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On the Non-O visa application form there is the following requirement:

5.3 Evidence of foreign currency fund transferred to Thailand

I am planning to switch from an O-A to an Non-O visa. I've had over 800k Baht in a Thai bank continuously for a few years and I occasionally deposit some money via Wise (previously Transferwise). Am I going to be required to produce documentation of these transfers? If so, would copies of email confirmations suffice?

My local Immigration office is in Jomtien, Chonburi.
 

I'm planning a short round trip from Bangkok to Phnom Penh. For me the most convenient travel times are provided by Cambodia Airways. Has anyone had any experiences, good or bad, with this airline? I've never used them before.

Does this requirement for an outbound ticket apply to people who have a long-term visa and a re-entry permit?

I see.

Does the outbound flight have to be with the same airline, or will any airline do?

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The airline could ask to see a ticket out of the country within 45 days of arrival.

You can find temporary tickets online for around $14. Search for onward flights.

So it's an airline requirement, not a Thai government requirement?

In other words, if I book a round trip from BKK-to-Cambodia-BKK, the airline might require me to add another leg to the journey? What would be the rationale?

I'm currently living full time in Thailand on an O-A visa. I have not applied for a re-entry permit.

I plan to fly out of Thailand for a couple of days, return, and request a 45 day visa exempt entry, after which I plan to apply for a NON-O visa. Is it possible that, upon returning to Thailand, Thai agents at the airport will want me to show that I've booked an outbound flight to another country?
 

9 hours ago, zzzzz said:

 

if u enter/leave Thailand to go to Laos ur not converting anything:
your getting a new Non O visa 
so just enter with visa exempt,  You MIGHT be asked for forward or return ticket

Onward charges only $14

NO::: has to be in ur name

so deal with that before u leave thailand and arrive in Laos, only need show its been there 1 day
note afaik, it can be 400,000 or equivalent in any currency 

"You MIGHT be asked for forward or return ticket"

So if I fly from Thailand-to-Cambodia-to-Thailand, for the purpose of obtaining a visa exempt entry to Thailand, prior to applying for a NON-O, are you saying that Thai Customs might want me to have a forward or return ticket in addition to the round trip to/from Cambodia?

Just now, Lemsta69 said:

It depends on what service you will be asking the agent to provide. Are you using them for filling in forms and hand-holding or will you be going the Full Monty?

Mainly hand-holding. I might end up just doing the whole thing myself. In that case, it would be a lot easier for me to apply for NON-O in Chonburi where I live.

Has anyone applied for a NON-O visa at the Immigration office in Chonburi (in Jomtien)? How long does it take them to process the application?

Is it equally efficient to apply for the NON-O visa at any Immigration office in Thailand?

The person I'm corresponding with at Thai Visa Expert says it will go much faster in Bangkok, but I suspect that's because he's based in Bangkok and wants me to work with him there.

15 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

None of those are required to enter the country now.

Do you know if Cambodia requires health insurance and/or a vaccine certificate for a short-term visit? I figure I'll go there before re-entering Thailand as visa exempt.

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

None of those are required to enter the country now.

Do you know if Cambodia requires health insurance and/or a vaccine certificate for a short-term visit? I figure I'll go there before re-entering Thailand as visa exempt.

4 hours ago, Robin said:

This year I entered Thailand at SVB and was given 30 day non-visa entry.  

Subsequently I went to my local I/O (Phayao) and was given a 90 day Non-Imm O visa, but had to show 800K in my bank (as for Retirement visa). 

Last week this non O vas given an extension for Retirement for 1 year, as normal  (I have held Retirement isa before)  but again required to get bank letters confirming 800K 

I never used an agent but did all the work myself

I/O was well aware of procedure to change visa exempt entry to Non O.  I was charged 10K baht, 2K for visa and 8K for "Services" (they filled in all the forms for me.

Considering how many restrictions/requirements RTE in London were asking for a Non IM visa, I am happy with this and consider it a bargain.

