Chicksaw

I am planning to apply for a retirement (Non-immigrant category O, O-A) visa soon. Here's one of the requirements as listed at a Thai consulate site for this visa type:

"Criminal Record Certificate, not more than 3 months old, issued by the country of which the applicant is a national or a permanent resident"

I am an American, last lived in Madison, WI, and left 12 years ago to move here to Thailand. I am currently employed here on a category F visa.

So, where do I go for the criminal check? Thailand (effectively permanent resident, not officially) or US (national, but never been back last 12 years)?

If Thailand, how do I go about this?

If US: I just went into the Wisconsin on-line system and got a criminal background check done on myself in 5min. It's a pdf file with a Wisconsin Dept. of Justice letterhead. Easy enough but will it do for Thai Immigration or do I need an all-US check? For a US check I found https://www.usacriminalbackground.com/ on-line but it's obviously a private agency. Will they be accepted by Thai immigration? FBI checks seem long and complicated.

Any light on this matter will be highly appreciated. Thanks.

Many thanks, ubonjoe. Guess I need to make a dry run to Changwattana.

1 minute ago, Chicksaw said:

 

Thanks, ubonjoe. The visa page is copied below. It's a multiple entry F-visa (I work for an NGO which has some kind of special status). Btw, the end date of July 31 was based on my previous contract, which has been renewed to Dec. 31 so my employer will get the visa extended to Dec. 31.

 

So how should it go now? Can it still be the Application for Change of Visa (TM.86)? If so, would it be just that one form TM.86 or would I need another form for the visa which I will be changing to (non-immigrant O presumably)? Reason I ask is that then I will try to download and fill out all needed forms before I go (already have the 86 downloaded).

 

Also can I get multiple reentry on the retirement visa as I travel a lot?

 

 

 

Insert didn't go through, so attached image:

8 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I still think you are on an extension of stay. If you were on non-f visa it could only be a multiple entry visa that allows 90 day entries that requires you to leave the country every 90 days.

A change of visa status can only be done for a tourist visa entry to get a non immigrant visa entry. You cannot change from a non-f to a non-o since both are non immigrant visas.

You only need a non immigrant visa to apply for an extension of stay.

It is only a one day process. You can do it a week before December 31st.

Thanks, ubonjoe. The visa page is copied below. It's a multiple entry F-visa (I work for an NGO which has some kind of special status). Btw, the end date of July 31 was based on my previous contract, which has been renewed to Dec. 31 so my employer will get the visa extended to Dec. 31.

So how should it go now? Can it still be the Application for Change of Visa (TM.86)? If so, would it be just that one form TM.86 or would I need another form for the visa which I will be changing to (non-immigrant O presumably)? Reason I ask is that then I will try to download and fill out all needed forms before I go (already have the 86 downloaded).

Also can I get multiple reentry on the retirement visa as I travel a lot?

Thanks a lot, folks. Help is truly appreciated. Most of my questions are answered but just want to make sure of a couple more critical points:

(re ubonjoe) I am actually on a visa now, particularly, an F-visa and work permit through my employer. So (as glegolo suggests) I believe I will need to file an Application for Change of Visa (TM.86) to convert this to a non-immigrant O.  Correct?

Per ubonjoe, as the process is 1-day, all I need to do is go to Changwattan Immigration Off. with all my papers in order maybe a week before Dec. 31 when my contract (and presumably current F-visa and work permit) expire. Correct?

Finally (thanks ubonjoe and buick) glad to know I can do the whole thing here myself and the combo income/balance proof can be done with a USD transfer to NY BB branch.

I am American over 60 and have been working in Thailand several years now on an F-visa and work permit. My last job contract is till Dec. 31 this year after which I hope to stay on on a retirement (non-immigrant OA) visa. Here are a few questions. Thanks in advance.

(1) Presuming that my current visa and work permit will be coterminous with my job, ending Dec. 31, when should I start the process of applying for the retirement visa?

(2) Can the process be completed here in Thailand? I have no plan of a trip home in the near future and would rather not go if possible. Related: would I need docs from the US which might not be easy to get as I've been away 12 years with no address there except my brother's?

(3) I have a monthly pension income of $1200 from my previous job in the US. I believe I still have to show $X transferred to a Thai bank account at least 3(?) months prior to my visa application. Here's my calculation for X:

The requirement is 800k in an ac. or monthly income at least 65k. $1200 = 40k approx. which leaves a monthly deficit of 65 - 40 = 25k. Therefore, X = 25/65 x 800k = 310k about.

Is this calculation correct? I have a Bangkok Bank ac. here. which I understand has a branch in NY. Could I just transfer the equivalent of 310k (or whatever is X) in USD  from my US bank to the NY BB branch or does it have to be converted to baht and brought into a Thai branch?

(4) Finally, is it possible to do the application oneself or is it advisable to pay professionals? How long does the process take?

Again, many thanks.

Thanks for the replies. I've got two more questions:

(1) Bupa Hospitalization and Major Medical insurance won't reimburse me for treatment for preexisting conditions. Fine, I am happy to pay for my own routine daily medication. However, here's my question: Say I suffer something that may or may not be a consequence of an existing condition can they refuse to cover? E.g., if I have a heart issue will they try to duck out of covering by saying that's because you had high cholesterol? Which is hard to prove either way (and, technically, now I don't have high cholesterol because of the meds I take).

(2) Self-insurance is interesting (4MyEgo, thanks for the suggestion). But how exactly does it work? Do you just put aside a sum like a million baht for a medical contingency and not touch it? Next question is how does the hospital know this if you are incapacitated? E.g., if I have a Bupa card on me they'll presumably go ahead and give me the care I need knowing they're going to get paid. But self-insurance?

I am thinking of doubling up on my somewhat meager company insurance. I am middle-aged, pretty healthy with only minor chronic issues (a skin condition and borderline high cholesterol and high uric acid which were diagnosed years ago and under control with topical creams, statins, allopurinol, resp.).

So I am thinking only of the rogue bus scenario and getting just hospitalization and major medical coverage. Makes sense? Am I missing something? Thanks.

I just got back from India. Ordinary folk I talked to, taxi drivers, wage workers, et al, have no problem with the move. They may have  had a few large bills at home which they had to stand in a line a bit  to change at the bank. Not an issue. They felt the hassle was for a good cause.

Not so politicians, real estate promoters, jewelers, and such who have millions, some cases tens/hundreds of millions of rupees of black money in cash stuffed in bank lockers and in suitcases under the stairwell. They're screwed. Good.

But India needed this given the level of corruption and the size of their parallel under-the-table economy. I doubt the situation is half as bad in Thailand.