How to apply for O-A visa when you have tourist visa ?

[zenplay]

Hello.

What is the complete process to apply for O-A visa when you have 30 days Visa Exemption (as a tourist) ?

Thank you.

[MeePeeMai]

Book a flight back home and apply in your home country (it's the only way you can get an O-A Visa)

[ubonjoe]

A OA long stay visa can only be applied for at a embassy or official consulate in you home country or country of legal residence.

[scubascuba3]

i guess the op is wanting to know about Non Imm O based on retirement?

[fishtank]

30 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

i guess the op is wanting to know about Non Imm O based on retirement?

Who knows, but he wont get a Non Imm O-A Visa locally or in Thailand.

[steve187]

if are are planning on getting a long term solution to staying in Thailand as an over 50's person, then the VE entry needs to be converted to, a non immigrant 'O' visa at a local immigration office cost 2,000thb, then in the last 30 days of the permission to stay stamp that that visa gives you you then apply for a one year extension again at local immigration office cost 1,900thb,  financials are required.

 

correct terms for staying in Thailand are

visa , which is normally issued outside Thailand giving you a 60 day or 90 day or 1 year( on an 'O''A' visa) permission to stay stamp in your passport

and

extensions of stay issued within Thailand for a period of normally 30 days or in the case of a Thai family member 60 days, or a long term extension of 1 year, the only extension allowed on a non imm visa is a 1 year stay, ( unless you have a Thai family member)

[Martyp]

Your question about O-A visas has been answered. However, if you are really asking about a non-immigrant O visa then here is an interesting recent TVF post.

 

Post from Thai Visa Forum

 

Members 18 24 posts

Report post  #1 Posted September 24 1 I applied for a tourist visa from the Thai embassy in my country. 2 Once in Thailand, I got a copy of my passport stamped by my embassy in Thailand (required by the bank). 3 I also needed a TM30 from the immigration office, and used my condo rental contract to prove my address (and a copy of my landlords id-card and blue book). 4 Opened a bank account in a Thai bank, with the stamped passport document and the TM30. I told the bank I where applying for a retirement visa, and that I needed an account to deposit 800K baht. 5 Sent 800.000 baht from my country to the account, and made sure to get the document that showed the transfer (had to be printed at the same branch/office where the account where opened (they could not explain me why)). 6 Once the money was in my account, I got a stamped statement of the balance (had to be done the same day I applied for the retirement visa). 7 Took the bank statement, the TM30, the transfer document, my updated bank book, my passport, the rental contract, the TM6, a map showing my address and a few pass photos and went to the immigration office. Had copies of all my documents, all signed. Also brought the originals. 8 Filled in the required forms at the immigration office, handed in the application and paid 2000 baht. Got a retirement visa for three monts. 9 After two months I took all the documents, and an updated statement from the bank, showing the 800k, and applied for a visa extension for one year. 10 I could apply for a single- or a multiple re-entry permit (1000 or 3700 baht) and got a multiple re-entry permit.   It was useful to have copies of everything, like the pages in my passport with relevant stamps, and the TM6.   I used the Government Complex in Bangkok, and I must say I am impressed by the staff, they where both friendly and effective, despite the pressure and conditions they where working under.

 

[UncleMhee]

To the OP; this is an official site. You asked the question, here's an option. Can only give it a go. Yes or No!

3. Channels to submit application

Applicant may submit their application at the Royal Thai embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in their home/residence country or at the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Thailand located onGovernment Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Tel 0-2141-9889.

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15385-Non-Immigrant-Visa-"O-A"-(Long-Stay).html

[zenplay]

6 hours ago, MeePeeMai said:

Book a flight back home and apply in your home country (it's the only way you can get an O-A Visa)

Is it possible to apply in Laos or Cambodia (but not my home country) ?

[treetops]

32 minutes ago, zenplay said:

Is it possible to apply in Laos or Cambodia (but not my home country) ?

As per post #3, only if it is your country of legal residence, and you will have to provide evidence of this.

[MeePeeMai]

41 minutes ago, zenplay said:

Is it possible to apply in Laos or Cambodia (but not my home country) ?

Don't forget that in order to get a Non O-A Visa now, you must meet the new mandatory Health Insurance requirements.

[sometimewoodworker]

8 hours ago, zenplay said:

Is it possible to apply in Laos or Cambodia (but not my home country) ?

Almost certainly no, as you probably do not have legal residency in either country.

