Kuala Lumpur O Visa Run Report

[traveldog]

Hi all. Just returned from Kuala Lumpur and thought I would share my visa report. I had gone there seeking a Non Immigrant O visa based on retirement. Armed with the proper docs I was pretty shocked when the lovely girl at Thai Consulate informed me I can't apply for Non 0 visa and that I would have to go to my home country (USA) to apply. I explained I have been living in Thailand 5+ years, married to Thai and was changing from my Non B as I was now retired-wasn't there some way I could apply??? No No No.......anyway.....before leaving I asked another staff person at the office there and he gave me the real scoop. Although I can't apply for O visa based on retirement, since I am married to Thai I can apply for O visa based on marriage(why didn't smiley girl tell me????)....luckily I did bring marriage cert, house reg papers so we could go that route. I ended up seeing smiley girl again and her smile just got bigger when she recognized me-ha ha! Next day picked up multi entry O visa-yea!....So...you cannot get the O based on retirement...only marriage...they didn't require any money documentation at all. Total cost MR 550. Also be aware there are two airports in KL....we got taken to the wrong airport and almost missed our return flight!!!! The budget carriers Air Asia, Jet Blue, Tiger all fly in the one and most others in the other????

By the way. Now that I have a Non O visa, it's my understanding and please someone correct me if I am wrong, that next year I can apply for extension based on retirement as I don't have a monthly pension yet, and I think the 800K is a much easier route for me.

[lopburi3]

Did you try to obtain single entry on basis of retirement? I don't believe any will provide a multi entry on that basis. In reality you need no visa to apply for retirement extension of stay inside Thailand as the visa can be issued by Immigration if application made with 21 days or more remaining on your entry stamp.

You can extend for retirement during the last 30 days of any entry - so if you get tired of making border runs you can do it early. Just be sure month has been in bank for 3 months prior to application.

I am assuming you are over age 50.

[traveldog]

Thanks for the reply Lopburi. I went to Phuket Immigration right after quitting my job and asked specifically how can I stay in Thailand. I had my Non B visa and wanted to extend now based on retirement. They told me to exit the country and get a new visa. A Non Immigrant O visa. That I could not change my B to O nor extend the B based on retirement. They too said I should go to USA...but maybe I could get a Non Imm. O in Singapore or KL....Anyway I will be applying early for extension as you recommend to get away from 90 day runs and will be sure to keep the balance in my Thai account above 800K and yeah I am over 50. Thanks for the reply.

Oh, and I only tried for a single entry at first based on retirement but again was told No can do...ironically or not they only issue multi entry O but only as a dependent based on marriage to a Thai or as a child of same. Still all in all not a terrible time at all. KL is pretty amazing with all the skyscrapers though the food is a bit average and the beer is pricey!

[PhilHarries]

Just a nitpicking correction. There is only one airport at Kuala Lumpur but two terminals, the main one and the LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal). Quite a few people make the mistake good thing you allowed a bit of float in your schedule.

And yes, the price of beer ranges from bluddy expensive to outrageous, well compared to Thailand. It pays well to know the schedule of happy hours at the different bars. The upside is that you don't get many fat, shaven headed, tatooed, drunks.

[baboon]

Thanks for the report. Good to know it is not all doom and gloom visa wise in this region.

[PoorSucker]

Just a nitpicking correction. There is only one airport at Kuala Lumpur but two terminals, the main one and the LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal). Quite a few people make the mistake good thing you allowed a bit of float in your schedule.

And yes, the price of beer ranges from bluddy expensive to outrageous, well compared to Thailand. It pays well to know the schedule of happy hours at the different bars. The upside is that you don't get many fat, shaven headed, tatooed, drunks.

There are two airports Subang and KLIA.

Approx. 1 hour taxi drive between.