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Visa Differences


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A few questions:

1. What is the differences between a non-immigrant 'O' Visa and a 'O-A' Visa?

2. It is my understanding that retirees can usually get in Thailand continuous 1 year extensions on the basis of their 'O' visa.

So when one's passport expires can the 'O' Visa be still valid for the new passport?

3. I have some acquaintances who claim they have obtained 'O-A' Visa's from consulates abroad and these Visa's they say are valid for 1 year with no need for Visa runs or money in Thailand.

Is this correct, and if so can that 'O-A' Visa be used for renewal in Thailand in the same way as "O' Visa's for retirees?

Many thanks in advance.

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An "O-A" visa means you get a one-year entry permit stamp upon arrival at the airport. You can then stay for one full year, without leaving Thailand. Upon conclusion of that fisrt year, you may apply for renewal of your retirement status - again without leaving Thailand. Obtaining an O-A visa requires that you meet local standards of theThai diplomatic post that issues this to you.

Alternately, you may simply obtain a single-entry 90 day Class O visa, for "purpose of retirement inside Thailand" - then come and receive a 90-day entry upon arrival. During the last 30 days of that 90 day entry, you apply for a one-year extension - which is typically awarded on the spot. Upon expiration of that exension, you then apply for renewal - same as above.

In both cases, if you meet qualifications, you may enter Thailand, and never leave again.

Normally, you cannot obtain nor extend a visa or entry permit if you have less than 12 months remaining validity on your passport. If your passport expires while you are legally inside Thailand, you can obtain new one though your Embassy here - and then have your current Immigration status transferred to your new passport - a routine action.

Your main criteria for obtain retirement status here is the sum of 800,000 baht, originating from outside Thailand, and brought into Thailand each year. Immigration requires two things - a document that shows a total of 800,000 baht (lump sum or monthly), plus a certification from either a bank, or an Embassy, certifying the origin of the money. Immigration WILL NOT interpret or assume the origin of your money - they REQUIRE that another entity - bank or Embassy certify this.

Good luck.

Steve Sykes

Managing Director

Indo-Siam Group

Bangkok

[email protected]

www.thaistartup.com

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Just to add one of the main differences between the O-A and the O is that the O-A requires proof of no criminal record whereas the "O" 1 year extension does not.............so if youve been a bad boy/girl come on the single entry O and extend in Thailand. :o

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Just  to  add  one  of  the  main  differences  between  the  O-A  and  the  O  is  that  the  O-A  requires  proof  of  no  criminal  record  whereas  the  "O"  1 year  extension  does  not.............so  if  youve  been  a  bad  boy/girl  come  on  the  single  entry  O  and  extend  in  Thailand.  :o

A word from the wise :D

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Or, hopefully, don't come at all. :o

By the numbers:

1. O-A is issued outside of Thailand as a one year stay on arrival after meeting specific requirements for retirement. An O visa is issued for many reasons, including retirement, but will allow only a 90 day stay per entry. Both can be extended on a yearly basis inside Thailand by meeting conditions.

2. When a passport gets down to six months validity it should be replaced and the visa or extension of stay transferred into the new passport. This is a free service (transfer - not your countries passport).

3. Yes it is true but only from a consulate where you live and money must be shown in an account there as well as police record check made and perhaps various other pieces of paperwork. As said above this can be extended in country.

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Normally, you cannot obtain nor extend a visa or entry permit if you have less than 12 months remaining validity on your passport.  If your passport expires while you are legally inside Thailand, you can obtain new one though your Embassy here - and then have your current Immigration status transferred to your new passport - a routine action.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the info.

I assume I can have my current Immigration status transferred to my new passport at the immigration office cloest to my residence, Nong Kai in my case? It is a shlep getting from Khon kaen to Nong Kai, do you know if they make you come back or can do it on the spot?

Thanks, lah!

Rex

Edited by rexall
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Normally, you cannot obtain nor extend a visa or entry permit if you have less than 12 months remaining validity on your passport.  If your passport expires while you are legally inside Thailand, you can obtain new one though your Embassy here - and then have your current Immigration status transferred to your new passport - a routine action.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the info.

I assume I can have my current Immigration status transferred to my new passport at the immigration office cloest to my residence, Nong Kai in my case? It is a shlep getting from Khon kaen to Nong Kai, do you know if they make you come back or can do it on the spot?

Thanks, lah!

Rex

On arrival at an airport just show the old and the new passports and it is done there and then. Immigration Offices will usually do it while you wait as well.

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On arrival at an airport just show the old and the new passports and it is done there and then. Immigration Offices will usually do it while you wait as well.

dr_Pat_Pongski,

Thanks for the info.

I'll have my new passport while I am still inside LOS and 3 months to go before I have to leave to get a new "B" visa. Are they going to let me out of Thailand with new passport and "B" visa in old passport, or would it be better to have the transfer at my local immigration office prior to departing Thailand?

Obvously, getting back in is no problem as I will have the new "B" visa in the new passport.

Thanks,

Rex

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Thanks guys!

