Where to apply for non-immigrant 'O' visa (over-50) without drawing UK pension?

[thaitanic]

I'm a 58-year-old Brit. For the past few years I have been mostly living in Thailand on a non-immigrant 'O' visa which I extend for a year every November at Samut Prakan. I am NOT drawing a UK state pension. I keep 800k Baht in an SCB account.

 

I am currently in the UK and due to return to Thailand in November, in time to renew the visa, but I am considering extending my UK trip past the renewal deadline date to January, and so will need to apply for a new non-immigrant visa.

 

I was thinking of applying in the UK before I return to Thailand, but the Royal Thai Embassy London page at https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/retirement-visa states the visa is for "pensioner aged 50 or above with state pension who wishes to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days". And the Hull consulate (http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/non-immigrant-visa-cat-o-pensioner.php) states that the visa is for persons "who are receiving a UK State Pension".

 

So where can I get a non-immigrant 'O' visa just on the basis of being over 50, without the requirement of actually drawing a pension? I am happy to visit an embassy in a neighbouring S.E. Asian country in January if necessary, and actually have to go to Ho Chi Minh (where there is a consulate) anyway.

 

Or should I get a tourist visa in the UK and convert it to a non-immigrant 'O' visa at Samut Prakan? I think I probably did that last time (a few years ago), but can't really remember.

[scubascuba3]

Last i read you had to be taking a pension so 65+, so better to just get the non imm O in Thailand

[DrJack54]

Obviously you have a Thai bank account in your name only so you can just enter Thailand visa exempt and obtain non O and

subsequent extension in Thailand.

However you can obtain the non O eVisa based on over 50 in UK. 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1311886-visa-exempt-to-retirement-extension-process-and-cost/

[thaitanic]

Thank you scubascuba3 and DrJack54.

 

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

...However you can obtain the non O eVisa based on over 50 in UK...

 

So there is no requirement to actually be drawing a state pension?

 

In any case, my feeling now is that it will be easier enter Thailand visa-exempt and get a non-imm O visa via form TM.87.

[Upnotover]

11 minutes ago, thaitanic said:

Thank you scubascuba3 and DrJack54.

 

 

So there is no requirement to actually be drawing a state pension?

 

In any case, my feeling now is that it will be easier enter Thailand visa-exempt and get a non-imm O visa via form TM.87.

 

You can get it easily in the UK, e-Visa.  I did in February.  Took 3 or 4 days.  I also do not have a state pension, used 800k in my Thai bank account.

[Pattaya57]

Despite what the Embassy site says you do not need to be getting a pension for a non-imm O visa. 

 

The e-visa process is very simple now and I received the non-imm O in April 3 days after applying. All I needed was to be 50+ and upload:

 

- Passport ID Page

- photo

- drivers licence (to prove resident)

- 6 month bank statement showing 800k baht or equivalent 

[Pattaya57]

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Last i read you had to be taking a pension so 65+, so better to just get the non imm O in Thailand

This is completely false information 

[Upnotover]

2 hours ago, thaitanic said:

In any case, my feeling now is that it will be easier enter Thailand visa-exempt and get a non-imm O visa via form TM.87.

It certainly wont be easier than sitting at home and getting your e-Visa in the UK.  Plus as an added bonus you won't get any onward ticket questions from the airline when you check in.

[proton]

20 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

It certainly wont be easier than sitting at home and getting your e-Visa in the UK.  Plus as an added bonus you won't get any onward ticket questions from the airline when you check in.

 

What could be easier than visa exempt on arrival then filling out a TM 87 and paying 1900 baht for another non immigrant O at immigration? 

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, thaitanic said:

So there is no requirement to actually be drawing a state pension?

Take the advice from @Upnotover and @Pattaya57 above.

That is best advice.

If for some reason you decide to enter visa exempt that will also work.

 

Currently visa exempt provides 60 day stamp and with Thai bank account in place you won't have any issue.

[Upnotover]

38 minutes ago, proton said:

 

What could be easier than visa exempt on arrival then filling out a TM 87 and paying 1900 baht for another non immigrant O at immigration? 

Not having to go to immigration for one.

[Liquorice]

6 hours ago, thaitanic said:

I was thinking of applying in the UK before I return to Thailand, but the Royal Thai Embassy London page at https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/retirement-visa states the visa is for "pensioner aged 50 or above with state pension who wishes to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days". And the Hull consulate (http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/non-immigrant-visa-cat-o-pensioner.php) states that the visa is for persons "who are receiving a UK State Pension".

All the UK Consulates closed.
Applications for visas are now via the e-visa site.

 

The financial requirement for applying for the Non O through the Thai Embassy in London are;

• Financial evidence eg A copy of pension statement if the applicant is a pensioner, or
• a copy of 1-month bank statement showing your income from pension, or
• 3-month bank statement of at least £10,000

https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/84508-non-immigrant-visas?cate=5d6636c215e39c3bd0006c8d

 

You can use any bank, any currency, for the £10K requirement

 

[Pattaya57]

16 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

All the UK Consulates closed.
Applications for visas are now via the e-visa site.

