Hello,

I will be arriving in Thailand in June probably with a double entry tourist visa.

I am planning to convert that visa to a non O-A visa (based on retirement income)

Since it looks like that I will still be paying the tourist visa fee, I wonder if it makes sense to ask for a double entry or that I should go to Immigration right away and start the conversion process ?

I have read about the conversion process, but now I cannot find it anywhere...

Can I run out of time on the tourist visa before the O visa is approved ?

Can anybody give me a timeline on that ?

Also if I start the process in Jomtien, then do I have to stay with that immigation office or can I finish it in another province ?

Is the Jomtien office more experienced in converting from a tourist visa then e.g. Chiang Mai or Udon Thani?

Any documents I should bring with me, other than the letter from the embassy stating my retirement income ?

Regards,

Michigan

For a conversion you will need at least 21 days of permission to stay in Thailand left. Note that you can only convert at a few immigration offices, most will send you to Bangkok. Believe Jomtiem will convert, Chiang mai will send you to Bangkok. You will also need to have the money in the bank seasoned for 2 months, if you go for the money in the bank option.

I strongly suggest you already apply for a non-O visa in your own country, much easier. Contact a consulate in your country about their requirements. Normaly it is just some money in the bank.

1. You will apply for a one year extension of stay for retirement from Immigration inside Thailand - this is not an OA visa.

2. The rules are 65k monthly income with Embassy letter or 800k in Thai bank account 2 months (first time) or a combination of the two to meet 800k figure.

3. If using Embassy letter or combination single entry should be fine (and that appears to be what you will be using). If using money in bank account remember max stay is 90 days on tourist visa and you would have to make conversion with at least 21 days remaining.

4. It is no problem obtaining a visa with a quick trip to Vientiane or other close Consulate and not bother with the conversion if time runs short. Single entry non immigrant visa is available locally.

5. In US non immigrant O visa will not normally be issued for retirement reasons - they insist you obtain the non immigrant OA visa.

1. You will apply for a one year extension of stay for retirement from Immigration inside Thailand - this is not an OA visa.

2. The rules are 65k monthly income with Embassy letter or 800k in Thai bank account 2 months (first time) or a combination of the two to meet 800k figure.

3. If using Embassy letter or combination single entry should be fine (and that appears to be what you will be using). If using money in bank account remember max stay is 90 days on tourist visa and you would have to make conversion with at least 21 days remaining.

4. It is no problem obtaining a visa with a quick trip to Vientiane or other close Consulate and not bother with the conversion if time runs short. Single entry non immigrant visa is available locally.

5. In US non immigrant O visa will not normally be issued for retirement reasons - they insist you obtain the non immigrant OA visa.

Ok thanks, so any thoughts then as to how long it would take, before the 1 year extension is approved ?

About 10 minutes. If you meed requirements it is issued immediately (or perhaps overnight in Jomtien). But you should apply with less than 30 days remaining on your permitted to stay stamp.

If you're doing it at Jomtien and you're using an income letter (statutory declaration) from the US Embassy, you could just arrive with no visa. Get your letter from the Embassy the next day and do it all in one step for 3,900 baht total. The whole process took me 10 minutes at Jomtien. You'll need a bank letter showing 5,000 in a Thai bank account.

Edited May 9, 201016 yr by tropo