Looking to retire in Thailand with my (non-Thai) spouse.  Wondering if anyone has any input on this from a US perspective. 

 

Best to get Non-Immigrant Category “O-A” for both of us?

If so, do we need separate US bank accounts with the min B800k equiv each?

Trying to think through the future in-country renewal issues as well - we hope to stay 5-10 years.

 

Seem to recall from other forum posts that the initial visa extends 1 year from date of initial stamp; If re-entry just before expiration the visa is valid for stay without extension for about one more year?

Re-entry permit not required until leaving the country after extension.  perhaps best to get that at the time of extension?

 

Grateful for any pointers.  Apologies if this was previously discussed - I can't seem to find a relevant topic.

Your choice, independent O-A Visas, or your wife could get a Non-Imm-O and extension. Independent would require separate money.

O-A Visa gives 1 year permission to stay for each entry during its validity, it is a multiple entry Visa. By using it (entering) just prior to it's expiry you can get 2 years stay. During the second year, re-entry permit(s) would be required for trips from and to Thailand.

 

 

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Your choice, independent O-A Visas, or your wife could get a Non-Imm-O and extension. Independent would require separate money.

> Jacko45K summed it up nice. With two separate Non-Imm multiple entry OA Visas, both you and your wife can stay a full year in Thailand and also make trips abroad as you like. By leaving Thailand and re-entering just prior to the Visa expiry you can get 2 years stay. During the second year, re-entry permit(s) would be required for trips from and to Thailand.
Two months before the end of that second period, both of you need to park 800.000 THB in a Thai bank account (or start using the monthly income transfer method).  Then you will be eligible for further extension of stay.

Another option is that you return briefly to your home country and start the whole process afresh.

> It is indeed possible that your wife takes a different Visa (Non-Imm O) because she is married to you.  The financial proof of income both at application and later on when she goes for extension of stay are then only half (400.000 THB).

But that would mean that - contrary to yourself with your OA Visa - that she would have to do a 'border run' every 90 days.  If you accompany her, you don't have to do your 90 day reports.

Note: I am not fully sure about the required border runs for Non-Imm O Visa, so please correct me if not fully accurate.

 

Edited September 8, 20196 yr by Peter Denis

12 hours ago, SmokeyJoe said:

Seem to recall from other forum posts that the initial visa extends 1 year from date of initial stamp; If re-entry just before expiration the visa is valid for stay without extension for about one more year?

Re-entry permit not required until leaving the country after extension.  perhaps best to get that at the time of extension?

For one year from date of issue of the visa you can use the visa to enter Thailand as often as you like and each time you will get a new one year permission to stay.

 

If you exit and return one last time just before the visa expires, you'll get another  full year permission to stay. Note there is a difference between the visa and the permission to stay. The visa will expire on the date shown on the visa sticker. It cannot be extended, but you can still have a valid permission to stay stamp in your passport despite the visa having expired.

 

Once the visa expires, either during that second full year permission to stay or if you get annual extensions of your permission to stay, you need a re-entry permit for any travel out of Thailand and returns to the country. This will allow you to keep your current permission to stay. After the visa expires you will not get a new full year permission to stay by leaving and returning.

 

Some people do insist on saying they've been renewing their non-imm O-A for many years, but unless they actually return to their home country for a new visa, that is not true. If they visit immigrations annually for an extension, they are only extending their permission to stay. The visa would have expired long ago ... thus the need for a re-entry permit for travel.