New Married Visa - Udon Thani

Why do you and others seem to have a desire to portray spouse immigration visas as a piece of piss?
I honestly believe you would be doing UM members a higher service if you characterized the visa extension process as it really is, not some crazy figment of your imagination.

If Udon Map members want to know about spouse visas and extensions, I urge them to private message me.

I really don't understand what yr difficulty is Tex, I found it to be straight forward enough if a little tiresome in the compliance details, photographs etc.
But once I had me ducks lined up (required money in the bank,family house papers) etc) The only real inconvenience was getting a freinds wife to act as a witness, I just don't like asking a favour from people I only know casually, but for all that, I got my Visa after two hours in the imm office, job done.

fatbas***d wrote:I really don't understand what yr difficulty is Tex,

Maybe it's the attitude of some people that get up the noses of the immigration officers that make it more difficult. I'm sure that you were polite Fat B*******d which I believe is half the battle. The other half of course is having the correct documentation

True enough. lepidoptera, I assume that's the correct spelling for a butterfly aficionado, but excuse me for my presumption if I'm incorrect, anyway I just wanted to share the entirely pleasant experience I had with a lady in immigration, because we are quick to whinge what things don't go as we expect but slow to hand out the plaudits what warranted.
I went into the airport immigration to apply for a reentry whatever, and the women who serviced me was one of the most civil and pleasant people I have met here.

What a turn up for the books eh? a pleasant & cheerful Thai civil servant, lovely lady she was or maybe she just fancied me, who knows,I have to say I do cut a rather dashing figure, in my bicycling shorts and skimpy t shirt.

Any way back to immigration, Maybe a turning point, maybe the bureaucracy has some training programs in place.

This lady was so nice I am sure she would even able to meet the forums resident "Mr grumpy" AKA TEXPAT, stringent requirements for service.

I just read on Thaivisa that a Canadian guy has been told to get his letter of income from the Canadian Embassy authenticated in Bangkok. Is this a new development or a ploy used to deal with farangs that the Udon Immigration Officer take a dislike to ? Not a marriage visa application but retirement extn
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/398 ... n-affairs/

mickydee wrote:I just read on Thaivisa that a Canadian guy has been told to get his letter of income from the Canadian Embassy authenticated in Bangkok. Is this a new development or a ploy used to deal with farangs that the Udon Immigration Officer take a dislike to ? Not a marriage visa application but retirement extn
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/398 ... n-affairs/

Recently the following poster extended his retirement visa, no mention of requiring authentication from MFA.

parrot wrote:Went to Udon immigration today at 1:10 PM for retirement visa renewal, reentry visa, and 90 day check today for me and wife. Step right up, no one waiting, finished with smiles all around and no surprises at 2:15. We provided the embassy letter and no bank account information with no problem. We were asked to provide a handdrawn map.....3 lines, 1 kilo mark, a crude house drawing, and that was that. I politely inquired if that was necessary for a retirement visa....she said yes. All in all, a wonderful day in the neighborhood.
It never ceases to amaze me the number of stamps that are used to complete the process........and there's always one lost or misplaced....they're always sharing stamps and receipt books between desks.
And finally, just for possible wiki historical purposes: carbon paper is alive and well in the Thai government! I wonder what country will be the last to give up the ghost.

retirement-visa-t15761-60.html

It's not unusual to have misinformed immigration officials at this office. 2 months ago I went to Immigration for an inquiry in preparation for a retirement extension. At that time I was 3 months shy of 50, I was told by an immigration officer that I could apply for an extension before I turned 50. 2 weeks ago and 1 month shy of 50 I went to immigration to extend only to find out that I was required to be 50 years of age for a retirement extension. However, they looked over my documentation, told me all is good and come back next month. No mention of requiring authentication from MFA.

mickydee wrote:I just read on Thaivisa that a Canadian guy has been told to get his letter of income from the Canadian Embassy authenticated in Bangkok. Is this a new development or a ploy used to deal with farangs that the Udon Immigration Officer take a dislike to ? Not a marriage visa application but retirement extn
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/398 ... n-affairs/

Did mine towards the end of July.
Letter from the British Embassy and used the combination of funds and pension...
No problems and no mention of authentication by the MFA

the 2006 list of documents needed for visa extension states the embassy letter for income should be stamped by the MFA but as i recall even mr happy never asked to see this. immigration at udon certainly did not.

