Visa Changes

[Photomike]

I am returning to Bangkok under a visitor visa but intend to ultimately have a retirement visa. I am arriving January 11 under the 30 day visitor visa but would like to change it to a Tourist Visa as soon as possible. Getting it at a local visa agency or a trip to the Consulate in Los Angeles will not be possible between now and the time I arrive.

I just found out about the different types while talking about retirement there. Though surprised and uncertain, I have kept my plans in tact and will hope the adjustment can be done in BKK.

[Maestro]

Thailand does not have a visa type called visitor visa. From what you say it appears that you plan to fly to Bangkok without any kind of visa and this will give you a visa-exempt entry with permission to stay for 30 days, assuming that you are travelling with a US passort. Please be aware that your airline may not allow you to board your flight if you do not have a confirmed onward ticket out of Thailand within 30 days.

You cannot change your visa status in Thailand from visa-exempt to tourist visa, but if you meet the requirements you can change from visa-exempt status or from a tourist visa to a non-immigrant visa category O. You are talking about retirement in Thailand and this means that to qualify for a change to non-O visa you would need to show evidence of 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank account for at least 3 months before your application or minimum monthly income of the equivalent of 65,000 Baht, confirmed by a letter from your embassy in Thailand. Afterwards, you can get annual extensions of stay. That is, if you are at least 50 years old.

If after your arrival in Thailand you want to get a tourist visa you will need to go to a Thai conslulate in a neighbouring country.

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Maestro

[JimGant]

You are talking about retirement in Thailand and this means that to qualify for a change to non-O visa you would need to show evidence of 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank account for at least 3 months before your application...

I know you have to meet the requirements for extension in order to get a 30-day stamp (or tourist visa) converted to a Non Imm O in-country. But, does this also include the 3-month in-the-bank requirement? Or is the 3-month requirement only for getting the actual extension stamp?

[lopburi3]

Believe the three month requirement is only for the actual extension of stay. But you do have to have 21 days or more remaining on a visa exempt entry to make the application for change.