Non-Imm-O: Marriage vs. Retirement based

[DrJack54]

35 minutes ago, Toolong said:

could you just tell me exactly what the difference is between a NON - O-A, and a NON -O ?

A Non O-A visa is a multi entry visa that is valid for one year from date of issue.

 

During it's validity, every time you enter Thailand you are stamped in for 12 months.

 

So ...if you exit and reenter just prior to expiry you receive another 12 month stamp.

Hence you can obtain 2 years stay out of the visa.

 

After which you would either obtain a new Non O-A OR start obtaining extensions.

Note: Insurance required.

 

A Non O retirement is a single entry Visa. When you enter Thailand the visa is "used" and you are given a 90 day stamp.

 

In the last 30 days of that stamp you apply for 12 months extension.

This has financial requirements.

Note: Insurance not required.

 

For extensions from a Non O-A and a Non O (retirement) the financials are exactly the same however the extensions from the Non O-A require insurance.

 

Guys with a Non O-A and able to base their extension on marriage then Insurance is not required.

Note: The very first extension from a Non O-A would have to be based on retirement.

 

Note non O-A can only be obtained in own country or country where you have resident status.

Non O retirement can be obtained at most places outside of Thailand. 

Previously at consulate/embassies and now using eVisa. 

 

The Non O-A previously was a ripper Visa when it had no insurance requirement.

Especially for those that returned home every couple of years and also did not wish to have funds sitting in a Thai bank.

 

Not surprising that many folk with a Non O-A stamp and needing extensions based on retirement decided to exit Thailand at some point without reentry permit to Kill Off the Non O-A.

Reenter Thailand and obtain a Non O retirement reason being no insurance requirement. 

 

Note: Also Non O-A application has some requirements that Non O does not such as Criminal background report, medical, etc.

Outlined here.

 

https://www.mfa.go.th/en/page/non-immigrant-visa-o-a?menu=5e1ff71bc4281a00c812e8e2

[Toolong]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

A Non O-A visa is a multi entry visa that is valid for one year from date of issue.

 

During it's validity, every time you enter Thailand you are stamped in for 12 months.

 

So ...if you exit and reenter just prior to expiry you receive another 12 month stamp.

Hence you can obtain 2 years stay out of the visa.

 

After which you would either obtain a new Non O-A OR start obtaining extensions.

Note: Insurance required.

 

A Non O retirement is a single entry Visa. When you enter Thailand the visa is "used" and you are given a 90 day stamp.

 

In the last 30 days of that stamp you apply for 12 months extension.

This has financial requirements.

Note: Insurance not required.

 

For extensions from a Non O-A and a Non O (retirement) the financials are exactly the same however the extensions from the Non O-A require insurance.

 

Guys with a Non O-A and able to base their extension on marriage then Insurance is not required.

Note: The very first extension from a Non O-A would have to be based on retirement.

 

Note non O-A can only be obtained in own country or country where you have resident status.

Non O retirement can be obtained at most places outside of Thailand. 

Previously at consulate/embassies and now using eVisa. 

 

The Non O-A previously was a ripper Visa when it had no insurance requirement.

Especially for those that returned home every couple of years and also did not wish to have funds sitting in a Thai bank.

 

Not surprising that many folk with a Non O-A stamp and needing extensions based on retirement decided to exit Thailand at some point without reentry permit to Kill Off the Non O-A.

Reenter Thailand and obtain a Non O retirement reason being no insurance requirement. 

 

Note: Also Non O-A application has some requirements that Non O does not such as Criminal background report, medical, etc.

Outlined here.

 

https://www.mfa.go.th/en/page/non-immigrant-visa-o-a?menu=5e1ff71bc4281a00c812e8e2

Well, DrJack, I really have to thank you most heartily for that marvellously detailed & thorough breakdown of what these terms mean. Re the Non OA, it's a great deal more complex than I imagined!

 

Yes, I can see why the Non OA might have once been 'a ripper' visa. Shame they changed the rules. 

But anyway they did and a Non -O extension switch from marriage to retirement is my intended course of action. 

 

I actually felt like a bit of an ignorant so & so enquiring what the difference was between non oa and non o, as I've been here long enough and I ought to know! 

Maybe until now I just had no real need to know. My brain's overloaded as it is!

 

Once again.....thanks a LOT, DrJack! 🙏🙏

[DrJack54]

29 minutes ago, Toolong said:

But anyway they did and a Non -O extension switch from marriage to retirement is my intended course of action

That won't be an issue.

Ongoing do you plan to use money in bank or income method for extensions.

 

BTW: For your first extension based on retirement having switched from based on marriage your wife will need to attend immigration with you.

For subsequent extensions (retirement) she is not required. 

[Toolong]

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

That won't be an issue.

Ongoing do you plan to use money in bank or income method for extensions.

