How Long For Consulate To Process Oa Visa

[rhf48]

I sent my retirement packet off to the LA Thai Consulate and haven't heard anything for several weeks. Anybody know how long it usually takes. Also when do I have to transfer funds to a bank account in Thailand?

[doctormann]

I sent my retirement packet off to the LA Thai Consulate and haven't heard anything for several weeks.  Anybody know how long it usually takes.  Also when do I have to transfer funds to a bank account in Thailand?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You sure that you can do this application my mail?

Maybe rules are different in LA but in UK a long-stay A-O (retirement) visa can only be issued by the Thai Embassy in London (not by consulates elsewhere) and the application must be done 'in person', although it is possible to use someone to submit the papers on your behalf.

Turn round is only 2-3 working days.

If you haven't heard anything for weeks then something has gone badly wrong. Either the paperwork is not in order or, as I suggest, you cannot make the application for this type of visa by mail.

You need to open a bank account in Thailand, once you are here, and at the end of your first year, when applying for your visa extension, the account must show a balance of at least 800,000 Baht or evidence that at least 64,000 Baht per month has been transfered to the account from a source outside of Thailand. For your initial application (that you are doing now) the equivalent funds can be in a US bank.

Good luck.

[lopburi3]

Processing time per web site is within one week. Did you provide all the required documents and notarizations as per this:

http://www.thai-la.net/visa/retire.htm

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I sent my retirement packet off to the LA Thai Consulate and haven't heard anything for several weeks.  Anybody know how long it usually takes.  Also when do I have to transfer funds to a bank account in Thailand?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Usually an O-A is only days. You should call them and ascertain whether there is a problem with your paperwork.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I sent my retirement packet off to the LA Thai Consulate and haven't heard anything for several weeks.  Anybody know how long it usually takes.  Also when do I have to transfer funds to a bank account in Thailand?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Usually an O-A is only days. You should call them and ascertain whether there is a problem with your paperwork.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I trust that the 48 in your nickname isn't your age. That'd be a bit negative if it was

[Khutan]

I trust that the 48 in your nickname isn't your age. That'd be a bit negative if it was

Unless its his year of birth and then he would be 56. He also wouldn't need to change his username every birthday !!!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I trust that the 48 in your nickname isn't your age. That'd be a bit negative if it was

Unless its his year of birth and then he would be 56. He also wouldn't need to change his username every birthday !!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It was worth asking

[redwood13]

I received my O-A from an honorary consulate in the US by mail.

Los Angeles has a history of being very, very unfriendly toward O-A applications. My experience with them is that you'll have to call them to find out the status of your application.

-redwood

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I received my O-A  from an honorary consulate in  the US by mail.

Los Angeles has a history of being very, very unfriendly toward O-A applications.  My experience with them is that you'll have to call them to find out the status of your application.

-redwood

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You are right Redwood13 ... hon. consul's can and do issue them. LA is a law unto itself, and unfriendly and unhelpful in most things it purports to do.

[Bill Osborne]

I sent my retirement packet off to the LA Thai Consulate and haven't heard anything for several weeks.  Anybody know how long it usually takes.  Also when do I have to transfer funds to a bank account in Thailand?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm surprised that your doing this transaction via mail, I've tried calling the Consulate in L. A. and all I get are pre-recorded messages. Maybe you could answer my questions, do all three copies of the required forms of a O-A Visa have to be Notorized or just the originals ? I also checked the http://www.thai-la.net/visa/retire.htm web site and didn't see where the Personal Data Form is did I miss something.

[lopburi3]

I sent my retirement packet off to the LA Thai Consulate and haven't heard anything for several weeks.  Anybody know how long it usually takes.  Also when do I have to transfer funds to a bank account in Thailand?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm surprised that your doing this transaction via mail, I've tried calling the Consulate in L. A. and all I get are pre-recorded messages. Maybe you could answer my questions, do all three copies of the required forms of a O-A Visa have to be Notorized or just the originals ? I also checked the http://www.thai-la.net/visa/retire.htm web site and didn't see where the Personal Data Form is did I miss something.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Believe PDF is what is filled out in Thai at immigration when you apply for one year extension of stay. Lists address/pay/etc.

I would notarize everything - most banks do it for free.

