Converting From 'o' To 'o-a' Visa

[aslimversgwm]

I'm a newcomer to CM, and my 1st 90 days on my current multi-entry 'O' visa expires on 5th Nov.

I don't want the hassle of doing a 'border run' and want to apply for retirement 'O-A' visa. I'm 65, have a 'clear' police report from UK, but can't quite show 65,000 baht being credited to my Thai bank account each month, because of the 'crap' exchange rate recently. I do have a small deposit amount as well as my monthly income, and I can show UK sterling pension income exceeding the 65,000. Will this suffice?

[ubonjoe]

First it is not a conversion to a non-oa visa it is a 1 year extension of your non-o entry.

Your pension is fine you just have to go the UK conuslate and get a letter verifying your income.

From reports on this forum CM immigration will want to see your bank book that shows some money but no fixed amount.

Page 10 clause 7.21 of police order lists the requirements for a retiremnet extension.

Link to police order: http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/2notice/rtp606EN.pdf

Edited October 27, 2008 by ubonjoe

[Mario2008]

For an extension of stay you have to show 65,000 baht a month income or 800,000 baht in a Thai bankacount for at least 3 months prior to applying. You can also do a combination of both, for example 32,500 a month and 400,000 in the bank.

If you go for the 65,000 baht a month option and it is from abroad your embassy or consulate has to issue a letter stating your monthly income. It is not necesarry that you get the 65,000 baht a month on a bank account in Thailand or spend that kind of money here every month. As said, immigration will probably want to see a bank book with some money in it, like 20,000 baht.

[Jingthing]

If using the combo method, the portion that is in the Thai bank account does NOT need to be seasoned for 3 months, or at all.

Also when getting the extension based on retirement in Thailand (not the O-A) you do NOT need a medical report or a police clearance report.

Edited October 27, 2008 by Jingthing

[Lite Beer]

And you do not need a police report.

As said O-A Retirement Visa can only be obtained in your own country . You will be applying for a 12 month extension of stay.

Edited October 27, 2008 by Lite Beer

[tom21]

I got a 12 month extension 6 weeks ago it was as above except they did not ask to see my bank account. This part could change so i would take your bank book with you.

They did not want proof of income they wanted a letter from the consul confirming the income

[aslimversgwm]

I got a 12 month extension 6 weeks ago it was as above except they did not ask to see my bank account. This part could change so i would take your bank book with you.

They did not want proof of income they wanted a letter from the consul confirming the income

I was told I needed to have a letter from my Thai bank certifying my Thai bank balance, etc. Went to CM branch of my bank and was told 'can not' as I was foolish enough to open my account in their Phetchabun branch!

So as there seems to be some doubt as to the strictness, or otherwise, of verifying/confirming bank balances - depends on who you talk to! - I am now going to do the 'visa run', making a day of it by going in luxury by taxi so we can take in some Chiang Rai siteseeing.

At least this will give me another 90 days to think about the 'Retirement Visa'.

p.s. The retirement visa is a type 'O-A' - and first of all I had to get a type 'O' Multi-Entry visa from the Hull Thai Consulate in the UK.

You CAN NOT get a type 'O-A' outside Thailand only a type 'O' - check this out on the Hull website if you don't believe me. After you get your type 'O' in the Uk, and you have been in Thailand for at least 60 days, THEN you can apply for a type 'O-A' (Retirement type). Sorry chaps - but you don't have up to date info if you believe otherwise.

Cheers and take care, David

[Crossy]

p.s. The retirement visa is a type 'O-A' - and first of all I had to get a type 'O' Multi-Entry visa from the Hull Thai Consulate in the UK.

You CAN NOT get a type 'O-A' outside Thailand only a type 'O' - check this out on the Hull website if you don't believe me. After you get your type 'O' in the Uk, and you have been in Thailand for at least 60 days, THEN you can apply for a type 'O-A' (Retirement type). Sorry chaps - but you don't have up to date info if you believe otherwise.

Cheers and take care, David

Well you're sort of correct

Hull, as a consulate, cannot issue O-A visas, only the embassy in London can issue this visa type, and they still do.

The route you're taking is actually easier as it requires less bits of paper in the UK

[ubonjoe]

So as there seems to be some doubt as to the strictness, or otherwise, of verifying/confirming bank balances

p.s. The retirement visa is a type 'O-A' - and first of all I had to get a type 'O' Multi-Entry visa from the Hull Thai Consulate in the UK.

