My Visa Situation

[elektrified]

My Non-Immigrant O-A visa issued 14 July 2008 from Houston, Texas will expire on the 13th of July 2010. I had planned to apply for another but as we all know, Houston (who was the most accommodating) no longer offers them.

So, could anyone advise me on what my options would be now? I know I can apply for a retirement extension here in Chiang Mai if I have 800,000 Baht in the Thai bank account for 3 months. Due to the global economic crisis, I've just had the worst year in many years so that option is not possible for me. A friend told me that I could go to the U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai and get a letter notarized by the Consular confirming/affirming my monthly income from overseas in lieu of the 800,000 Baht. Is this possible? How much do I have to prove in income? What type of proof do they want to see? Could it be a combination of dividends, overseas sales, etc.?

I did read about another type of visa here on the forum for visiting friends or relatives but as I understand it, it is only issued in a handful of European countries or in Australia and I don't know what the financial requirements are. Also I can't afford to travel to Europe or Australia just to get a visa. I know I could live on tourist visas for a while, but I would prefer another option if possible. I have an 8 month old son here and I am his only provider so I need to be here for him.

If any of the experts have any ideas I would appreciate their help. Thanks as always.

elektrified

[Mario2008]

You can get an extension of stay from immigration if you meet one of the follwowing criteria:

have 800,000 in the bank for 2 months for the first extension, 3 months for all others

OR

have an income of 65,000 a month

OR

have money in the bank and a yearly income totaling 800,000. The money doesn't have to be seasoned in this case.

Income from abroad is certified with a letter from your embassy. It is the embassy that decised what they will aprove as income. The US-embassy only notarizes your statement and can't check. making a false statement is however a criminal offence.

[Lite Beer]

Was your Non Imm O-A Visa a multi entry or single?

The requirements for a 12 month extension at Immigration are,

800,000 Baht in a Thai bank for 2 months.

OR

A monthly income of 65,000 Baht.

OR

A combination of the two adding up to 800,000 Baht.

The US Consulate will issue a letter verifying your income.

They do not need any proof. You swear on oath that the amount is correct and they sign it.

There is a chance that Immigration may want to see proof of income but usually do not.

[elektrified]

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

Yes I know it is a criminal offense to make a false statement. I would not do that.

My current visa a multi-entry to answer Lite Beer's question.

Thanks again.

[stgrhe]

If your Non-immigrant O-A visa is a multiple entry one then just cross the border a few days before the visa expire. Upon return you will get another 12 months permission to stay from the entry date. Do buy a re-entry permit at the same time so you can leave and return Thailand without loosing your status.

[elektrified]

If your Non-immigrant O-A visa is a multiple entry one then just cross the border a few days before the visa expire. Upon return you will get another 12 months permission to stay from the entry date. Do buy a re-entry permit at the same time so you can leave and return Thailand without loosing your status.

Thanks for the reply but I don't see how that's possible.

[Lite Beer]

The Visa was issued in 2008 so it is now finished.

Like stgrhe I never read the date.

[lopburi3]

That July 13 date appears to be a permitted to stay date stamped in your passport I hope - as there is no such thing as a two year OA visa validity.

Now if the issue date was 2009 you could obtain another year stay with an exit/return - but if it was 2008 you must have done that already.

[elektrified]

That July 13 date appears to be a permitted to stay date stamped in your passport I hope - as there is no such thing as a two year OA visa validity.

Now if the issue date was 2009 you could obtain another year stay with an exit/return - but if it was 2008 you must have done that already.

Yes lop that's correct.

[lopburi3]

As long as you can support the income statement with tax returns or such that should be an option you could use. If not the full 65k use with an account to meet the 800k requirement for year.

[elektrified]

How long in advance of the 10 July 2010 permission to stay date do I need to apply for the retirement extension at C.M. Immigration? Besides the letter from the U.S. Consulate what other documents are required?

Thanks again.

[Mario2008]

You can apply up to 30 days before your current permission ends. The extension will start from the day your current permission ends, so you will not lose any days. Advice is to always do it early, in case you need some extra documents.

You might need some proof of your adress, like rental contract or telephone bill, your bank book and letter from the bank confirming your balance (if you are not going for income option only), pass photo, copy of passport and TM-card and take the latest 90 day report with you as well.

[whatchamacallit]

Someone on this thread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Fee-Ome-Year...ml&hl=hanoi claimed he was able to get a multiple Non-O on the basis of visiting a child from the Hanoi Embassy (Vietnam).

I'm not convinced..... but you may want to PM him.

[Sisaketmike]

Was your Non Imm O-A Visa a multi entry or single?