[rhf48]

I sent my retirement packet off to the LA Thai Consulate and haven't heard anything for several weeks.  Anybody know how long it usually takes.  Also when do I have to transfer funds to a bank account in Thailand?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm surprised that your doing this transaction via mail, I've tried calling the Consulate in L. A. and all I get are pre-recorded messages. Maybe you could answer my questions, do all three copies of the required forms of a O-A Visa have to be Notorized or just the originals ? I also checked the http://www.thai-la.net/visa/retire.htm web site and didn't see where the Personal Data Form is did I miss something.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[rhf48]

I sent my retirement packet off to the LA Thai Consulate and haven't heard anything for several weeks.  Anybody know how long it usually takes.  Also when do I have to transfer funds to a bank account in Thailand?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm surprised that your doing this transaction via mail, I've tried calling the Consulate in L. A. and all I get are pre-recorded messages. Maybe you could answer my questions, do all three copies of the required forms of a O-A Visa have to be Notorized or just the originals ? I also checked the http://www.thai-la.net/visa/retire.htm web site and didn't see where the Personal Data Form is did I miss something.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Believe PDF is what is filled out in Thai at immigration when you apply for one year extension of stay. Lists address/pay/etc.

I would notarize everything - most banks do it for free.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[rhf48]

I sent my retirement packet off to the LA Thai Consulate and haven't heard anything for several weeks.  Anybody know how long it usually takes.  Also when do I have to transfer funds to a bank account in Thailand?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm surprised that your doing this transaction via mail, I've tried calling the Consulate in L. A. and all I get are pre-recorded messages. Maybe you could answer my questions, do all three copies of the required forms of a O-A Visa have to be Notorized or just the originals ? I also checked the http://www.thai-la.net/visa/retire.htm web site and didn't see where the Personal Data Form is did I miss something.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[rhf48]

I have talked to the lady twice and she said only the originals must be notarized and the health and police letter should be signed by me certifiying that I am the person that the letters are about and then my signature must be notarized . I did all that and sent it UPS so I know that they recieved it. I am going to call in the morning and find out what if anything is going on. 48 is birth year

[RDN]

... Anybody know how long it usually takes....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My O-A from the Thai Embassy in London took less than one week. (Of course, it took months and months of getting the necessary documents together, but once I had presented them at the Embassy, it was surprisingly fast ).

[doctormann]

... Anybody know how long it usually takes....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My O-A from the Thai Embassy in London took less than one week. (Of course, it took months and months of getting the necessary documents together, but once I had presented them at the Embassy, it was surprisingly fast ).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree RDN. It took me upwards of two months to sort out the paperwork.

The biggest problem was trying to ascertain just what was required. Also wasted some time talking to Hon. Consulate in Hull before being told, eventually, that they do not issue O-A long stay visas so had to deal with the Embassy in London. As you probably know, the Embassy has a pre-recorded visa info system, which is totally useless. More by luck than anything else I managed to find the right extension number for long-stay.

Only other real problem was finding a Notary Public to do the necessary - apparently most solicitors are not Notaries. There was only one such animal within a reasonable distance of where I was living in the UK and he happily relieved me of £50 for the service.

I used a visa agent (Thames Consular) to do the actual application. They were efficient and reasonably cheap. Turn round time at the Embassy was only two days.

[RDN]

I agree RDN.  It took me upwards of two months to sort out the paperwork. 

The biggest problem was trying to ascertain just what was required.  Also wasted some time talking to Hon. Consulate in Hull before being told, eventually, that they do not issue O-A long stay visas so had to deal with the Embassy in London.  As you probably know, the Embassy has a pre-recorded visa info system, which is totally useless.  More by luck than anything else I managed to find the right extension number for long-stay.

Only other real problem was finding a Notary Public to do the necessary - apparently most solicitors are not Notaries.  There was only one such animal within a reasonable distance of where I was living in the UK and he happily relieved me of £50 for the service.

I used a visa agent (Thames Consular) to do the actual application.  They were efficient and reasonably cheap.  Turn round time at the Embassy was only two days. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting to hear about other people's experiences.

I didn't need a "Notary Public" in 2002 - maybe the rules have changed.

I actually taped the £1/minute pre-recorded Embassy information. It appeared to cover all types of applications and you had to wait 5 or 6 minutes - £5 or £6! - before you got to the 30 seconds that was of interest to you! Good scheme! (or should that be "scam"? ). But it least it was spoken in very clear English by an Englishman!

I went to the Embassy myself. Not a pleasant experience - not that the Embassy staff were unpleasant, far from it - they were very helpful once you told them exactly what you were there for. It was the other 90% of the people I found queueing there wanting visas for all sorts of reasons and asking me daft questions while we waited for the doors to open. Not surprising that the Embassy staff looked at most of them with suspicion.

