American Male Citizen Married To A Thai

[JohnU]

I am a U.S citizen, 60 years old, retired, and married to a Thai lady who holds a U.S. Passport and a Thai Passport. My wife owns property in Thailand that we plan to build a house on.

My wife and I want to move to Thailand for our retirement years.

My plan is to get a "O" visa (90 day stay) prior to traveling over there sometime in Oct. 2008. I intend on getting a one-way ticket. After I am there, my plan is to apply for the "O-A" visa that will allow me an extended stay. One of the requirements for the "O-A" visa is the applicant must not have a criminal record.

Questions:

1. Is the criminal record certification absolutely necessary and where should I get this certication that I do not have a criminal record?

2. Can I still obtain the "O-A" visa in Thailand without the criminal record certification?

Any other information about staying in Thailand will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

John

[Lite Beer]

I am a U.S citizen, 60 years old, retired, and married to a Thai lady who holds a U.S. Passport and a Thai Passport. My wife owns property in Thailand that we plan to build a house on.

My wife and I want to move to Thailand for our retirement years.

My plan is to get a "O" visa (90 day stay) prior to traveling over there sometime in Oct. 2008. I intend on getting a one-way ticket. After I am there, my plan is to apply for the "O-A" visa that will allow me an extended stay. One of the requirements for the "O-A" visa is the applicant must not have a criminal record.

Questions:

1. Is the criminal record certification absolutely necessary and where should I get this certication that I do not have a criminal record?

2. Can I still obtain the "O-A" visa in Thailand without the criminal record certification?

Any other information about staying in Thailand will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

John

You cannot obtain a O-A Visa in Thailand, Only in your home country.

You can obtain a one year extension of stay in Thailand.

As you said, come with a Non Imm O Visa. You can extend this for 1 year At Immigration.

You need a monthly income of 65,000 Baht or 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank.

No police report or medical needed.

You can also get the extension based on your marriage. 40,000 Baht monthly income needed. This can be yours , your Wifes or a combination of both.

[JohnU]

I am a U.S citizen, 60 years old, retired, and married to a Thai lady who holds a U.S. Passport and a Thai Passport. My wife owns property in Thailand that we plan to build a house on.

My wife and I want to move to Thailand for our retirement years.

My plan is to get a "O" visa (90 day stay) prior to traveling over there sometime in Oct. 2008. I intend on getting a one-way ticket. After I am there, my plan is to apply for the "O-A" visa that will allow me an extended stay. One of the requirements for the "O-A" visa is the applicant must not have a criminal record.

Questions:

1. Is the criminal record certification absolutely necessary and where should I get this certication that I do not have a criminal record?

2. Can I still obtain the "O-A" visa in Thailand without the criminal record certification?

Any other information about staying in Thailand will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

John

You cannot obtain a O-A Visa in Thailand, Only in your home country.

You can obtain a one year extension of stay in Thailand.

As you said, come with a Non Imm O Visa. You can extend this for 1 year At Immigration.

You need a monthly income of 65,000 Baht or 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank.

No police report or medical needed.

You can also get the extension based on your marriage. 40,000 Baht monthly income needed. This can be yours , your Wifes or a combination of both.

[JohnU]

Can the year extension be obtained on a yearly basis for as long as I want to stay in Thailand?

[lopburi3]

That's the procedure. Repeat every year. Fee is 1,900 baht for extension form. Travel out of Thailand requires a re-entry permit. You must file address report every 90 days if in Thailand.

[retiredusn]

I am a U.S citizen, 60 years old, retired, and married to a Thai lady who holds a U.S. Passport and a Thai Passport. My wife owns property in Thailand that we plan to build a house on.

My wife and I want to move to Thailand for our retirement years.

My plan is to get a "O" visa (90 day stay) prior to traveling over there sometime in Oct. 2008. I intend on getting a one-way ticket. After I am there, my plan is to apply for the "O-A" visa that will allow me an extended stay. One of the requirements for the "O-A" visa is the applicant must not have a criminal record.

Questions:

1. Is the criminal record certification absolutely necessary and where should I get this certication that I do not have a criminal record?

2. Can I still obtain the "O-A" visa in Thailand without the criminal record certification?

Any other information about staying in Thailand will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

John

John, where are you at? PM me

[boldfj]

John:

It appears that you won't need a criminal backgound check. But, if you still do, you must obtain it from the FBI. You simply go to the FBI website (www.fbi.gov), look in the left column of the home page for "More Services" under Use Our Resources, and then look for Criminal Background Checks. This will tell you how to request the Criminal Background Report from the FBI. You'll need to send in a fingerprint card and the request for the background check. I believe it costs $18 or $20 and takes about 4 weeks. If your record is clean, you'll get an official report from the FBI stating you have no criminal record.

[JohnU]

I am currently in Denver, CO. My Thai wife and I will be retiring in the Sukhothai area of Thailand.

[lopburi3]

I would advise keeping a US banking account open (for US checks/tax payment or refund and such) if not for pension or whatever. I would also set up a wire transfer agreement before you leave so that you can transfer funds to a Thai bank account (much cheaper sending large transfers than depending on ATM and there fees). I have accounts in 1st Bank and they have phone service for wire transfer that gets funds here within 24 hours.

If you plan to do the 800k in bank only for extension of stay it requires the funds be in account for 3 months so if not open on arrival you may not have time on a single entry 90 day stay. if you use a combination of account and Embassy letter of pension there will not be that 3 month requirement.