I don't post or comment much on the forum but I thought I'd share this experience with fellow members.

 

In August 2018 I retired early from work and set off for Thailand to see if that was where I wanted to retire to.  After having been there on two previous occasions I already had an idea of what to expect.  I was fortunate enough to befriend some locals - both Thai and expats a like - and spend some real time in country other than at the local beer bars and soapy massage parlors...not that there's anything wrong with them.

 

I made a side trip to the Philippines and decided that the Philippines was not for me at this time in my life and returned to Thailand.  I obtained my temporary drivers licenses (motorcycle and automobile) as well as an extension to my stay there.  In January I returned back to the US, where I've been ever since, taking care of some personal items and visiting with family and friends.  

 

I just obtained my Non-Immigrant O-A visa from the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles.  Other than meeting the minimum age requirement for the O-A visa, I qualified by meeting the minimum monthly income requirement thanks to my pension.  I made sure to have the required documentation as well as the four sets of copies outlined in the consulate website.  I dropped my application off in the morning and returned the following afternoon to pick up my passport with the attached visa.

 

After reading some of the accounts of TV members and what they've been dealing with to keep their visa status I was expecting to have a difficult time in applying for the visa.  Luckily that was not the case.  There was a gentleman at the consulate who was not so lucky as he was complaining that he was on his third trip to the consulate because of "additional information" that had been requested of him to process his paperwork.  He's now looking at a fourth trip to the consulate.  

 

I have found this forum to be not only educational but sometimes it's absolutely entertaining just to read some of the comments from the peanut gallery on any given post.  With that being said, the biggest things I took away from other members in regards to obtaining my visa was to make sure I had all my documentation in order and not to argue with any of the staff members at the consulate as that would only make things worse.  It also helps to have thick skin as some members just seem to like rubbing salt into the wound.

 

Now it's time to see what this whole "retirement" thing is all about.

  

 

Edited March 16, 20197 yr by ubonjoe
edited photo to remove personal info

Moving to the Visas forum. 

Don't forget that you can get another year stay out of that visa by doing a border run just before 13 March 2020 ????

 

 

@Crossy: I plan to return to the US for Christmas, which would put me within the 13 March 2020 date.  Does it matter if I re-enter the country via a land crossing or an international airport?

 

@metisdead:  Thanks for covering my name.

No it doesn't matter. Just remember if you plan to exit Thai and back in this "second year" you need to obtain reentry permit. Easy can do at airport on way out. 

Thanks DrJack54

A quality posting by ibtg68!