If I return home overseas to see family but don't wish to re-enter Thailand until the COVID Pandemic is over,  am I able to continue my yearly O-Visa renewal through the Thai Embassy abroad or do I need to have an actual physical address in Thailand? 

Your not continually renewing your O Visa, you continually extend your permission of stay (a permit).

 

If your extension of permission of stay expires, then you have to start the procedure again by applying for a new Non O Visa from the Thai Embassy in your home Country.

You apply for Extensions of Stay at Immigration in Thailand.

You apply for Visas at a Thai Embassy outside Thailand.

Edited January 14, 20215 yr by fishtank

NO!

As above.

 

But if there is enough time left on your current permission to stay you can get a re-entry permit and return on that. The re-entry permit will be valid only through whatever the end of your current permission to stay is (date given at least extension)

 

P.S. I would nto count on the COVID pandemic  and its associated restrictions being over before 2022 especially in Thailand where vaccine rollout is slow.

Is a re-entry permit taken out before Covid and PRIOR to renewing an annual Retirement 'Non O' Permission to stay still valid during the duration of the new permission to stay period ? Thanks.

59 minutes ago, Postmaster said:

Is a re-entry permit taken out before Covid and PRIOR to renewing an annual Retirement 'Non O' Permission to stay still valid during the duration of the new permission to stay period ? Thanks.

A re-entry permit simply protects your current permission to stay, meaning you can exit and return to Thailand without the existing permission to stay being cancelled. If you change your permission to stay date, via an extension of your permission to stay, then you will need a new re-entry permit before leaving the country.

On 1/14/2021 at 6:07 AM, Tanoshi said:

Your not continually renewing your O Visa, you continually extend your permission of stay (a permit).

 

If your extension of permission of stay expires, then you have to start the procedure again by applying for a new Non O Visa from the Thai Embassy in your home Country.

You don't need a non-O-visa from your home country; you can get it in neighboring countries (when there was no C19 restrictions), or enter visa exempt and apply for a non-O when in Thailand.

1 hour ago, Postmaster said:

Is a re-entry permit taken out before Covid and PRIOR to renewing an annual Retirement 'Non O' Permission to stay still valid during the duration of the new permission to stay period ? Thanks.

If  your  question is "does a re -entry permit remain valid  for the full period of an extension of  stay if not used before next extension? 

A re -entry permit is only  valid  for the validity of a current extension. It's validity expires with last extension end date.

Edited January 15, 20215 yr by Dumbastheycome

1 hour ago, Postmaster said:

Is a re-entry permit taken out before Covid and PRIOR to renewing an annual Retirement 'Non O' Permission to stay still valid during the duration of the new permission to stay period ? Thanks.

Emphatically no....as stated, Re-Entry permits are associated with the current Permission of Stay (or Extension) when obtained. You now have a new Extension/Permit which you will need a new Re-Entry Permit for. Each Re-Entry Permit will have a 'Valid Until' and 'Length of Stay' box with the same date in them.

34 minutes ago, khunPer said:

You don't need a non-O-visa from your home country; you can get it in neighboring countries (when there was no C19 restrictions), or enter visa exempt and apply for a non-O when in Thailand.

That's correct.  But depending on circumstances, it might be easier to apply for the Non Imm O Visa in your home-country, than entering Thailand VisaExempt or on a 60-day Tourist Visa and then

- apply for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa at the local IO in in Thailand where you intend to stay long-term; OR

- apply for a MultipleEntry or SingleEntry Non Imm O Visa at a Thai Embassy/Consulate in a neighboring country (obviously only feasible/worthwhile when current entry-restrictions are lifted)