Can anybody please tell me if I need the 40k+ income statement for the 3 months 'visit wife' visa.

Thanks.

My advice is call the consulate in your home country for the answer.

Unsolicited advice is if you are coming for only 90 days get a 90 visitors or tourist visa. Don't need any money in any bank for that.

Thanks, but I live here and will get the visa in Vientiane. Are there noone in Udon who has gone from years of 30 days VOA to a Non Immigrant O?

You should be able to get a single entry 90 day Non "O" based on marrage in Vientiane. You will need passport/copies, the wife and paperwork, and marriage paper/copies. Will need to stay over night.

Remember, I said "should", it will depend on their mood

Then before that expires in Udon or Nong Khai you can apply for the marrage visa and at this time you will need to show the 40k per month income or (from paper given me) 400 k in the bank.

good luck

ps I would stop by immigration here in Udon (Mon & Fri) (best around one-ish)

Thanks. I will go Aek Udon today.

you may well find that an initial non-imm O visa is ony available to you in your home country. I have heard many people stating this fact.
Not trying to put you off - just forewarning you.
For the initial visa you don't need any financial proof its when you come to get the extension (which you can apply for after the first 60 days have expired on your visa) that you need to show the financial proof. I also believe that since October 1st this year - there is no longer an option for new extension applicants. You HAVE to have the 40k per month income and the option of having a lump sum in the bank of 400K is not available to you. (If it were though - there is another rule that it must be in the bank for a minimum of 3 months before your application too - making it more of a security deposit rather than proof of having means to support yourself (because you cannot touch it)
The rules are tight - and are getting tighter and the biggest losers now are the under 50's , not married who dont want (or have) to work.
Good Luck

philo wrote:Thanks. I will go Aek Udon today.

Post back on what they tell you.

What I said is what they told me a couple of weeks ago Person I talk to seemed to be going by pre Oct 1 rules. When and if I go back to file will look for the same person, then maybe the rules will stay the same.

Paul wrote:you may well find that an initial non-imm O visa is ony available to you in your home country. I have heard many people stating this fact.
Not trying to put you off - just forewarning you.
For the initial visa you don't need any financial proof its when you come to get the extension (which you can apply for after the first 60 days have expired on your visa) that you need to show the financial proof. I also believe that since October 1st this year - there is no longer an option for new extension applicants. You HAVE to have the 40k per month income and the option of having a lump sum in the bank of 400K is not available to you. (If it were though - there is another rule that it must be in the bank for a minimum of 3 months before your application too - making it more of a security deposit rather than proof of having means to support yourself (because you cannot touch it)
The rules are tight - and are getting tighter and the biggest losers now are the under 50's , not married who dont want (or have) to work.
Good Luck

Paul is right you have to apply in your home country, and take your marriage cert with you, or a photocopy which the Thai Embassy will keep.
The clerk at the Amphur office, kindly gave us lots of copies stamped and signed.
The 40K monthly income rule now includes your wife's income combined with yours. It is getting tighter, look at all the cars, pick-ups for sale.
A know a few guys that are thinking of Malaysia and Cambodia, both countries not my cup of tea.

Prenders88 wrote:

Paul wrote:you may well find that an initial non-imm O visa is ony available to you in your home country. I have heard many people stating this fact.
Not trying to put you off - just forewarning you.
For the initial visa you don't need any financial proof its when you come to get the extension (which you can apply for after the first 60 days have expired on your visa) that you need to show the financial proof. I also believe that since October 1st this year - there is no longer an option for new extension applicants. You HAVE to have the 40k per month income and the option of having a lump sum in the bank of 400K is not available to you. (If it were though - there is another rule that it must be in the bank for a minimum of 3 months before your application too - making it more of a security deposit rather than proof of having means to support yourself (because you cannot touch it)
The rules are tight - and are getting tighter and the biggest losers now are the under 50's , not married who dont want (or have) to work.
Good Luck

