SpokaneAl

2. You have to do it before your visa expires to get a new one year entry. After it expires you would only get a visa exempt entry.

Then you would need a re-entry permit to keep that last one year entry valid if you want to travel.

3. You will be able to apply for the extension during the last 30 days of the one year entry.

The 800k baht will have to be in a Thai bank of 60 days on the date you appy. 

As an alternative to money in a Thai bank for an extension of stay you can meet the financial requirements via a monthly income that is verified by your embassy in Bangkok. The requirements are the same (in baht) as those for the non imm o-a.

If you use the money in the bank solution for an extension of stay, that money must be in a deposit account in a Thai bank.

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I would apply for a Non-Immigrant O-A in London, UK.

The reason I ask about the point at which I provide evidence of 800,000 THB is that I don't have a Thai bank account anymore. The requirements say's I need to show "a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht" when I apply for the visa. Do I provide this when I apply for the visa or one (or TWO!) years later when I apply for the extension?

 

Sorry for my confusion, but if I don't need the funds until I apply for the extension (which I will do in Thailand) I don't need to bother trying to open a Thai bank account while still in the UK. 

You meet the financial requirements for the non imm o-a via your accounts in your home country. Then you will not need to provide any additional financial info, i.e. accounts in a Thai bank or via British embassy verification until a year later, or two years it you time a border run, when you apply for your extension of stay based on retirement at your local immigration office in Thailand.

No need for a Thai bank when you apply for the non imm o-a.

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Wealthy chef, I hope you will Post and let us know how things went with your visit to immigration and obtaining a extension of stay.


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Wait you're using the Chaengwattana immigration office no wonder that's not the right office they only handle Bangkok immigration downtown only.  You can still use TSL at Bangkok immigration I live in Korat and I do it and Korat immigration is okay with it.  I do my 90 day report in Korat with no issues and I get my extensions in Bangkok through TSL.  I got asked about that once at Korat immigration but it wasn't a problem I just called my agent and had him talk to them about it.  The TSL agents are only going to do it all for you only if you're actually using the immigration office in downtown Bangkok only.  I'm sorry I forgot to tell you that part, it has to be at the main immigration office only for them to walk you through the process.  They won't go outside of Bangkok downtown but they're totally worth it if you're using them in downtown Bangkok at the main immigration office.  I just read your location I thought you were in downtown Bangkok.  Just do it downtown at the main immigration office it'll be fine I live in Korat and I've been doing it for 4 years.  

Okay I didn't know that about the retirement visa that's awesome.  Is it possible to get a retirement visa if you're only 45?  I'm on a marriage visa and my extension always expires the same day every year.  I actually just got my last extension last month.  Can you get a retirement visa under the age of 50?  I actually am retired but I'm just not quite 50 years old.  I'm definitely going to switch to a retirement visa now that I know that as soon as they'll let me.  

The age requirement for an extension of stay based on retirement is 50 years old.

The financial requirements for an extension of stay based on retirement are higher than those for an extension of stay based on marriage.

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I feel like I get it now: 

1. Visa:  permission to enter Thailand, issued from a location outside of Thailand.
2. Extension of permission to stay:  issued from inside Thailand, does what it says.  
3. Re-entry permit:  issued from inside Thailand, granting permission to re-enter after leaving.  

And #2 is often called "renewing a visa" by laymen.  If you do confuse the two, you might forget to get #3 and end up getting screwed.  
Personally, I don't see why the pedantists don't just accept the common usage.  

  Thank you for the clarification.  You are incorrect about one thing:  I am renewing my visa, as well as applying for an extension of stay.  I'm actually doing both because yes I have plans to leave the country.   Your post should be pinned as a permanent fixture to inform people of the process of renewal of visas and entry permits.  Thanks again. 

EDIT:  given that I am applying for both things, are there more documents I need to prepare?  

 

 

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  I frequently exit and re-enter, and previously my visa was a multiple-enty visa.  The term of the visa expires at end of Feb.  I need to extend my permission to stay as well as permission to exit and enter at will.  You have just made things more confusing for me.  Definitely the visa expires at end of Feb.  Are you saying I don't need to renew that?  , thanks.   

 

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1 hour ago, ianf said:

Only crap bikes at Tesco and BigC. Wouldn't touch 'em with a barge pole.

I agree. While cheap bikes may sound good - you get what you pay for. Cheap bikes mean crappy, cheap components. 

I got first O-A three years ago but was not marked "multiple entry".

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Including my current visa, over the past five years I have obtained five non imm o-a multi entry visas via the LA Thai Consulate. Each one is annotated with an M to indicate the number of entries, and each one cost $200 US.

So if I leave & re-enter just before end of first year, I get another 12 months. I will not need re-entry permit be needed during those 12 months?

Each time you leave and return prior to the enter before date that is on your non imm o-a visa you will gain an additional 12 months from that return date.

The enter before date is an earlier date and unrelated to the one year from the date you entered Thailand.

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I got first O-A three years ago but was not marked "multiple entry". Confused. During "second" year, am I still able to leave & return without re-entry permit? Thanks for setting me straight.

Baby boomers are killing the Early Bird Special. Mostly talking about Florida. Not saying it's not horrible, but it's an interesting article --  

https://www.eater.com/2018/1/29/16929816/early-bird-extinction-florida

 

 

 

While not necessarily enticing for us, it is a fascinating concept.

