If it was in Vientiane, go to Savannakhet next time. Much friendlier.
Well, seeing as you can't get a "marriage visa extension" outside this country, I can only surmise you've been pulling year long multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type-0 (other) visas based on being married to a thai national all this time.
Just an FYI; IF you as a foreigner got married to a thai in your own country; you do NOT need to "register" the marriage in thailand to qualify for either a yearly extension of stay or to pull one of those 60 day visit my thai wife extensions of stay. I've shepherded people thru both processes in Bangkok with just their marriage certificate from their own country, translated into thai and stamped as a "certified translation" by the MFA.
Now what it appears you haven't done in all this time is gotten a yearly extension of stay INSIDE thailand based on being married to a thai.
As other posters pointed out Savannakhet would have been the go-to thai consulate of choice here in S/E Asia if you were tryin' to secure a year long multi-entry Non-Immigration Type O visa.
Although even there it would appear from recent reports that you'd need the original and the certified translation of your marriage certificate (from where ever you're from), a copy of your wife's thai I/D card and a copy of her listing in the house book. Still Savannakhet is the "soft touch" right now, but who knows how long that will last.
Still good luck,
"Whoever said `Money can`t buy you love or joy` obviously was not making enough money." <- quote by Gene $immon$ of the rock group KISS
Since u have kids you can also get a Non o based on that.
same $$ in the bank as wife
Savannakhet, from postings on thai visa, is easiest and no money needed to show if ur married
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/753690-1-year-multi-non-o-based-on-marriage-completed-in-savankhetmukdahan/
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...1#entry8253131
Richard
Thank you for the journey - it reinforced my reasoning for living in LOS for the past 12 years.
How does one describe LOS? I cannot do it justice! Natural beauty, contrast, history - too much.
In Jan, we are shifting to Fang - about 600AD.
My "home country" is Oz - natural beauty - 5 star.
Too bad about the people!
"DBell" that statement is totally wrong! You don't need what ever the Immigrations Officer demands. You need whatever the rules says you need. End of story..
The fact that some people bow 'n scrape to every demand these people make is NO reason all foreigners should do that!
Christ grow a pair! Stand up for what's written as the rules. If it's wrong call them on it right then or call and complain about them while you're there in their office!
I for one refuse to follow the whims of a thai who wants to make me do something just so they can "โชว์พาว" over me. BTW: that is the thai term for "show power" (although this being the "Land 'O Thaiz", the word power had too many syllables for them to spit out, so they cut the last syllable from the engrish word power, and now it's just "pow" as in "show pow").
We apply for permission to live here a year at a time and once granted it is a "right" we possess! It is NOT by their leave, nor do we tug our fetlock, err forelock when thaiz pass us in the street! They are human beans err human beings just like us, and in fact no better than we are.
If more foreigners stood up for what's really written in the rules instead of bending to the will of every Tom, Dick and Somchai thai in an oh-so tight uniform, we wouldn't be in near the mess we (foreigners) seem to be in here, time and again over simple stuff like this.
I'm proud to be a born, bred, corn fed american, but honestly, sometimes I'm ashamed to be labeled as a foreigner here, given the way some of you people say we should act towards these people.
Incorrect.
Everything is up to the discretion of the Immigration Police Officers.
A visa does not allow you to enter the country. It allows you to enter the country for a specific purpose at the immigration police's discretion.
Having all the documents the dept. of immigration state that an alien requires for an extension etc. does not automatically give you such, it is up to the discretion of the immigration police officer to grant you such or not.
Welcome. Enjoy your holiday here.
Sheesh, you guys! No wonder I have so much problem getting these people to follow the rules they wrote themselves!
If every Tom, Dick and Somchai foreigner here is kowtowing, bowing and scraping every time someone makes up a hare-brained new "rule", no wonder they think they can get away with it, you're letting them! Why not just man up, say', "No I believe that's not right", then tryin' to show them the proof as it's written IN thai..
Almost EVERYTHING to do with Immigrations has an appeals process, or a way to kick it up the chain 'o command. I've questioned immigration officers decisions here in Bangkok a few times when I thought they weren't following the "rules according to Hoyle". I've had my questions bumped up the chain and each time I've gotten them to follow the rules as they're written, not as they imagined they were. Now it might not have won me friends, but it hasn't appeared to have hurt my dealings with them either.
Wait, I take that back, on this new Police Order 327/2557 which came into effect August 29, they specifically list something that cannot be appealed. That's the new rule which lets people on visa exempt stamps (15/30 day) apply for a one time 30 day extension of stay. It says if that application is denied there is no appeal process and you get a "7-day-get-outta-Dodge" emergency extension only.
I know other Immigrations offices don't follow the rules like their written, Korat and Nong Khai are famous for being little fiefdoms. That's why I don't do "field trips" anymore. I deal with Bangkok and only Bangkok..
Last edited by toddaniels; 10-09-2014 at 06:05 PM.
Thailand and Thais really do drive some people nuts..... Don't they.
The rules are simple, for you the alien.
Everything is up to the discretion of the immigration police officer that is dealing with you.
If you have a visa to enter the kingdom of Thailand, that does not automatically grant you entry. It is up to the immigration police officer dealing with you.
Just look at all the people turned away from the Southern borders last month, some with new Tourist Visas, some using the 2nd entry on a double-entry tourist visa.
Immigration officers said no, they don't care, they're not granted entry and that was that.
The same goes for immigration police officers at immigration offices. You can go there with all the documents that they list as required. This does not automatically grant you, the alien, anything. It is up to the discretion of the immigration police officer.
