Where the marriage took place overseas and is not written in Thai.. Chiang Mai Immigration will require a translated and certified copy of the marriage certificate.. as well as a Kor Ror 22 from the local Amphur.. the KR22 simply confirms the registration of the marriage in your district.. but to achieve this the embassy of country where marriage was solemized must first certify the validity of the marriage by endorsing a copy of the original (eg. English version) marriage certificate.. which you then need to get translated into Thai and arrange for it to be endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand.. if you are already living in Thailand this would neccessitate visiting both said Embassy and the MoFA in Bangkok.. not to mention navigating the procedures and protocols to get it done in a timely manner.. probably one of the few times that an agent can really provide value imo.. since they are familiar with the process and will save you significant time and energy.. and most importantly will get it right.. but still likely to take around 3-weeks.. so you need to factor that in if you need it to apply for a non-o immigrant visa (or extension) since your existing stamp could expire in the interim.. just sharing knowledge from recent personal experience in the hope it helps other folk evaluate their own situation 😉

If you tick all the boxes then diy is best.. but if you don't and you need an agent to 'cheat' the system.. then be prepared to have your visa cancelled one day.. eg. if immigration ever clean up the process and start investigating certain agent activity.. as others have said.. the only way to safely switch from a visa obtained via an agent.. ie. if your situation supports a direct application when it's time to extend it.. would be to let the visa lapse.. eg. exit the country just before renewal without a re-entry permit.. and upon returning commence a new visa application from scratch that you attend to yourself.. one day the agent system will get purged imo.. and if the authorities perceive you have knowingly abused the system by making false declarations.. then you could be banned from entering the kingdom.. surely that's too big a risk for someone if their heart is set on living out their days here!

The local amphur should have a copy of the marriage certificate.. it is necessary to register your marriage there before you can apply for a non-o married visa.. so that is a good starting point.. if you have any friends still living in Thailand then maybe they can go in person and make some enquiries on your behalf.. though i'd suggest arming them with a letter of authority in advance.. and maybe a letter of enquiry signed by you asking all the questions you need answering.. or simply ask them to go visit your wife and ask her for information before going to the amphur for verification.. just a thought 🤔

@Brandon ***********

Entitlement to live in a country comes from your sovereignty.. it is defined as the 'state' where you were born.. which had a duty to accept you (eg. upon deportation) but that is on the proviso that your passport has not previously been rescinded.. if you haven't lived in your country of origin for 10, 20, or 30 years then you are no longer considered a resident by your home country.. you are deemed to have emigrated.. although you will retain your citizenship you are classed as a non-resident! The real solution here is for the Thai authorities to change the question.. and either ask you to input your nationality or country of birth.. or your domicile.. because domicile never changes regardless of where you choose to live.. or alternatively ask for your country of permanent residence prior to arriving in Thailand.. but this could also be a country other than your birth country!

@Kool ******

I cited 183 days because this means you will have spent more than half the year living in Thailand.. and by definition that it makes it your primary residence.. since you could not have lived elsewhere longer in said calendar year.. but since you raise 'tax residency' it follows that if you are considered resident for tax you meet the Thai definition of being resident 😬

@Kool ******

I would disagree my friend.. your passport reflects your domicile.. which is your country of birth or country of origin.. but the word residence pertains to where you habitually live.. and if you live in Thailand for more than 183 days in a calendar year then it is clearly your country of residence.. whilst you may not be a citizen or permanent resident as such.. anyone living here under a married or retirement visa has effectively been granted residence.. albeit on a renewable basis.. and if your primary home is here then your country of residence is clearly Thailand.. only if a form asks for nationality or country of birth will the answer be dictated by your passport.

I've always struggled with this interpretation.. because having someone else deliver documentation to immigration on your behalf is clearly not 'reporting in person' at all.. and given Thai immigration has such rigid antiquated procedures for just about everything else.. I'm surprised they allow it.. but then again TiT as they say!

@Nongnuch *******

Too many people offer advice based upon assumptions.. without spending any time to assimilate the facts.. you gave several people a hard time because they disagreed with your assessment.. and even claimed to be the superior authority in this regard.. when in reality you had completely misread the situation.. paying an agent a significant sum of money for his services conveys only one fact.. the OA could afford it and was persuaded this was the going rate for such a service.. other than that it doesn't mean jot.. people need to be more diligent before letting their belly rumble!

@Nongnuch *******

I've read the whole thread from front to back and back to front.. and i cannot see where the OA stated that he used an agent because he did not have the funds available to satisfy the financial requirements.. he does state that he has the funds in place to meet said requirement at renewal.. and he also states he has maintained a balance in excess of the minimum requirement for the whole year.. in which case it is highly likely that these funds were actually in his bank account to support the initial visa application.. it is extremely unlikely that he only opened the Thai bank account and made the requisite deposit on the day his last 12-month extension was granted.. hence he would not have needed an agent to 'fudge' the financial aspects as you have clearly assumed.. this is not the only reason people decide to use an agent.. and getting stung for 70k in fees is indeed outrageous.. but we all live and learn during our life in Thailand.. and no doubt the OA is better educated now.. or he wouldn't have opened this discussion in the forum.. so before proceeding to offer any advice whatsoever the key question to ask the OA is whether he evidenced the capital on deposit using his own bank account / funds last time or not.. only then can anyone offer a meaningful response.. and if he did then he should have no problems extending the current visa in country without having to do a border run!

@Dca ****

This is correct.. but just for clarification.. a foreigner staying here on a 'married' visa and living in the marital home (owned by the spouse) cannot be added to their blue book.. but they can apply for their own yellow book.. which will be issued in their sole name and does not name the spouse.. ie. they are not added to the foreigners yellow book.. the yellow book then becomes your proof of address for all interactions in Thailand that would otherwise demand a residency certificate.. so govt agencies like immigration, land transport office, amphur, municipality etc.. and also makes it easier to open a bank account.. you also need it before you can apply for the foreigner ID card (the 'pink' card) which the lto is now asking to see when you renew your driving license!