How to change from A-O Visa to normal extension based on income

[Chiller]

Hi everyone, advice needed please. I’m currently here on an A-O Visa, the actual Visa expires at the end of March 2020 and I’m aware I can effectively be granted a further year by leaving and returning just before the Visa expires. However I’m thinking of changing to the income method going forward and  I understand I have to show a minimum of 12 consecutive deposits in a Thai account of 65000 baht before I can apply for an extension of stay based on retirement etc? If this is correct would I have to apply before my actual Visa expires?

I’m assuming I would not be able to use this method following the end of my authorised period of permission to stay, ie, the end date of the period granted upon my last entry on my actual Visa?

if I need an Non O Visa in order to apply then where’s the best place to get this, as although I’m over 50 I do not seem to qualify for this type of Visa, as I’m not in receipt of a state pension, not married, etc, etc?!  

Thanks in advance for any advice. 

[jacko45k]

You would need to apply before your permission of stay expires, not Visa. Visa can be expired then.

Your O-A is a non-Imm O Visa and qualifies you.

 

[Chiller]

Thanks Jacko, Advice much appreciated.  

[KhunBENQ]

Rethink your decision and do a border run before the visa expires (VALID UNTIL date on the sticker),

Postpone the headache and start transferring the 65k/month if you desire to go this route.

When is the visa expiration date?

[Chiller]

HI, my actual A-O Visa expires on 28 March 2020. 

[KhunBENQ]

So you could stretch your stay until March 2021.

It's your decision but I would use the opportunity.

(I had Non O-A in 2011)

[Pib]

Definitely do a border run just before your OA visa expires which would extend you stay to around Feb/Mar 2021.  Then this gives you plenty of breathing room to do a switch to the income method.   My gosh, Thailand is not a big country....do a one day border run.  Heck, if you happen to live close to the border it will not even take you a day to do a border run. 

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, Chiller said:

HI, my actual A-O Visa expires on 28 March 2020. 

Hey chiller...yes I'm at bang Saen circuit racing and not in best position to advise but hells bells why give up a free year of your A-O.

Bib and kunben have given good advice. Perhaps you have your reasons but I don't get it. 

[Tanoshi]

4 hours ago, Chiller said:

HI, my actual A-O Visa expires on 28 March 2020. 

The validity of a Visa and the validity of permission of stay are different.

As the O-A Visa allows 1 year entries, if you do a border run on 25th March 2020, you'll be granted a 1 year permission of stay on re-entry until 24th March 2021.

You continue to do 90 day reports as usual. (Count re-enter date of 25/3/2020 as day 1 of 90 day count).

However if you want to leave and re-enter Thailand during the period 25/3/2020 - 24/3/2021 then you need to purchase a re-entry permit to keep any remaining POS valid until 24/3/2021.

 

You can apply for an extension 30 days (45 at certain offices) prior to your POS ending, so anytime from 24/2/2021. If using the income method of 65K per month, then for the very first extension application you only need to prove 2 x 65K monthly overseas transfers.

For the next extension (2022) a full 12 x 65K monthly overseas transfers are required.

[Chiller]

Thanks everyone, yes it has always been my intention to make use of the extra year, so to speak, but I was unsure whether I would have to apply for further 12 month extensions based on income before the actual visa expired, ie, March 2020, as opposed to doing so at the end of the final period granted to stay, ie, if timed correctly, March 2021. 

[david555]

4 hours ago, Chiller said:

Thanks everyone, yes it has always been my intention to make use of the extra year, so to speak, but I was unsure whether I would have to apply for further 12 month extensions based on income before the actual visa expired, ie, March 2020, as opposed to doing so at the end of the final period granted to stay, ie, if timed correctly, March 2021. 

You have the ideal visa for the moment , and that extra year give you full control over your own money …...different as the 1 year ret.ext. where 5 months 800K & 7 months400K are seasoned ...in case of money at Thai bank 

 

In the monthly income it can become a tricky hassle because A) exchange rate changes ….B) the transfer certificates can change at will of bank with an I.O. making interpretation problems ..

[Chiller]

30 minutes ago, david555 said:

You have the ideal visa for the moment , and that extra year give you full control over your own money …...different as the 1 year ret.ext. where 5 months 800K & 7 months400K are seasoned ...in case of money at Thai bank 

 

In the monthly income it can become a tricky hassle because A) exchange rate changes ….B) the transfer certificates can change at will of bank with an I.O. making interpretation problems ..

Yes I take your point, but what if you also produced your home country bank statements showing the transfer to the Thai bank each month as additional proof. Do you think that would work?  

[david555]

14 minutes ago, Chiller said:

Yes I take your point, but what if you also produced your home country bank statements showing the transfer to the Thai bank each month as additional proof. Do you think that would work?  

No, only they could ask those as extra proof  , but they want to see the THAI bank transfer statements  that is why the Non O-A is best one as for that the home country bank account may have the needed money , but for the non o (thai immigration based one ) the money must be in a Thai bank account

 

.And your NON O_A is in total good for 2 years if done a visa run before first year ends …( getting another 1 year stamp

For the monthly …,I am not sure as it is a serious hassle with many pit falls possible , and I fear to advise you , better some who use it at success can advise you in that one  .

 

I use the non o with 800K on bank and if possible , this is the simplest one (if can miss the money for using half), I just renewed my 1 year ret. ext. in 30 minutes including stepping in bank for letter  and at 9.30 stepping out immigration  at jomtien 28 aug.

[Chiller]

Okay, I sure now know much more about this than when I first asked the question, so thanks again to everyone for the very helpful advice. 

[Suradit69]

23 hours ago, Chiller said:

HI, my actual A-O Visa expires on 28 March 2020. 

It's an O-A or non Imm O-A visa, not A-O

 

Since there's no income proof required during the second year's permission fto stay, use that year to create evidence of monthly deposits of baht 65,000. Near the end of hat year apply for an extension of stay based on retirement and you'll have a record of monthly deposits.

 

Remember during the second year you'll have a valid permission to stay (assuming you did the border hop before the visa expired) but you won't have a visa, so if you want to exit and then return to Thailand during that second year you'll need a re-entry permit. 

 

The he same applies if you are granted an extension after the second year. Your permission to stay will be extended, but you'll have no valid visa. So if you want to travel out and in you'll need a re-entry permit.

 

 

 

 

[Chiller]

Thank you Suradit69, how many monthly deposits do you need to show for the first application based on income, it was earlier mentioned that only 2 months are required, but looks like you’re suggesting more than that?