 

The financial requirement for applying for the Non O through the Thai Embassy in London are;

• Financial evidence eg A copy of pension statement if the applicant is a pensioner, or
• a copy of 1-month bank statement showing your income from pension, or
• 3-month bank statement of at least £10,000

https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/84508-non-immigrant-visas?cate=5d6636c215e39c3bd0006c8d

 

You can use any bank, any currency, for the £10K requirement

 

You should disregard that site as wrong info is everywhere, eg. Only needing £10,000 bank statement (about 430,000 baht instead of 800,000) and straight after what you quoted it says USD100,000 insurance is required for non-imm O.

 

The only site you need to access is the Thai e-visa site

https://www.thaievisa.go.th/

This states the following for non-imm O

 

Edited October 4 by Pattaya57

[Liquorice]

3 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

You should disregard that site as wrong info is everywhere, eg. Only needing £10,000 bank statement and it says 3 million baht insurance is required for non-imm O.

 

The only site you need to access is the Thai e-visa site

https://www.thaievisa.go.th/

The problem with that is the evisa site is universal, whereas certain Embassies have their additional quirks, but I do agree the Thai Embassy London site is a shambles for current information and the Health Insurance is no longer a requirement for the Non O.

 

Indeed, as two posters have already stated and my own experience is that you do not need to be in receipt of a pension. I used the £10K 3 month bank statement.

[Pattaya57]

Just now, Liquorice said:

I used the £10K 3 month bank statement.

Was that for a non-imm O based on marriage by any chance as £10,000 meets the 400,000 baht marriage requirement but not the 800,000 baht needed for retirement

[scubascuba3]

4 hours ago, Pattaya57 said:

This is completely false information 

Good that it's changed, most people seem to get the non imm O when in Thailand, that used to be the advice I've read many times 

[Liquorice]

22 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

Was that for a non-imm O based on marriage by any chance as £10,000 meets the 400,000 baht marriage requirement but not the 800,000 baht needed for retirement

No, it was for the Non O based on retirement, exactly as detailed on the Thai Embassy (London) website.

• Non-Immigrant Type  O  (Retirement (pensioner aged 50 or above with a state pension who wants to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days)  - single entry only)
• Financial evidence eg A copy of pension statement if the applicant is a pensioner, or a copy of 1-month bank statement showing your income from pension, or 3-month bank statement of at least £10,000
•  

I have a friend who visits twice a year for up to 90 days each visit who prefers not to visit Immigration, so applies for the Non O from London.
He submits receipt of his DWP pension as evidence, (which is less than the equivalent of 40K THB) and has no issues.

 

The evisa site is non-specific to a particular Embassies requirement and just offers guidelines.
I'd always recommend also reading the more specific information from the Thai Embassy website, who will approve your application.

It can save on additional documents being requested.

Edited October 4 by Liquorice

[Pattaya57]

9 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Good that it's changed, most people seem to get the non imm O when in Thailand, that used to be the advice I've read many times 

E-visa changed everything. Once you have your documents scanned it takes you < 5 minutes to apply. Visa is emailed within a few days 

 

Much easier than having to go to an immigration office in Thailand

[Liquorice]

1 minute ago, Pattaya57 said:

E-visa changed everything. Once you have your documents scanned it takes you < 5 minutes to apply. Visa is emailed within a few days 

 

Much easier than having to go to an immigration office in Thailand

Totally agree.

E-visa allows you to apply from the comfort of your own chair whilst enjoying a coffee.

 

Thai Immigration requires two personal visits

[Liquorice]

@Pattaya57

Just another example of why I advocate checking the requirements of the particular Embassy who will approve your application.

 

From your screenshot from the e-visa website, it states; Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 65K THB. (Non O - retirement)

If you were a US citizen, circa $2.000 would meet that criteria.

 

However, the DC website states;
 

 Non-Immigrant Type “O” Retirement

Purpose of Visit:  This type of visa is for pentioners aged 50 years or above who wishes to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 90 days without the intention of working. Holders of this type of visa are allowed to stay in Thailand for 90 days. Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited.

Eligibility: 1. Applicant must be aged 50 years and over (on the day of submitting application) 2. Applicant not prohibited from entering the Kingdom as provided by the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) 3. Having the nationality of or residence in the country where applicant’s application is submitted If the applicant does not have a valid visa or re-entry permit, the applicant must request a visa, at least 15 working days before the intended date of travel, by filling in the information and uploading all required documents online at https://www.thaievisa.go.th/ (Please note that the visa application fee is non-refundable) For instructions, please check https://www.thaievisa.go.th/static/English-Manual.pdf

Required documents to upload in the system (Large and clear JPEG or PDF format):  Passport Biodata Page or Travel Document (Must be valid within 6 months from travel date) Photograph of the applicant, taken within the past six months Document indicating current location (driving license, bank statement, or proof of stay) Recent bank statement showing the applicant's name and ending balance of no less than $30,000 or proof of monthly income of not less than $2,500/month) along with the current bank statement showing incoming income

 

If you were purely going off the information of the e-visa site and applying at DC with evidence of an income of $2.000, then your application is likely to be refused as their specific requirement based on income is a minimum of $2,500 per month (82,743 BHT)

[Pattaya57]

@Liquorice I don't know why you are giving me advice on what to upload to an e-visa? I applied for and received a non-imm O within last 6 months and e-visa site tells you exactly what documents to upload after you specify country and Embassy you're applying to (so not generic list like you think)

 

How about you, have you ever actually applied for a non-imm O e-visa that you're advising about?

