I had asked a couple of questions in an earlier post so just recapping the process for me.    It went smoothly.  

 

eVisa application at Washington, DC.

Non-O Retirement

Time from payment/submission to visa receipt:    4 working days.    Applied 30 days before flight.

 

I was concerned about supplying "bank statements" for financial requirement of having $30k in cash because I keep minimal cash in checking account, etc.   I have most cash in money market account at a brokerage.   I submitted brokerage account statement and there was no issue.   So "bank statement" apparently doesnt necessarily mean a checking or savings account, in the US at least.   I think the guidelines are that brokerage accounts are not bank accounts, but maybe the IO has discretion.  I honestly don't know.   To be clear, on my brokerage statement it reads the funds are in a, "bank deposit program."   YMMV

 

For length of stay I said 90 days.   For income I just picked a number in the middle.  The application required travel details but I did not have to include a copy of air ticket, etc.  

 

Other than that it was just the passport, passport pic, and driver license pic.    I had no issues uploading forms or whatnot.   Pretty easy actually.  

 

Just curious. Are you planning to get a 12-mth extension in Thailand? Will you need to open bank account and put 800k to get your extension, or does the $30k you showed the embassy count for the extension?

1 hour ago, JohnnyBD said:

Just curious. Are you planning to get a 12-mth extension in Thailand? Will you need to open bank account and put 800k to get your extension, or does the $30k you showed the embassy count for the extension?

 

Yes, and yes I will need to open a bank account in Thailand.   The $30k only grants me the initial 3 month visa.  To get the 12 month extension, I need to have a Thai bank account and fund it accordingly.  

 

The Non-O-A visa has some more latitude with funding outside of Thailand but it also has some additional requirements which lower its appeal.  

13 hours ago, SeeAyOh said:

Yes, and yes I will need to open a bank account in Thailand.

Thanks for report. Helpful. 

Where do you plan on obtaining extension? 

Thanks for that well written review on how the application process went. 

 

Sincerely good luck with it going forward.. safe travels

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Thanks for report. Helpful. 

Where do you plan on obtaining extension? 

NP.      Jomtien

4 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

Thanks for that well written review on how the application process went. 

 

Sincerely good luck with it going forward.. safe travels

tyvm.     It amazes me how much of a rabbit hole the visa dance can become ha.  

On 11/7/2025 at 2:53 AM, SeeAyOh said:

 

Yes, and yes I will need to open a bank account in Thailand.   The $30k only grants me the initial 3 month visa.  To get the 12 month extension, I need to have a Thai bank account and fund it accordingly.  

 

The Non-O-A visa has some more latitude with funding outside of Thailand but it also has some additional requirements which lower its appeal.  

I'm a bit confused...you state you applied for a "Non-O Retirement Visa" in the USA and received a 90 day visa. I am not aware of a retirement visa available in the US that has a 90 day validity. Also you did not indicate that you had to submit the medical certificate, background check, or insurance certificate that the Non-O/A Retirement Visa requires? And as for the 30k$ only granting you a 3 month visa goes, the one year O/A Retirement visa requirement is 800,000 baht or the equivalent. The O/A Retirement available in the States does not require the fund to be in a Thai bank account either. What did I miss? Does the Washington DC have different visas and requirements available than others?

2 hours ago, Lee4Life said:

I'm a bit confused...you state you applied for a "Non-O Retirement Visa" in the USA and received a 90 day visa. I am not aware of a retirement visa available in the US that has a 90 day validity. Also you did not indicate that you had to submit the medical certificate, background check, or insurance certificate that the Non-O/A Retirement Visa requires? And as for the 30k$ only granting you a 3 month visa goes, the one year O/A Retirement visa requirement is 800,000 baht or the equivalent. The O/A Retirement available in the States does not require the fund to be in a Thai bank account either. What did I miss? Does the Washington DC have different visas and requirements available than others?

I'm sure DrJack54 can explain better, but it appears he recieved a 90-day Non-O visa (for retirement) so he can get a 12-month extension once he puts the 800k in a Thai bank. To get the 90-day Non-O in the USA, he had to show the (800k equilvalent) in a US bank account. He said he did not apply for a Non-OA visa due to the additional requirements.