When you entered Thailand recently were you required to show any proof of health insurance, for example, short-term travel insurance covering Covid? Also, were you required to show a vaccine certificate?

If one enters Thailand as visa exempt, the form used to apply for a NON-O visa is TM87 (Application for Visa).  The TM87 form has the following field:

"kind of visa"

I'd guess one would write NON-O in this field. Is that right?

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

A visa exempt allows a 45 day stay (30 after March 31st) in the country without a visa needed. Since you are from the US you qualify for one.

You will get a 45 day arrival stamp at airport immigration.

You could then apply for a non-o visa at your local immigration office up to the last 15 days of the 45 days.

Thanks, that's very helpful. I assume "up to the last 15 days" means I should apply before the last 15 days. Is that right?

9 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You can find it here. https://www.immigration.go.th/en/?page_id=2537

It is this page "Issuing and Changing Type of Visa".

Thanks!

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

If your non O-A is still valid you could just do a border bounce of fly out/in just prior to expiry and be stamped in for another 12 months.

Insurance required.

Or do a border run at very end of your non O-A and reenter visa exempt and then obtain a non O at Thai immigration.

Then subsequently obtain 12 month extension 

Thanks for your helpful comment. I'd want to do the second option because I want to get out from under the insurance requirement.

One question: What is "visa exempt"? Let's say I fly to Cambodia a couple of days before my O-A visa expires and return a week later. What do I tell Thai customs at the airport in Bangkok so that I'll be in good standing to go to Immigration and apply for an O visa? In case it's relevant, my citizenship is USA.

On 11/19/2022 at 7:50 AM, ubonjoe said:

You are not downloading a form if you click this link I posted. https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/9.FOR-RETIREMENT-PURPOSES-50-YEARS-OLD-NON-O.pdf

It is a list of requirements titled.

Do you remember from where you downloaded this document? If so, would you please provide the link?

On 11/19/2022 at 5:35 PM, DrJack54 said:

The only way to get rid of your non O-A is to exit country (assume you are on extensions and do not have a valid non O-A) is to exit Thailand and reentry visa exempt and obtain a non O inside Thailand and subsequently obtain 12 month extension.

Or exit without reentry permit and obtain non O at a consulate.

You must leave Thailand 

My non 0-A is currently valid and expires in February. From your comment it sounds like I need to get some sort of short-term extension, so that the non O-A expires but I'm still in Thailand legally, then do a border run and re-enter and apply for a non O. Is that right?

I'm considering using them to help me change from an O-A to an O retirement visa. I've exchanged a few emails with them, but haven't decided whether to use their services. If other people have experience with them I'd be happy to hear their about their experiences, good or bad.

Or you have another agent that you love, please let me know. ????

Sorry for the ambiguity. I am considering using them as an agent to aid me with a visa issue.

I'm considering working with a visa consulting firm "Thai Visa Expert". Their website is

https://thaivisaexpert.com/

Does anyone have any experience them, good or bad?

Thank you in advance for your comments.

@ubonjoe When I go to the "Download Form" page of the Immigration Bureau Royal Thai Police website

https://www.immigration.go.th/en/?page_id=3202

I don't see the document you've linked to. What is the title of this document on the "Download Form page? Or did you get it from some other page?

The official Thai Immigration website indicates that an O visa is for people with family in Thailand, or who are volunteering at a non-profit.

https://thaievisa.go.th/non-immigrant-o

But I gather from the present discussion thread is that anyone can get an O visa. So is the Immigration website not telling the whole story, or am I missing some piece of the puzzle?

Can I convert from an O-A to an O visa without leaving Thailand, or do I have to leave and re-enter?

@ubonjoe

"You would apply for a one year extension of stay during the last 30 days of the 90 day stay from the non-o visa
You need to have a non-o visa to apply for the extension based upon retirement."

At the end of the one year extension what happens? Do you need to leave Thailand and repeat the entire process, or can you just extend again for one year, year after year?