Immigration Qualifications From Vietnam To Thailand

[expatriot]

Hello...

I am USA retired citizen tried to retire in Vietnam

I am asking if possible to apply direct from Vietnam?

Use Vietnam bank accounts statements?,

Use Vietnam medical reports?,

Use Vietnam police report?

Use EMS mail to Thailand Immigration?

This may sound crazy but I lived in Vietnam 4 years... Now VISA Vietnam renewals changed for

non working foreigners... must leave Vietnam every 3 ~ 6 months re-apply for new VISA at airport...

Please advise who to contact or how to get this problem question answered..

Seeking answers to sending application for Non Immigrant VISA from inside Vietnam to Bankok...

Thank you in advance for all advice

[Maestro]

It seems you plan to live in Thailand for the purpose of retirement. This is a two-step process:

1. Get a tourist or non-immigrant O visa from a Thai consulate, ie outside Thailand, then travel to Thailand. For the visa application, you need not show evidence of money in a Thai bank account. No medical report, no police report needed.

2. After your arrival in Thailand, apply for an annual extension of stay if you meet the requirements. Thereafter, apply annually for a new one-year extension of stay. The financial requirement for the one-year extension is 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank account or 65,000 Baht monthly income or a combination of both. No medical report, no police report needed.

--

Maestro

[expatriot]

Thank you...

1) To re-iterate... I am retired 60+... living inside Vietnam 4 yaars, USA passport..

1a) I must apply... inside Vietnam at Thai embassy for O visa not O-A visa?

2) Arrival at Bangkok I must apply for O visa, one year extension?

2a) or arrival at Bangkok I apply for (long term) O-A visa?

3) When are financial qualification papers, health and police report requested? at Thai embassy in Vietnam?

3a) Or qualifications are requested after arrival at Bangkok at the time of O-A visa application?

I am trying to sort out how to receive the (long term O-A) visa... after 4 years life inside Vietnam

financial qualifications are available inside Vietnam banking system

medical history available inside Vietnam annual medical check up...

Up to date police history available inside Vietnam city police..

I am concerned if the Vietnam generated documents may not qualify or to be accepted from USA ex patriot citizen?

Any problem with Vietnam sourced qualification for Thai (O-A long term) visa application from USA citizen?

My sudden change of directions due to Vietnam Visa renewal extensions revised late 2009..

Vietnam has no retirement provisions or qualifications Visa for non working foreigners ..

Beyond 3 month Vietnam Visa, Renewal granted State licensed work permitted one year extensions...

Lot of miles, "ocean front retirement white sand property" settlement wasted... Now I try seek same in Thailand...

Thank you for all direct, short cut, instructions, qualifications, Thai retirement Visa information out of Vietnam

[Mario2008]

You apply for a non-O visa at the embassy in Vietnam. On arrival in Bangkok you will be stamped in for 90 days. In the last 30 days of your 90 days you go to immigration in Thailand with either proof of 800,000 baht in a bank account in Thailand for at least 2 months or an income of 65,000 baht a month. You can also opt for a combination of money in the bank and yearly income totaling at least 800,000. This will give you an extension of stay for 1 year.

With the non-O visa no police record or medical certificate is required. Also not for extensions of stay.

[thaiphoon]

Single entry Non-O visa is what you need from embassy/consulate in Vietnam, then apply for 12 month extension of stay based on retirement during last 30 days of your permission to stay as Mario says.

If using the bank balance option you will need a letter from bank confirming the account balance. In the case of income from abroad you will need to obtain an income letter from your embassy. Note that if using the combination method there is no seasoning period. Fee 1,900 baht.

[PhilHarries]

What should he put on his application for his Non-O visa? Is "Planning for retirement in Thailand" acceptable? I have heard it, or something similar, is.

<edit : Mario, I thought the money had to be in the account for three months. Is it now just two?>

[thaiphoon]

What should he put on his application for his Non-O visa? Is "Planning for retirement in Thailand" acceptable? I have heard it, or something similar, is.

Yes. Op is well over 50 so should not have problems obtaining single entry Non-O visa.

[thaiphoon]

<edit : Mario, I thought the money had to be in the account for three months. Is it now just two?>

2 months for first application, 3 months for renewals. But no seasoning period if going combination route.

[PhilHarries]

<edit : Mario, I thought the money had to be in the account for three months. Is it now just two?>

2 months for first application, 3 months for renewals. But no seasoning period if going combination route.

That's great, I've always thought it to be the three which sets a minor problem with only getting a 90 day permission to stay but two months gives you time to open the account.

[thaiphoon]

Police Order 777/2551

2.22 In the case of a retiree: Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 1 year at a time.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM);

(2) The applicant is 50 years of age or over;

(3) Proof of income of not less than Baht 65,000 per month; or

(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than 800,000 Baht as shown in the bank account for the past 3 months at the filing date of the application. For the first year, the applicant should have that amount in his bank account for not less than 60 days or

(5) Annual income plus bank account deposit totaling not less

than Baht 800,000 as of the filing date of application

[lopburi3]

We are trying to make it easy - which it is if you do the process inside Thailand.

If you insist on an OA visa it is normally only issued in your home country. It can be issued in county of official residence but you would have to ask the Thai Embassy if you qualify and the exact documents/proof they require. I expect they will have a hard time answering as they have probably never issued one to a third country national.

[Mario2008]

In additon, if your considered a resident of Vietnam, you would need a police certificate from The US and Vietnam. (And any other countries where you might have been residing).

[expatriot]

Thank you all.. Outstanding team work, superb Thai information support...

Simple answer.... life in Vietnam after 2009.. Only people granted work permit may

receive temporary resident card..

There are no exceptions based on financial bank accounts or past living recorded inside

Vietnam... Not permitted are people 50+, retired, non working and foreigner...

Many foreigners were given easy 1 year 3 year Business VISA sold by thousands of

commissioned travel agents... Vietnam officials never checked results of applications

The rumor has it thousands of people from China took advantages and also took over

Vietnam jobs.. never paying taxes... I retired, I did not pay attention to these rumors...

I have no proof or speculate.. the VISA issue is today there is only one way to

stay inside Vietnam 3 months.. alternatives a work permit good one year...

Vietnam has no provisions for old age, retirement, people with self supported expense

accounts retained inside Vietnam banks... Malaysia and Thailand recognizes old age...

If one wanted to live in Saigon and ability to jump borders every 3 months for solution..

If one settled further inland... along white sanded ocean property. it becomes a very

big problem... taking two days traveling to Saigon stay in hotel rooms, able to jump the

border and then receive one new 90 day VISA...

Well i am getting a bit too old for this have plans to pack up one container load again

on Vietnam freight truck and head to another place to retire, die in peace...now 63+

Thank you all.. great information support.. I shall monitor updates.. and seek more

from your knowledge base searching high rise apartments on white sand ocean breezes..

Getting married is no Vietnam VISA answer.. because foreigner technically must leave

Vietnam wife... cross borders every 90 days...after receiving 5 year resident card...

[monty]

Yup, as much as people like to moan on Thai visa regulations, if you play by the book it's still pretty straight forward.

Some Asian countries are even easier then Thailand, some, as your posts indicate, are much more difficult bordering on impossible!