Yup. Something changed at Thai Consulate in Savannakhet.
(No more freebie.)
From Thai Visa
: -, - -
We are getting reports that thai consulate in Savannakhet Lao (across the river from Mukdahan Thailand) is now requiring proof of funds (400K baht or the equivalent) in a bank account (thai or in your country) in order to issue the year/multi Non-O's based on marriage.
There are several confirmed reports this week where people were asked for proof of funds (even people who had their wife with them, and/or had a letter from their wife asking for the year/multi Non-O) and if they didn't have it or couldn't produce it they were sold 90 day single entry Non-O visas.
At this time, we are not certain whether this is a policy change OR just one rogue officer up there with a bee in his bonnet trying to make foreigners hoop jump
We held off on allowing any posts about it until at least a few people had weighed in with their first hand experience on the matter.
Sadly, even now, we cannot confirm with 100% certainty that proof of funds IS a requirement in every application for the year multi Non-O based on marriage..
So far none of the visa run companies who take people to Savannakhet have been informed by the consulate staff there is a policy change. Those companies bring HUNDREDS of people there every week. You'd think that IF there was a change they would be notified..
They are still issuing 90 day single entry Non-O without proof of funds, without your wife present. You can get 5 months of stay out of that visa (the 90 day entry stamp and the one 60 day visit thai family extension). That can buy you time to see if this blows over or if it becomes a cut in stone policy..
One last bit, just so every one is clear, the Savannakhet consulate never did issue a year/multi Non-O based on raising thai children, OR based on retirement
The year/multi Non-O based on marriage was not listed as available on their site where the marriage visa requirements are (it never was, they just sold it when you applied if you asked)
I apologize to people who tried to post about Savannakhet the last few days. I decided not to let those posts on until I had feedback from people. As I said even WITH the experiences people had
so far there is no consensus that it is a new permanent policy or not