Soi 5 Immigration,giving incorrect information.

[Zidane 11]

I'm married to a Thai girl and am currently over here on a Non-Immigrant O Visa,valid for 12 months.

In a few months time I want to change this to a Marriage Visa so last week I went along to the Soi 5 Immigration Office for advice as to how to go about this.

My understanding talking to expats and looking on the internet is that from Oct 2006 the financial requirement is 40,000 baht per month.

I told my circumstances to the Officer and he asked......

How old are you ?............53.

Will you be working?........No.

 

Then he said the requirement is either 65,000 baht per month or 800,000 baht in the bank !

 

I said surely that is for a Retirement Visa ?

 

He said it doesnt matter now,Retirement and Marriage Visa requirements are the same !

 

I told him my understanding was that the requirement was 40,000 baht per month but he wouldnt back down from his stance.

 

I'm pretty sure this guy was talking bollocks (I think its easier for them to process a Retirement application than a Married one) but grateful if someone could put my mind at rest.

Its worrying that an official can come out with statements like this but if what he says was true its got a lot of potential implications for married guys out here.

 

Zidane

[gimmble 144]

why ask what the requirements are if you already know?

 

why argue with an official, especially a Thai!!!!

 

How dumb is that

[aqua4 2]

He is wrong and you are correct. Advice from one official varies to the next.

[jovy444 0]

So life in a communist country goes on. (Hopefully)

 

Wish I could offer advice for you. I dread to think what the "official" will require for my next retirement visa renewal. Now that the baht has been artificially inflated, I might be borderline financially. Bad luck would be to be processed by the boss-bitch at Korat who told my wife that she is "tired of falang". Good luck wiould be the guy who only wanted to see the embassy affidavit which validates my retirement income.

 

If it wasn't for the woman I love, I'd be outta here and never think about "LOS" again. Never used to be so negative.

 

Good Luck to ya!

[Zidane 11]

I only went to the Immigration Office to check on the requirements for the visa,other than financial,really.

Things like marriage certificate,proof of income from bank,pictures of house,wedding etc.

I knew about the 40,000 baht monthly rule but when he started spouting on about income of 800,000 baht in the bank or 65,000 monthly,it threw a spanner in the works !

Oh well,we'll see what happens in June......

 

Zidane

[Michelangelo 0]

I think immigration officers just are sick and tired of people asking the same stupid questions every day! Just do your home work, read advice given on the forum, read the adverts in the immigration office and sort out your paperwork properly. I have seen so many people turned down for not having used the right form, forgotten to bring pictures, not signing the copies of passport, etc ..

I arrived on a Tourist Visa, and had it converted (and extended) to 1 year non-Imm O retirement all in 30 minutes, no questions, just a smile of all officers involved, probably surprised that a "falang for once had it sorted out properly!

Thai immigration officers are no better no worse than in other countries. They do their job and expect you to be clever enough to follow procedures which are clearly explained.

[biggles 509]

Michaelangelo, not sure I understand your logic. You say they are sick of people asking the same stupid questions then you talk about all the people who come with the wrong forms/photos etc. Isn't that the whole reason for going in to ask the "experts" at immigration just what their requirements are so you dont come in with the wrong information?

Edited February 16, 2008 by biggles