I hope someone on the board can tell me what to do next. Here are the facts. I want to get my long-stay retirement visa. I have been to Thailand 3 times. Once on a tourist visa. I am a USA citizen, 55 years old. I have 2 million in a Thai bank , for only 1 month. I have 75,000 USD in US banks. I own a small Pattaya condo in my name. When I applied at my local Miami, FL consulate for the visa, I was told that my papers would have to be sent to the main Thai embassy in Wasington, DC. The local Miami consulate staff told me that they needed approval. I waited for several weeks. The local staff said that she has not heard back from the embassy. She doesn't know why but says sometimes they do that. The NEGATIVE part on my application is that 30 years ago I had several charges against me. All were either dropped or dismissed . I was never convicted of anything. The local staff is guessing that it could be the reason that she has not heard back from them. She is not sure. She suggests that I take the tourist visa and go to Thailand to try and get my retirement visa in Thailand. What do you think. I want to come to Thailand now. I was never rejected or turned down here in Miami, FL. Should I try and start over with a different local consulate from a different state in the US ? Could I use one of the many "visa" services in Pattaya to take me to Cambodia and try there ?

You can not obtain a retirement non immigrant OA visa any location except your current full time residence outside of Thailand so Cambodia is not an option. What you can do is arrive on a tourist visa for 60 days and before that time is up apply for change to non immigrant at immigration office to extend your stay for retirement. Your funds will be in account for the require 2 months (800K) and that will cost 2,000 baht. Most likely you will have to return two months later to obtain the actual one year extension of stay with the same type of paperwork and that will be 1,900 baht.

You can not obtain a retirement non immigrant OA visa any location except your current full time residence outside of Thailand so Cambodia is not an option. What you can do is arrive on a tourist visa for 60 days and before that time is up apply for change to non immigrant at immigration office to extend your stay for retirement. Your funds will be in account for the require 2 months (800K) and that will cost 2,000 baht. Most likely you will have to return two months later to obtain the actual one year extension of stay with the same type of paperwork and that will be 1,900 baht.

Thank you for your help. Am I understanding you correctly in that the ONLY place I can get this OA visa is either from my home country of USA or from Thailand ? Sorry, for being stupid about this.

No. The only place you can apply for a Non O-A Visa is the USA.

In Thailand you can apply for a 12 month extension of stay based on retirement.

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

The visa (non immigrant OA) is only issued in home country - but that only lasts one year. People then normally extend there stay in Thailand one year at a time. You do not have to obtain that OA visa to do this at Immigration. Any non immigrant visa entry can be used and extended if you have 800k in bank account two months (first time) or embassy letter of 65k income or combination. This is what most people do rather than apply in home country.

The visa (non immigrant OA) is only issued in home country - but that only lasts one year. People then normally extend there stay in Thailand one year at a time. You do not have to obtain that OA visa to do this at Immigration. Any non immigrant visa entry can be used and extended if you have 800k in bank account two months (first time) or embassy letter of 65k income or combination. This is what most people do rather than apply in home country.

It is quite frustrating, as I have heard of many people in the USA, who go to their local Thai consulates and walk out in 1 hour with the retirement visa. I really never could get a answer as to why the Thai embassy was not responding to the local consulate concerning my application. The staff was "guessing" about my LACK of clean criminal history. It was 30 years ago , with charges of DUI(drunk driving) and marajauna , all dismissed. Will it be very difficult to do in Thailand. I will have the help of my Thai friend. Can any of the local "visa services" help to move things along ? Thanks again for all of your help.

It is routine and straight forward to do in Thailand.

You will not need help. Immigration process these every day.

Obtain a Single Entry Non Imm O Visa if you can. This will give you 90 days.

With about 30 days left pop along to Immigration.

Take with you a letter from your Thai bank verifying your balance. An up to date bank book showing the same balance. Your passport. Passport size photo. TM7 application form.

1,900 Baht fee. Copies of everything.

If you cannot get a Non Imm O Visa start with a Tourist Visa and convert to a Non Imm O at Immigration.

fly anywhere you wnat and then go to a thai embassy, ( singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia europe) Apply for a single entry type "O" non im visa and give reason as applying for a retirement visa.

travel to thailand, put 800,000 in bank right away and then 1 week before visa is finished go to immigration and apply for a 1 year extension with your bank letter stating you have the money in the bank for 2 months, 2 pics and photo copies of ur passport pages and one application

Its easy

Thanks so much for all of your help. I feel 100% better about this now. You are a GREAT group of people.