Essential differences between Non O and Non OA?

[JTXR]

When I got my "retirement" visa a few years ago, I just assumed only Non-Imm OA was for retirement and Non-Imm O was for marriage and related to a Thai (children, etc.).  So I got a Non OA.

 

Recently, on TV, I read of people with Non O talking about it as a retirement visa, and at CW I see the signs on the Section L cubicles that say something like ".... Non-Imm O, retirement, marriage, related to Thai...".

 

Could someone please explain, leaving aside the new health insurance requirement, what are the differences between Non-Imm O and Non-Imm OA, for retirement purposes (not married or related to Thai)?  Thanks.

[BritManToo]

Non O =90 day

OA = 1 year

 

It's just about the length of stay, not the reason for stay.

[JTXR]

OK, 90 days vs. 1 year.  Got it.

But what are the differences (financial requirements and police background check) when applying for the visa in one's home country?  Can the Non O be applied for in Thailand?  Can the Non O be extended again and again like the Non OA?

[pagallim]

1 minute ago, JTXR said:

OK, 90 days vs. 1 year.  Got it.

But what are the differences (financial requirements and police background check) when applying for the visa in one's home country?  Can the Non O be applied for in Thailand?  Can the Non O be extended again and again like the Non OA?

An OA can only be applied for external to Thailand.   A Non O can be applied for within Thailand, and before expiry, an extension based on Retirement, Marriage, dependents etc applied for, then rinse and repeat every year.

[JTXR]

8 minutes ago, pagallim said:

An OA can only be applied for external to Thailand.   A Non O can be applied for within Thailand, and before expiry, an extension based on Retirement, Marriage, dependents etc applied for, then rinse and repeat every year.

Thanks. 

 

When applying within Thailand for a Non O, is there a police background check required?  The reason I ask is that when I applied for my Non OA in the U.S. a few years ago, the Thai embassy wanted a background check from the State police in my state and also an FBI check.  I got them, but it took forever and a day.

Are the financial requirements for 1-year extension of the Non O the same as for the Non OA?

 

 

[WalkingOrders]

I arrived with a tourist visa. Applied for a non-O for retirement 90 day. I then got an extension for 1 year for retirement, and have done so consequtively x2, and continue to get one year extensions for purpose of retirement.

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, pagallim said:

An OA can only be applied for external to Thailand.   A Non O can be applied for within Thailand, and before expiry, an extension based on Retirement, Marriage, dependents etc applied for, then rinse and repeat every year.

Umm. You can convert a visa for example tourist visa to a non o. 

To obtain a non o you need to apply at any consulate or embassy outside of Thailand. It is valid for 90 days and prior to it until date you apply at imm office for "extension of stay based on retirement" (in your case). The extension has requirements some of which different to O-A.

An OA is in most cases obtained is your own country it is valid for 12 but in reality can obtain almost 2 yrs if you exit and reenter just before expiry date.

There are other differences. For example money in bank for OA can be in bank home country. Police check for OA. etc etc. All in the websites.

 

[ubonjoe]

22 minutes ago, JTXR said:

OK, 90 days vs. 1 year.  Got it.

But what are the differences (financial requirements and police background check) when applying for the visa in one's home country?  Can the Non O be applied for in Thailand?  Can the Non O be extended again and again like the Non OA?

If you can get a single entry non-o visa in your home country there would normally be no financial proof need and never a background check. Then during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry form apply for a one year extension that can be extended again every year.

You can apply for a 90 day non immigrant visa (category O) entry at immigration based upon qualifying for an extension of stay based upon retirement. The during the last 30 days of he entry from it apply for the extension of stay. Edit: Requirement for the visa application is here. https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_80

No background check or medical certificate is needed.

[pagallim]

3 minutes ago, JTXR said:

Thanks. 

 

When applying within Thailand for a Non O, is there a police background check required?  The reason I ask is that when I applied for my Non OA in the U.S. a few years ago, the Thai embassy wanted a background check from the State police in my state and also an FBI check.  I got them, but it took forever and a day.

Are the financial requirements for 1-year extension of the Non O the same as for the Non OA?

