OA to O - how is this accomplished?

[UncleFesterNightmare]

I just read many mentions of changing one's OA visa to an O for those who entered years ago on an OA. 

 

How is this accomplished inside Thailand?

[MeePeeMai]

I might be wrong but I don't believe that this can be accomplished (legally) inside of Thailand.  You can get a 12 month extension (on your original O-A entry) for purposes other than retirement i.e. marriage or Thai family etc but I believe that one must exit Thailand 1st and then start the Non-O process (one way or another either at a foreign embassy/consulate or here in Thailand after entering on a 30 day exempt etc.) in order to actually get a Non-O Visa.

 

Some say an agent can make it happen for $$$$$$ but I wouldn't go that route.

Edited November 30, 2019 by MeePeeMai

[GalaxyMan]

12 minutes ago, MeePeeMai said:

Some say an agent can make it happen for $$$$$$ but I wouldn't go that route.

Why not if it works? Silly attitude. It's the end result that matters. The cost of using an agent, approximately 30K, is far less than leaving the country and going through the process. Find an agent that has a good reputation.

[scubascuba3]

Obvious answer is go to Savannaket to get a 90 day non imm O then apply for a O retirement extension at immigration.

 

If the existing OA extension is single or multi entry i wonder how you kill it when you leave Thailand

Edited November 30, 2019 by scubascuba3

[Peter Denis]

25 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Obvious answer is go to Savannaket to get a 90 day non imm O then apply for a O retirement extension at immigration.

 

If the existing OA extension is single or multi entry i wonder how you kill it when you leave Thailand

Savannaket is one of the possible options, but it's actually just a matter of exiting Thailand. 

Reason being that you need to 'kill' your not-expired OA extension of stay, in order to be able to apply for another Visa type, i.e. a Non Imm O.

To 'kill' your present not-expired OA extension of stay, exiting Thailand without a re-entry permit is sufficient, as that will void the OA permission to stay.

If you did buy a single or multiple re-entry permit, you could visit your IO first to cancel them (otherwise your OA permission to stay will be kept alive).

Having exited Thailand you can then apply for the Non Imm O at the thai embassy/consulate of the country you went to (but check up front if they do issue Non Imm O - retirement Visa there).  You can also simply re-enter Thailand and apply for a Non Imm O - retirement at your local IO.  Once you have the 90 days Non Imm O Visa, you can then apply in the last month of its validity, for a 1 year extension of stay based on that Non Imm O - retirement. 

[scubascuba3]

9 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Savannaket is one of the possible options, but it's actually just a matter of exiting Thailand. 

Reason being that you need to 'kill' your not-expired OA extension of stay, in order to be able to apply for another Visa type, i.e. a Non Imm O.

To 'kill' your present not-expired OA extension of stay, exiting Thailand without a re-entry permit is sufficient, as that will void the OA permission to stay.

If you did buy a single or multiple re-entry permit, you could visit your IO first to cancel them (otherwise your OA permission to stay will be kept alive).

Having exited Thailand you can then apply for the Non Imm O at the thai embassy/consulate of the country you went to (but check up front if they do issue Non Imm O - retirement Visa there).  You can also simply re-enter Thailand and apply for a Non Imm O - retirement at your local IO.  Once you have the 90 days Non Imm O Visa, you can then apply in the last month of its validity, for a 1 year extension of stay based on that Non Imm O - retirement. 

So you can cancel easy enough any single or reentry permit you have at Immigration?

 

if so, no big drama for the OA people

[MeePeeMai]

3 hours ago, GalaxyMan said:

Why not if it works? Silly attitude. It's the end result that matters. The cost of using an agent, approximately 30K, is far less than leaving the country and going through the process. Find an agent that has a good reputation.

 

Why not?  Silly attitude?   30K, is far less than leaving the country and going through the process?

 

I don't know your spending habits (maybe you only stay in 5 star resorts, fly business class and hire private limos) but some of us don't fancy flushing money down the toilet like that.  One can take a short vacation to a nearby embassy or consulate, see a nearby country that we have not yet been and get a Non-O for far less than 30k (flying, not riding in a death van with a meth crazed driver).

 

Good reputation or not, some of us don't use agents and never will... especially at that price!!