And the next level for hip, active retiree living is here . . .

https://www.latitudemargaritaville.com

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Everyone seems to love the dogs when they are puppies and then just let them roam free when they grow, to return home each night or not, and sometimes to get fed, or not. They don’t seem to believe in teaching the dogs anything, and just kind of yell at them. We have a friend with a shitzhu that is full grown and she have never house broken it. When it comes inside or travels she puts a diaper on it.

The local post office/bill paying office guy had a pretty good sized dog and it attempted to attack of friend of mine, who jumped into the back of his pickup to avoid being bitten. That was the last time he ever visited that guy for business. The business owner couldn’t understand and wondered why my friend just did not bring a stick with him when he needed to do business with the guy.

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http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15385-Non-Immigrant-Visa-"O-A"-(Long-Stay).html
No mention in the MFA blurge of retirement whatsoever, there simply is not a visa that's specific purpose is for retirees, at the end of the day it doesn't really matter.

No. Its an extension of stay.
The over 50 crowd who are asking questions,  need to meet the financial requirements etc. 99 % refer to it as a retirement visa.  So does immigration.  So do the Ads by agencies on this TV site.  So do the signs at the front of agents. So does every person I know who has common sense.
But if some have no idea what one is talking about when they are over 50 and asking about the requirements and are immediately shut down by an arrogant: There is no such thing as a retirement visa.
If they don't get it duh, then I guess they don't......
 

You can have the last word. I don't think this thread should be hijacked in this way, so not playing your game. I posted the Washpo article because the thread is focused on lower wealth people. Lower wealth people do have issues others don't, even if you lack the basic compassion to get that. 

An aside to your discussion on Thai passports- a Thai friend living in USA (green card) returned to Thailand this month and the machine used for Thais at BKK accepted his Thai passport even though it was expired ! I found this interesting. 

However in order to get the "O/A" you still have to show the income on application ans\d also  need a medical certificate, expensive in the US, and a criminal background check.  IMHO the "O" visa and one year extension is the way to go unless you are using the bank deposit to prove eligibility and don't want to transfer the money to Thailand, but that only buys you 1 year.

Again, I am just thinking that if he is able, getting the non imm o-a before heading to Thailand would give him some breathing room as he figures out a place to stay, how to receive US television coverage :) etc.

Also, in most states the criminal background check is fairly easy to obtain as well.

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If you get a Retirement Visa, you do not need to do a border run ever!  Just renew you Visa Annualy and report to your local Immigration Office every 90 days to confirm you are still in the Country.  I have been doing this for 12 years now.  By the way, you might find it convenient to get a Multi Entry Certificate from Immigration, which will allow you to leave and enter Thailand without effectively cancelling your Retiirement Visa and putting you back on to a 30 day Tourist Visa.

You are confusing the issue with your incorrect terminology. You are referring to an extension of stay, which is not a visa.

I am referring to an actual visa - a non imm o-a multi entry visa which will allow the OP to avoid dealing with immigration for anything except for the 90 day reports for a year. And if he makes one border run towards the end of that year, he will get a second year before he must face immigration with its income verification and/or money in the bank requirements.

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We were in pretty much the same situation as the OP, and the solution is really not that complex.

His wife has a Thai ID card so that problem is resolved. Just get her a Thai passport, and if she enters Thailand on that passport she can stay as long as she likes.

As an aside my wife was away from Thailand for almost forty years with no Thai ID card. She returned via an American passport, and with the help of the Pooyai bon was able to get to locate the necessary documents and obtain a Thai passport, and from there it was a short, easy step to get a Thai passport. 

As for the OP, I would suggest he obtain a non imm o-a multi entry visa prior to leaving the US. It is not that difficult to get and it will give him at least a year - two years if he does a border run - to resolve issues and figure out his next step.

I'll see you on that. My western partner was a wheelchair user, and her father was a millionaire ( back when it actually meant something- one has to be a billionaire these days to be taken seriously ), and I and his daughter had little money, but he did not as much as offer us an interest free loan. When he retired, he built a cheap house from one of those mass builder companies and wouldn't put in a ramp for her to get into the house which was up steps, so she had to be dragged in with difficulty when she visited him.

 

When I was at school, I would do jobs during the holidays to earn some money ( not much back then ). My father decided I had to pay rent as I was earning money.

However, I stuck it to him by not working anymore and enjoying myself by having a holiday instead.

 

In that it was his money to do as he wished, why would you think that you should be entitled to any of it? And it sounds like you validated his position, and that of your father, of not wanting to lend (interest free - LOL) any money to his daughter and what sounds like a deadbeat partner with your refusal to do any work to earn your own way in life.

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You can't apply for an O-A visa in Thailand.  You're confusing an extension of stay with a visa. The two are not the same and the latter still requires that you are here on a non-imm O or non-imm O-A visa entry or do a conversion to a non-imm O entry.
 
 
 
 
 

Depending on your timing, you could manage to get a new non-imm O-A less often than every year. 

If you do a border hop while you're in Thailand and while your current visa is still valid, you get a new one year permission to stay when returning to Thailand. Then if you want to travel to the US, all you need is a re-entry permit to maintain that. Conceivably you could stretch each new O-A to as much as two years before needing a new one.

 

 

 

Thanks. I am aware of the points you make. For my personal circumstances, getting a new non imm o-a multi entry visa each year makes the most sense.

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