Entry With O-a Visa

[marell]

I have a multiple-entry, Non-Immigrant “O-A” visa that I obtained out of country. All of the required retirement documentation having been submitted through the Thai Consulate.

I’m trying to find out what exactly to expect when I arrive at Suvarnabhumi. I have been told that I will probably be stamped in for 90 days. Then be required to show at Immigration to request an extension. Can someone please confirm or deny this?

My age is 55 and I am traveling on a US passport.

Any information; comments, observations, red flags etc will be much appreciated.

Thanks,

marell

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Hi

I have a multiple-entry, Non-Immigrant “O-A” visa that I obtained out of country. All of the required retirement documentation having been submitted through the Thai Consulate.

I’m trying to find out what exactly to expect when I arrive at Suvarnabhumi. I have been told that I will probably be stamped in for 90 days. Then be required to show at Immigration to request an extension. Can someone please confirm or deny this?

My age is 55 and I am traveling on a US passport.

Any information; comments, observations, red flags etc will be much appreciated.

Thanks,

marell

You should be granted a one year stay on arrival. There's no hassles. Check the period of stay stamp placed in your passport by the Immigration Officer on arrival and if he hasn't given you a one year stay, remind him that you have an O-A visa and he should alter the stamp.

[Lite Beer]

Yes, you should get 1 year. You will however have to report to Immigration every 90 days to provide details of the address you are staying at. This can be done by post if need be.

[lopburi3]

When you say "out of country" I see red flags. You can only obtain a long stay OA visa from your country of residence. Are you sure that visa is marked "OA" or "O-A" and not just "O"? If it is just "O" you only receive 90 day stays and would have to request an extension from Immigration inside Thailand.

The OA visa will require a police check and medical clearance prior to issue. Did you have them?

As said above - if you really have an OA visa you should be stamped into the country for one year on any entry during the validity of the visa. Be sure to check as mistakes can be made during this process and are easy to correct on the spot.

[niggle]

Be absolutely sure your passport is stamped as expiry after 1 year. If desk officer is reluctant or miserable (as usual) you can go to immigration desk on departures floor. If they stamp you for 90 days it will over ride your o-a visa

[lopburi3]

Nothing will override his OA visa (he can still use visa for other entries) but the stamp will have to be changed if he plans to stay longer than 90 days. The stamp is what determines your allowed time in Thailand for the current entry.

[jstumbo]

And don't forget to make a border run right before the expiration (enter before) date on your visa. That will allow you another year, so you could stretch your visa to almost 2 years.

[marell]

I probably could have worded that better. By "out of country" I only meant that this was not a Non-Immigrant visa extended for retirement in Thailand.

This is an "O-A" visa that was obtained in the US. Yes, the process required a criminal background check, medical clearance and financial (income/savings) documentation.

My thanks to everyone for the help.