Non Immigrant Multiple Entry Visa

[stanoly]

Hello, I posted here once several months ago in regard to a non-immigrant multiple entry visa. My intention was to stay in Thailand and explore the possibility of retirement. I applied at Houston, Texas. This application was denied for the reason I gave which was "explore retirement " and I was given the option of a 90 day tourist visa. What did I misunderstand here?

I was under the impression I could stay a year with 90 day re-entries.

Would some kind soul enlighten me here? Thanks for your help.

Stanoly

[Lite Beer]

Hello, I posted here once several months ago in regard to a non-immigrant multiple entry visa. My intention was to stay in Thailand and explore the possibility of retirement. I applied at Houston, Texas. This application was denied for the reason I gave which was "explore retirement " and I was given the option of a 90 day tourist visa. What did I misunderstand here?

I was under the impression I could stay a year with 90 day re-entries.

Would some kind soul enlighten me here? Thanks for your help.

Stanoly

No such thing as a 90 day tourist Visa.

You either have a 90 day single entry Non Imm O

or a Thourist Visa valid for 60 days. This can be extended at an Immigration office in Thailand for a further 30 days.

Some Consulates will not issue a Multi Entry Non O Visa (which is what you wanted) without a very good reason, ie married to a Thai national with marriage cerificate as proof.

Edited January 26, 2008 by Lite Beer

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Hello, I posted here once several months ago in regard to a non-immigrant multiple entry visa. My intention was to stay in Thailand and explore the possibility of retirement. I applied at Houston, Texas. This application was denied for the reason I gave which was "explore retirement " and I was given the option of a 90 day tourist visa. What did I misunderstand here?

I was under the impression I could stay a year with 90 day re-entries.

Would some kind soul enlighten me here? Thanks for your help.

Stanoly

What is your age ?

[Lite Beer]

Acording to his other post, he is in his seventies.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Acording to his other post, he is in his seventies.

Then it is amazing that Houston did not give him a multi O.

[lopburi3]

They have the long stay non immigrant O-A visa available in the US and expect those traveling to Thailand for retirement to use that method. With the tourist visa entry you can convert to non immigrant at Immigration (with 21 days or more remaining on permitted to stay stamp) and then extend for one year at a time. With O-A visa entry, or a one year extension of stay, you will not have to make 90 day border crossings.

If you really want to make 90 day border runs you can probably obtain a multi entry non immigrant O visa in Singapore with proof of being over 50, and statement of a bank account with more than 800k (baht equivalent) somewhere after you use your tourist visa.

[Maestro]

No such thing as a 90 day tourist Visa.

It depends how you look at it. On this forum people regularly refer to the multiple-entry non-O visa as a “one-year visa” because it is valid for entry into Thailand within one year from the date of issue. Analogically, therefore, it would seem correct to call the single-entry tourist visa a “90-day visa” because this visa is valid for entry into Thailand within 90 days from date of issue. At this moment, the OP has only two dates in his passport relating to his tourist visa: the visa’s issue date and its expiration date, and these two dates are 90 days apart.

--

Maestro

[fishhooks]

Melbourne Oz will issue a double (yes 2) entry Non Imm '0' Visa for Retirement exploring.

They will not give a 'Multi' for this purpose, but will give a Multi for marriage or family visit reasons.

[stanoly]

Thanks for all the info. To clarify, I was told I could get a multiple entry tourist visa for $90 good for three 30 day periods and requiring three re-entries. Thus a total of 90 days. Yes, I am in my 70's and intend to reapply for a retirement visa here in the states. I was told that a visa for "exploring retirement " was not acceptable. Am I right in understanding that applying for a retirement visa outside of Thailand is preferable to applying within the country? In order to meet the financial requirements I need to combine monthly SSA checks with an annuity which I receive March 1. The combination will exceed the 800,000 baht required.

[Maestro]

...I was told that a visa for "exploring retirement " was not acceptable. Am I right in understanding that applying for a retirement visa outside of Thailand is preferable to applying within the country? In order to meet the financial requirements I need to combine monthly SSA checks with an annuity which I receive March 1. The combination will exceed the 800,000 baht required.

Having been rejected by Houston, perhaps call other honorary consulates and see if they would give you at least a single-entry non-O visa for the purpose of visit “exploring retirement”.

In your situation, you could use the following steps to achieve retirement status in Thailand:

1. Get a single-entry non-O visa or if this is not a available a single-entry tourist visa.

2. Travel to Thailand. With a non-O visa you get permission to stay for 90 days, with a tourist visa 60 days.

3. Open a savings account, to which you later can make remittances from the USA to cover your living expenses.

3. Go to the US embassy and get the embassy letter confirming your income.

4. With 3-4 weeks left on your permission to stay, go the local immigration office with your passport and photocopy, 2 passport photographs, embassy letter and photocopy, supporting documents for income (sometimes not asked for by immigration), savings account book and photocopy (sometimes not asked for). If you entered on a tourist visa, apply first for a change of visa to non-immigrant visa. Otherwise, apply directly for an annual extension of stay for the reason of retirement.

The process is simple and straightforward. Approval on the spot.

--

Maestro

[stanoly]

...I was told that a visa for "exploring retirement " was not acceptable. Am I right in understanding that applying for a retirement visa outside of Thailand is preferable to applying within the country? In order to meet the financial requirements I need to combine monthly SSA checks with an annuity which I receive March 1. The combination will exceed the 800,000 baht required.

Having been rejected by Houston, perhaps call other honorary consulates and see if they would give you at least a single-entry non-O visa for the purpose of visit “exploring retirement”.

In your situation, you could use the following steps to achieve retirement status in Thailand:

1. Get a single-entry non-O visa or if this is not a available a single-entry tourist visa.

2. Travel to Thailand. With a non-O visa you get permission to stay for 90 days, with a tourist visa 60 days.

3. Open a savings account, to which you later can make remittances from the USA to cover your living expenses.

3. Go to the US embassy and get the embassy letter confirming your income.

4. With 3-4 weeks left on your permission to stay, go the local immigration office with your passport and photocopy, 2 passport photographs, embassy letter and photocopy, supporting documents for income (sometimes not asked for by immigration), savings account book and photocopy (sometimes not asked for). If you entered on a tourist visa, apply first for a change of visa to non-immigrant visa. Otherwise, apply directly for an annual extension of stay for the reason of retirement.

The process is simple and straightforward. Approval on the spot.

--

Maestro

thanks for the detailed response, Maestro and others. I will try to get a retirement visa in Houston where I originally applied. I think I'd feel more secure , if I had the visa before leaving. If that doesn't work out , I'll follow your instructions about getting a Non-O visa in Thailand.

cheers.