Paul is right you have to apply in your home country, and take your marriage cert with you, or a photocopy which the Thai Embassy will keep.
The clerk at the Amphur office, kindly gave us lots of copies stamped and signed.
The 40K monthly income rule now includes your wife's income combined with yours. It is getting tighter, look at all the cars, pick-ups for sale.
A know a few guys that are thinking of Malaysia and Cambodia, both countries not my cup of tea.

very mis-leading

Paul wrote:you may well find that an initial non-imm O visa is ony available to you in your home country. I have heard many people stating this fact.
The rules are tight - and are getting tighter and the biggest losers now are the under 50's , not married who dont want (or have) to work.
Good Luck

Excellent post and very true. I got my first retirement visa at the Thai Embassy in DC while I was a 'gubbamint employee. Police report, health report, bank statement, copy of my retirement orders, passport, drivers license, military ID. Had it in 24 hours. Renewing it will not be possible as I am not meeting the monthly deposit into the Thai bank account requirements.
My wife is Lao and has been getting 90 day visas based on my retirement visa. We will move back to Vientiane shortly.
I have a feeling a lot of people will be voting with their feet and moving to Vientiane where there is less effort to "financially supersize" the expats. They are happy to have any who are contributing to the economy and not making a problem.

Dakoda:
Why do you state that the posts are mis-leading.?
Your comment would be valuable if backed up with some reasoning!

I arrived on a 90 day tourist visa, which was converted to an "O" in Bangkok. There was much less paperwork and trouble getting the retirement visa in Bangkok than they had required at the consulate in the U.S.

That was a few years ago, and that might be different now. Indeed, that was Thai Immigration, so one should not be surprised procedures and requirements vary from time-to-time.

Paul wrote:Dakoda:
Why do you state that the posts are mis-leading.?
Your comment would be valuable if backed up with some reasoning!

stop by immigration here in Udon and ask. No where, have I seen or heard that you needed to return to your home country (exception; one year muliti entry "O" or "B" ). Guess should have just posted Bull ****

philo wrote:Can anybody please tell me if I need the 40k+ income statement for the 3 months 'visit wife' visa.

Thanks.

From the initial post it appears that the author is talking about a non-immigrant O visa (support of a Thai national). This train of thought is backed up by his enquiry about the cash requirements.
This visa is indeed valid for a year (meaning it must be used within a year) BUT only in 90 day segments - meaning that if you get a single entry, then you can have a 90 day stay, commencing anytime within the years validity. If you purchase a multi-entry then you can have as many 90 day segments as you can fit into that years validity - providing you leave and re-enter to validate the next 90 day segment (or apply for an extension before the first 90 days is up)
No cash requirement of proof is needed for this visa. Only the subsequent extensions)
And generally Visas are only obtainable outside of the destination country and should not be confused with 'Extensions' or 'permit to stay' stamps.
It is widely accepted on the very popular Thaivisa.com website that a non-imm visa is darn near impossible to obtain in countries neighbouring Thailand and most applicants have been told to apply in their own country.

Technically a visa is not renewed - just extended, year after year.

It would appear that a few other members on this site are also aware of the need to make the initial application in ones home country - however because one person is not aware or has never heard of this happening - the posts are branded misleading and bull****

Maybe the majority are wrong ?

philo wrote:Thanks, but I live here and will get the visa in Vientiane. Are there noone in Udon who has gone from years of 30 days VOA to a Non Immigrant O?

Philo,maybe you should clarify exactly what your status is at this time!

Have you been doing the border runs every 30 days and now you want to get a visa?you s
If that is the case,should be able to get a tourist visa and then extend it or change it to an ''O''visa for married with the proper papers including an income statement!
You would not need the income statement of proof until you apply for the marriage visa.It is not needed for a tourist visa!!
The advice to stop by the immigration office would be warranted for absolute confirmation on your needs!