16 Sept 2010, Udon Immigration, retirement visa. I gave them my embassy letter from Feb 2010....no Thai certification, and 6 months old.

The Thai certification rumor has been floating around for a long time.......I consider it a rumor. Don't know of anyone who's actually done it.

hey you wrote:the 2006 list of documents needed for visa extension states the embassy letter for income should be stamped by the MFA but as i recall even mr happy never asked to see this. immigration at udon certainly did not.

Yeah that 2006 list of documents was out dated they never bothered to take it down, probably still up there.

Ok, just got back from Immigration Udon Thani. This was my 5th extension; 1st three were based on retirement and the last 2 have been based on marriage. I've never had a major problem in the past or today.

Good news: process is not hard, thanks to this forum I was armed with the 'new requirements' of (1) house photos (2) map to property (3) neighbor/witness. All accepted with no problem along with other paperwork.

Bad news: the process has gotten looooooooong now. Total time at the immigration desk was 1 hour 50 minutes! It's hot in there so my advice is to eat just prior to going and to carry a bottle of water. They are now inputting some of the questions asked into the computer; then they do a print-out you have to sign.

I had to sign EVERY STINKING PAGE OF MY APPLICATION! This is crazy and a time-waster; thought my wrist would blow out.....must have signed my name 30 times!

Bottom line: simple requirements but many of them. And the actual process with the Immigration official is too long; but only have to do once a year so not a major problem for me.

I did my 4th continuous marriage extension yesterday using the money in the bank option, rather than income. As with the Bluesman, reading this forum had me prepared with the photos, map, witness.

I put the money in the bank in the beginning of July and just left it there. So, it was there over 60 days. I went to the bank and got a letter from them. The bankbook showed several early July deposits ending with a balance of 405,000 THB and the 20 Sept balance of 405,000 THB. There was no activity in August, so no entries for that month. The immigration policewoman insisted that I go back to the bank to get a 'statement' for August to prove the money was there in August. My protest that this was too stupid fell on deaf and dumb ears. After returning with the proof I continued.

The interview process was longer, but hopefully next year they'll just print the forms and have us sign them. The interview form was printed in Thai and when I asked for an English translation I was told it wasn't available.

Note: They had me sign a form acknowledging that if there were any changes in the circumstances that allow me to get the extension I must report them to immigration. I'm assuming that would include separation and/or divorce. It also mentioned penalties for failing to do so.

My wife asked why things were becoming more difficult. The response was because many Thai women were agreeing to fake marriages with foreigners so the foreigners could stay in the country. I guess witnesses would never fake their statements. And of course, pictures never lie. I did notice a considerable number of plainclothes people coming and going from small group meetings with one of the officers. Home checks/visits?

know that this is of topic and I apologise however this is Marriage Visa Question

My Thai Wife and step daughter live with me in the UK and are both now Finally British Citizens. On our trip to the LOS
in August I opened a account with Bangkok Bank it is my intention to put 400000 Baht into that account{in my name only}
It is my intention never to touch that account.
When I live in Thailand in approx 4 to 5 years can I show Immigration this every year for my Visa or do I have to show
Income as well.

Valiant,I am on a marriage visa at present and we asked immigration when last there in June if I could show a Fixed savings account with my Bank with the 400k baht deposit instead of a standard account savings or current.They said no problem so unless immigration change the minimum deposit for marriage or change the existing rule which is either 400k or income and not both within the next 4/5 years then fixed account would be better.
Maybe this type of account would also pay you more credit interest than a basic Thai Bank account or Thai savings account,find out from Bangkok Bank what fixed accounts are available.

Since a basic exchange rate say would mean 10k sterling equals 400k Thai,is there no way you can utilise UK savings accounts ie ISA's until nearer the time since you would be getting far better credit interest rates on these?