Non Immigrant O Visa

[thaisail]

I am a US citizen and I entered Thailand with a multiple entry non immigrant O visa that was granted at the Thai consulate in Florida. That visa was issued on March 22, 2007. I came in and out of Thailand many times during that year but each time was given only 3 months maximum stay. The last entry was on 25 February, 2008 and I was given until 24 May, 2008 to remain in Thailand. I left Thailand to work overseas on April 14th, 2008 and have not been back since. I will be working overseas until January 2009 and intend to return to Thailand from the US or South Africa. I have a Thai wife and we have one child who is now 15 months old and we live in Phuket. I am leaving the US in a few days and many not return to the US before returning to Thailand. I will be 53 years old when I come back to Thailand. I don't know if I will be returning from US or from South Africa. What visa should I apply for that would make it possible for me to remain in Thailand for one year without having to leave Thailand but will also allow me to go in and out of Thailand freely during that year if needed.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

If you and/or your Thai wife can show an income of 40,000 baht per month, you can get annual extensions at Thai Immigration and you won't have to border hop. Get a multiple entry re-entry permit and you can travel abroad as

often as you like.

[Lite Beer]

If you and/or your Thai wife can show an income of 40,000 baht per month, you can get annual extensions at Thai Immigration and you won't have to border hop. Get a multiple entry re-entry permit and you can travel abroad as

often as you like.

Or if you cannot manage that.

Put 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank and you can get the annual extensions based on Retirement.

[thaisail]

If you and/or your Thai wife can show an income of 40,000 baht per month, you can get annual extensions at Thai Immigration and you won't have to border hop. Get a multiple entry re-entry permit and you can travel abroad as

often as you like.

I earn about 10 times that amount as an officer in the US merchant marine officer but I earn no money in Thailand. My wife does not work and stays home in Phuket with our baby daughter. How can I prove the Thai immigration income if I earn all my income outside of Thailand. I have started depositing money in my Thai bank account but for the moment, I have only about 50000 baht in my account. I tried to get this visa in Florida but they refused to issue that visa to me for some reason. Do I need to go to Penang to do it there?

[thaisail]

If you and/or your Thai wife can show an income of 40,000 baht per month, you can get annual extensions at Thai Immigration and you won't have to border hop. Get a multiple entry re-entry permit and you can travel abroad as

often as you like.

Or if you cannot manage that.

Put 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank and you can get the annual extensions based on Retirement.

I would do this but I am worried about the Thai banking system and cannot tie up that much money right now. I also thought that it would be only 400,000 baht for someone who is married to a Thai woman.

[Lite Beer]

I would do this but I am worried about the Thai banking system and cannot tie up that much money right now. I also thought that it would be only 400,000 baht for someone who is married to a Thai woman.

No. You need 40,000 Baht monthly income for marriage. The 400,000 option was stopped 2 years ago.

You need to get a letter from your Embassy verifying your income.

You can also get the retirement extension with a monthly income of 65,000 Baht.

Enter on a Non Imm O Visa. About 2-3 weeks before your stay finishes you go to your nearest Immigration office and apply for the years extension.

Up to you what method you choose to use.

The marriage extension is more difficult and requires more documents than the Retirement method.

The marriage extension takes a month to get approved while Retirement is instant.

[Maestro]

Excellent advice above by all and sundry. I think you will find that with your income your easiest option is the retirement extension based on income. The US embassy in Bangkok will charge you a small fee for the certification of your sworn statement regarding your income but it’s worth it. The embassy asks for no documentary proof of your income but very rarely the immigration office may ask for it. If you can get a confirmation letter from you employer, take it with you when you go to the immigration office for your application for extension but give them only the embassy certificate; show the employer’s letter only if it is asked for.

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Maestro

[thaisail]

Excellent advice above by all and sundry. I think you will find that with your income your easiest option is the retirement extension based on income. The US embassy in Bangkok will charge you a small fee for the certification of your sworn statement regarding your income but it’s worth it. The embassy asks for no documentary proof of your income but very rarely the immigration office may ask for it. If you can get a confirmation letter from you employer, take it with you when you go to the immigration office for your application for extension but give them only the embassy certificate; show the employer’s letter only if it is asked for.

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Maestro

Thankyou Maestro!

The problem that I have is that I am not in Thailand right now and must deal with the Thai consulate in the US for a visa to enter Thailand. What visa do you recommend? Last time I tried to shop my pay vouchers to the Thai Consulate in Miami, they asked me to get a special physical with my doctor that included a test for Leprosy! Also they wanted many documents that I could not provide at the time so we decided to go for the marraige visa but this visa made me leave Thailand every 90 days and was valid for one year. Should I get that same visa first when it is time to go back to Thailand?

[Maestro]

It looks like the Miami consulate is a government-staffed consulate and they tried to sell you the non-O-A visa aka retirement visa or long-stay visa. Application for a visa can be made by mail and you should apply at an honorary consulate for a single-entry non-O visa for the purpose of exploring retirement possibility in Thailand. After arrival in Thailand you get the embassy letter, then go to the immigration office during the last 30 days of your 90-day permission to stay and apply for the retirement extension.

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Maestro