This is the same the World over.
I'm guessing that as you are white and Western, the little brown man should be kowtowing you, right?
I must be an alien. Truly, I live in "hicksville" - CNX. When I arrived in LOS (12 years ago), I applied for a R/V (whatever one desires to call it). Over the years, it has not been the perfect run. Long waits & 3 monthly reporting - my gripes.
Procedure, documentary evidence - too easy. Extension - it is getting better.
3 monthly reporting - damned if I know why.
We are dealing with the police. My experience - I respect them - they respect me. I really do not see a problem - no discrimination; no derision.
However, some TD members - "no names" - go out of their way to create problems.
My dream - only a dream - make the PR (permanent residency) requirements reasonably achievable. Place more THB in Thai bank - OK!
Only my experience & opinion.
Back from Savanakhet, new Multi O spouse, new consulate now open, 60 Baht form filer, computer printed application.
Give it in, guy said originals, pull out the papers, wedding certificate, glance Ok, come back 3 pm, done and back to Thailand.
Lesson learnt don't arrive early, unlike the old consulate, they except applications up to 11 AM, could have had a few more hours sleep. Jim
You still hanging round Pete ? Thought you was on your way some time back ??
Anyway all the best matey
Can you confirm which "papers" were handed over and accepted. Also were Thai translations of the "originals" required? If not here a PM would suffice.Originally Posted by jamescollister
Form filler was just left of the consulate, copies of of weddings certs 2 and 3, passport, 2 photo's, house book copy.
Guy typed in the details, printed out the application, handed in the forms to the consulate guy, wedding cert was only thing he looked at and it was upside down. finished.
Then the wait in the most boring town on the planet. Jim
^Thanks
"DBell" - I personally think you give people you deal with here way too much latitude. True they have a LOT of discretion in things, but what is wrong with taking a stand on things you believe are wrong?
Why should we as foreigners roll over, do one of those exaggerated wai'z foreigner's are famous for (with their hands covering their faces), genuflect and curtsey, when we're tryin' to do is follow the rules as the thaiz wrote them? I just don't buy into that line of thinking not a bit.
You will note the Southern Border crossings are run by that guy from Division 6 right? The same one who said foreigners needed to carry their passports 24/7 (since rescinded) and that over-stayers will be black listed, which still hasn't come into effect or been enforced, other than us signing a paper that we understand the new rules they're gonna vote thru the cabinet someday.
These people (the thaiz) don't drive me nuts at all. In the time I've lived here I've become really good at taking their cultural idiosyncratic behavior and using it against them to get my way. It's foreigners here who walk around on eggshells, spouting "thai culture-isms" spoon fed to them by their significant thai other or who act like we owe the thaiz something because we choose to live here who really pushes my buttons.
Again, almost everything to do with Immigrations has a defined appeals policy. While the officer in front of you may not like it, you certainly can exercise your rights within the rules to appeal a decision.
"jamescollister" Good to hear that Savannakhet is still the "soft touch" place it's known to be for multi-entry Non-0 based on marriage!
Just a question; did you get hung up at the Mukdahan border buying the Lao visa that morning for very long? People doin' a visa runs up there especially one's using that overnight bus BKK to Mukdahan, I've been sending to the Lao Embassy here first to buy their visa. That way they're not caught in the queue to get the Lao visa and miss the first bus across.
"cnx37" - While they are a branch of the Royal Thai Police (hence the reason immigration rules are not laws, but police orders) most of those workers are nothing more than professional paper pushers or desk jockeys.
90 day reporting has gotten better since they went to the bar code receipt dealy, although I find it strange you still need to fill out a new form if nothing changed.
Concerning PR (Permanent Residency); those requirements are already set pretty darned low! Application fee of 7600baht. Three years of working here making the minimum amount as set out based on nationality, paying into the tax system, approval of residence 191,400 baht fee if you're single / 95,700 baht fee if you're married to a thai, a mountain of documentation and bob's your uncle! If they accept you're application, you'll get free extensions of stay every 6 months until you're eventually approved. FYI: they have a 100% success rate in approval, because if it won't fly they won't even take your paperwork! The quotas are 100 people per country per year and for western countries they NEVER hit the quota each year!
Conversely, if you're working and married to a thai, after 3 years you don't even need to apply for PR, you can go straight for thai citizenship.
Honestly guyz; I was taught as a kid "courtesy doesn't take a college degree" (which is good because I'm a dumb hillbilly). I never said I was rude to immigrations people ever.
However I was also taught respect has to be earned. Prove to me I should respect you and I will, but don't think just because a thai is wearing a too tight uniform with hash marks, stars & crossed swords on it that the position automatically garners respect from me.
I am totally tolerant of all the thaiz here, I mean where else would you expect to find them as thick as ticks on a hound-dogs back except a country called THAI-land? The thing is, the best I can work myself into towards them on a good day is ambivalent indifference.
Todd, I suggest remedial English tuition. Your assertions - what are you "talking" about?
a) law - no mention
b) method of application re 3 monthly reporting - no mention
c) PR - R/V & thus no gainful employment - a challenge?
d) dealings with I/O - mutual respect is OK by me
Glad you're keep up on my errant posting penchantz..
Thanx!
Todd, have you mastered the art of "swearing" that black is white yet?
I've not heard of that one before. Out of curiosity how does it work?Originally Posted by toddaniels
We drove up, no buses or farangs insight, 5 minutes for the Lao visa, but only 2 guys issuing them, so it would be slow if a bus load of farangs rocked up. Jim
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