Changing from Retirement to Marriage Extension.

[mak]

My last extension was based on retirement. Any special requirements to change to marriage extension?

[semperfiguy]

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[newtovillagelife]

It's a real pain in the ass. Retirement extension is so much easier, and much less intrusive.

[FrazeeDK]

I did it because I had an O-A Retirement and was getting dunned for the mandatory health insurance.. I didn't find it particularly diffiuclt to do. Immigration had no issues with me doing it. After going through the paper rigamarole, witness, and a scheduled "home visit" it was done. Now, the only hoop I have to jump through that to me is tiresome is the mandatory 30 day "under consideration" wait before I get the stamp. Evidently the application along with bundled reams of others has to be reviewed in Khon Khean Immigration..

[sometimewoodworker]

It's a real pain in the ass. Retirement extension is so much easier, and much less intrusive.

That used to be true, however the, relatively new, financial requirements are a significant impediment to many
So make the choice rather different, and that doesn’t address the point that employment is an option for those on marriage extensions.

[AlexO]

Quick question. How long do you need to have the 400K in a Thai bank. Not the first time which is explained clearly but third time. Is there any difference between first and subsequent applications.

[sometimewoodworker]

Quick question. How long do you need to have the 400K in a Thai bank. Not the first time which is explained clearly but third time. Is there any difference between first and subsequent applications.

It must be in the bank for at least 60 days on the date of application.

The rules say that you can then immediately withdraw it.

Prudence says that you should leave it until the extension is granted, a few people have been asked to show their bank book after application and before the extension is granted.

There is no difference on if it was the first or thirty first application.

[AlexO]

Okay, thank you.

[tabanaac]

Just gone from visa on arrival to the marriage 1 year, lots of paperwork twice plus 2 visits to the house.
Needed 400k in the bank for 2 months prior to first application, was pending for a month, needed the 400k again.

[sometimewoodworker]

Just gone from visa on arrival to the marriage 1 year, lots of paperwork twice plus 2 visits to the house.
Needed 400k in the bank for 2 months prior to first application, was pending for a month, needed the 400k again.

Possible that you had a visa on arrival but very unlikely, the vast majority of entrants get Visa exempt entries.
You will have got a Non-O visa from immigration next (money in the bank on the day of entry only)
60+ days after that you will have applied for an extension (money in the bank for at least 60 days on the day of application)

The only thing that is unusual are the 2 visits to your house, other reports have only one.

[tabanaac]

You are right was a visa exempt entry ( tourist visa)
I arrived in Thailand mid September mid Oct got the marriage started which include all the paperwork, witness and a follow up home visit , mid November went to immigration again and was going to change to retirement but was told cannot till next year so did the whole marriage one again. All the paperwork witness and another home visit.

[sometimewoodworker]

You are right was a visa exempt entry ( tourist visa)
I arrived in Thailand mid September mid Oct got the marriage started which include all the paperwork, witness and a follow up home visit ,

This is standard

mid November went to immigration again and was going to change to retirement but was told cannot till next year

Again this is not unexpected since it is not clear if you had actually received your marriage extension.

so did the whole marriage one again. All the paperwork witness and another home visit.

This point is where it is a radical departure from what is usual, following the regulations, or you have not given enough information to understand the reasoning.

You should have received your marriage extension from your application in mid October, your subsequent application for a retirement extension was rejected it should not have caused you to need make a second application.

It is possible to change the reason for an extension, it is possible to do this before your current extension finishes though in most cases it is only done when extending at the usual time.

Having gone through the application to extend for marriage it is extremely difficult to understand why you would immediately try to change to a retirement extension you obviously have a reason but I can’t imagine what it is.
Usual reasons include:
Not wanting to wait, but you already were.
Not waiting to have an immigration visit: but you already had that.
Not wanting to complete the extra paperwork: but you already had.
Not wanting to submit photos: but you already did.
Not wanting to bother a witness: but you already had.
You wife not wanting to accompany you: but she already had.
Lastly
Not caring that you have to commit to a much larger financial commitment.

[Bandung_Dero]

STWW,
If you only have a wooden wall to bang your head against I can provide brick! 5555

[sometimewoodworker]

STWW,
If you only have a wooden wall to bang your head against I can provide brick! 5555

Some posters here provide the same opportunity

[tabanaac]

Okay I am a newbie to this game.
This is what immigration demanded for changing from tourist to O.
My friend told me retirement easy so that is why i tried to change in October.
I can tell you I didn't want to do all this twice, but that is what was required.
So anyway done now for a year.

[tamada]

Good info for those who may try a last-minute extension change at Udon immigration. It's possible that an Immigration office elsewhere may be more amenable a good lesson learned IMHO.

Some of our members use Nong Khai and Khon Kaen immigration so they may have a different experience.

Ta
tam

[Chriss]

My last extension was based on retirement. Any special requirements to change to marriage extension?

I should think the paper requirements would be the same, I’ve been on a marriage extension for 12 years, there is more paperwork than a retirement extension but once you’ve done it the first year keep a set for yourself and it’s copy the lot for the next. You need to hand in 2 complete sets. A lot of signatures on the day.

But there’s a couple of additions each year like updated bank book, the new bank letter, and a new Por Tor 2, must be signed within 7 days of application.

Paperwork includes

2 x application form, with photos
2 x passport papers, picture page, visa page, exit TM6 etc
2 x marriage certificate, front and back,
2 x Por Tor 2, original and copy,
2 x wife’s ID card
2 x wife’s change of name certificate, this has been given back not needed a few times
2 x house book
2 x yellow book, had this returned unwanted a couple of times
2 x map from house to Imm office
2 x photos, one set colour, one copy, pics of you and wife outside house showing house number, you and wife in your lounge, you and your wife in the bedroom… I’ve used the same ones for 12 yrs.
2 x bank book pages, all of them, only need the original bank letter, they copy it..
And original documents like marriage certificate, bank book, yellow book etc.
Oh and a witness… someone local who can vouch you live where you say you do, can’t be a family member.

Think that’s it…. On a good day the whole thing takes about 45 mins in front of an IO….

Put you off changing now eh Gus…..

[Doodoo]

Other than the 400,000 baht less for registration, why would someone want to go from a Retirement Visa to a Marriage Visa?

[mak]

No. Over the past 25 years I've had 19 based on retirement and 6 based on marriage. Last year I had retirement, the year before marriage. This year I applied for a marriage extension. Declined. They gave me a retirement with a fee and a promise to give a marriage extension next year. First time I had a major problem. I believe the new colonel is behind these hiccups.

[tamada]

New colonel, same-same old colonel, no? They all like to try it on or make some new, arbitrary rule. This is quickly taken on by the underlings on the front line who then use some arcane, random but ultimately unprovable method of choosing who to f**k with on any given day. For every applicant who happily endures the same unchallenging routine year-on-year, there's at least one who's gotten used to the annual performance art of filing for an extension.