Retirement Visa To Expire While Out Of Country

[Spaniel]

In June I left Thailand for the USA assuming that I would be back before 1 November when my retirement visa expire. I have had a retirement visa for the past 8 years. Now it looks like I wont be able to return until the end of the year well after my visa expires. Is their anyway to renew the visa from abroad? My guess is that I should get another 90 day non-immigrant visa and re-apply for a new retirement visa. Also, any suggestions as to where would be the best place to apply for the non-immigrant visa in the US? The website shows many honorary consulates as well as the main cunsulates in Wash, LA and NY.

[Jingthing]

Yes, your current visa and extension will be used up. No way to extend outside Thailand.

What is your closest consulate? If I were you, I would just do as you said, apply for a single entry non O and start over with the extensions. Hopefully, you aren't in the embassy zone (check the Thai DC embassy website, they have zones of service), as they might possibly insist you apply for an O-A (what a hassle). Someone else may suggest what to put down as the REASON for the single entry O. For people who have never retired here, I suggest something like "exploring (or considering) retirement in Thailand". Well, you are past that stage, so not sure exactly what wording you should use. I am also interested in this as this could happen to anyone (forced to start again).

[Riley'sLife]

The last time I had to "start again" I came back into Thailand on a Tourist 30 day Visa, and as I already had the required cash in the Bkk Bank I went to Penang when my Tourist Visa expired and got a new 12 month Non-Imm O by showing my Bank book and giving copies. That was in '05. Very easy to do. Far easier than applying in my home country.

[Maestro]

Riley'sLife, from what the OP has written I am quite sure that he does not want a “12 month Non-Imm O” that would require him to do a border run every 90 days. He wants annual extensions for retirement after his return to Thailand.

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Maestro

[Jingthing]

I guess you could just come back on a stamp and convert to a new O in Thailand.

[Lite Beer]

I guess you could just come back on a stamp and convert to a new O in Thailand.

The only problem will be that the airline might not let him on the flight with a one way ticket.

[Jingthing]

I guess you could just come back on a stamp and convert to a new O in Thailand.

The only problem will be that the airline might not let him on the flight with a one way ticket.

It should be OK with a ticket out within 30 days.

[lopburi3]

He has to buy a new single entry non immigrant O visa in any case so he may as well do in the US as he has plenty of time and can do so by mail from one of the honorary Consulates. That removes the one way ticket travel problem. After his return he can apply for a new one year extension of stay.

[Spaniel]

He has to buy a new single entry non immigrant O visa in any case so he may as well do in the US as he has plenty of time and can do so by mail from one of the honorary Consulates. That removes the one way ticket travel problem. After his return he can apply for a new one year extension of stay.

Thanks for the replies. lopburi3's suggestion is what I had in mind.

[JimGant]

Thanks for the replies. lopburi3's suggestion is what I had in mind.

Keep us advised. Honorary consulates are pretty easy to deal with, but applying for a Non Imm O with "I'm going to Thailand to retire" as criteria may not hack it (they may insist you get an O-A instead). Some are easier than others, however (but I'm not sure which these are, at least for this criteria).

But for sure, you wouldn't get a Non Imm O from the LA consulate with this criteria.

[Jingthing]

LA and especially DC would probably have a problem with it, but I still think most of the consulates will be OK to give a single entry with some kind of vague reference to retirement. The OP never said where he is. Some consulates might have a problem with serving someone out of their service zone. Best to email the consulate in question first with your intention.

[JimGant]

JT,

I seem to recall from some thread that you obtained a Non Imm O from the States. Was that using retirement criteria -- and if so, which consulate. Thanks.

[WilliamIV]

LA and especially DC would probably have a problem with it, but I still think most of the consulates will be OK to give a single entry with some kind of vague reference to retirement. The OP never said where he is. Some consulates might have a problem with serving someone out of their service zone. Best to email the consulate in question first with your intention.

He says he has had a "Retirement Visa" (extension?) for 8 years already.

So a "with some kind of vague reference to retirement"

is unlikely to "hide" his real intent !!!

Would they still insist on an O-A application after 8 years?

[OlRedEyes]

Just been in the same situation. Got a one year multi entry O-A (retirement) visa at the embassy in my 'home' country no problem.

Needed police clearance, med cert, proof of 800 000 bht (not in Thai account).

[Spaniel]

LA and especially DC would probably have a problem with it, but I still think most of the consulates will be OK to give a single entry with some kind of vague reference to retirement. The OP never said where he is. Some consulates might have a problem with serving someone out of their service zone. Best to email the consulate in question first with your intention.

Non-immigrant visa update.

My original question was about the possibility of extending my 1 year retiremnent visa, which expired on 1 Nov, while in the US. I didn't think it was possible but thought I would check first. So what I did I applied for a single entry non-immigrant visa at the Thai Consulate-General in Montgomery, Alabama. I am in Baltimore and their wasn't any problem sending the application to Montgomery rather then the Thai Embassy/Consulate in D.C. which is obviously closer. The consulate in Montgomery didn't mention anything about a service zone. For the reason for the visit I put to visit wife rather then retirement. I had to include a copy of our marriage lisc, and a copy of her passport to show that she is a Thai citizen, a copy of my plane ticket and a bank statement showing that I had at leat $500 and the fee of $65.00. I applied on 12 Nov and received my passport and visa back today 25 Nov.

For a list of all the Honorary Thai Consulate in the US go the the Thai embassy website.

[Jingthing]

Thank you for the real life true story. Always interesting.

I do think (just a theory) most any consulate in the US (except LA) would be OK with giving a single entry O visa to someone with a history of retirement in Thailand, simply by putting down the phrase. "continuing retirement" or a similar phrase. The poster who said putting down "considering retirement" has a point if your passport is filled with extensions, that wouldn't be credible. Most people back for a visit would NOT want to bother with a police/US medical report for the O-A!

[JimGant]

a copy of my plane ticket

I assume, since you're headed back to Thailand for retirement, this was a one-way ticket(?).

What, then -- assuming they accepted your one-way ticket -- were they trying to ascertain......?

.........that, after submitting all that paperwork, with a $65 fee, that you really and truly intended to travel to Thailand? ('Cause, without a plane ticket, you really were only spoofin' about visiting your wife in Thailand.......... )

Strange.

(Now, if they were looking for an onward travel ticket, this seems to be more in keeping with what Thai consulates are looking for these days when they issue visas -- at least single entry visas.)

[Jingthing]

A few years ago, when applying for single entry O visa with a one way ticket to Thailand (required to show), I was also required to show a ticket out of Thailand, so I bought a ticket to Malaysia. It was silly, but you do whatever they ask or you don't play the game ...

Rule of thumb, think more about what the rules are and how you can meet them, rather than the LOGIC behind every rule, because that can make you batty, and you do not want to be arguing with people about their rules.

[Spaniel]

I thought that a onward plane ticket was only required if you arrived without a visa.

[Maestro]

Spaniel, I assume you were replying to Jingthing’s post. He was talking about the requirement of a ticket out of Thailand by the Thai embassy where he applied for a visa, not about a requirement by the immigration officer upon arrival in Thailand. Some Thai consulates do indeed want to see a copy of a ticket out of Thailand when application for a visa is made.

Aside from that, when arriving in Thailand by plane immigration does not usually want to see a ticket out of Thailand. It is the airline at the point of departure that may ask about it at check-in.

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Maestro