Tourist Visa After Type 'o'

[inu]

Hi People- nice to meet you,

My wife (47yr) and I (60yr) have been living in Thailand on a Type 'O' Visa since 31/10/2006. We were originally issued with a 6 month double entry visa in Australia and have extended it twice in BKK for medical reasons ( 90 days and yesterday by 60 days) as my wife is receiving treatment at Jetanin Hospital in Bangkok. Our original purpose in coming to Thailand was to check it out with a view to retirement here.

We were advised by Immigration yesterday that we would not be able to obain a further extension on the Type 'O'. As my wife is still undergoing treatment my question is:

Is it possible to obtain a 60 day tourist visa (say from Singapore) after having resided in Thailand for 10-months on a Type 'O' visa?

I asked at Immigration in Sathorn Rd BKK but was told 'maybe'.

Has anyone had a similar experience with obtaining Tourist visas after a Type 'O' has expired?

We will be retiring here but need to return to Australia to organise finances, selling house etc.

[lopburi3]

There have not been any reports of a problem obtaining a tourist visa in either Malaysia or Laos. It should not be a problem.

[astral]

Immigration may be reluctant to extend your current visa on medical grounds,

but did you ask about an extension based on retirement?

You will need 800K baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months prior to application,

or proof of an income of 65K baht per month, or a combination of the two, totalling 800K pa.

Now timing may be against you with this.

Even if immigration will not extend for you, you can go to Singapore and get a new Non Imm O visa

stating retirement as your objective. At age 60 you will certainly get one.

You only need a single entry and near the end you apply for a one year retirement extension.

Your wife should also be able to get the O visa, and as soon as your visa is extended, she will

also be able to get a one year extension as your wife, and dependant.

Once you have the extension you can get a re-entry permit and then travel back to Australia to finalise your plans.

You must be back before the entry permit expires, but that gives you 9 months.

If you are not ready for the retirement visa yet, then just apply for the tourist visa.

I suggest you have a letter from the Thai doctor, stating that your wife requires ongoing treatment,

just in case any questions are asked.

I do not believe you will have a problem.

[inu]

Thanks for the great info Astral,

A 60 Day Tourist visa is probably the easiest option for us at this stage. Does it make any difference which consulate we go to? I chose Singapore simply because of the cheaper air fares.

Also, do you know the situ re showing return tickets when applying for a Tourist visa if we enter/leave Thailand by land ?

Thanks again for the help