 

 

Police background and medical certification are not required for a Non-O.   Here's the requirement for Phuket Immigration (though there may well be variances if applying at another office, so always best to check with them first):

 

http://piv-phuket.com/long-stay-extensions/retirement/

[jacko45k]

11 minutes ago, JTXR said:

OK, 90 days vs. 1 year.  Got it.

But what are the differences (financial requirements and police background check) when applying for the visa in one's home country?  Can the Non O be applied for in Thailand?  Can the Non O be extended again and again like the Non OA?

Visas can only be obtained outside Thailand. You can see the differences required by looking at the Thai Embassy Website. As you say a Non-Imm-OA required police check. 

You can convert a Visa Exempt or Tourist Visa Entry to that of a Non-Imm O within Thailand in preparation to obtaining a one year extension. As far as Extensions are concerned, the Non-Imm OA is no different than the O.

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, WalkingOrders said:

I arrived with a tourist visa. Applied for a non-O for retirement 90 day. I then got an extension for 1 year for retirement, and have done so consequtively x2, and continue to get one year extensions for purpose of retirement.

You were granted a conversion. Visas are not issued inside los. A point of different BTW for obtain the non o inside is requirement to show money in bank came from outside of Thailand. This is not required if you obtain non o outside of Thailand. 

[Tanoshi]

The requirements to obtain Visas, the various types and conditions attached to a Visa can be found on Thai Embassy/Consulate websites, such as;

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84395-Types-of-Visas.html

 

In order to apply for an 'extension' at a local Immigration office within Thailand, the requirements can be found within Immigrations Bureau website, https://www.immigration.go.th/index namely Police Orders. 

In order to obtain an extension, you must initially obtain a Non Imm O type Visa. 

You do not extend the Visa, Visas cannot be extended, you extend the permission to stay granted by entry to Thailand.

 

At certain Thai Embassy/Consulates, it is not possible to obtain the basic 'O' Visa for the purpose of retirement (only the O-A type is available).

You can enter Thailand 'Visa exempt' or on a 'Tourist' Visa' then Thai Immigration will 'convert' or issue a Non O solely for the purpose of an extension application.

Commonly known as the conversion process.

For retirement purposes; https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_80

 

[robertson468]

Just came back from Samui Immigration and discussed my extension (married to Thai Lady) with them, which is due in October 2019.

 

I extended in October 2018 for one year, using the old system of Consul Letter to prove income, but had heard that in the future would have to deposit money, either a lump sum of 400,000 baht or a monthly deposit of 40,000 baht.  At that time there was no mention that one would have to prove that it had been transferred in to my Thai Bank from a Bank outside of Thailand.  So, using withdrawals from the ATM, I deposited 40,000 baht in my Thai Account for November and December, thinking I was complying with the Immigration Rules.  However, on 26 December 2018 (please note the date) the Thai Police published that the deposit needed to come from outside Thailand and the Thai Bank would show this by a code on my Thai Bank Book.  Which I have been doing since January 2019.

I explained this to Samui Immigration, who said as much as, hard luck, you have to deposit 400,000 baht or you will not get a new extension, despite my (well my Thai Wife who remains much more calm with these people) explaining, that the fault lay with their delay in published the new laws and that they should make provision for this lapse on their part.  Long story short.........400,000 baht or no extension, without even consulting her Superior.

I can provide the deposit of 400,000 baht, but I feel quite agrieved that due to the inefficiency of the Thai Police, I have to support the Thai Financial System.  I'm sure I will get over it in a couple of day, but the consequence is I have become somewhat even more jaundiced towards the Thai Bureaucracy and having just witnessed the Thai Electoral System, does make me wonder if Thailand is still the place for me.  A little sad for someone who other wise love(d) both the Country and the People.  Sorry to bore you all.........happy days!

[JTXR]

robertson468, in January there was a memo from the Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau in instructing Immigration Officers to be flexible in 2019 in administering the new rules.  Go here:

 

 

Look for item 16.  The memo can be downloaded in Thai and in English.  Maybe you can take the memo back to Immigration and show them they are supposed be flexible.  An agent might be able to help, and since you actually are making the 40K/mo transfers there shouldn't be anything wrong with using an agent.