2 hours ago, Lee4Life said:

What did I miss?

You bought into the fallacy that you can only get a non-O visa in Thailand and the embassies only sell non-OA.  It has never been like that and is not now either.  The 90-day non-O visa is available from Thai embassies and is the correct way to get a non-O BEFORE traveling to Thailand, especially since you can no longer get a bank account without already having a long-term visa.  That means it is now impossible to arrive in Thailand as a tourist and then convert to non-O visa in Thailand because you cannot get the required bank account for that process.

On 11/7/2025 at 4:41 PM, JohnnyBD said:

Will you need to open bank account and put 800k to get your extension, or does the $30k you showed the embassy count for the extension?

Yes indeed. The 800k must be in Thai bank account and seasoned for two months is required for the 12 month extension. 

Explained in post above. 

 

Worth emphasizing that previously you could open a Thai bank account even with visa exempt entry. Did require things such as COR etc however was doable. 

Not now. 

 

Hence folk without a Thai bank account NEED to obtain the Non O eVisa out side of Thailand prior to entry. 

 

 

13 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes indeed. The 800k must be in Thai bank account and seasoned for two months is required for the 12 month extension. 

Explained in post above. 

 

Worth emphasizing that previously you could open a Thai bank account even with visa exempt entry. Did require things such as COR etc however was doable. 

Not now. 

Yes, the good ole days are gone. In 2016, I was able to get a Non-O & extension using the embassy affidavit & lease agreement only. A Thai bank acct wasn't required, but I was able to open one anyway when I was still on visa exempt entry.

8 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

A Thai bank acct wasn't required, but I was able to open one when I was still on visa exempt entry

Indeed the good old days. 

The need for the Non O to facilitate opening a Thai bank account is why we keep posting best to enter Thailand with the Non O eVisa if you do not have a Thai bank account. 

 

In addition the embassy letters may be problematic in the future. 

eg Canadian embassy has stopped issuing them. 

Surprised NZ still does. 

Few weeks ago I obtained my 12 month extension (retirement) using income method. 

So I don't need the embassy letter. Just 12 month bank statement showing monthly transfers. 

Winner option IMO. 

16 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

I'm sure DrJack54 can explain better, but it appears he recieved a 90-day Non-O visa (for retirement) so he can get a 12-month extension once he puts the 800k in a Thai bank. To get the 90-day Non-O in the USA, he had to show the (800k equilvalent) in a US bank account. He said he did not apply for a Non-OA visa due to the additional requirements.

Yes, this is what I am planning.   

Additionally, it allows me the leave the door open to using an agent to help with funding or whether I want to transfer money in myself.   I have some time to decide.  

 

Using an agent to help with obtaining the visa, opening the bank a/c, and funding it is genuinely expensive IMO.  Now if I can open a bank a/c myself since I already have the visa, I can then enlist an agent to help with the final step.  I've contacted a couple of agents who have told me that they can do it and it would cost substantially less than the "full package."     I know there are some downsides to this route (once an agent always an agent sort of thing) but at minimum getting the visa from outside Thailand is money well-saved.      I hope.   

14 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

 

 

Hence folk without a Thai bank account NEED to obtain the Non O eVisa out side of Thailand prior to entry. 

 

 

This is a, "needs to be shouted from the rooftop," piece of advice.   tyvm for pointing it out to me a way's back.

5 minutes ago, SeeAyOh said:

This is a, "needs to be shouted from the rooftop," piece of advice.   tyvm for pointing it out to me a way's back.

No worries. Things change and that's what forums such as AseanNow, Facebook etc are for. 

 

Off topic: So I landed Oz Friday and straight to Optus to buy one month sim for my Infinix phone. My standard M.O 

Lady: "Since Oct last year our sims not for use in many foreign made phones"

 

How to get this out there is via forums. Intend to start thread on this as a warning. Caused me issues. 

 

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

No worries. Things change and that's what forums such as AseanNow, Facebook etc are for. 