But after I presented my great wodge of papers, and waited for the guy to check them, it was an unbelievable relief to hear him say "OK, come back next Tuesday to pick up your visa".

And the best bit of advice he gave me when I picked up my passport the following week was "Make sure you get a one year stamp in your passport at the immigration desk at the airport". Excellent advice which also proved prophetic as I had to fight like crazy to get it. But that's another story and already related on this forum!

[redwood13]

I'm surprised that your doing this transaction via mail, I've tried calling the Consulate in L. A. and all I get are pre-recorded messages. Maybe you could answer my questions, do all three copies of the required forms of a O-A Visa have to be Notorized or just the originals  ? I also checked the http://www.thai-la.net/visa/retire.htm  web site and didn't see where the Personal Data Form is did I miss something.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

http://www.thai-la.net/visa/non-o-a.htm

Item 2.3

-redwood

[redwood13]

Believe PDF is what is filled out in Thai at immigration when you apply for one year extension of stay.  Lists address/pay/etc. 

I would notarize everything - most banks do it for free.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No, the Personal Data Form is to be included with the original O-A application package in addition to the normal visa application.

See post #19 for URL.

-redwood

[redwood13]

I have talked to the lady twice and she said only the originals must be notarized and the health and police letter should be signed by me certifiying that I am the person that the letters are about and then my signature must be notarized . I did all that and sent it UPS so I know that they recieved it.  I am going to call in the morning and find out what if anything is going on.  48 is birth year

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is interesting. Everyone I've talked to has interpreted Item 8 at:

http://www.thai-la.net/visa/retire.htm

"8. Evidence as stated in Nos. 5, 6 and 7 above must be certified by a Notary Public"

to mean that the authorizing signature - the physician and law inforcement authority - must be notarized.

This of course was major problem for potential O-A applicants. Now they're saying it's the applicant's signature. Sounds as if they're dealing bit more realistically with this.

-redwood

[dr_Pat_Pong]

would say that constitutes a personal attack Doc, I wonder who this guy used to be.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Muanbloodywai

[astral]

All the comments here about getting the paperwork together,

show the reasons for going the route of an ordinary Non Imm O

based on intention to retire, then do the other bits once you get here.

[rhf48]

I have talked to the lady twice and she said only the originals must be notarized and the health and police letter should be signed by me certifiying that I am the person that the letters are about and then my signature must be notarized . I did all that and sent it UPS so I know that they recieved it.  I am going to call in the morning and find out what if anything is going on.  48 is birth year

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is interesting. Everyone I've talked to has interpreted Item 8 at:

http://www.thai-la.net/visa/retire.htm

"8. Evidence as stated in Nos. 5, 6 and 7 above must be certified by a Notary Public"

to mean that the authorizing signature - the physician and law inforcement authority - must be notarized.

This of course was major problem for potential O-A applicants. Now they're saying it's the applicant's signature. Sounds as if they're dealing bit more realistically with this.

-redwood

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[rhf48]

Well, I received my OA visa today from LA so I guess I did everything right. If anybody wants any info just ask. Now if I understand how rhis works I will receive my one year visa at BKK airport? Anyway thanks for all the info.

[redwood13]

Well, I received my OA visa today from LA so I guess I did everything right.  If anybody wants any info just ask.  Now if I understand how rhis works I will receive my one year visa at BKK airport?  Anyway thanks for all the info.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Congratulations on getting the O-A It's really nice knowing that when you arrive at Don Muang you're all set for a year with the exception of having to report to immigration every 90 days. If you didn't get a multiple entry be sure you get a re-entry permit prior to leaving Thailand otherwise you visa is cancelled.

Yes, confirm that the "admitted until" date is correct as soon as you step away from the immigration desk at Don Muang. Occasionally they make an error and you'll want to have it corrected on the spot rather than having to go to Suan Plu later.

-redwood

[RDN]

Well, I received my OA visa today from LA so I guess I did everything right.  If anybody wants any info just ask.  Now if I understand how rhis works I will receive my one year visa at BKK airport?  Anyway thanks for all the info.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well done ! And when you get to the immigration desk at Don Muang, show the officer the O-A visa in your passport and say you want a one year stamp. If she/he says anything less, just keep smiling, shake your head and repeat "One year". If, as in my case, she still gives you a 3 months stamp, do not move! (Screw all the people waiting behind you - this is important!). Say again "One year" and she should call for help. Then someone who knows what an O-A visa is will come and sort it out. Best of luck!