O-a Retirement Visa Costs?

[minefield]

Hi All

My wife and I intend to retire in Phuket in the new year and reading posts on this matter , Some are saying you don't need a solicitor in regards to getting the OA visa just as easy to do it your self and save money if this is so , Where do you get the papers ?, Can you download them and have them all ready filled out for when we get there

Also the cost, What is the cost per person for a 1 year OA visa and would someone have some idea of how long it takes if you decide to not use a solicitor

Many thanks

[Lite Beer]

Getting a solicitor would be a waste of money.

A Non Imm O-A Visa has to be applied for in your own country. Details here from the Embassy in London. Other countries will be the same. http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/newversion...retirement.html

Another option would be to arrive with Non Imm O Visas and you apply for a twelve month extension at Immigration. Your Wife could then apply for a 12 month extension as your dependant.

This way you would only need one amount of money in the bank or income. As against both of you having to submit if getting a O-A Visa.

Here is the Police Order that deals with extensions. Have a look at 2.22 for you and 2.20 for your Wife.

[keeniau96]

That's good advice from Litebeer. Don't wast time and money on lawyers. Get the forms from the embassy and obtain the necessary data while in UK eg. photos, bank statement, police report, health. It is really not very complex, just supply the data and the form; the embassy people are very helpful. The Immigration staff at Phuket are also quite efficient and helpful, all very much above the board; fee is exactly as published with no "extras" (tea money).

[Tafia]

All good advice, Got mine in London last year, (so I can only tell you about London) but was pain free.

Multi entry costs £100 but with a border run near the end of the first year gives you a further year without applying for extension.

You will need bank statements showing funds and or pension statement, a medical certificate and police report, note your paperwork (bank statements, pension, police report etc) will need to be notarized before they accepted at the embassy.

No need for solicitor, read the attachmnets from the Thai Embassy in the link litebeer sent, you can get the forms there too.

On the timescale, medical cert you can get filled in from your own GP, police report (form from your local police theysend to scotland yard takes around 3 weeks) Sol to notarize, less than 10 minutes, embassey with paperwork, drop off one day collect 2 days later. Must be done in person (whereas the non O can be done by post to Hull)

Good Luck.

[InterestedObserver]

With proper planning a single-entry non-immigrant 'O' visa can be extended by immigration for 1 year based on retirement. Less paperwork in your home country and with a re-entry permit serves the same purpose as an 'O-A' retirement visa. Your wife's extension would be based on her being your dependent. You would have to have your finances in order upon arrival in Thailand.

[Pib]

You only need a solicitor if you don't want to do any of the easy paperwork and hope to avoid some of the footwork required o get the the OA visa. Even if you go the solicitor route, you will still being doing a lot of the footwork that that the solicitor tells you must be done in person. Save yourself some money and do the visa on your own. Also by doing the visa on your own you will have a much better understanding of the process (a process that is easy, but does require some easy paperwork and footwork), which will also making getting your retirement Extension of Stay a lot less stressful (a.k.a., easy) a year or two later. Use your own brainpower and footwork!

[thaiphoon]

With proper planning a single-entry non-immigrant 'O' visa can be extended by immigration for 1 year based on retirement. Less paperwork in your home country and with a re-entry permit serves the same purpose as an 'O-A' retirement visa. Your wife's extension would be based on her being your dependent. You would have to have your finances in order upon arrival in Thailand.

To be correct, the OP would apply for extension of stay based on retirement. Once the extension of stay is given his permission to stay would be based on the extension, not the visa, so the visa to all intents and purposes ceases to exist. The Op would need to get his own extension of stay in place first and then go through process of obtaining extension of stay for his wife as his dependant.

[lopburi3]

It would be helpful to know if both want to get an extension of stay or use the spouse provision as if both over age 50 they can do independently. Believe they are talking about an extension of stay rather than an O-A visa as talk of paperwork to do the process in Thailand.

You need a non immigrant visa as base - if obtained in Thailand from a tourist entry will cost 2,000 baht. The one year extension of stay for retirement will cost 1,900 baht. Proof of 800k in bank account in your name for two months in Thailand or 65k per month income by Embassy letter or combination to meet the 800k requirement. If both doing the retirement extension costs and requirements would double. One form, TM.7 which can be downloaded from pinned items useful information above and 4x6cm photo. That and financial proof is about all you need other than filling out several short forms at Immigration.

It is a very simple process and does not require any lawyer.