 

 

 

 

[Maestro]

Removed an off-topic post.

[Matzzon]

Approximately everywhere you can get a new visa.

[jacko45k]

You would still have to leave Thailand, and if one does that perhaps getting the Non-Imm-O in a neighbouring  country is easiest. Alternatively, returning with a Tourist Visa or Visa Exempt entry.... that entry can be converted to a Non-Imm-O in Thailand. 

Note: The original Extension (on the O-A Entry Permission) should not have any valid Re-Entry Permit, and the Original Visa expired of course. Or the Extension expires while out of Thailand. 

[ubonjoe]

38 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Note: The original Extension (on the O-A Entry Permission) should not have any valid Re-Entry Permit, and the Original Visa expired of course. Or the Extension expires while out of Thailand. 

You could leave on the last day of the extension and then re-enter the country the next day visa exempt or apply for a non-o or tourist visa. By doing it that way the extension and re-entry permit would of already expired.

Or you could apply for an extension a few days before it expires, pay 1900 baht and be granted 7 days to leave the country to give some flexibility for the day you leave the country.

[LivinLOS]

16 hours ago, GalaxyMan said:

Why not if it works? Silly attitude. It's the end result that matters. The cost of using an agent, approximately 30K, is far less than leaving the country and going through the process. Find an agent that has a good reputation.

Agents are all bending or breaking the law, so by definition your dealing with underhanded practices.. 

 

When your passport goes missing, putting you onto overstay, what are you going to tell the police ?? 

[pennine]

17 hours ago, MeePeeMai said:

I might be wrong but I don't believe that this can be accomplished (legally) inside of Thailand.  You can get a 12 month extension (on your original O-A entry) for purposes other than retirement i.e. marriage or Thai family etc but I believe that one must exit Thailand 1st and then start the Non-O process (one way or another either at a foreign embassy/consulate or here in Thailand after entering on a 30 day exempt etc.) in order to actually get a Non-O Visa.

 

Some say an agent can make it happen for $$$$$$ but I wouldn't go that route.

Yes, I was told by an agent that he can get for me in Thailand for a small fortune.

[Suradit69]

17 hours ago, GalaxyMan said:

Why not if it works? Silly attitude. It's the end result that matters. The cost of using an agent, approximately 30K, is far less than leaving the country and going through the process. Find an agent that has a good reputation.

But the "end result" you refer to is actually a short term or intermediate term result which may be reasonably predictable. The "end result" can't possibly be predicted especially if you intend to stay here long-term.

[Old Croc]

The OP asked if he can change an O-A to an O, inside Thailand. 

 

Most responses suggested he go offshore to get a new visa, describing it as easy. For many older or infirm people it is not always an easy option.

The suggested use of an agent, while expensive in relation to travel, is much cheaper than having to buy an expensive, useless insurance policy. 

 

The legalities of agents has been discussed at length elsewhere. I believe an Immigration Officer has a discretion to approve outside guidelines, so a decision would stand. Accepting bribes in public office would be an offence if Thailand suddenly changed it's culture. 

[rwill]

I would imagine that if the Thai government see lots of people moving from O-A to O that there will soon be a change to the law requiring insurance for the O too.  You already see talk of requiring insurance for everyone that enters Thailand.

[RocketDog]

17 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

Savannaket is one of the possible options, but it's actually just a matter of exiting Thailand. 

Reason being that you need to 'kill' your not-expired OA extension of stay, in order to be able to apply for another Visa type, i.e. a Non Imm O.

To 'kill' your present not-expired OA extension of stay, exiting Thailand without a re-entry permit is sufficient, as that will void the OA permission to stay.

If you did buy a single or multiple re-entry permit, you could visit your IO first to cancel them (otherwise your OA permission to stay will be kept alive).

Having exited Thailand you can then apply for the Non Imm O at the thai embassy/consulate of the country you went to (but check up front if they do issue Non Imm O - retirement Visa there).  You can also simply re-enter Thailand and apply for a Non Imm O - retirement at your local IO.  Once you have the 90 days Non Imm O Visa, you can then apply in the last month of its validity, for a 1 year extension of stay based on that Non Imm O - retirement. 