You CAN NOT get a type 'O-A' outside Thailand only a type 'O' - check this out on the Hull website if you don't believe me. After you get your type 'O' in the Uk, and you have been in Thailand for at least 60 days, THEN you can apply for a type 'O-A' (Retirement type). Sorry chaps - but you don't have up to date info if you believe otherwise.

Cheers and take care, David

No confusion of information just different immigration offices and different options to prove income.

If you are are only using the income option to get your extension you do not need a letter from bank. Copies of your bank book pages showing some money coming from outside the counry and some money in bank should be enough.

Immigration does not issue visa's unless it's a change from a tourist or visa exempt entry to a non immigrant visa.

The OA is special non-o visa. See this page at Ministry of Forign affairs website. Note there is an error at #3 where it mentions the immigration office. http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493

Immigration will issue an extension of the permit to stay on either a non-o or oa for retirement.

They will also do a change of visa to a non-o from a tourist visa and then extend it for a year.

Edit: This from Hull website that has instructions for non-oa visa: http://www.thaiconsul.co.uk/pdfs/Af%20%20O...Application.pdf

Edited October 28, 2008 by ubonjoe

[Lite Beer]

You CAN NOT get a type 'O-A' outside Thailand only a type 'O' - check this out on the Hull website if you don't believe me. After you get your type 'O' in the Uk, and you have been in Thailand for at least 60 days, THEN you can apply for a type 'O-A' (Retirement type). Sorry chaps - but you don't have up to date info if you believe otherwise.

Cheers and take care, David

Back to front. You CANNOT get a O-A inside Thailand. You can only get it in your own country.

Non Immigrant Non O -A (aproved) Visa for retirement.

Edited October 28, 2008 by Lite Beer

[Jingthing]

Lite Beer is correct.

If want an O-A visa, it has to be from your home country.

If you go the do it in Thailand route, you start with an O (not O-A) and do an extension based on retirement.

Caveats: not all consulates in the home countries issue the O-As, but the embassies do.

I also think that not all the Thai embassies in the world will issue O-As, but most of the people reading this board are from countries where they will.

Edited October 28, 2008 by Jingthing

[wpcoe]

If you go the do it in Thailand route, you start with an O (not O-A) and do an extension based on retirement.

I know what you meant, and agree, but this topic is endlessly confusing to everybody, so I'll inject that you CAN start with an O-A visa and do an extension based on (further) retirement.

I know that when you referred to the "do it in Thailand" method you were referring to first-time retirement extensions, but on a casual read, your statement might give pause to O-A holders thinking "waitaminnit, you mean I can't apply a one-year extension in Thailand at the end of my O-A visa valid period?"

[Sophon]

You can also do a combination of both, for example 32,500 a month and 400,000 in the bank.

Actually, that wouldn't quite be enough.

400,000 + 12x32,500 only totals 790,000 so you would be 10,000 baht short.

Sphon

[Mario2008]

You can also do a combination of both, for example 32,500 a month and 400,000 in the bank.

Actually, that wouldn't quite be enough.

400,000 + 12x32,500 only totals 790,000 so you would be 10,000 baht short.

Sphon

It doesn't say the total must be 800,000 baht. I beleive the rule is that if you use 50% of the amount in the bank than the income must be 50% of the required income. With 20% of the ammount in the bank, you would need only 80% of the required income.

But this is Thailand....

[Jingthing]

You can also do a combination of both, for example 32,500 a month and 400,000 in the bank.

Actually, that wouldn't quite be enough.

400,000 + 12x32,500 only totals 790,000 so you would be 10,000 baht short.

Sphon

It doesn't say the total must be 800,000 baht. I beleive the rule is that if you use 50% of the amount in the bank than the income must be 50% of the required income. With 20% of the ammount in the bank, you would need only 80% of the required income.

But this is Thailand....

I doubt this is true. I think if you use the combo method, the total must be over 800K.

[ubonjoe]

This is what police order says.

(5) Annual income plus bank

account deposit totaling not less

than Baht 800,000 as of the

filing date of application

[aslimversgwm]

Lite Beer is correct.

If want an O-A visa, it has to be from your home country.

If you go the do it in Thailand route, you start with an O (not O-A) and do an extension based on retirement.

Caveats: not all consulates in the home countries issue the O-As, but the embassies do.

I also think that not all the Thai embassies in the world will issue O-As, but most of the people reading this board are from countries where they will.

Thanks for all the repsonses. Now totally confused, of course!

