Being in Thai Visa Service industry for 17 years now, I still get enquiries from foreigners asking how we can convert Non Immigrant O Visa to a Marriage Visa. There is no such term a Marriage Visa though it is very famous known among foreigners, Non Immigrant O Visa is the visa type which can be obtained on various reasons and one the reasons is having a Thai Wife. This type of visa is available to all foreign nationals who are legally married to a Thai person. The official title for the visa is a Non Immigrant O (Thai Wife) Visa. This visa can be obtained at Royal Thai Embassy in home country or it can be obtained at Bangkok Immigration, the validity of visa is for 90 days which is renewable yearly 30 days prior to its expiry. Any foreigner who have entered Thailand on a Tourist Visa or at least on Exempt Visa Stamp (30) days can apply for Non Immigrant O Visa at Bangkok Immigration.
As the number #1 visa company in Bangkok, we work closely with foreigners married to Thais and wish to apply for a Marriage Visa. Regardless of if you apply for the visa while in Thailand or outside the Kingdom, you will need to ensure you have all the correct documents. As visa experts and having a close professional relationship with Thai Immigration, we know what paperwork is required and will ensure that you have everything before your application is submitted. This means that you will have the best chance of your visa being accepted the first time.
Applying for a Non Immigrant O Visa / Marriage Visa
In many ways, Non Immigrant O Visa is one of the most straightforward visas to obtain – if you meet the requirements. As you can apply at a Thai Royal Embassy or Consulate before you travel to Thailand, or you can apply at Bangkok Immigration even if you have entered Thailand on an Exempt Visa Stamp.
If you decide to apply outside of the Kingdom, the initial application will be for a Non-Immigrant O Visa, valid for 90 days. This visa can be renewed yearly based on having a Thai Wife at a Thai Immigration Department when you arrive. You will require all the necessary documents to support the application for renewal of Non Immigrant O Visa. Along with the supporting documents, you will also have to show the proof of income or money in the bank.
If you choose to apply for a visa in Thailand, you can apply for a Non-Immigrant O Thai Wife (Marriage Visa) at a Thai Immigration office. In Bangkok, the application would be submitted at Chaeng Wattana Immigration Office. For most people, this is the best and most practical option as they will have access to the documentation they need and can employ the services of a professional visa company to assist them.
Typically, the application time for a Non-Immigrant O Marriage Visa is between four and six weeks, but we always endeavour to make the waiting time as short as possible.
Requirements for a Thai Marriage Visa
To apply for Non Immigrant O visa at Bangkok Immigration at very first time, you will also have to submit Affirmation of Freedom to Marry Certificate which you have obtained from your Embassy in Bangkok prior to marriage registration.
As with all long-term Thai visas, anyone applying for this visa must have the financial means to support themselves in Thailand. Therefore, the applicant must have a minimum of THB400,000 held in a Thai bank account for a minimum of two months before the application. The account must be in the sole name of the applicant, as joint accounts will not be permissible.
Alternatively, you could prove that you have an income of no less than THB40,000 per month. The amount can include earned income, rental income, pension income or any other source of regular income. It is worth noting that if this income is from outside of the Kingdom and paid to a bank account outside Thailand, proving you have this income may be tricky with many embassies no longer issuing an affidavit confirming their income.
It is possible to combine both savings and income amounting to at least THB40,000 per month. To prove that you have the necessary funds, you will need to show an updated copy of your bank book (we would recommend that the update is no greater than 72 hours before the application). Your banks will also need to issue a letter confirming that the money has been in your account for two months before the application date, and, in some cases, that the money was transferred from overseas.
Can I work in Thailand with a Marriage Visa?
If you have a Thai Non-Immigrant O Marriage Visa, you can apply for a work permit, but the visa alone does not permit you to work in the Kingdom. If you are currently working in Thailand, you will almost certainly have a Thai Non-Immigrant B Visa and work permit.
Points to consider
If you hold a Non-Immigrant O Marriage visa, you will be required to report to the Thai Immigration every 90 days, a process known as 90 Day Reporting. It can be done in person, online or by a representative such as a visa company.
If you intend to leave the Kingdom during the duration of your visa, you will need to apply for a Re-entry Permit before you go. This can be done at a Thai Immigration Office or at the airport and are available in single or multiple entry form. The Re-entry Permit number should be entered on your landing card in a Visa number column, when you return to Thailand to ensure that the officer doesn’t miss your valid visa and stamp your passport with the correct permission to stay.
Of course, should you get divorced from your Thai spouse, your Thai Marriage Visa will be cancelled with immediate effect. It will mean that you need to leave the Kingdom and re-enter on an alternative visa. In the short-term, this would typically be a Thai Tourist Visa or Visa on Arrival. It will depend on your circumstances, and we would be happy to advise you on an individual basis.
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