Changing educational to marriage extension of stay

[pitsch]

My friend went to immigration, to change from student to marriage extension. They told him, he has to go out of thailand and apply for a Non-immigration "O" visa ouside. BUT if he pays 15000 Baht he has not to go outside!!! It sounds like a lot of tea money. When he agreed they studied all his papers. He has rented a house and lives there with his wife. Immigration said, he must have a statement from the owner that both live in this house, BUT as the owner is a farang his statement will not be valid. They told him to use some fake address with a thai owner, who will give this statement. Are there no other couples with marriage extension who rented a house from a farang? Very strange.

[JamesWest]

My friend went to immigration, to change from student to marriage extension.

which location, office?

They told him, he has to go out of thailand and apply for a Non-immigration "O" visa ouside. BUT if he pays 15000 Baht he has not to go outside!!!

outside where? thai immigration is where you apply for your visa if you are in country. was his student visa expiring so he had to leave?

It sounds like a lot of tea money. When he agreed they studied all his papers. He has rented a house and lives there with his wife. Immigration said, he must have a statement from the owner that both live in this house, BUT as the owner is a farang his statement will not be valid.

so a house owned by a farang cannot be used as a address for a marriage visa? my house was owned by a farang when i got my non-imm O visa. i just showed them the lease which was in English. Maybe Farangs don't really own their houses.

They told him to use some fake address with a thai owner, who will give this statement. Are there no other couples with marriage extension who rented a house from a farang? Very strange.

then the thai immigration people told him to lie about the address?
does he have a lease for the house? are both names on it? that was all i was asked for.

i hope your friend did not give them any money. he should ask to see the rules on the immigration web site, specifically the fee for the "service" of him not having to leave.

and very nicely ask for the immigration persons business card which they all have.
and perhaps a list of all fees for visas.

smile and look perplexed and leave. try again on another day.

also study everything you need in advance and bring all the information with you.

[matthewnoel]

more thai bullshit!

[pitsch]

O.K. some more details, the case is not finished yet.
It was in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan said they cannot make it.
Normally you cannot get an "O" visa in thailand, so you have to go in another country to get it, but for 15000 Baht you can get it in Hua Hin!!
Student visa will soon expire, but he want to change to marriage extension. School is even more expensive and now you also have to leave the country to get a new year extension.
Immigration told him, 2 officers can make the statement, that the couple lives at the fake address, but this will cost another 10 000 Baht!!!

Today the school talked with immigration and now they want accept the address of the farang house and make the extension for 15 000 Baht. I will see tomorrow if this is so.

[bapak]

Ed Visa is an "O" Visa and the Extension to Stay is based on "O". Tell Immigration this and they may change their mind.
Have seen change from Ed to Marriage several time without "tip". Also to Retirement.

[pitsch]

Now they made it for 15 000 Baht and sent it to Bangkok, there is a stamp under consideration for 30 days in the passport. I am not sure if Ed Visa = "O", I think ED Visa is an "ED" visa, not an "O". It seems there is a new rule, that you cannot extend an "ED" visa in Thailand, but you have to go outside for a new visa.

[bapak]

ED Vida is an "O" visa.. and true, cannot extend in Thailand. However, the Bangkok process that you are now undergoing, is correct and normal process.