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What are the best visa options for a UK expat in Thailand who cannot meet the financial requirements for a Marriage Visa?

Visa OptionsMarriage VisaNon-O VisaVisa ExemptionLong-term StayImmigration AdviceThai Visa RequirementsExpat Life in ThailandVisa Application Process
May 24, 2017
8 years ago
Stevie *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all, I'm looking for some advice please. I'm currently in Thailand on a visa exemption stamp which runs out on the 3rd June. I have a UK passport. I'm staying near Roi Et in Isaan and want to stay in Thailand long term. I am married to a Thai but I can't meet the financial requirements for a Marriage Visa at the moment. I went to see local lawyer last week about my visa options and initially it seemed promising but she has now tried to materially increase the fees and is messing us around with her availability too.

Can anyone give me some advice on what options I have please? I'm being told I should go to Laos and get a tourist visa but you don't know what you don't know! My concerns are around getting all the paperwork etc right and also making sure that I get the right visa this time so that it doesn't cause issues with future visa applications or extensions. I also don't really want to go back to the UK just to get a visa. Grateful for any advice or pointers. Thanks.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is currently on a visa exemption in Thailand and seeks advice for long-term stay options since they cannot meet the financial criteria for a Marriage Visa due to changing lawyer fees. They are considering traveling to Laos for a tourist visa and want to ensure that all paperwork is correct to avoid future visa issues. Experienced community members suggest applying for a Non-Immigrant Type O visa in Savannakhet, as it does not require financial proof and offers longer validity.
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Stevie *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi All, wanted to say a quick thanks to you all but particularly to Koont Bush Andrews for the help and advice in getting my 1 year visa. Really grateful :)
8 years ago
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Stevie *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sure, here is a brief explanation I sent to someone else from this group...

I have my Multi-Entry 1 Year Non-Immigrant O Visa now based on marriage now. I live near Roi Et so Savannakhet is only a couple of hours away for me.

To get into Laos I needed to pay 1,500 baht for a visa on arrival and you need to have 1 passport photo too.

Be sure to get to the consulate in Savannakhet around 8am so that your forms are completed and you are in the queue by 8.30am. The Thai Consulate opens at around 9am.

I'm aware that some people prefer to stay for 2 nights especially when they live further away but I didn't need to do that.

The documents I took with me were:

1 x copy passport, signed by myself

1 x copy wife's ID card signed by wife

1 x copy wife's house book, her entries, signed by wife (Tambian Baan)

1 x copy original Kor Ror 2, both sides, signed by wife and myself

1 x copy marriage certificate, both sides, signed by wife and myself.

1 x 5000 Baht application fee.

Numerous passport photos (you'll need 2).

Originals of all the above documents.

I used the form completion service from the small cafe opposite the consulate, which cost me 80 baht and saved me a lot of hassle.

Then I queued up and handed in my completed form, copy documents and the 5,000 baht fee. The only thing he asked me for was to see my original Thai marriage certificate after that he gave me a numbered ticket so I could collect my passport and visa the following day.

We got a cheap hotel in Savannakhet which cost 850 baht and be aware that there is very little to do while you're waiting to pick up your visa the next day. The next day we went to the consulate for 2pm and within 30 minutes I had my passport and visa in hand.

All-in-all it was very straight forward thanks to all the advice I got here.

One other tip that someone gave me is to make sure you have lots of smaller baht notes (100's are best) because they will rip you off with the exchange rate if you're handing over larger notes. Also, it's best not to use the cash machines in Laos for the same reasons.

Hope this helps.
8 years ago
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Stevie *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi
@Tod ********
8 years ago
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Tod *********
if you could report back once you have the year-long, multi-entry Non-O in your passport about how it went for you I'd appreciate it
8 years ago
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Tod *********
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Andrew ******
you need this for Savannakhet for another non O
@Tod ********
?
8 years ago
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Tod *********
@And***
, nope, you should be fine with just the english marriage certificate.
8 years ago
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Andrew ******
and no Kor Ror in Savannakhet?
@Tod ********
 if have original marriage cert. good point tho you could be divorced and some farangs still using it
8 years ago
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Tod *********
@And***
, You can't be listed in a blue thai house book (unless you hold legal permanent residence or are a naturalized thai), You'd have a yellow one if you had one at all <- because that's the one that lists foreigners in it.

However savannakhet only wants to see your wife's thai i/d and house book listing.
8 years ago
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Andrew ******
that's what I mean lol first time iv heard of that! oh by the way
@Tod ********
 with the Tabian Ban (address book) does my name have to be registered in it or just wife ok?
8 years ago
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Tod *********
nope, they'll take a foreign marriage certificate. A friend married to his thai wife in the US used the marriage certificate from the US and it went thru fine.
8 years ago
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Tod *********
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Stevie *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Cheers Andrew. I couldn't agree more. So grateful for the help and advice I got here today :)
8 years ago
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Andrew ******
yes
@Steve ***********
 don't bother wasting your time with Thai lawyers cos its their job to make money from you! best that you found this site cos you know what to do and where to go now. I'm on a non O multi entry from England (based on married to a Thai) and i'll be going to Savannakhet in a few months to renew it for another 15 months
8 years ago
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Thomas ********************
Damme! This forum is too good :)
8 years ago
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Stevie *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks all.

Koont has clarified for me now.

Jeremiah - cheers for the list. Very clear and helpful :)
8 years ago
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Stevie *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks so much guys. Easy if you know hey!
8 years ago
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Tod *********
just so you know, on that visa you get a 90 day stamp when you enter.

Then every 90 days you go to the border, stamp out of thailand, stamp in&out of another country, then back into thailand for another 90 days.
8 years ago
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Mark ***********
Thanks for the info there tod.
8 years ago
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Tod *********
@Ma**
, the visa is valid for a year from the date it's issued. You get unlimited exits/entries into thailand during that year with each entry getting you stamped in for 90 days. You could exit thailand every day if you wanted to and get stamped in for 90 days every time you entered for the year the visas good for.
8 years ago
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Mark ***********
Hi tod do you know what happens if you leave thailand before the 90 days and was to re-enter thailand 75 or 100 days later. Would i get any issues with the multi entry visa. Can you leave and re-enter at random days through the term of the 1 year?
8 years ago
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Mark ***********
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Stevie *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks Tod
8 years ago
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Tod *********
Go to the that consulate in Savannakhet Lao and apply for a year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O visa based on marriage to a thai for 5000baht.

They require no financial proof.
8 years ago
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Tod *********
Mikael Karlsson Vientiane will NOT issue year long multi entry Non-O visas based on marriage to a thai. They ONLY issue 90 day single entry ones.
8 years ago
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Amornrat **********
Mikael Karlsson yes, at the moment no restrictions of how many visa they issue to a person.
8 years ago
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Amornrat **********
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