 

Btw, Thai Embassy London requires £18,000 for non-imm O (Retirement), not £10k like you say. This site below lines up exactly with what the e-visa portal says

 

https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/retirement-visa

 

 

Edited October 4 by Pattaya57

[Unamerican]

4 hours ago, Pattaya57 said:

You should disregard that site as wrong info is everywhere, eg. Only needing £10,000 bank statement (about 430,000 baht instead of 800,000) and straight after what you quoted it says USD100,000 insurance is required for non-imm O.

 

The only site you need to access is the Thai e-visa site

https://www.thaievisa.go.th/

This states the following for non-imm O

 

What is meant by #3: how can a document indicate a current location?

Or does it mean “confirmation of current address”? 

[Pattaya57]

1 minute ago, Unamerican said:

What is meant by #3: how can a document indicate a current location?

Or does it mean “confirmation of current address”? 

They basically want to know you have an address in the country you're applying. I uploaded my licence which has address on back. Utility bills (elec/gas/phone) were also given as examples to upload

[Liquorice]

4 hours ago, Pattaya57 said:

@Liquorice I don't know why you are giving me advice on what to upload to an e-visa? I applied for and received a non-imm O within last 6 months and e-visa site tells you exactly what documents to upload after you specify country and Embassy you're applying to (so not generic list like you think)

You completely missed the point I was making.

 

Whether you're applying in the UK, Australia or the USA via the e-visa site, the financial requirements remain the same and given in BHT.
Financial evidence of a monthly income of 65,000 BHT, or the current balance of 800,000 THB.

 

The financial requirements posted on the Thai Embassy sites are in the local currency.

 

I gave an example of a US citizen applying at DC, who reads just the e-visa site alone and has an income of $2,200 per month.
Any quick check on the current conversion rate would return $2,200 = 72,671 BHT - well above the 65K quoted by the e-visa site.
Submitting financial evidence on that basis is likely to receive a refusal.

The Thai Embassy DC site states a minimum monthly income of $2,500 is required. (82,581 BHT)

 

I was making the point you should also check the financial requirement at the Embassy who will approve your application, and quote the local currency requirement, rather than just rely on the financial requirement quoted on the e-visa site which quotes Thai currency.

 

Edited October 4 by Liquorice

[KannikaP]

9 hours ago, Pattaya57 said:

This is completely false information 

You can draw on a Private Pension from 55, but State Pension is 65+.

[thaitanic]

Thank you all for the replies, especially those that alerted me to the ease of applying on https://www.thaievisa.go.th/. I will do that.

[Greenwich Boy]

I am planning on applying for my first non imm O later this year via the evisa portal from London. Could someone clarify that the 800k equivalent (the method I will be using) is only required on the day of application? From reading the London website it appears 3 months statements are only required for the income method. Have I got that right?

 

[Upnotover]

I applied in February with a 1 month (January) statement.  My 800k had been in my account for 4 weeks at the time of application although the embassy website only asks for "current balance".

[Upnotover]

15 minutes ago, Greenwich Boy said:

I am planning on applying for my first non imm O later this year via the evisa portal from London. Could someone clarify that the 800k equivalent (the method I will be using) is only required on the day of application? From reading the London website it appears 3 months statements are only required for the income method. Have I got that right?

 

See above^^

Edited October 4 by Upnotover

[skorts]

I am looking to “kill off” my O-A and have received excellent feedback and advice from this forum to my previous post. I was looking at leaving Thailand without a re-entry permit and re-entering Visa exempt then applying for a Non-Immigrant O and extending on basis of retirement. 
 

This latest post got me thinking that I might be better off applying for a Non-Immigrant O via the evisa portal on a visit to the U.K. and then applying for an extension on basis of retirement within Thailand. 

 

This approach saves time and avoids the “under consideration” period applying for the Non-Immigrant O within Thailand and the need to make three trips to Immigration. I can just go to Immigration once 30-45 days from expiry of my Non-Immigrant O to get my annual extension on basis of retirement.

 

A few questions regarding the evisa on-line application:

1. Can you submit the same bank statement for both current location and financial evidence? 
2. Or if not, provide a U.K. credit card statement under current location and bank statement for the ฿800,000 £ Sterling equivalent both showing the same U.K. address?
3. Can you show ฿800,000 in a Thai bank account Instead of £ Sterling equivalent in a U.K. bank account? The bank statement will show the address I will be staying at in Thailand.

My U.K. address is a correspondence address (a street address provided by my on-line mail handling company) not where I will be staying whilst in the U.K. which will be airbnb accommodation. 

 

I have a U.K. driving licence but as it was last renewed 8 years ago it has a different address to my U.K. correspondence address. 

 

Just a bit concerned about uploading several documents with different U.K. addresses and potentially a Thai address too.