 

Off topic: So I landed Oz Friday and straight to Optus to buy one month sim for my Infinix phone. My standard M.O 

Lady: "Since Oct last year our sims not for use in many foreign made phones"

 

How to get this out there is via forums. Intend to start thread on this as a warning. Caused me issues. 

 

What?!     That's absurd.  

 

"foreign made phones"      Well, methinks that's an example of all trade protectionism hubbub finally trickling down to the consumer.      

12 minutes ago, SeeAyOh said:

What?!     That's absurd.  

 

"foreign made phones"      Well, methinks that's an example of all trade protectionism hubbub finally trickling down to the consumer.      

My last post on this as belongs in another forum. 

But just to be clear it was not all phones. eg iphone and samsung no issue. 

Anyway will start thread is regional forum or IT etc.

Has caused issues for me this trip. 

On 11/7/2025 at 5:53 AM, SeeAyOh said:

 

Yes, and yes I will need to open a bank account in Thailand.   The $30k only grants me the initial 3 month visa.  To get the 12 month extension, I need to have a Thai bank account and fund it accordingly.  

 

The Non-O-A visa has some more latitude with funding outside of Thailand but it also has some additional requirements which lower its appeal.  

yes.  I wanted to do O A but thee is no way I can get Medicare, my insurance or any other for that matter to sign anything like the requirements point out. 

On 11/8/2025 at 10:01 AM, Lee4Life said:

I'm a bit confused...you state you applied for a "Non-O Retirement Visa" in the USA and received a 90 day visa. I am not aware of a retirement visa available in the US that has a 90 day validity. Also you did not indicate that you had to submit the medical certificate, background check, or insurance certificate that the Non-O/A Retirement Visa requires? And as for the 30k$ only granting you a 3 month visa goes, the one year O/A Retirement visa requirement is 800,000 baht or the equivalent. The O/A Retirement available in the States does not require the fund to be in a Thai bank account either. What did I miss? Does the Washington DC have different visas and requirements available than others?

I too was surprised that a Non IMM O visa could be obtained on line .  I just did it and got one.   need it to later open a bank account in Thailand which is needed if one is to then do a one year extension.   So I am laying the groundwork whether I decide to extend or not.   I showed income by uploading a copy of my Social security benefit letter.  Visa site a day later asked for my last three months bank account statements showing the Social Security monies being deposited.  I did not do anything about showing a constant amount of money in the account.  I don't even recall the visa site asking for that?  Maybe I already forgot or I selected the income method?  Anyway, Visa is in hand,  Validity is three months and the visa email they send you shows when you must use it by.  .  

 

washington DC was my embassy as I am a Florida resident.  I am guessing they were very fluent in english, fully understood the documents I submitted.  Might not be so easy or smooth if done by those trying to get the Non Imm O while overseas and not in their home country is this.  The evisa site did ask for proof of current location, so I uploaded a photo of my USA drive license.  I am guessing they need or want your current address so that you use the proper embassy which is a drop down selection.  

On 11/8/2025 at 9:10 AM, BrandonJT said:

You bought into the fallacy that you can only get a non-O visa in Thailand and the embassies only sell non-OA.  It has never been like that and is not now either.  The 90-day non-O visa is available from Thai embassies and is the correct way to get a non-O BEFORE traveling to Thailand, especially since you can no longer get a bank account without already having a long-term visa.  That means it is now impossible to arrive in Thailand as a tourist and then convert to non-O visa in Thailand because you cannot get the required bank account for that process.

I understand other visas are available, my problem was that the OP specifically said he applied for a retirement visa, but then said he received a 90 day visa. 

    So it appears that he applied for a 90 day tourist visa on the basis of converting it to an extension for retirement purposes once he gets to Thailand.

2 minutes ago, Lee4Life said:

I understand other visas are available, my problem was that the OP specifically said he applied for a retirement visa, but then said he received a 90 day visa. 

    So it appears that he applied for a 90 day tourist visa on the basis of converting it to an extension for retirement purposes once he gets to Thailand.