[Pungdo]

I'm a little confused by all of this, I have never had anything but Non O visas, all obtained from my home country and always had a validity of 12 months, with an in / out run every 90 days, normally I could stretch them out to around 14 1/2 months before heading home to get a new one, I've been on Retirement ext now since the last one I got in 2011, it has 2 dates on it, 8 Dec 2011 to 8 Dec 2012

[Tanoshi]

21 minutes ago, Pungdo said:

I'm a little confused by all of this, I have never had anything but Non O visas, all obtained from my home country and always had a validity of 12 months, with an in / out run every 90 days, normally I could stretch them out to around 14 1/2 months before heading home to get a new one, I've been on Retirement ext now since the last one I got in 2011, it has 2 dates on it, 8 Dec 2011 to 8 Dec 2012

I'm confused by your post.

Are you on Non O Visa obtained at a Thai Embassy/Consulate, OR

An extension of stay obtained from an Immigration office.

You can't be on both.

[ubonjoe]

27 minutes ago, Pungdo said:

I'm a little confused by all of this, I have never had anything but Non O visas, all obtained from my home country and always had a validity of 12 months, with an in / out run every 90 days, normally I could stretch them out to around 14 1/2 months before heading home to get a new one, I've been on Retirement ext now since the last one I got in 2011, it has 2 dates on it, 8 Dec 2011 to 8 Dec 2012

Your last non-o visa expired years ago and is not important now.

The only thing important now is the date your most recent extension of stay based upon retirement ends.

[Suradit69]

4 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

 

You do not extend the Visa, Visas cannot be extended, you extend the permission to stay granted by entry to Thailand

Yes, which is why when one wants to travel out of and back into Thailand when one is on an extension of stay or during the second year permission to stay from an O-A entry, the visa one used to enter will have expired, you'll only have a permission to remain in Thailand and, therefore you'll need a re-entry permit.

 

unfortunately some people still refer to extending the visa and do not understand one cannot extend their visa, they therefore do not have a valid visa and, without the re-entry permit they will lose their permission to stay when returning and, in most cases, when they return to Thailand will be given only a 30 day visa exempt entry ... and then they'll rush to Thai Visa to post that Immigrations made a mistake.

 

The distinction between referring to a stamp in your passport as a permission to stay or a visa  is often unimportant  until it is important and the significance is painfully apparent.

[Bang Bang]

Curious as posters mention getting a non-O from their home country:

Is it possible to get one at Thai Embassy/Consulate in a 3rd (not home) country, e.g., Laos, Cambodia, India, ...?

[Suradit69]

1 hour ago, Pungdo said:

I'm a little confused by all of this, I have never had anything but Non O visas, all obtained from my home country and always had a validity of 12 months, with an in / out run every 90 days, normally I could stretch them out to around 14 1/2 months before heading home to get a new one, I've been on Retirement ext now since the last one I got in 2011, it has 2 dates on it, 8 Dec 2011 to 8 Dec 2012

How can you say you've never had anything but Non Imm O visas obtained in your home country, but you're on a retirement extension now since 2011?

 

It seems whatever dates are shown would be 8 Dec to 7 Dec, but I have no idea what the dates you're speaking of are on.

 

Incidentally, an Non Imm O-A is a type of Non Imm O visa.

 

 

 

 

[Tanoshi]

3 minutes ago, Bang Bang said:

Curious as posters mention getting a non-O from their home country:

Is it possible to get one at Thai Embassy/Consulate in a 3rd (not home) country, e.g., Laos, Cambodia, India, ...?

The Non O-A Visa is only available from a Country where you have permanent residency or citizenship.

 

The Non O single entry is only available from certain Embassies/Consulates based on retirement, but available on the basis of marriage/Thai family.

 

The Non O multiple entry is available for those married/Thai family, but at certain Embassies available for the purpose of retirement.

 

Availability and conditions vary from Country to Country.

[Alex2554]

Essential difference

NonO-A visa - consulate.

NonO stamp - Immigration office. 

 

[khunPer]

8 hours ago, JTXR said:

OK, 90 days vs. 1 year.  Got it.

But what are the differences (financial requirements and police background check) when applying for the visa in one's home country?  Can the Non O be applied for in Thailand?  Can the Non O be extended again and again like the Non OA?

Yes and no, and yes.

