documented proof of onward travel. They include New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Peru, and the Philippines.

However, depending on the airline you use, you might also get asked for proof before visiting countries like Thailand, Mexico, and Panama. Do some research on your destination country to be sure.

Or, just rent a ticket confirmation in advance, to cover your bases. It’s super cheap.

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard!

Even though this rule might seem ridiculous, if you are a backpacker or digital nomad who prefers to travel on one-way tickets, you will eventually get asked for proof of onward travel.

I’ve probably been asked at least 10 times over the past few years.

Luckily there are legal loopholes around it. You just need to remember to get everything sorted in advance before you find yourself stuck arguing with the airline check-in agent, about to miss your flight!

@Angelo **********

I am very surprised at the response in this group . . . . .

ACTUALLY, it is ALWAYS the AIRLINE who can refuse boarding the flight, if you do not have a flight out of Thailand within the admitted period you will get stamped in upon entry into Thailand.

Thai Immigration DOES NOT CARE ABOUT the flight itinerary!

It is the AIRLINE that must apply an IATA rule: If the visa does not reflect the needed itinerary, they have to assume that Thai Immigration might refuse entry because you visa does not fit the intended stay, and they will have to fly you back to the origin airport at their own expenses, and pay a fine between 5000.- USD and 10.000.- USD.

So ACTUALLY it is the Airline which checks your ticket and NOT Thai Immigration. Thai Immigration is aware that you can extend most stay permits inside the country, so they do not check or care much. Thai Immigration only starts to act, if your travel history to Thailand indicates that you might be misusing the visa and visa exempt rules

I am surprised at the amount of false info here. It is that most airlines will need proof of onward- or return flight out of Thailand within the period you get stamped in at entry. Thai Immigration are the least people who care about your flight itinerary. It is the airlines that will refuse boarding, because they will have to transport you back to the origin at their own expenses if you get refused entry into Thailand. And since January 2023, the fine imposed to an airline which ignored this rule, has risen from formerly 5000.- USD to 10.000.- USD.

Keep in mind, Thai Airways CAN ask for proof or they WON'T ask for proof. Both options are possible. Never trust the advice given by an airline employee over the phone! Only trust an emailed reply and print it, so you can show it upon check-in in case nobody at the check-in has any idea of what they are doing.

I have witnessed countless times when passengers were refused boarding because their itinerary didn't fit their visa. And don't worry about Thai Immigration - they are the last ones who would even care. Thai Immigration CAN (but rarely does) ask you for THREE proofs: itinerary, booked accommodation, and 20,000.-THB or in any other currency in CASH (credit cards not accepted)