 

"Retirement Visa" is a misnomer.  The actual visa is a single entry non O based on being over 50.  It is often referred to as a "retirement" visa even on MFA and Immigration websites.  Nevertheless this is the visa he got.  He didn't get a 90 day tourist visa, no such thing exists.

4 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

I too was surprised that a Non IMM O visa could be obtained on line .  I just did it and got one.   need it to later open a bank account in Thailand which is needed if one is to then do a one year extension.   So I am laying the groundwork whether I decide to extend or not.   I showed income by uploading a copy of my Social security benefit letter.  Visa site a day later asked for my last three months bank account statements showing the Social Security monies being deposited.  I did not do anything about showing a constant amount of money in the account.  I don't even recall the visa site asking for that?  Maybe I already forgot or I selected the income method?  Anyway, Visa is in hand,  Validity is three months and the visa email they send you shows when you must use it by.  .  

 

washington DC was my embassy as I am a Florida resident.  I am guessing they were very fluent in english, fully understood the documents I submitted.  Might not be so easy or smooth if done by those trying to get the Non Imm O while overseas and not in their home country is this.  The evisa site did ask for proof of current location, so I uploaded a photo of my USA drive license.  I am guessing they need or want your current address so that you use the proper embassy which is a drop down selection.  

 

The Smart People in this forum know far more than I do so definitely verify with them what I am about to write.  

 

If you are using Social Security monthly deposits as proof of financial requirement, that works to obtain the visa from outside Thailand.   However,  I am near certain that you can't use that method for the first 12 month extension.   It's a chicken and egg sort of thing.   You won't be able to demonstrate 12 monthly deposits from overseas into a Thai bank account because presumably you will have just opened the account with your new O visa.   You can start the process of routine deposits though so that in Year 2 and henceforth you can prove you are making monthly deposits.   

 

In short, I think the only option you have for that first extension is to fund the account with 800k baht either transferring personal funds or using an agent.   

 

Again though, double check with the mods or smart people.   I am no expert.  

1 hour ago, Lee4Life said:

I understand other visas are available, my problem was that the OP specifically said he applied for a retirement visa, but then said he received a 90 day visa. 

    So it appears that he applied for a 90 day tourist visa on the basis of converting it to an extension for retirement purposes once he gets to Thailand.

To clear air....

The application asks what type of visa you are applying for.          "Non-Immigrant Visa - O"

Then it asks you for the purpose of your visit.     "Retirement"

 

(All drop down selections on application)

 

That's all I was pointing out.   I said "90 days" because even though I intend to stay 15 months, the initial visa only grants 90 days on entry.  I didnt want to risk getting dinged on a technicality (and losing $80) by saying "455 days" in the application.
 

3 hours ago, SeeAyOh said:

 

The Smart People in this forum know far more than I do so definitely verify with them what I am about to write.  

 

If you are using Social Security monthly deposits as proof of financial requirement, that works to obtain the visa from outside Thailand.   However,  I am near certain that you can't use that method for the first 12 month extension.   It's a chicken and egg sort of thing.   You won't be able to demonstrate 12 monthly deposits from overseas into a Thai bank account because presumably you will have just opened the account with your new O visa.   You can start the process of routine deposits though so that in Year 2 and henceforth you can prove you are making monthly deposits.   

 

In short, I think the only option you have for that first extension is to fund the account with 800k baht either transferring personal funds or using an agent.   

 

Again though, double check with the mods or smart people.   I am no expert.  

yes.  you are correct.  The initial extension must be done using the 800k baht on deposit.  exluding any agent usage as some people seem to do.

4 hours ago, SeeAyOh said:

In short, I think the only option you have for that first extension is to fund the account with 800k baht either transferring personal funds or using an agent.   

Correct. Except for some whose embassies issue "income letter" 

11 hours ago, Upnotover said:

 

"Retirement Visa" is a misnomer.  The actual visa is a single entry non O based on being over 50.  It is often referred to as a "retirement" visa even on MFA and Immigration websites.  Nevertheless this is the visa he got.  He didn't get a 90 day tourist visa, no such thing exists.