[ubonjoe]

10 hours ago, UncleMhee said:

To the OP; this is an official site. You asked the question, here's an option. Can only give it a go. Yes or No!

3. Channels to submit application

Applicant may submit their application at the Royal Thai embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in their home/residence country or at the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Thailand located onGovernment Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Tel 0-2141-9889.

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15385-Non-Immigrant-Visa-"O-A"-(Long-Stay).html

That is incorrect info that has been on that site for many years and is also shown on some embassy websites.

You can only apply at a embassy or official Thai consulate.

[soisanuk]

10 hours ago, zenplay said:

Is it possible to apply in Laos or Cambodia (but not my home country) ?

As stated by many others, you can obtain a Non-Immigrant O-A Visa only from a Thai Embassy/Consulate in your country of legal residence provided you are at least 50 years of age and meet the financial requirements for retiring in Thailand.

 

But, also as mentioned, on a Visa Exempt entry, you can apply within Thailand at an Immigration Office for a Non-Immigrant O Visa upon showing you meet the age and financial requirements (basically the same as for O-A except in the case of using 800, 000 baht in the bank, it must be in a Thai bank, or in the case of income, evidence of transferring at least 65,000 baht each month into a Thai bank if you are from UK, USA, or Australia - otherwise, a letter from your country's Embassy certifying the amount of monthly income is not less than 65,000 per month). The fee is 2,000 baht. You will need a minimum of 15 days remaining on your permission of stay at time of application (if on your initial 30 days and you need more time to meet this requirement, you can extend the 30 days for another 30 days at Thai Immigration for a fee of 1,900 baht).

 

Upon issuance of the "O" Visa, you will be given a permission to stay of 90 days from date of issue. After 60 days has elapsed, you can then apply for a one year extension based on retirement, which will be added to the initial 90 day permission to stay. The extension fee is 1,900 baht. The same documentation will be needed as used for the "O" Visa application.

 

IMO, the "O" Visa is the way to go for most as at present there is no requirement you have health insurance to qualify for the Visa or one-year extension(s); especially since to obtain extensions of stay for the holder of an O-A Visa, the health insurance must be from a Thai company listed on the Thailand General Insurance Association webpage - most of which are very expensive, age restrictive, and exclude pre-existing conditions.

 

 

[zaZa9]

^ Good advice.

If one were to do the 'O' as you suggest , must they keep 400k baht in the Thai bank for ever they are in LOS ,  as happens with an O-A visa ?

[ubonjoe]

21 minutes ago, zaZa9 said:

If one were to do the 'O' as you suggest , must they keep 400k baht in the Thai bank for ever they are in LOS ,  as happens with an O-A visa ?

You do not have to keep any money in the bank longer than the day you apply for a OA visa at a embassy or consulate.

Or are you confusing a extension of stay based upon retirement issued by immigration with a OA visa.

[zaZa9]

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You do not have to keep any money in the bank longer than the day you apply for a OA visa at a embassy or consulate.

Or are you confusing a extension of stay based upon retirement issued by immigration with a OA visa.

Yes , I must be confusing the two UJ.

So if u arrive on a new O-A , you can spend your 800k immediately.

So too , a new  O Visa ?

[ubonjoe]

1 minute ago, zaZa9 said:

So too , a new  O Visa ?

If you have a non-o visa and then apply for an extension of stay at immigration you have to have 800k baht in a Thai bank for 2 months and for 3 months after the day you apply. After the 3 months you have to keep 400k baht in the bank until you top up your account to 800k baht before applying for your next extension.

[Peter Denis]

26 minutes ago, zaZa9 said:

^ Good advice.

If one were to do the 'O' as you suggest , must they keep 400k baht in the Thai bank for ever they are in LOS ,  as happens with an O-A visa ?

One of the advantages of an OA Visa was that you did not need to meet any financial requirements until you applied for an extension of stay.  So when timed right you could get almost 2 years out of your OA Visa before the financial requirements at extension of stay would kick in.  And of course you could just leave before your permission to stay ended, and re-apply for an OA Visa in your home-country.

The new Oct 31 health-insurance requirement when applying for an OA Visa, obviously has made the OA Visa less atrractive.  And therefore many original OA Visa holders are now considering to switch to a Non Imm O Visa.

 

 

[Huckenfell]

On 11/26/2019 at 3:58 PM, MeePeeMai said:

Book a flight back home and apply in your home country (it's the only way you can get an O-A Visa)

And as from 29th Oct 2019 you will have to get the stupidly excessive med insurance.