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/