 

The Non-immigrant O visa is for 90-days; however, you can apply for a 1-year multiple entry non-immigrant O, which will give you a 90 day stamp on entry, and you can re-enter up to 1 year, i.e. if you re-enter Thailand just before expiration, you can in total have something like 1 year and 90 days, but never stay more than 90-days before you need to exit Thailand (visa run).

 

The non-immigrant O visa can be extended on 1-year periods based on retirement.

 

The non-immigrant O-A is the so-called "retirement visa" issued to people over 50-years in a limited number of foreign countries' Thai embassies (must apply in one's home country). It require almost same documentation as an annual extension based on retirement, and similar financial proof, but the fund don't need to be inside Thailand. Furthermore criminal record, and a health insurance is required, which has lately been much discussed. You will get a one year entry, but shall do 90-days reports, like when having an annual extension of stay. You can extend your stay on the non-immigrant A-O visa for one year, same conditions as when extending stay based on retirement of a non-immigrant O visa.

 

You can read more about requirements for non-immigrant A-O here "Retirement Visa Non-Immigrant Visa “O-A” (1 Year Visa)".

????

 

9 hours ago, BritManToo said:

It's just about the length of stay, not the reason for stay.

Correct for non-immigrant O, but not for non-immigrant A-O, which is only issued to people over 50 years, and officially called "retirement visa" (se above link).

[Tanoshi]

2 hours ago, khunPer said:

You can read more about requirements for non-immigrant A-O here "Retirement Visa Non-Immigrant Visa “O-A” (1 Year Visa)".

????

 

11 hours ago, BritManToo said:

It's just about the length of stay, not the reason for stay.

Correct for non-immigrant O, but not for non-immigrant A-O, which is only issued to people over 50 years, and officially called "retirement visa" (se above link).

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84508-Non-Immigrant-visas.html#7

Non-Immigrant Type O- A (Long Stay) 1 Year per entries/Multiple entries/ 1 year validity 

 

The Thai Embassy in London don't agree with you.

It's officially called the Non Imm O-A Visa.

It's issued for the purpose of 'long stay' or 'retirement'.

 

[Tanoshi]

2 hours ago, khunPer said:

The non-immigrant O visa can be extended on 1-year periods based on retirement.

You cannot extend a Visa.

The Visa expires on it's 'enter before' date

You extend your permission of stay.

[Tanoshi]

2 hours ago, khunPer said:

The non-immigrant O-A is the so-called "retirement visa" issued to people over 50-years in a limited number of foreign countries' Thai embassies (must apply in one's home country). It require almost same documentation as an annual extension based on retirement, and similar financial proof, but the fund don't need to be inside Thailand. Furthermore criminal record, and a health insurance is required, which has lately been much discussed. You will get a one year entry, but shall do 90-days reports, like when having an annual extension of stay. You can extend your stay on the non-immigrant A-O visa for one year, same conditions as when extending stay based on retirement of a non-immigrant O visa.

So incorrect, I know where to start ☹️

[khunPer]

2 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

4 hours ago, khunPer said:

You can read more about requirements for non-immigrant A-O here "Retirement Visa Non-Immigrant Visa “O-A” (1 Year Visa)".

????

 

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

It's just about the length of stay, not the reason for stay.

Correct for non-immigrant O, but not for non-immigrant A-O, which is only issued to people over 50 years, and officially called "retirement visa" (se above link).

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84508-Non-Immigrant-visas.html#7

Non-Immigrant Type O- A (Long Stay) 1 Year per entries/Multiple entries/ 1 year validity 

 

The Thai Embassy in London don't agree with you.

It's officially called the Non Imm O-A Visa.

It's issued for the purpose of 'long stay' or 'retirement'.

The title and link is The Thai Embassy in Copenhagen, so I'm correct, but the embassy in Copenhagen states a different "name" from the embassy in London...????

 

2 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

So incorrect, I know where to start ☹️

What is incorrect – appreciate correction – did you at all read the link..?

 

2 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

5 hours ago, khunPer said:

The non-immigrant O visa can be extended on 1-year periods based on retirement.

You cannot extend a Visa.

The Visa expires on it's 'enter before' date

You extend your permission of stay.

Yes, of course ...O visa "permission of stay" can be extended, like I wrote in following paragraph, thanks for adding that...????