Marriage visa

Mart · Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 98

As I understand it, you need Bt 400,000 in a Thai bank to apply for a marriage visa.
Does the money have to be wired in from an overseas account?
Does it have to be my overseas account?
How long does my account have to show the 400,000?

Anyone had recent experience of the process?

Many thanks in advance

Mart

lomuamart · Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 6:47 pm Post subject:

My understanding is that the money has to come from abroad and be in a Thai bank account or imm may reckon you've been working. There isn't actually a marriage visa as such. You've got to get a Non O visa from outside of Thailand, say single entry - all that should be necessary at this stage is the marriage certificate and a copy of your wife's ID card. I don't think they ask for proof of funds at this stage, but it might be worthwhile having it in case. Then apply for a year's extension at any imm centre in Thailand during the last 30 days of any 90 day entry period.
How long it needs to be there, I'm not sure, but I think as long as it is, you can apply at any time. However, the visa can take a while to come through and imm can check at any time that the money's still there before issuing the visa, so ensure you have enough to live off as well without dropping below the 400,000.
When you go back a year later, it's always best to be able to show that the account's been used and then top it back up to the 400,000, otherwise imm may question how you've been supporting your Thai wife.
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michelle · Novice Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Thailand

HI everyone. my husband works in Thailand , we are both foreigners, and i have a dependent multiple entry, non immigrant visa. Can i work in THailand using that visa? Are dependents/spouses allowed to work in Thailand?

thanks!
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Mart · Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 98

Thanks for the reply.
Sorry, I forgot to say that I'm already here on a non B visa. I assume this can be changed to a non 0?

mart

lomuamart · Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 7:35 pm Post subject:

lomuamart · Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 7:36 pm Post subject: Re: Working in Thailand

Mart · Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 98

Thanks mate..

buksida · Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 1:42 am Post subject:

I'll try and add to whats already been said here:

Again, we all know this could change within the next ten minutes when some bigwigs decide the goalposts need moving again so at the time of press the following is believed to be accurate:

As lomu said the marriage visa is a myth, you're actually getting a support visa for a Thai citizen so you need to prove that 400k has come into the country from overseas, has been used here within the duration of the visa, and has been replenished upon application for extension of that visa (usually a year later).

Michelle, anybody can work in Thailand if they apply, or the company they work for applies, for a work permit and non-immigrant B (business) visa. It is irrelevant whether they are dependents or spouses. The fact that your husband already works here will have no bearing on your own visa and work permit application.
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lomuamart · Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:25 am Post subject:

Mart,
Thinking about it again, if you've been working legitimately here with your Non B and WP - you don't say - and have saved 400,000 by doing so, maybe there's no need to remit funds from abroad?
I've not come across this before, so even more reason to ask at imm. If this is the case, be sure you have been working legally and been paying tax correctly before you put yourself in the firing line. I wonder if they might also want to know why you're changing your status - maybe the work's coming to an end? Just an idea.
If you've had a B visa as say a director of a company owning a house, then it'll probably be a case of changing the visa, but again be careful that you don't get embroiled in the property situation - ie, has your company been trading and paying taxes?
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

Mart · Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 98

Thanks again Iomuamart,

I got the B visa with the intention of applying for a work permit through my business (not property). The process of applying for the wp got delayed due to my lawyers incompetenece. My B visa is going to run out soon.
I got married and have now been offered employment through another company here with a WP. The new job won't start for a while, so it got suggested that I apply for stay via the marriage route. I plan to sell the business anyway now.
I am owed more than the 400K by a friend in Hong Kong, and plan to get them to wire the money through. I've been told that as long as the money comes from an account outside of Thailand, it will be OK, this I will have to check.

mart

lomuamart · Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:22 am Post subject:

Gotcha,
I'd also think it wouldn't matter where the funds came from as long as it's abroad. I'm sure plenty of people remit from an offshore account, not their home country. I think the only reason for imm to query things if the money's already here, is to check if you've been working.
Make sure you get a bit of paper from the bank - there's a special form for this - to say that the money came from abroad.
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

Mart · Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 98

Thanks yet again..

I'll let you know how I get on, might be useful info for other readers.

Mart

michelle · Novice Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Thailand

THanks! hope to settle down well in HH and find some work to do!
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Onlyme · Specialist Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 227 Location: Cha-am

Sorry, I posted this question in another topic and moved it here.
I would be grateful for any of your thoughts about this process.

I've personally gone down this "support for Thai spouse" path for a few years and found it pretty difficult with the usual, applicant under consideration please return next month bulls**t.

I know it's very simple to obtain the retiree visa exemption if you're over 50 and have the correct funding and it's usually issued on the day of application or practically guaranteed on your next visit.

I meet all the requirements for supporting a Thai spouse and could easily meet the retirement visa requirements but, I won't on principle.

Anybody found an easier way?

Onlyme. Sad

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Onlyme · Specialist Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 227 Location: Cha-am

Just in case anyone is interested. I got it far quicker this year.
Seeing as all the Huahin brigade are on different (or appear to be) visa's.
I won't be giving any further info.
Onlyme. Confused

PS. You must all be retired and rich!
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