Changing visa in Thailand

[Deerculler]

Is it possible to change from OA to Non O in Thailand?

[DrJack54]

No.

You need to exit Thailand and reenter Thailand.

Obviously exit without reentry permit thereby killing off the non O-A.

You can then reenter visa exempt and obtain a non O based on retirement and subsequent extension. 

Edited April 11, 2023 by DrJack54

[BritTim]

Jack's answer is probably all you need. I assume you are planning a retirement extension, and want to avoid the more onerous requirements that apply to retirement extensions when you entered with a Non O-A visa.

 

For completeness, if you plan to apply for an extension for other reasons than retirement (for instance, one based on marriage to a Thai) the requirements when you entered with a Non O-A visa are identical to those applied when you had a Non O visa. Thus, you do not need to bother with the change.

[wwest5829]

7 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

No.

You need to exit Thailand and reenter Thailand.

Obviously exit without reentry permit thereby killing off the non O-A.

You can then reenter visa exempt and obtain a non O based on retirement and subsequent extension. 

That was my understanding having an O-A for reason of Retirement. My plan was to leave on my current trip to the USA and come back, Visa Exempt and then take the steps to gain an O Visa for reason of Retirement while in Thailand. As it turned out, I was able to change my O-A Visa for reason of Retirement to an O Visa for reason of marriage to a Thai national. Re-entry Permit good until end of Feb. 2024.

[nigelforbes]

14 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

That was my understanding having an O-A for reason of Retirement. My plan was to leave on my current trip to the USA and come back, Visa Exempt and then take the steps to gain an O Visa for reason of Retirement while in Thailand. As it turned out, I was able to change my O-A Visa for reason of Retirement to an O Visa for reason of marriage to a Thai national. Re-entry Permit good until end of Feb. 2024.

This is a common misunderstanding. Once the visa has ended and you are on extensions, the underlying visa that was obtained initially never changes but the reason for extending it can. Your OA visa finished (because it only lasts for one year (or two if trips overseas are timed properly)) and thereafter you began to extend your stay based on retirement - at this point you are on extensions of stay rather than being here on an actual visa. Then, you changed your reason for stay to marriage but the underlying visa didn't change at all, it's still an OA. I did exactly the same thing, it's easy to do in-country. The only way to terminate your OA visa would be to let the extension of stay expire naturally or to leave the country without a re-entry permit.

[DrJack54]

@nigelforbes really good explanation 

[Huckenfell]

For 12 years i lived in Thailand using the Non Imm O-A  visa but on returning to Australia for a short break 3 yrs ago  Covid struck and i was not able to get back to Thailand. Now i am able to travel again but dont know which visa to use, can anybody advise me i am of retired age.

 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2023 by Huckenfell

[DrJack54]

43 minutes ago, Huckenfell said:

Now i am able to travel again but dont know which visa to use, can anybody advise me i am of retired age.

Obtain a Non O based on retirement.

 Can obtain that in Oz or enter Thailand visa exempt and obtain non O retirement at immigration office.

Assume you have Thai bank account in your name only. 

 

Here is thread with advice for entering visa exempt to retirement option.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1282251-visa-exempt-to-non-o-retirement-dates/

Edited April 12, 2023 by DrJack54

[Huckenfell]

On 4/12/2023 at 6:35 PM, Huckenfell said:

For 12 years i lived in Thailand using the Non Imm O-A  visa but on returning to Australia for a short break 3 yrs ago  Covid struck and i was not able to get back to Thailand. Now i am able to travel again but dont know which visa to use, can anybody advise me i am of retired age.

 

 

 

Mistake, should have read  Non Imm O

 

[Deerculler]

On 4/11/2023 at 9:34 PM, DrJack54 said:

No.

You need to exit Thailand and reenter Thailand.

Obviously exit without reentry permit thereby killing off the non O-A.

You can then reenter visa exempt and obtain a non O based on retirement and subsequent extension. 

Thank you.