I'm struggling with the O-A retirement versus O- retirement you mention.

What are the differences?

 

Thanks for a reply from anyone on this thread

[Peter Denis]

12 minutes ago, RocketDog said:

I'm struggling with the O-A retirement versus O- retirement you mention.

What are the differences?

Previously when you applied for an extension of stay based on retirement, the requirements WERE exactly the same whether you started from an original OA Visa or from an original O Visa.

However, the new health-insurance requirement suddenly makes the difference relevant, as it is only imposed on those holding an original OA Visa.

So obviously these retirees are looking for options on how to escape the almost worthless and expensive thai health-insurance they are suddenly forced to take to have their extension of stay approved.  And some of them do not even qualify for that insurance, so - when not married - they really have no other option than switching Visa type. 

Note: those who are married still have the option to apply for an OA extension based on marriage instead of retirement.

But when on an OA retirement Visa and not married, your only option to dodge the health-insurance requirement is to switch to a different Visa type, i.e. a Non Imm O.

And my previous post - in response to the OP's question - was how to do that.

 

[Genericnic]

30 minutes ago, RocketDog said:

I'm struggling with the O-A retirement versus O- retirement you mention.

What are the differences?

 

Thanks for a reply from anyone on this thread

There are two main differences between the two.

 

First, you can only get an O-A visa in your home country or country of permanent residence. Second, O-A visas have an insurance requirement that non-O visas do not have. 

 

David

[buick]

OP,

when asking questions like this it is always a good idea to let people know what immigration office you deal with.

 

i wanted to apply for a non O (based on retirement) in thailand.  i already had the 800,000thb in bangkok bank.  my immigration office was/is CW in bangkok.  i took a trip to hong kong and returned visa exempt.  a couple days later i went to CW, applied for ‘change visa’, visa exempt to non O.  two weeks later i went back to have the non O stamp placed in my passport (for that office, there is a two week review period).  this was the easiest thing i’ve ever done at CW.  there is never a line at the change visa desk.  i doubt you’ll spend 10 minutes at CW each trip.  assuming that is where you do your immigration stuff.

 

personally, i didn’t like the idea of traveling to savannaket but maybe that is more convenient for you.  just remember to go on the days that the visa run vans do NOT go.  i don’t have that info but others might help you out on that.

 

for this exercise, i don’t really see the need to use an agent.  i’m not one of those ‘anti-agent’ guys.  but this ‘change visa’ thing inside thailand is super, super easy (based on my experience at CW).  

 

i didn’t do this to go from an OA to an O, i did it to get my first non O once i turned 50.

Edited December 1, 2019 by buick

[ramrod711]

16 hours ago, MeePeeMai said:

(flying, not riding in a death van with a meth crazed driver).

Meth crazed drivers need to make a living too, go for the gusto!????

[Pedrogaz]

I don't know anything about this except that I entered Thailand many years ago on a non-O-A obtained outside Thailand showing no financial data at all.

 

I changed it to a non-O based on retirement in Bangkok and have extended that ever since. I have changed passports and the current passport mentions only Non O. I showed financial statements, police reports and medical

 

I am assuming I do not need medical insurance and have funds here that exceed the insurance requirements more than 30 fold and so I self insure. I resent having to pay piratical insurance premiums to greedy insurance companies. If when I apply for my next extension next year and it turns out insurance is required, I will leave Thailand.

 

I intend to apply for the extension 30 days prior to expiry so that I will have some time to sort my affairs out in the event that they want insurance.

[maxx58]

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

 

Note: those who are married still have the option to apply for an OA extension based on marriage instead of retirement.

 

 

At Nonthaburi Immigration I thought that I could change my Non O-A based on retirement to one based on marriage, but IO told me that I have to leave the country and apply for an Non-O 90 day and then extend it based on marriage with the

Non-O visa.

[Peter Denis]

19 minutes ago, maxx58 said:

At Nonthaburi Immigration I thought that I could change my Non O-A based on retirement to one based on marriage, but IO told me that I have to leave the country and apply for an Non-O 90 day and then extend it based on marriage with the Non-O visa.

Afaik it should normally be possible to do it at your local IO.

