Chiller

Have to say I agree with the suggestion Ubonjoe made which is to apply for your Non Immigrant O Visa at The Thai Embassy In Vientiane. You have everything you need, you enjoyed spending a few days in Laos before and the actual Visa will only cost you 2000 baht. You can then extend of course after 60 days. 
You just need to make an appointment to attend the Consulate Office to submit your application and then you return 2 days later to collect your Visa.  

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Do you have a question apart from launching a legal challenge.

Good luck with that plan.

Yes my question is asking for thoughts on this subject.  

I’m sure the original intention for insurance was only to cover all entries to Thailand under the duration of the actual O-A visa, ie, up to 2 years of stay if timed accordingly. The reason being there was no requirement to show money in a Thai bank account, therefore the authorities introduced this rule as an alternative ‘safety net.’  

8 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Do you know which airport he arrived at?

Yes he arrived at Suvarnabhumi. 

7 minutes ago, Martyp said:

Yes it does. I just got my 2nd extension of stay in Bangkok on October 7th using the 800,000k method. There is also a monthly income method.

In which case maybe it is only the intention to require new applicants to have insurance cover for the duration of the actual O-A Visa. Those then extending through retirement or marriage will have the qualifying funds in Thailand which may be used for medical expenses. Therefore they are in exactly the same position as those seeking extensions based on Non Imm O Visa's who are not currently required to be insured?!

Can someone please confirm if obtaining an extension of stay within Thailand based on an O-A Visa either requires money in a Thai bank account or not?

For anyone with an O-A Visa either worried about or against buying insurance, can they apply for an non-O Visa just before their actual O-A visa expires and then transfer the required amount of monies to then extend the non-O visa, based on either retirement or marriage?

Thank you Suradit69, how many monthly deposits do you need to show for the first application based on income, it was earlier mentioned that only 2 months are required, but looks like you’re suggesting more than that?  

Okay, I sure now know much more about this than when I first asked the question, so thanks again to everyone for the very helpful advice. 

30 minutes ago, david555 said:

You have the ideal visa for the moment , and that extra year give you full control over your own money …...different as the 1 year ret.ext. where 5 months 800K & 7 months400K are seasoned ...in case of money at Thai bank 

 

In the monthly income it can become a tricky hassle because A) exchange rate changes ….B) the transfer certificates can change at will of bank with an I.O. making interpretation problems ..

Yes I take your point, but what if you also produced your home country bank statements showing the transfer to the Thai bank each month as additional proof. Do you think that would work?  

Thanks everyone, yes it has always been my intention to make use of the extra year, so to speak, but I was unsure whether I would have to apply for further 12 month extensions based on income before the actual visa expired, ie, March 2020, as opposed to doing so at the end of the final period granted to stay, ie, if timed correctly, March 2021. 

HI, my actual A-O Visa expires on 28 March 2020. 

Thanks Jacko, Advice much appreciated.  

Hi everyone, advice needed please. I’m currently here on an A-O Visa, the actual Visa expires at the end of March 2020 and I’m aware I can effectively be granted a further year by leaving and returning just before the Visa expires. However I’m thinking of changing to the income method going forward and  I understand I have to show a minimum of 12 consecutive deposits in a Thai account of 65000 baht before I can apply for an extension of stay based on retirement etc? If this is correct would I have to apply before my actual Visa expires?

I’m assuming I would not be able to use this method following the end of my authorised period of permission to stay, ie, the end date of the period granted upon my last entry on my actual Visa?

if I need an Non O Visa in order to apply then where’s the best place to get this, as although I’m over 50 I do not seem to qualify for this type of Visa, as I’m not in receipt of a state pension, not married, etc, etc?!  

Thanks in advance for any advice. 

Further to the above, note it also states IF the applicant is a pensioner. 

9 hours ago, KarlS said:

An O visa based on retirement is only available to those in receipt of a state old age pension. 

To be honest that is what I thought until I read this in the London Embassy Website. 

• For pensioner (aged 50 or over) : A copy of pension statement if the applicant is a pensioner, or a copy of 1-month bank statement showing your income from pension, or 3-month bank statement of at least £10,000 

So two things, 1) It states (OR at least £10,000 in a bank) and 2) They must know that people in the UK do not qualify for a state pension at the age of 50 years? 

Would it not be easier for the OP’s friend to obtain a non O Visa from London, he’s over 50yrs, and unlike the non OA he would not require police checks, or the medical and would only have to show either a receipt of pension, or £10,000 in a bank account as opposed to the much higher amount for the OA. 

If it is correct that he can do a border run every 90 days until the expiry of this type of Visa then what is the greater benefit of the non OA Visa other than not having to do a border run, bearing in mind all the extra qualifying requirements?  

36 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Nothing is required to get a new entry on or before the day your visa expired other that you passport and a new TM6 arrival card. Same for all other entries you use the visa to get.

After that last entry you just need to apply for a reentry permit.

On or before that last entry ends you would have to go home to apply for a new OA visa or apply for a extension of stay at immigration,

Okay understood, thanks again, much appreciated. 

35 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The OA long stay visa allows unlimited one year entries for a year from the date it is issued. You can leave and re-enter the country just before the visa expires and get a new one year entry. The you would need a re-entry permit to keep that last one year entry valid if you wanted to travel.

 

Thank you Ubonjoe. Just one further query concerning the extra year, do you have to apply for this at the point of re-entering Thailand towards the end of the original 12 Month Visa and if so what is the procedure please. And I’m assuming from your answer that this can be repeated, so only have to return to your home country to repeat every 2 years. 

8 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Depends on few things such as how long outside of Thailand between entries etc.  Sounds like your wishing to use VE and Setv to basically live in los. Very common practice years ago. It won't work now. At some point you will be refused entry and if that is at an airport the result is pain. As mentioned O-A from home country would give you 2 yrs

Forgive my ignorance but how would an O-A from your own country give you 2 years. And for those who don’t want their money tied up in Thailand is the O-A multiple entry visa from your home country the best option and can you obtain these repeatedly without any problems from Thai Immigration? 

Are there any disadvantages from obtaining repeat O-A visa’s? 

Thanks in advance for any guidance. 

Thanks everyone for all the advice, it's much appreciated.

Hi everyone, I'm new on here so please forgive me if I'm asking the obvious, or if I really should have looked elsewhere for the info I'm looking for. I'm from the UK and now wish to apply for the so called retirement visa. I have had a good look on here but am still unsure about the following, so any advice really would be much appreciated.

1) When I book my flight from the UK will I still have to book a return flight within either 30 days, or 60 days (if have one entry visa), even though I may not want to return to the UK for several months assuming I do obtain a 'retirement visa?' Also what do you put on the departure section of the arrival card and do you still have to cling onto this departure card?

2) I know I have to prove a place of residence, what is usually required for this, or is it dependent upon where you make your application?

3) Is the process fairly straightforward in practice as it appears quite difficult in theory from some of the stories I have read about in the sense that different centres require different things? I know I first have to apply for a 90 day visa and then a 12 month extension after so many days have passed, and have copies of everything including a handful of passport size photo's?

4) If I use the income route I know I have to obtain a letter from the UK Embassy in BKK. I'm thinking I would not therefore have to open a Thai bank account even though someone has told me I would still have to do this?

5) Any other advice or useful tips really would be much appreciated, as like a previous poster I'm not sure whether to do this myself or seek some help from one of the many agencies. I should add I would be based in NongKhai and probably spend some time in Pattaya/Bang Saray.

Many thanks.