Here is an extract from the Hull Thai Consulate website:

"Obtain a written confirmation of financial position which is available only from the British Embassy in Bangkok. Applicants need to demonstrate to the Consul at the British Embassy, Bangkok that they meet the financial requirements of minimum lump-sum equivalent to Baht 800,000 or minimum monthly income of Baht 65,000. See page 10/10 for more information."

Assuming the Thai Consulate in Hull isn't working in isolation from the rest of the Thai authorities - and I don't think so as this is now the recommended route for obtaining ALL types of visas for Thailand in the UK.

They are very helpful and efficient when you phone them, or apply by post. As was said in the other forum trail - they turn the visa round within about 24 hours or so: provided all is in order and you pre-pay postage for return by special delivery you will get your passport back, complete with visa, within 3 or 4 working days, incredibly, especially when compared to our (UK) bureacracy. Try getting an amended tax code for example - see how long that takes!

Re-reading the Thai consulates website definately implies you go for an 'O' visa first in the UK, then you come to Thailand and go for an 'O-A', but there again the website also implies that you need a UK police clearance cert and a Thai medical cert: but neither are necessary now!

Regarding the bank balance stuff, from the responses it appears its also not necessary to have a bank letter certifying the balance, as long as you have an updated passbook. I also have latest statements printed off my Thai bank's internet site - also very efficient, and in clear English. Looks like I won't have to troll on down to Phetchabun after all.

As I said at the outset my income in to Thailand is only a little short of 65k and with a bit left on deposit, from when I 1st got here, so the combined formula does make it up to 800k.

Anyway, because of uncertainty of all this I did the 'visa run' yesterday to Mae Sai. Decided to take a yello cab, and negotiated a 4k deal to take me, bf and ano friend there and back, including stopovers at incredibla white/mirror temple near Chaing Rai and hot springs on way back.

The passport stamping stuff was a piece of cake and everything is well signed and efficiently organised - they've obviously done this be4 - I mean the Thai/Myramar authorities. I now have another 90 days to get my 'O-A' or 12 month 'O' , or whatever, sorted out. Apart form the taxi cost - and obviously the bus would have been a lot less - it cost me 500 baht paid to the Myramar official (you can pay $10 - which is slightly less, but I didn't see a place to get my money changed and there would have been a commission charge anyway, so not worth the hassle as a Brit sans dollars). The routine for issuing you a receipt, in lieu of your passport in Myramar, is highly organised and computerised. No worries: DON'T loose the receipt though - hate to think how you'd get your passport back without it!

You have to steadfastly ignore the street pedlars in the market place, or they will not leave you alone. The viagra and porn they offer probably wouldn't work anyway! Watch you pockets! The shops are full of 'genuine' high fashion label stuff (believe that and you'll belief anything!) But it is all very cheap and not necessarily rubbish. Always bargain, of course.

Our taxi man is someone my bf always uses and he fell in with everything we wanted to do. It was a great day out and loads of pics were taken. Lovely scenary en route and weather was perfect. The temple is a 'must see' and hot springs fascinating. Glad I didn't rush to get my 'O-A' (or whatever) as this was a very pleasant day out. Recommended to anyone in similar situ. and if you can afford to 'lash out' on a cab, I think it's worth it for the flexibility and a hassle free day.

Regards to all for your tips. David

.

[Lite Beer]

A lot of that information on the Hull website is wrong.

The only information that matters is on here. 7.21 . If you are applying inside Thailand. If you are applying in the UK. You can only apply at the London Embassy and will need the medical certificate and police record. The money can be in a UK bank.

[ubonjoe]

Regarding the bank balance stuff, from the responses it appears its also not necessary to have a bank letter certifying the balance, as long as you have an updated passbook. I also have latest statements printed off my Thai bank's internet site - also very efficient, and in clear English. Looks like I won't have to troll on down to Phetchabun after all.

As I said at the outset my income in to Thailand is only a little short of 65k and with a bit left on deposit, from when I 1st got here, so the combined formula does make it up to 800k.

Regards to all for your tips. David

Lite Beer has given you a link that will tell you every thing you need to know.

Even using the combined income/balance method. You are going to still need the letter certifying your balance. I suggest you open another bank account (same bank is ok) and transfer the funds to this account so you can get the letter. Then you can get a letter for your new account. You have to show the bank book along with letter. Print outs from website won't work.

Joe

[Lite Beer]

Even using the combined income/balance method. You are going to still need the letter certifying your balance. I suggest you open another bank account (same bank is ok) and transfer the funds to this account so you can get the letter. Then you can get a letter for your new account. You have to show the bank book along with letter. Print outs from website won't work.

Yes. They will want to see an official bank letter all stamped and signed.