Visa - Non O or Non O-A before applying for extension of stay?

[Cpattaya]

Hi there, after visiting various parts of Thailand for 15 years, I’m planning to retire there next year, whilst keeping a base in the UK. I’m over 50 & financially dependent, so both the lump sum or monthly payments are not an issue.

I was wondering which avenue to go down re the Non IMM O or O-A (in UK)? I understand there is no mandatory insurance for the Non IMM O at the moment - is this correct?

I was considering entering on a tourist visa first, then converting this to 90 day (to give me time re cash transfers & opening a Thai Bank A/C) & then hopefully O visa for a year, followed by extension of stay based on retirement.

Should the process be fairly straight-forward & should I be guaranteed acceptance? (I have no police convictions etc...).

Also would you recommend using an agent & what sort of monies do they charge & timescales etc?

All help & advice greatly appreciated.

This website is a great source of information for me.

Thank you.

C

[fishtank]

Arrive with a Non Imm O visa would be the best option.

[ubonjoe]

You can apply for a non-o visa at the embassy in London with no insurance and only a small amount of financial proof.

See: http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84508-Non-Immigrant-visas.html#6

The OA visa requires proof of insurance.

You can also enter the country on tourist visa and apply for the non-o at a immigration office. Requirements are here.

https://division1.immigration.go.th/download/1551323081128.pdf

There no requirement for a background check to apply for it or the extension of stay based upon retirement.

It should not be a problem at most immigration offices. There is no need to use an agent.

[JackThompson]

I would Definitely come on a Non-O Visa (not OA), which gives you 90-days upon arrival.  Some offices can be difficult with the "change of visa type" from a Tourist-entry (push you to agents for 15K Baht of wasted money).

When you get here, open a bank account, and xfer the money quickly, so it is In The Bank more than 60 days before the end of your initial stay - 75 days is better, so you have Plenty Of Time to get your 1-year non-o application in successfully, in case you have to make a couple attempts (missing a document, etc).

 

If you will be renting (vs condo-owners), be sure your landlord will provide Three Documents before you sign the lease and pay the deposit:

• The Property-Owner's ID,
• The housebook of the property where you will be living
• The chanote (purchase-document) for where you will be living. 

You may (depending on the office) need signed-copies of all three to obtain an extension.

 

What may take some adjustment, is that Every Immigration Office can add "unofficial document requirements" to encourage agent-use (you can guess why).  Honor, decency, and "right-and-wrong" do not come into the mental-equation at some offices - while others behave professionally. 

 

But, in most cases - as things are now, even at less-friendly offices - only those who do not have 800K Baht, which they can leave idle "in the bank," must use agents for retirement extensions.  If you let us know what area of Thailand you will be living, those who have made applications at that office can advise on the particulars you might encounter.

[Cpattaya]

19 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

I would Definitely come on a Non-O Visa (not OA), which gives you 90-days upon arrival.  Some offices can be difficult with the "change of visa type" from a Tourist-entry (push you to agents for 15K Baht of wasted money).

When you get here, open a bank account, and xfer the money quickly, so it is In The Bank more than 60 days before the end of your initial stay - 75 days is better, so you have Plenty Of Time to get your 1-year non-o application in successfully, in case you have to make a couple attempts (missing a document, etc).

 

If you will be renting (vs condo-owners), be sure your landlord will provide Three Documents before you sign the lease and pay the deposit:

• The Property-Owner's ID,
• The housebook of the property where you will be living
• The chanote (purchase-document) for where you will be living. 

You may (depending on the office) need signed-copies of all three to obtain an extension.

 

What may take some adjustment, is that Every Immigration Office can add "unofficial document requirements" to encourage agent-use (you can guess why).  Honor, decency, and "right-and-wrong" do not come into the mental-equation at some offices - while others behave professionally. 

 

But, in most cases - as things are now, even at less-friendly offices - only those who do not have 800K Baht, which they can leave idle "in the bank," must use agents for retirement extensions.  If you let us know what area of Thailand you will be living, those who have made applications at that office can advise on the particulars you might encounter.

Firstly, thanks to you and the others for the replies. Much appreciated.

 

To answer your question, I was hoping to stay in and around Chonburi & do my visa transfer in Jomtien, before touring Isaan.

 

If I went down the 90 day Non-O on arrival route, would I be OK to fly 

back to the UK within that period, if I returned before the 90 days elapsed?Obviously this would only be after successfully applying for the conversion to 1 year Non-O. Also would I need a re-entry permit?

Many thanks.

 

[JackThompson]

If you leave and return within the 90-days you get with your initial entry, you would need a re-entry permit to keep your original "permitted stay" valid upon your return.  A single-use re-entry permit is 1000 Baht.

 

Jomtien Office - Definitely come WITH a Non-O Visa, because the conversion office is run by a (fill in the blank) - my experience and many others.  But, the retirement desk there, with 800K 'in the bank' for 60-days prior to applying, is reported to be no-problem. 

 

Even within that one office, different types of extensions are very different, in terms of how applicants are treated. 

 

I would suggest you do the bank-setup and transfer when you first arrive.  Some bank-branches won't open an account for a foreigner, while others (same bank, different branch) will w/o issue.  I haven't lived there for some years, but someone here may be able to recommend a friendly-branch.

[Cpattaya]

Thank you so much.....

[Peter Denis]

I PM-ed you a comprehensive guideline document containing all details/options on how to apply for or convert to a Non Imm O - retirement Visa.

>> To access your PM-messages just click the letter-icon next to your Profile when logged-in to the Forum.

[Cpattaya]

7 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

I PM-ed you a comprehensive guideline document containing all details/options on how to apply for or convert to a Non Imm O - retirement Visa.

>> To access your PM-messages just click the letter-icon next to your Profile when logged-in to the Forum.

Thank you so much Peter.

I will pass a few hours during the lockdown reading this comprehensive info.