Questioner: Hansman
The issue is this: In December 2020, I am going up for a one-year extension of my NON-O visa with Chiang Rai Immigration. This time I want to extend based on “support Thai wife”, also called “marriage visa” in communication.
I meet the income requirement of THB 40.000, so all in all, the extension based on “supporting Thai wife” should not cause any problems.
Now I have been approached earlier by the local Immigration that in 2017 I was not registered by the hotel in BKK where we spent 1 night. He told me that this could possibly cause problems when applying for the aforementioned extension based on “supporting Thai wife”: the Immigration office that comes to check the data during the “under consideration” period could come up with a rejection, may out of the country after 7 days…
My question is whether this scenario, leaving the country within 7 days because we have not been reported after arriving in Thailand, can be used to not honor the extension as described above?
Another question is whether the climate, Covid-19, farang unfriendliness, is now less favorable to request such an extension. An alternative is to “just” apply for my NON-O based on pension (62 years).
I really appreciate advice from this forum!
Reaction RonnyLatYa
1. That report then had to be made by the hotel and if that did not happen then it can hardly be blamed on you. I do not see why people would refuse an annual extension for this, or whether they would suddenly make a problem of it now (something from 2017). Whether that year extension is requested on the basis of "Thai Marriage" or "Retirement" does not matter. You must also be registered as “Retired”.
2. Farang unfriendly due to COVID-19? unknown to me. People say that, but I don't notice it myself. If you have an unfriendly IO towards you (you have them walking around everywhere), they will be too when applying for a “Retirement” extension. For such people, it doesn't matter whether there is COVID-19 or not.
Regards,
RonnyLatYa