The OP stated, "Yes, and yes I will need to open a bank account in Thailand.   The $30k only grants me the initial 3 month visa.  To get the 12 month extension, I need to have a Thai bank account and fund it accordingly "  in a later post, but in the original post stated that they had applied for a retirement visa. That's what threw me off. The O-A longstay visa for I obtained from the LA consulate is one year multiple entry, there is no single entry option for that visa when using "retirement" as the purpose when entering the info during the e-visa process. It's quite possible there are differences between the LA consulate E-visa process and the Washington DC Embassy E-visa process. It's all good...I'm glad they were able to get a visa and easily at that.

On 11/7/2025 at 1:58 PM, SeeAyOh said:

I had asked a couple of questions in an earlier post so just recapping the process for me.    It went smoothly.  

 

eVisa application at Washington, DC.

Non-O Retirement

Time from payment/submission to visa receipt:    4 working days.    Applied 30 days before flight.

 

I was concerned about supplying "bank statements" for financial requirement of having $30k in cash because I keep minimal cash in checking account, etc.   I have most cash in money market account at a brokerage.   I submitted brokerage account statement and there was no issue.   So "bank statement" apparently doesnt necessarily mean a checking or savings account, in the US at least.   I think the guidelines are that brokerage accounts are not bank accounts, but maybe the IO has discretion.  I honestly don't know.   To be clear, on my brokerage statement it reads the funds are in a, "bank deposit program."   YMMV

 

For length of stay I said 90 days.   For income I just picked a number in the middle.  The application required travel details but I did not have to include a copy of air ticket, etc.  

 

Other than that it was just the passport, passport pic, and driver license pic.    I had no issues uploading forms or whatnot.   Pretty easy actually.  

 

Well done and welcome to the jungle, we've got a lot going on

On 11/9/2025 at 12:01 AM, Lee4Life said:

I'm a bit confused...you state you applied for a "Non-O Retirement Visa" in the USA and received a 90 day visa. I am not aware of a retirement visa available in the US that has a 90 day validity. 

I also had heard for a few years (incorrectly)  the 90 Non-0 based on "retirement" was not available from US Consulates.

My first Thai visa pattern was Non-O(A) as you described but I applied for that for other reasons. The health insurance dance became onerous and burdensome so I let it expire. Non O Very easy to get thru LA Consul online. Now I am on an extension.

 

On 11/12/2025 at 9:49 AM, Asean Tiger said:

I also had heard for a few years (incorrectly)  the 90 Non-0 based on "retirement" was not available from US Consulates.

My first Thai visa pattern was Non-O(A) as you described but I applied for that for other reasons. The health insurance dance became onerous and burdensome so I let it expire. Non O Very easy to get thru LA Consul online. Now I am on an extension.

 

Can I assume that you are an American who had the O-A visa and switched to O?   If so, I've a Q for you.  

 

What do you mean by, "health insurance became burdensome?"    The cost became too much, etc.?    

 

More to the point, out of curiosity what is your plan in a health care emergency or similar?   Neither Medicare nor US private insurers provide coverage here.   Hospitals typically want a guarantee of payment before they administer care.  If a person doesnt have local health insurance, then they are on the hook to pay cash upfront.  Even if health costs are much lower outside the US, they can still be really expensive for advanced care.  

 

I've lived outside the US for many years.  I have seen this happen more than once.  A person thinks they don't need health insurance, gets blindsided by an "event", and then has to either pay a large amount of cash or uproot themselves back to the US to get covered.   A local friend of mine here for example developed some sort of infection that sent him to ICU for a couple of days.  When he recovered enough to be transferred to a regular room but still needed treatment, the hospital refused to administer the care.  They wanted payment for the ICU first.  My friend literally had to plead/beg with the doctor that he would pay the bill.  It wasnt cheap either, definitely 5 figs.  

 

Anyway, this might necessitate a new thread, but I read often that a big objection to the O-A visa is the health insurance requirement.   To me though, especially as an American, I don't understand why someone *wouldnt* want to have health insurance.