Retirement Visa O-a

[Searat7]

Last year I obtained my first retirement (O-A) visa in New York and I did the same thing this year because I was in USA again in summer.

This year the consulate wrote Long Stay next to O-A on my visa. Does this mean anything ? I assume I have a multi-entry visa.

[lopburi3]

"Long stay" is what they are called but don't assume anything - check that is has an "M" or multi entry someplace on it. Most likely it does.

You are aware that one such visa can last almost two years if you enter Thailand near the end of the first year you will still get the normal one year permitted to stay stamp. The only different thing is that you would have to obtain a re-entry permit for travel after your O-A visa expiration date.

[Searat7]

"Long stay" is what they are called but don't assume anything - check that is has an "M" or multi entry someplace on it. Most likely it does.

You are aware that one such visa can last almost two years if you enter Thailand near the end of the first year you will still get the normal one year permitted to stay stamp. The only different thing is that you would have to obtain a re-entry permit for travel after your O-A visa expiration date.

Thanks for your response. There is an M on the visa. Also thanks for information for extended use of visa. I was not aware of this before.

[Jingthing]

Did you have to obtain a fresh medical and police report for the new O-A visa?

If it was real easy to get O-A visas in the US every two years, it might be a great alternative to extending in Thailand. However, I was under the impression that getting an O-A involved this extra paperwork and not something you would normally want to bother with more than once.

Edited October 17, 2007 by Jingthing

[Searat7]

Did you have to obtain a fresh medical and police report for the new O-A visa?

If it was real easy to get O-A visas in the US every two years, it might be a great alternative to extending in Thailand. However, I was under the impression that getting an O-A involved this extra paperwork and not something you would normally want to bother with more than once.

I supplied a fresh medical report but they accepted a copy of the prior year's police report. The police report is really a joke anyway. NY Consulate very easy to deal with but I don't think any of the consulates (in USA) bother to answer e-mails.