Liquorice

As an aside, if I recall, the extortionate costs of a Thai visa from New Zealand was discussed some time ago. New Zealand increased it visa prices to Thai nationals wishing to visit, so Thailand reciprocated by increasing their prices for Thai visas. Typically, a Non Imm O visa from London is £60 (135 NZD or 2,650 BHT).

Hi @KiwiFire and welcome to the forum. First and foremost regarding the Non Imm O visa. This could be lengthy! According to the Thai Embassy website in Wellington and confirmed by the e-visa application site, for your wife to apply for the Non Imm O to join non-Thai family in Thailand, you would already have to be residing in Thailand. You would apply based on retirement. Your wife would apply based on joining a Non-Thai family member already residing in Thailand. The financial requirement for the Non Imm O retirement is the equivalent of 800,000 BHT in any bank account. The financial requirement for the Non Imm O based on joining a non Thai family member is the equivalent of 30,000 THB in any bank account. https://wellington.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/81086-non-immigrant-visa-o-other This type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom for the following purposes: - Non-immigrant O (Spouse/Family) - To stay with a family member who is residing in Thailand - Non-immigrant O (Volunteer) - To do volunteer work with state enterprises or social welfare organizations in Thailand - Non-immigrant O (Retirement) - Retirement / pension earners E-visa website; https://www.thaievisa.go.th/visa/non-immigrant-o Staying with Family Visas To stay with non-Thai family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days) Required Document ( Please check relevant embassy/ consulate-general website for specific required documents) Biodata page of Passport or Travel Document Photograph taken within the last six months Document indicating current location Financial evidence: an amount of no less than 30,000 THB (e.g., bank statements for the last three months, sponsor letter) Personal details of a family in Thailand (e.g., ID card, passport and the visa page or stay permit in Thailand) Proof of relationship to a family in Thailand (e.g., a copy of marriage certificate/birth certificate/certificate of adoption) Number of entry single Validity of Visa 3 months. Single 3 Months On entry to Thailand, you will be granted temporary permission of stay for 90 days. Open a (Savings) account in your sole name and transfer the required 800K for Immigration purposes. Once the 800K has been deposited for 2 months, but before the 90 days expire, you can apply to extend your permission of stay for a further 12 months based on retirement. The criteria to apply for the retirement extension, is subject to clause 2.22 of Immigration Order 327/2557. Your wife would 'piggyback' your extension under clause 2.20 of the same order. You can download order 327/2557 from this link https://aseannow.com/topic/981135-laws-regulations-police-orders-etc/ No.12 in the list. Only you require the 800K, not your wife. There are other points to cover, but let's walk before we run. Have you been to Thailand before, and where would you intend to reside, as that will dictate which Immigration office you would use?

Only if you meet the criteria of being; Young. Single. Handsome. Rich. Unfortunately, you don't meet the criteria. 😜

To ensure you're actually residing at the reported address. They appear to be having a crackdown at the moment.

The trip will take you away from behind that keyboard Jack and give you a break. Think 5,000 steps a day. Yes, I have to agree, some of their systems are antiquated.

Assume it was an extension based on retirement. Reported in other topics that Immigration are now making random home visits for extensions based on retirement.

@cjinchiangrai does make a point, it's not nonsense. A number of local expats were having issues with 90 day online reporting, complaining it never worked for them. Out of 5 I assisted, two used an agent, their extensions being issued by Khon Kaen, yet they were trying to submit 90 day reports to Roi Et. They had no idea whether the agent was submitting reports as part of the arrangement, and didn't understand why they would have to file a new TM30 at Roi Et for them to file there. Successfully filed and received approval for another 3 who were simply incorrectly filling the online TM47. Tending to type information (with spelling errors) rather than select from the drop-down boxes. I assume they are now successfully completing the online form, as they haven't complained since.

As above. For a 5-year licence, you must have Non Immigrant status, otherwise only a 2-year licence will be issued. https://www.dlt.go.th/en/two-year-license

Then why mention it as it belong in another topic.

It's clearly spelt out when you have to submit a 90 day report, and missing one has nothing to do with being on overstay.

And yet on the Thai Embassy DC website, for the Non O (retirement) there is no requirement for any flight details. https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/page/non-o-retirement Non-Immigrant Type “O” Retirement Validity of visa: 90 days (single entry) Fee: 80 USD Purpose of Visit: This type of visa is for pentioners aged 50 years or above who wishes to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 90 days without the intention of working. Holders of this type of visa are allowed to stay in Thailand for 90 days. Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited. Eligibility: 1. Applicant must be aged 50 years and over (on the day of submitting application) 2. Applicant not prohibited from entering the Kingdom as provided by the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) 3. Having the nationality of or residence in the country where applicant’s application is submitted If the applicant does not have a valid visa or re-entry permit, the applicant must request a visa, at least 15 working days before the intended date of travel, by filling in the information and uploading all required documents online at https://www.thaievisa.go.th/ (Please note that the visa application fee is non-refundable) For instructions, please check https://www.thaievisa.go.th/static/English-Manual.pdf Required documents to upload in the system (Large and clear JPEG or PDF format): Passport Biodata Page or Travel Document (Must be valid within 6 months from travel date) Photograph of the applicant, taken within the past six months Document indicating current location (driving license, bank statement, or proof of stay) Recent bank statement for the last three months showing the applicant's name and ending balance of no less than $30,000 or proof of monthly income of not less than $2,500/month) along with the current bank statement showing incoming income

No, it isn't a Non 0-A visa, which is purely based on retirement purposes. His wife requires a Non O visa as the family member of an alien who has been permitted an ED visa for study.

If you have online banking, go to 'statements' and this will confirm if the transfer is detailed as an 'International Transfer'.

His sentiments exactly. If they give him grief, applying based on monthly income method, then he intends to use an agent.

Indeed, Jack, that's exactly what happened with a good friend last year. He's always kept 800K in a FTD account in Kasikorn, and previously used that as the basis for his retirement extensions, but has also transferred over 65K per month into his Bangkok Bank Savings account for a number of years. Last year he decided to switch to the monthly income method and provided the necessary documentation, however they noticed his previous extension was based on 800K funds in the bank method, so rightly demanded he obtained a 12-month statement from Kasikorn as proof he met the criteria on that basis. On return, his Kasikorn being a FTD account, they then proceeded to approve his extension, but based on 800K funds method. They gave him a real grilling and stated by trying to change the method he was causing them a lot of additional work and for further extensions he should proceed with the 800K funds method, otherwise they could make life difficult for him. This month, he withdrew 50K from his Kasikorn account, reducing it to less than 800K and intends to apply again this year using the income method. He wants to keep the 800K (now 750K) as an emergency fund without any restrictions applied to it. If you meet the criteria for both funds and income, it's not for Immigration to dictate which method you use. He's expecting some fun and games.