Geeze, every question raises another question :D

Does anyone know if I have to surrender my old U.S. passport at the time I apply for a renewal? The consular is coming to Khon Kaen 3 June and it would be nice to be able to renew at that time. Even without the added expense, I hate going to Bangkok. However, I have my 3rd 90 day "visa run" due later that week. If I have to give up my old passport, then I'm stuck, right? :D:o

Aloha,

Rex

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They will accept renewal applications and you do not have to give up your passport for that AFAIK. It will take several weeks before you new passport is ready and when that happens I suspect (but don't know for sure) that you will have to present yourself in Bangkok to have your old passport cancelled, receive new passport, and then to immigration to transfer your old visa/entry stamp to the new passport.

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They will accept renewal applications and you do not have to give up your passport for that AFAIK . . .  then to immigration to transfer your old visa/entry stamp to the new passport.

Thanks, Lopburi!

That is a small relief. So it sounds that by the time I get my new passport, I will only have a couple of months before I have to leave LOS to get a new "B". So, do you agree with dr_Pat_Pongski who says that it is not necessary to have the old visa transferred to the new passport; just show both my old and new passports when exiting LOS?

Thanks again!

Aloha,

Rex

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Thailand has a policy, unlike the USA, of visa/stamp transfer so I would do what the Embassy says you should do. Unless things have changed they will give you a latter addressed to immigration requesting they assist you and directions to the Bangkok office.

Some Embassies do not seem to be following this policy however and believe the two passport show will also work. But I would make it easy on immigration with the clean new passport alone rather than risk the official who has not had his morning cup of coffee. In my experience leaving Thailand has always been more of a pain than arriving (unlike any other country I have been in).

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An "O-A" visa means you get a one-year entry permit stamp upon arrival at the airport.  You can then stay for one full year, without leaving Thailand.  Upon conclusion of that fisrt year, you may apply for renewal of your retirement status - again without leaving Thailand.  Obtaining an O-A visa requires that you meet local standards of theThai diplomatic post that issues this to you.

Alternately, you may simply obtain a single-entry 90 day Class O visa, for "purpose of retirement inside Thailand" - then come and receive a 90-day entry upon arrival.  During the last 30 days of that 90 day entry, you apply for a one-year extension - which is typically awarded on the spot.  Upon expiration of that exension, you then apply for renewal - same as above.

In both cases, if you meet qualifications, you may enter Thailand, and never leave again.

Normally, you cannot obtain nor extend a visa or entry permit if you have less than 12 months remaining validity on your passport.  If your passport expires while you are legally inside Thailand, you can obtain new one though your Embassy here - and then have your current Immigration status transferred to your new passport - a routine action.

Your main criteria for obtain retirement status here is the sum of 800,000 baht, originating from outside Thailand, and brought into Thailand each year.  Immigration requires two things - a document that shows a total of 800,000 baht (lump sum or monthly), plus a certification from either a bank, or an Embassy, certifying the origin of the money.  Immigration WILL NOT interpret or assume the origin of your money - they REQUIRE that another entity - bank or Embassy certify this.

Good luck.

Steve Sykes

Managing Director

Indo-Siam Group

Bangkok

[email protected]

www.thaistartup.com

Hmmm,what if I have much more than the required 800.000B.....do I have to transfer the minimum amount required abroad and back every year, despite it can be certified by the bank as 'foreign' income?

Thanx in advance

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An "O-A" visa means you get a one-year entry permit stamp upon arrival at the airport.  You can then stay for one full year, without leaving Thailand.  Upon conclusion of that fisrt year, you may apply for renewal of your retirement status - again without leaving Thailand.  Obtaining an O-A visa requires that you meet local standards of theThai diplomatic post that issues this to you.

Alternately, you may simply obtain a single-entry 90 day Class O visa, for "purpose of retirement inside Thailand" - then come and receive a 90-day entry upon arrival.  During the last 30 days of that 90 day entry, you apply for a one-year extension - which is typically awarded on the spot.   Upon expiration of that exension, you then apply for renewal - same as above.

In both cases, if you meet qualifications, you may enter Thailand, and never leave again.

Normally, you cannot obtain nor extend a visa or entry permit if you have less than 12 months remaining validity on your passport.  If your passport expires while you are legally inside Thailand, you can obtain new one though your Embassy here - and then have your current Immigration status transferred to your new passport - a routine action.

Your main criteria for obtain retirement status here is the sum of 800,000 baht, originating from outside Thailand, and brought into Thailand each year.  Immigration requires two things - a document that shows a total of 800,000 baht (lump sum or monthly), plus a certification from either a bank, or an Embassy, certifying the origin of the money.  Immigration WILL NOT interpret or assume the origin of your money - they REQUIRE that another entity - bank or Embassy certify this.

Good luck.

Steve Sykes

Managing Director

Indo-Siam Group

Bangkok

[email protected]

www.thaistartup.com

Hmmm,what if I have much more than the required 800.000B.....do I have to transfer the minimum amount required abroad and back every year, despite it can be certified by the bank as 'foreign' income?

Thanx in advance

This is the requirement from Immigration web site:

Financial Evidence:

Bank account pass-book, bank statement

Evidence showing reception of pension accompanied with Thai translation certified by the embassy or consulate of the country paying the pension

Evidence presenting other sources of income or evidence of money transferred from overseas

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