Soutener

That is very reassuring. Only Udon can supply my needs for baked beans and old speckled hen, lol.

This is just an update to say that I got the one year visa very promptly in the UK by applying online and sending screenshot of my bank account with sufficient funds. Mant thx to those who helped especially BritTim. Application was a bit of a nightmare. I had to buy a scanner for passport pages, marriage certificate and use photoshop to squeeze stuff in. It took several days in all but at least I am here and settling in. Now I just have worry about all the rest of the immigrations demands. Like do people really report every time they spend a night or two away from home? I am visiting my nearest city (Udon Thani) most weeks for a couple of days and staying in hotels. Do I really need to report every time I go?

That is good news. I will put that top of the "to try" list. Wasn't really looking forward to getting elbowed in the ribs by busloads of Chinese and Russians, lol.

Savannakhet is beginning to look like the most practical option for the first year, busy or not. I think I will try for the 3 month intial non 0 visa and hope I have no problems with opening a new bank account or maybe reviving my old one. Then hope there is no problem with using my bank in the UK from Thailand so I can import funds. Might even look at London Embassy again, though I think they need to see funds in Thai bank not UK one. Anyway, thanks for peoples help.

Sorry to be slow replying to this. Things got busy here. Are you saying there might be a problem at the Thai end if I send, say, a million baht? I will certainly check with my bank in UK before sending. Also, I am fairly sure if the money is in my wife's account it will be acceptable to immigration but someone can correct me if I am wrong.

This proves I could never be a beaurocrat.

That is certainly good to know. Only an hour and eight minutes from where I will be. Probably the best option as long as they will convert visa exempt to non 0. I suppose I will get used to the post-covid set up pretty quickly. Just one more question, if I send money via bank or Wise to my wife's bank account, will that be acceptable to immigration? I reckon my own bank account will have lapsed after 2 years. Also previously Bank ofAyudhya didn't function with online transfers. Also I have lost the bank book, lol.

To everyone else... Again, thanks for the replies. I am getting old and would like to avoid trips wherever I can. I will be living between Udon Thani and Sakon Nakon and as far as I know my nearest IO will be Nakon Phanom, a three hour drive. For me that means staying over night and returning the next day. I've been to Sawannakhet several times and know what to expect which makes everything a lot less anxiety inducing. One trip to Sawanakhet beats two or three trips to Nakon Panom and unknown reception by immigration. I suppose the only real question that matters is, can I convert directly to a one year non O from a visa exempt/tourist visa in Swannakhet? I have no problems with funds and no past transgressions.

Thx for reply thaiscot. Below is what the London Embassy demand. Accumulating all that documentation is just too time consuming. Non-Immigrant Type O- A (Long Stay) 1 Year/Multiple entries Printout of visa application form submitted online, with bar code Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months and at least 2 blank pages A medical certificate issued in the UK or Ireland or Thailand, showing no prohibitive diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No.14 (B.E. 2535) which include Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Elephantiasis, drug addiction, third stage of Syphilis, and the certificate shall be valid for not more than three months. Certificate of criminal record clearance from the UK (ACRO, DBS, or issued by the police) or Ireland Financial evidence showing monthly income of not less than 65,000 THB (approx. £1,625) or having the current balance of 800,000 THB (approx. £20,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings, for at least 1 month Copy of evidence stating that applicants have insurance as per stipulated by the Office of Insurance Commission and health insurance of Thailand which covers COVID-19 related medical expenses, both inpatient and outpatient, no less than 100,000 USD for the whole period of your stay in Thailand. Please check < http://longstay.tgia.org> for more information regarding the insurance requirement.

I am heading to Thailand soon from the UK and can't face applying for a non O at the London Embassy. I will have plenty of funds so can apply for non O on basis of marriage. Rather than get a 3 month non O at local IM then go back again to prove funds, could I go straight to Savannakhet for a one year visa? I live quite close to Mukdahan and it would get everything wrapped up fast. Any advice regarding potential pitfalls would be appreciated.

Many thanks for that. I just have to wait for our house in Sakon Nakon to get finished building!

Has anyone gone to Savannakhet recently and got a non-o marriage visa without Thai bank statements? I would like to come back after weathering covid in the UK. The pre-covid visa regime in Savannakhet was the most relaxed I ever encountered.