Retirement Visa

[nam-thip]

Is it possible to obtain a non O visa based on retirement outside of Thailand or does it have to be applied for within the Kingdom.

[lopburi3]

It is normally obtained outside of Thailand - a single entry non immigrant O visa providing a 90 day stay that you then extend for a year inside Thailand. In country of residence you can also obtain OA visa for a one year permitted to stay on entry.

[InterestedObserver]

Visas, whether tourist or non-immigrant, are applied for outside the country at a Thai embassy or consulate. One year extensions of stay based on retirement are applied for from immigration inside Thailand. A visa is used to enter Thailand, extensions of stay are used to remain in Thailand.

[lopburi3]

There are exceptions however - you can apply for a non immigrant visa at Immigration in the process of extension of stay from a 30 day visa exempt entry with 21 days remaining. You can also apply for change of visa from tourist to non immigrant.

[Pib]

I wonder what more folks (especially retirees over 50 and folks married to Thai's) don't go this route of just flying it, getting the 30 day Visa on Arrival since they flew in, then within the first 7 days of being in Thailand go apply for a Non-O visa at their Thai Immigration, and then during the last 30 days of the Non-O Visa apply for an annual Extension of Stay based on Marriage or Retirement.

Seems easier than trying to get a Non-O/O-A visa in their home country/nearby country and when the costs to obtain dust settles it probably costs very close to the same when considering travel, mailing, headaches, etc.

[lopburi3]

Not all locations will do so may involved a trip to Bangkok and two Embassy letters of income or bank letters and the cost is 2,000 baht. Easier for most to obtain a single entry (of if they are concerned about funds in Thailand the OA).

[thaiphoon]

... plus airline may not allow you to board without having a visa (unlikely you will have ticket out of the counry within 30 days if planning to stay), so many apply for single entry Non-O at the outset to cover that ... and avoid needing to spend time going through conversion process at Thai immigration.

[nam-thip]

I wonder what more folks (especially retirees over 50 and folks married to Thai's) don't go this route of just flying it, getting the 30 day Visa on Arrival since they flew in, then within the first 7 days of being in Thailand go apply for a Non-O visa at their Thai Immigration, and then during the last 30 days of the Non-O Visa apply for an annual Extension of Stay based on Marriage or Retirement.

Seems easier than trying to get a Non-O/O-A visa in their home country/nearby country and when the costs to obtain dust settles it probably costs very close to the same when considering travel, mailing, headaches, etc.

Point taken but won't a 30 day tourist visa on arrival be questioned about where is my return ticket out of Thailand?

Last year when i was at the check-in desk for the Emirates flight for Manchester-Dubai-Bangkok the first question i was asked was do i have a visa to enter Thailand and if so "can i see it" the lady asked.

[Maestro]

nam-thip, the general rule used by airlines is that if you have no visa you need a confirmed return or onward flight within the period of stay that your visa-exempt entry will give you. If you have a visa of any kind, you do not need a return ticket. Check this web page for the visa requirements for your nationality:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/redirect.php...ion%2Findex.jsp

--

Maestro

[JimGant]

Hmmmm. That Delta site link is a little hard to follow. 'Visa noncompliance' will result in "deportation." Yeah, but is not having an onward ticket 'visa noncompliance?' And we've all heard of some airlines, at some times, checking for onward tickets. Has anyone ever been checked by an airline to see if they have the required 20,000 baht equivalency? If they check for one, why not the other? Sounds like we're talking footnotes, and not hard and fast violations related to visas.

I don't think the airlines get slapped so hard, if at all, for letting someone on the plane without an onward ticket and/or sufficient funds. They certainly would, however, if you got aboard without a valid passport. (But, yes, deportation may not be the same as denied boarding. However, both result in a bad trip.)

Having said that, on my last flight on United to Thailand, I checked in online, which involved validating passport details online. And no questions about visas. I was never 'flagged' to see an agent about whether or not I had a valid visa (I did). So, apparently, United doesn't worry too much about onward tickets (I had none, so there wasn't one in the system) or any fines that may ensue. They just know that a valid US passport equates to no visa needed to enter Thailand. And that any risk of being fined is probably nonexistent -- or at least worth the cost savings in not having to pay an agent to check for a visa or onward travel.

Interesting, Delta apparently *does* have real eyeballs check your passport (quote below), even with electronic check-in (where, I guess, they could also check for visas or onward tickets):

Note: For travel outside of the United States, you will have your passport credentials checked by a Delta agent prior to boarding. Additionally, if your travel requires a Visa, online check-in is not available.

I'm not suggesting gaming a gray area (you might just get burned). But for those stuck in a situation where they don't have time to get a visa, or a return ticket, I just wonder how the major airlines stack up in their online (or kiosk) check-in procedures..........?

[Maestro]

...Having said that, on my last flight on United to Thailand, I checked in online, which involved validating passport details online. And no questions about visas. I was never 'flagged' to see an agent about whether or not I had a valid visa (I did). So, apparently, United doesn't worry too much about onward tickets...

With “never 'flagged' to see an agent”, are you saying that no airline staff at all looked at your passport at the US airport of your departure?

--

Maestro

[JimGant]

With “never 'flagged' to see an agent”, are you saying that no airline staff at all looked at your passport at the US airport of your departure?

Correct. Apparently the passport particulars are validated when you type in correctly all the information requested. It, of course, is then run against a federal database that shows a match.

Don't know why Delta -- and maybe others -- involve further human screening.....

I would suspect, like Delta, United would deny online checking-in for folks going to countries requiring visas. Possibly going to countries, like Australia, where you can get an electronic visa, are exceptions......