Likethai

Lopburi3's point about my being able to convert my real tourist visa (obtained in Penang) to a non-immigrant O is exactly right.

This morning I applied for the Type O (retirement purpose) at Pattaya Immigration (Soi 5, Jomtiem). Using the same type of documents that I submitted in Penang (pension statement, bank book, bank letter, passport with tourist visa) plus 2000 baht I was granted the O visa. Then, immediately afterwards with the help of the immigration officer, I submitted copies of the same documents, together with the standard medical certificate and 1800 baht, and was granted the "extension" to the O visa, which is the retirement visa itself.

After explaining the 90-day reporting requirements to me the immigration officer asked me if I'd like to apply for either a single or multiple re-entry visa. I chose the multiple re-entry at a cost of 3800 baht and this was stamped in my passport together with the retirement visa. Altogether the whole process, including waiting time, took about five hours.

On 2 May I applied for a Type O visa (retirement purpose) at the Penang consulate. This was my first application for such a visa, and I was turned down. I then applied for a triple entry tourist visa and was granted this.

I am 64 years old, an American citizen, with a pension of 1 million baht per year, which I declared and notarized at the US embassy in Bangkok. I have a Bangkok Bank savings account with 120,000 baht in it. In Penang I used the services of Manaff (Man), who has been recommended by people on this board. When I first called Man he said there would be no problem obtaining the O visa which I wanted: 3-month, single entry, Type O. In fact, he said that in the previous week he had handled a case similar to mine and the O visa was granted. When I was turned down, Man was very surprised and attributed it to a new consul who was "cracking down", and telling people that they should apply for this type of visa, in the first instance, in their home countries. I understand that the consulate is granting O visas to those who have had them in the past--they are just turning down first-timers.