Convert A Tourist-visa To Non-immigrant O-a

[Hamburger]

Hello everyone! I am a german citizen aged 50 and i will be coming to Thailand early next year. I will enter Thailand with a tourist visa(60 day)which i will have to change to non-immigant O-A in Thailand.Thank`s to thaivisa i am famliar with the process and i fulfill the conditions (i am over 50 and i have 800000+ in my thai bank account for more than 90 days). But there are still two open questions for me.

1:I will settle down near Chaiyaphum. To which immigration office do i have to go? 2:The homepage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand says that an applicant for an non-immigrant O-A visa has to show documents showing he has no criminal record in his home country and also that he has no prohibitive diseases. I have no problems with these conditions,but my question is:do i have to bother with these documents?Do i have to present them,do i have to present them maybe,do i not need them? Any help is welcome.Thank you in advance

[Lite Beer]

Hello everyone! I am a german citizen aged 50 and i will be coming to Thailand early next year. I will enter Thailand with a tourist visa(60 day)which i will have to change to non-immigant O-A in Thailand.Thank`s to thaivisa i am famliar with the process and i fulfill the conditions (i am over 50 and i have 800000+ in my thai bank account for more than 90 days). But there are still two open questions for me.

1:I will settle down near Chaiyaphum. To which immigration office do i have to go? 2:The homepage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand says that an applicant for an non-immigrant O-A visa has to show documents showing he has no criminal record in his home country and also that he has no prohibitive diseases. I have no problems with these conditions,but my question is:do i have to bother with these documents?Do i have to present them,do i have to present them maybe,do i not need them? Any help is welcome.Thank you in advance

You are nearly correct.

A Non Imm O-A Visa is only issued in your own country.

You will be applying for an annual extension based on retirement.

No police report or medical are needed.

[ubonjoe]

First just forget everything about a non-oa visa. That is special visa issued at a consulate.

You seem to aware of everything required here. The 800,000 being the most important.

So you should have no problem getting your extension here.

Edit: Looking at the map Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) will be the nearest immigration office.

[Mario2008]

You don't convert to a non-immigrant O-A visa, but to a non-O based on retirement. No need for police check or health check.

Why don'r you apply for a non-O visa straight away, instead of a tourist visa?

[Lite Beer]

Yes. It would be easier to arrive on a Non O Visa.

[Hamburger]

I know it would be easier with a non-immigrant o ,but the Thai konsulat in my home town in germany told me that i didn`t met the criteria for such a visa.They wanted me to show either a pension( i`m to young for that but i have enough money to stay in Thailand untill my pension kick`s in)or they wanted me to present a marriage certificate with my thaiwife (unfortunate up to now i only married her with a buddistic? ceremony).Therefor i have to come to Thailand with a tourist visa and do the visa change here.

[Jingthing]

Another detail which may or may not be relevant to your situation in Germany.

In the US, reports are the Thai EMBASSY in Washington will not issue even a single entry visa if the reason given is retirement. They will direct you to apply for the O-A there. However, Thai CONSULATES in the US (with perhaps a few exceptions, maybe Los Angeles) generally will have no problem issuing a single entry O visa with the stated reason ... "exploring retirement" ... "considering retirement", etc. (as long as you are indeed over 50.

Oh I see, you already addressed this and did have a problem getting an O in Germany. Well, no worries, you can proceed in Thailand starting with the tourist visa.

[Lite Beer]

Hamburger. If you enter on a Tourist Visa you have to go to Immigration with your bank documents etc. With at least 21 days remaining on your stay and convert to a Non O Visa.(2,000 Baht) With around 3 or 4 weeks remaining on that you apply for the 12 months extension(1,900 Baht)

If you enter on a Non Imm O Visa it cuts out the need to convert.

[ubonjoe]

I know it would be easier with a non-immigrant o ,but the Thai konsulat in my home town in germany told me that i didn`t met the criteria for such a visa.They wanted me to show either a pension( i`m to young for that but i have enough money to stay in Thailand untill my pension kick`s in)or they wanted me to present a marriage certificate with my thaiwife (unfortunate up to now i only married her with a buddistic? ceremony).Therefor i have to come to Thailand with a tourist visa and do the visa change here.

You should try the consulate in Stuttgart. They give non-o visa's to visit friends so you shouldn't have a problem getting one. Link: http://www.thaikonsulat.de/index2.html

[Hamburger]

Thank`s for your quick help.One more question,please.Is it mandatory for me to go to the nearest immigration office or is it better to go to Bangkok with this subject (visa change)

[ubonjoe]

Thank`s for your quick help.One more question,please.Is it mandatory for me to go to the nearest immigration office or is it better to go to Bangkok with this subject (visa change)

Bangkok is turning people away and telling them to go to the nearest office.

Korat is a good office from all reports and can do what you need done.

Anyway unless you have to almost anywhere is better than Bangkok because of the long wait there.

You should try Stuttgart I am sure you can get a non-o there. Also from reports you can do it by mail.

[Jingthing]

Thank`s for your quick help.One more question,please.Is it mandatory for me to go to the nearest immigration office or is it better to go to Bangkok with this subject (visa change)

Thats a very good question. I have heard not all immigrations will do this, but some will, so it is not mandatory, but it would be needed if your local immigration will not. I would assume with a smaller office perhaps a bigger chance they won't do it, you will of course have to contact your local office directly.