The visa number is not a required field, since visa exempt entries exist. I just filled one out and it was accepted. I have a 1 year non-o extension and left the visa field empty, along with all the departure date and details.
that's completely normal unfortunately, especially at the Bangkok embassy. I'm curious, were you already married when you applied for her tourist visa? My wife had applied for one prior to us getting married and was instantly denied. She was told to apply for the k1, despite us having just met. After we were married she applied again, this time in Chiang Mai. On one of the freeform answers to one of the online questions I explained that I now live in Thailand, with no intentions of moving back, so did not want or need to apply for a CR1. That she only needed the visa to visit the US once a year for less than a month at a time. Not sure if that helped, but she was granted a 10 year tourist visa.
from my experience here in Samui getting a non-o extension they seem to do everything they can to force you to use the visa agency right outside the door. As Brandon says they add a bunch of requirements that aren't on their own list and are not any official requirement. Then when you show up and have them review the documents, they'll set up an appointment for another day and not mention any of those missing documents.
yes. I had their list of requirements that I picked up at least a month in advance. Then went there with all my documents. A lady reviewed them and then gave me an appointment for the following week. Not mentioning any of the "missing" documents.
When I went for my appointment they required at least 3 or 4 more documents that were not on the list and not required by any other office I've used for previous extensions. One was a document they wanted from my landlord, who did not want to give them it. He is Thai and has a couple dozen rentals and has never needed to supply it before. He was quite upset and even called immigration to complain. So it took running around to a few different government agencies to get documents they would accept instead. Plus another 2-3 trips to immigration.
Definitely talk to your immigration office and don't wait. It should be more than enough time, but there are some offices that make it difficult and more time consuming. It took me almost 2 weeks to get my last one, and I've been doing extensions for years now.
This last one was at a new office and they wanted additional documents no other office needed and had to have an appointment every time I went back. I think I got my 30 day extension the day my previous stamp expired.
not necessarily. I filed my first report online after leaving the country and obtaining a new extension in a new province. Never hurts to try online first since you can apply 2 weeks prior.
that video is referring to those that enter on something other than a long term visa, like a visa exempt or tourist visa, and want to convert in country. That is a completely different ball game than obtaining a 90 day non-o prior to entering thailand. For those that get the non-o based on marriage there isn't really any other option.
I would check with the immigration office you plan on using as far as the last day you can apply. I went about 2 weeks prior to my current expiration and they were not too happy about it. They said next time come 4 weeks before. Even with 2 weeks I barely got the application finished since they wanted a bunch of extra documents from my landlord that he was not willing to give.
You may want to double check your policy. Typically the emergency coverage worldwide has quite a few limitations, including duration of coverage. Many will only cover for 60 to 90 days of international travel.