London Thai Embassy question

[evadgib]

Does anyone know if it's possible to get a retirement visa in London if you're below retirement age but over 50 and in receipt of Govt work related pension(s) (Forces? Plod? Civil Service?)? If 'yes' what's the procedure and what do they (RTE) need? Can you do it by post while in UK or is it attendance only?

 

I'm not expecting any probs when I renew my extn here in the next few weeks but if they fob me off for an elusive piece of paper I might just scoot home for a week or two & apply for a retirement visa there instead.

 

(Hedging my bets; I hope it won't be necessary. I've only been here 19 years!)

[elviajero]

17 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Does anyone know if it's possible to get a retirement visa in London if you're below retirement age but over 50 and in receipt of Govt work related pension(s) (Forces? Plod? Civil Service?)? 

Yes if the income is at least THB 65K pm, but they don’t call it a “retirement visa”.

 

You apply for a “Non-Immigrant Type O-A (Long Stay) 1 Year per entries/Multiple entries/ 1 year validity”

 

17 minutes ago, evadgib said:

If 'yes' what's the procedure and what do they (RTE) need?

All the requirements for the ‘O-A’ visa are listed here;

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84508-Non-Immigrant-visas.html

 

17 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Can you do it by post while in UK or is it attendance only?

Yes you can apply by post;

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84397-How-to-apply-visa-by-post.html

[Tuvoc]

Interesting. I thought you had to go to Thailand first on a 90 day visa and then apply in Thailand. So it can be done in London as well but if you are relying on the 800k Bank route that would not be possible. 

[elviajero]

9 minutes ago, Tuvoc said:

Interesting. I thought you had to go to Thailand first on a 90 day visa and then apply in Thailand. So it can be done in London as well but if you are relying on the 800k Bank route that would not be possible. 

You are referring to a permit issued by immigration in Thailand granting a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement; which is commonly referred to as a “Retirement Visa”.

 

Outside of Thailand you apply for a entry visa based on being over 50 or retirement. There are two visa categories of non-immigrant visa available (depending where you apply); ‘O-A’ (1 year permit to stay), or ‘O’ (90 day permit to stay).

 

Once you’ve entered Thailand with either category of visa you can apply for an extension of stay (“Retirement Visa”) towards the end of the 1 year or 90 day stay.

[evadgib]

3 hours ago, elviajero said:

Yes if the income is at least THB 65K pm, but they don’t call it a “retirement visa”.

 

You apply for a “Non-Immigrant Type O-A (Long Stay) 1 Year per entries/Multiple entries/ 1 year validity”

 

All the requirements for the ‘O-A’ visa are listed here;

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84508-Non-Immigrant-visas.html

 

Yes you can apply by post;

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84397-How-to-apply-visa-by-post.html

Thanks but it looks like the criminal record & medical checks will cause probs given how long I have been abroad. I have previously been cleared in both countries but I can't see it being straightforward if I read their current criteria correctly. UK Dr's backloaded my documents more than a decade ago which only came to light after I applied for war pension upon completion of engagement & after I have moved to LoS.

[ubonjoe]

4 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Thanks but it looks like the criminal record & medical checks will cause probs given how long I have been abroad. I have previously been cleared in both countries but I can't see it being straightforward if I read their current criteria correctly.

I cannot see whey getting the ACRO police certificate because of being out ot the country a long time.

See this page that clicking the hyperlink on the webpage leads to. https://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx

For the medical certificate it would just be matter of finding a doctor to sign it and be willing to pay for it.

[evadgib]

10 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I cannot see whey getting the ACRO police certificate because of being out ot the country a long time.

See this page that clicking the hyperlink on the webpage leads to. https://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx

For the medical certificate it would just be matter of finding a doctor to sign it and be willing to pay for it.

Thanks Joe, I think I'm reading too much into it & everything will be ok either way. I have maintained a UK mailing address/Bank ac/DL & won't need to look any further if my extn in LoS goes to plan in the next few weeks.

[Tuvoc]

6 hours ago, elviajero said:

You are referring to a permit issued by immigration in Thailand granting a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement; which is commonly referred to as a “Retirement Visa”.

 

Outside of Thailand you apply for a entry visa based on being over 50 or retirement. There are two visa categories of non-immigrant visa available (depending where you apply); ‘O-A’ (1 year permit to stay), or ‘O’ (90 day permit to stay).

 

Once you’ve entered Thailand with either category of visa you can apply for an extension of stay (“Retirement Visa”) towards the end of the 1 year or 90 day stay.

Thanks for the clarification, very useful. 

[onera1961]

6 hours ago, Tuvoc said:

Interesting. I thought you had to go to Thailand first on a 90 day visa and then apply in Thailand.

After joining this forum, my first question was how to get a "retirement extension/visa" and most people posted the same, or come with a tourist visa and then convert to Non-O blah blah, etc. I found it very convoluted and I started digging into embassy and consulate websites, and YouTube videos. There I found the O-A visa which seems very easy to obtain for me. I am glad that now I see more mentions of O-A visa in the forum than it used to be. 

[lamyai3]

10 hours ago, evadgib said:

Thanks but it looks like the criminal record & medical checks will cause probs given how long I have been abroad. I have previously been cleared in both countries but I can't see it being straightforward if I read their current criteria correctly. UK Dr's backloaded my documents more than a decade ago which only came to light after I applied for war pension upon completion of engagement & after I have moved to LoS.

The police report should be no problem, I got mine a couple of years ago through the online application, took about 10 days. If you no longer have a UK GP, you can get the medical form printed off and signed and stamped by a doctor / hospital in Thailand before flying back.