I have a Thai wife with all the correct papers ie registered papaers etc what would i require to get a marrage visa, i have property in thailand to the value of about 1.7 m baht would this off set the amount i need in a thai bank account, also would i need the money to be in a thai bank account or could i show a english account, if it needs to be in a thai bank account is there a minimum amount of time it would need to be in there before i apply for the visa?
Any informatiom greatly appreciated, i currently travel on a non o visa which runs out shortly.
Marrage visa requirements
Re: Marrage visa requirements
Financial requirements are 400K THB in a Thai bank account seasoned for 3 months before application. Alternatively, you can show a minimum of 40K THB a month income. In both instances, the money has to be your's as the farang husband.
You can apply for the extension within the last 30 days of any 90 day permitted to stay stamp. Be aware the marriage extensions are not approved by local Imm offices. All are granted in BKK although you must apply locally. You'll be given a 30 day "under consideration" stamp while BKK make their minds up. You go back on the appointed day and get the extension, or not.
HH Imm will be more inflexible about marriage extensions (as opposed to retirement) as they don't make the decision and will not want to lose face by supplying BKK with inadequate paperwork. Your wife is likely to be interviewed and there's the possibility of a home visit to check that you're actually living together.
Your best bet is to visit Imm and get a checklist of all the paperwork they want to see, especially if your visa is running out soon.
Also note that if you're over 50 and meet the financial requirements for a retirement extension (min 65K income or 800K in a Thai bank or a combination of both), Imm will push you towards that option and to be fair it's an easier extension to get.
You can apply for the extension within the last 30 days of any 90 day permitted to stay stamp. Be aware the marriage extensions are not approved by local Imm offices. All are granted in BKK although you must apply locally. You'll be given a 30 day "under consideration" stamp while BKK make their minds up. You go back on the appointed day and get the extension, or not.
HH Imm will be more inflexible about marriage extensions (as opposed to retirement) as they don't make the decision and will not want to lose face by supplying BKK with inadequate paperwork. Your wife is likely to be interviewed and there's the possibility of a home visit to check that you're actually living together.
Your best bet is to visit Imm and get a checklist of all the paperwork they want to see, especially if your visa is running out soon.
Also note that if you're over 50 and meet the financial requirements for a retirement extension (min 65K income or 800K in a Thai bank or a combination of both), Imm will push you towards that option and to be fair it's an easier extension to get.
Re: Marrage visa requirements
if you go for the marrage visa you will need to go to bangkok to the british embassy to get a letter for your english marrage cert and also the thai embassy for the translassion of the english cert to be approved then you will have to go to the municiple office in hau hin so as they can stamp it then you need to go back to hua hin Imm for them to check all your paper work is correct and if it is they will send it to bangkok.
Belive me its not as simple as you would think they dont tell you excatly what they need. The first time i tried to make the application they required five items of paper work once we got all of those together we went back then the list was ten iterms of paper work which ment another visit to bangkok, we finally got the visa after 3-4 months running around every time we went there they wanted some thing else and keeped on extending my one month extension it was looking like i was going to have to do a boarder run so be prepaired also when you go to Imm hua hin make sure you see the same person every time, it makes life easyer and some tea money goes a long way if you know what i mean
Belive me its not as simple as you would think they dont tell you excatly what they need. The first time i tried to make the application they required five items of paper work once we got all of those together we went back then the list was ten iterms of paper work which ment another visit to bangkok, we finally got the visa after 3-4 months running around every time we went there they wanted some thing else and keeped on extending my one month extension it was looking like i was going to have to do a boarder run so be prepaired also when you go to Imm hua hin make sure you see the same person every time, it makes life easyer and some tea money goes a long way if you know what i mean
Re: Marrage visa requirements
I've just been through the process and it is painful!
Good advice from lomuamart above.
They do have a check list in both English and Thai but they're both different! The Thai one has more on it than the one in English. In addition to the check list and on top of a little tea money, they wanted a picture of us getting married, a recent family picture, a copy of my landlady's house papers along with their ID card, a map of the area around my house, a letter from the Amphoe certifying that our Thai marriage certificate is valid, a copy of my son's birth certificate, and a few other bits and bobs which escape me now!
Last but not least, my wife and her closest friend had to go in person to Immigration to be interviewed.
As lomuamart mentioned, I was offered the retirement visa which I was told would be a lot easier.
Having now got the visa, they assured me that extending it next year won't be as painful but I guess I'll have to wait and see!
Good luck with the application!
Good advice from lomuamart above.
They do have a check list in both English and Thai but they're both different! The Thai one has more on it than the one in English. In addition to the check list and on top of a little tea money, they wanted a picture of us getting married, a recent family picture, a copy of my landlady's house papers along with their ID card, a map of the area around my house, a letter from the Amphoe certifying that our Thai marriage certificate is valid, a copy of my son's birth certificate, and a few other bits and bobs which escape me now!
Last but not least, my wife and her closest friend had to go in person to Immigration to be interviewed.
As lomuamart mentioned, I was offered the retirement visa which I was told would be a lot easier.
Having now got the visa, they assured me that extending it next year won't be as painful but I guess I'll have to wait and see!
Good luck with the application!
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Re: Marrage visa requirements
Is there a big difference in rules between a marriage visa and a retirement visa?
The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Re: Marrage visa requirements
Thank you all for the advice, imight stick with the o visa until the big 50 next year 
Re: Marrage visa requirements
Other than the lower financial requirement is there any advantage to getting a marriage visa vs retirement visa , assuming one is eligible for both?
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." -Frank Sinatra
Re: Marrage visa requirements
Other benefit of marriage vs retirement visa, apart from lower financial requirements is that if you intend to work in Thailand, then you can apply for a Work Permit (with all docs etc.) under a Non Immigrant O (Marriage) visa. Non Immigrant O (Retirement) visa doesn't allow work, for obvious reason. However, if you alter decide to work (whilst on a retirement visa), then you will need to apply for a Non Immigrant B (Business) Visa, (with cancellation of your retirement visa).