 

BTW: For your first extension based on retirement having switched from based on marriage your wife will need to attend immigration with you.

For subsequent extensions (retirement) she is not required. 

I'll be using the money in bank method. 800k.  By now well-seasoned. 👍

 

Good to know about wife being required to attend when change is made. (I'd probably take her anyway, as she likes the grub at The Mall in Korat town!)

 

Thanks! 🙏 

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, Toolong said:

Good to know about wife being required to attend when change is made.

 

Wife needs to attend for changing from marriage to Retirement is explained in this attached thread.

 

Also the thread has links for that change general advice....

 

 

[Toolong]

53 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

 

Wife needs to attend for changing from marriage to Retirement is explained in this attached thread.

 

Also the thread has links for that change general advice....

 

 

Excellent thread for me to check out. Just what I need!

 

Once again, thanks!

[XGM]

I got a list of documents required from Immigration (Jomtien) today. Some followup questions regarding the financial requirements.
 

1. For the 800K bank deposit method - I read in the list of requirements that after 3 months since approval we are required to submit a copy of the bank book and passport in order to show the funds stayed in the account. Does this mean an additional visit to immigration (and to the bank).
 

2. For the 65K income method - I see that apart from a "guarantee letter" from the Embassy, "any evidence related to said income" is required. It this last part strictly necessary? naturally this can turn into a bureaucratic nightmare if the documents are not in English, and I doubt it even English-language documents will be clear enough.

[DrJack54]

22 minutes ago, XGM said:

1. For the 800K bank deposit method - I read in the list of requirements that after 3 months since approval we are required to......

Just ignore it. 

 

As for question #2.....

Ask immigration what they require apart from the "embassy income letter". Do you have any pension statement from home country.

Most offices just want to see the monthly transfers.

[Upnotover]

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Most offices just want to see the monthly transfers.

I think you are 100% right, but most using Embassy letters don't have them.

[XGM]

11 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Just ignore it. 

 

As for question #2.....

Ask immigration what they require apart from the "embassy income letter". Do you have any pension statement from home country.

Most offices just want to see the monthly transfers.

I do make transfers once in a while. They'd sum up to over 780,000 a year. But they aren't monthly. I might transfer 300K at a certain time and less at other times. And this is to two different banks. At any case the requirement states "steady income no less than 65,000 baht" without mentioning transfers, and in this option, they don't even mention the bank book or statement.

[DrJack54]

22 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

I think you are 100% right, but most using Embassy letters don't have them.

As we know in the past folk that could provide embassy letter did not actually do the monthly transfers.

I would suggest anyone using income method to make the appropriate monthly transfers.

Be that 40k for marriage and 65k retirement.

 

6 minutes ago, XGM said:

I do make transfers once in a while. They'd sum up to over 780,000 a year

I disagree with your post. 

Suggest moving forward you make monthly transfers 

[Upnotover]

I would guess that until Immigration remove the Embassy letter as an acceptable "proof" of income there will not be an answer to the question.  The Embassy cannot verify what is stated, and Immigration has no chance whatsoever to do so.  They should simply delete that option.  Several Embassies have already stopped providing the letters as they cannot verify the information, seems the sensible way to go.

[Rob Browder]

18 hours ago, Upnotover said:

I would guess that until Immigration remove the Embassy letter as an acceptable "proof" of income there will not be an answer to the question.  The Embassy cannot verify what is stated, and Immigration has no chance whatsoever to do so.  They should simply delete that option.  Several Embassies have already stopped providing the letters as they cannot verify the information, seems the sensible way to go.

Some embassies are not legally blocked (their domestic laws) from verifying pension-incomes, as is the USA, for example.  In those cases, I don't see the problem.

 

They should simply "delete" - or at least "make optional" - the whole income/bank-money verification process - not needed in Cambodia or Laos.  They could accept a flat-fee in lieu of such proofs, as they currently do "unofficially," via their agent partners. 

[BrandonJT]

6 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

Some embassies are not legally blocked (their domestic laws) from verifying pension-incomes, as is the USA, for example.  In those cases, I don't see the problem.

 

They should simply "delete" - or at least "make optional" - the whole income/bank-money verification process - not needed in Cambodia or Laos.  They could accept a flat-fee in lieu of such proofs, as they currently do "unofficially," via their agent partners. 

Nah, they can't make it official.  Then it has to be accounted for and on the books, and stays in the system.  Nothing for the officers to keep and share upwards. 

[MPoll]

On 2/22/2025 at 7:34 AM, Toolong said:

Edward (or anyone), I should by now know this, but I don't...so could you just tell me exactly what the difference is between a NON - O-A, and a NON -O ?

There are big differences with the visa but for yearly extensions the only difference for retirees is the insurance requirement for OA visas. I had an OA for 6 years. Now I have a pensioner LTR.