See link with requirements >

https://division1.immigration.go.th/download/1551323240904.pdf

However, as it is a lot of paperwork local IO's often prefer that you apply at a thai embassy/consulate abroad.

See also this post >

 

[Pib]

6 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You could leave on the last day of the extension and then re-enter the country the next day visa exempt or apply for a non-o or tourist visa. By doing it that way the extension and re-entry permit would of already expired.

Or you could apply for an extension a few days before it expires, pay 1900 baht and be granted 7 days to leave the country to give some flexibility for the day you leave the country.

ubonjoe,

   If a person leaves Thailand with a retirement extension of stay with an underlying OA visa from Christmas past (say he going to Savannakhet or Vientiane to get a Non-O), intentionally does not have a re-entry permit to keep the retirement extension alive (because he wants to kill off the extension), and decides to do this trip say months before the retirement extension naturally expires for whatever reason, Would the Thai embassy accept the Non-O visa application?  Or would they reject the application because they wanted to see the retirement extension expire naturally before accepting a Non-O application (that is, they ignore you didn't have a re-entery permit to keep the extension alive...they still consider the retirement extension to be valid).

     

    

 

[khunPer]

20 hours ago, GalaxyMan said:

Why not if it works? Silly attitude. It's the end result that matters. The cost of using an agent, approximately 30K, is far less than leaving the country and going through the process. Find an agent that has a good reputation.

A visa run for a non-O can be made from about 6,000 baht all travel costs and hotel with breakfast included, and guide, but exclusive of embassy or consulate fee for the visa. (One example from where you live is here.)

 

You can also do it yourself without using an organized tour, but might not be much cheaper.

 

And if you have a tourist visa or visa exempt, it should – according to posts in Thaivisa-forum – be possible to easily change by yourself to a non-immigrant "O" for 2,000 baht fee at an immigration office without leaving the Kingdom; even a Pattaya visa-agent says that their service is not needed for that, but they can provide it on request...????

[ubonjoe]

26 minutes ago, Pib said:

ubonjoe,

   If a person leaves Thailand with a retirement extension of stay with an underlying OA visa from Christmas past (say he going to Savannakhet or Vientiane to get a Non-O), intentionally does not have a re-entry permit to keep the retirement extension alive (because he wants to kill off the extension), and decides to do this trip say months before the retirement extension naturally expires for whatever reason, Would the Thai embassy accept the Non-O visa application?  Or would they reject the application because they wanted to see the retirement extension expire naturally before accepting a Non-O application (that is, they ignore you didn't have a re-entery permit to keep the extension alive...they still consider the retirement extension to be valid).

   

Whether they would accept the application for a non-o visa would depend upon the consular officer looking at your passport. There have been cases of them not doing one if a person had a valid extension in their passport. Not sure they know that an extension ends on the day your leave the country.

[Pib]

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Not sure they know that an extension ends on the day your leave the country.

Hopefully we'll see reports over the coming months to help answer this.....like people going to Savannakhet/Vientiane "before" their OA Retirement Extension of Stay has expired.

[Max69xl]

22 hours ago, GalaxyMan said:

Why not if it works? Silly attitude. It's the end result that matters. The cost of using an agent, approximately 30K, is far less than leaving the country and going through the process. Find an agent that has a good reputation.

Do you think it's expensive to do a return trip to Savannakhet incl. 1 night at a hotel + 2000 baht for the 90 days Non-Immigrant O Visa based on retirement? Or do the same to Penang if staying in south Thailand. Google it and you'll see. 

[Canuck50]

I have a O-A extension based on retirement coming due soon and was refused a new extension without Thai health insurance. So I plan to switch to "O" either by a border run coming back Visa Exempt and converting at CW or just getting the "O" based on retirement either in Vientiane or Savannakhet. Questions are:

1. Do both these locations offer Non-Imm O based on retirement? I seem to recall reading that Vientiane will not anymore based on retirement.

2. Do I have to show police records check and/or medical certificate to qualify at these locations. I'm sure I could get a medical done locally but the records check from home country would be impossible remotely. 

3. Any other adjacent country Thai consulates recommended (to get the non-imm O) when travelling from Bangkok that might also offer some vacation attraction.