The requirements for a 12 month extension at Immigration are,

800,000 Baht in a Thai bank for 2 months.

OR

A monthly income of 65,000 Baht.

OR

A combination of the two adding up to 800,000 Baht.

The US Consulate will issue a letter verifying your income.

They do not need any proof. You swear on oath that the amount is correct and they sign it.

There is a chance that Immigration may want to see proof of income but usually do not.

You swear and they want to see that it's true. Times are changing. Better go the legal way. Even Immigrations in the middle of nowhere want so see a proof of income. ( For Americans)

[elektrified]

I've got all my financial records in order to get the letter of verification of income from the U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai. I was going to go there tomorrow but I am wondering how many days the letter is valid before I go to C.M. Immigration to apply for the extension. 30 days? Less?

Thanks for everyone's help thus far.

Edit: One last thing. Is there a choice of single entry or multiple-entry visas just like the O-A?

[Mario2008]

Same year is fine, so you will be alright.

You get an extension of stay, not a visa, which will allow you to stay for 1 year. If you wish to travel abroad during that year you should get a re-entry permit (single or multiple). Leaving the country without a re-entry permit means you will have to get a new visa from abroad.

[elektrified]

Thanks so much. I have all the documents in order for Immigration tomorrow.

Does anyone know what the fee is for the Extension of Stay at Chiang Mai Immigration and does the Re-Entry Permit (single or multiple) have to be done at the time I get the extension of stay or can I get it at some time in the future when I travel later in the year? Is there a separate fee for the Re-Entry Permit or is it inclusive in the fee for the extension?

Thanks again for everyone's help.

[lopburi3]

All extensions of stay 1,900 baht

Single re-entry permit 1,000 baht - multi re-entry permit 3,800 baht.

You can obtain re-entry permit at any time prior to travel but good to have one ready in case you have to travel in an emergency and immigration not open to issue.

[Lite Beer]

Extension fee 1,900 Baht.

Re Entry Permit 1,000 Baht for a single. 3,800 Baht for a multi.

You can apply for that later but it saves a journey to do it at the same time.

[JimGant]

Leaving the country without a re-entry permit means you will have to get a new visa from abroad.

Not necessarily. You could enter on a 30-day visa exempt stamp, then go the TM87 route for an in-country Non Imm O visa and subsequent new retirement extension.

Which brings up an interesting question.....

Has anyone, when explaining to the airline about your extension of stay when they see that your visa has expired, ever been asked to show your re-entry permit? Except for maybe Thai Airways, doubtful, I would think.

So, if you leave Thailand, forgetting to get a re-entry permit -- but still with a valid extension of stay -- I would think you could tap dance by most airlines and not need to have a return ticket, the policy for those without valid visas -- or valid extensions of stay.

[lopburi3]

I was stopped in Seattle by Eva on a return portion and had a re-entry permit and was not approved to board until reviews by the chief there. I am very sure they would not have allowed travel without it. This was about 8 years ago.

[dave2]

elektrified.

re ..... mario2008 and ..... You get an extension of stay, not a visa, which will allow you to stay for 1 year.

the top right stamp is a permission to stay one year ( what many people call a retirement visa )

underneath is a single re entry permit which i always get the day i get another permission to stay one year

good luck .... dave2

[JimGant]

I was stopped in Seattle by Eva on a return portion and had a re-entry permit and was not approved to board until reviews by the chief there. I am very sure they would not have allowed travel without it. This was about 8 years ago.

Well, so much for my theory. I do know the airlines can call-up visa guidance on their computer screens, so maybe it's not surprising a case of 'expired visa, but valid permission of stay, plus re-entry permit' lets you board the plane. Otherwise, no, unless you have an exit ticket.

However, if the TM87 in-country Non Imm process continues to go smoothly, as reported here, I think buying an on-line refundable exit ticket to get you on the plane without a visa would be more productive than the time and effort needed to get a visa from a Thai consulate. Particularly if you're pressed for time -- and the only visa you could get would be a tourist visa -- thus necessitating a conversion process (TM86) same/similar to that of the TM87.

[Mario2008]

Note that not all immigration offices will convert, most will send you to Bangkok to do that. Also it costs an extra 2,000 baht and you will have to comply with the rules for an extension of stay. (In essence, you will need to have seasoned the money in the bank, if you go for that option).

Often getting a new visa abroad is much easier than convert.

[JimGant]

Note that not all immigration offices will convert, most will send you to Bangkok to do that. Also it costs an extra 2,000 baht and you will have to comply with the rules for an extension of stay. (In essence, you will need to have seasoned the money in the bank, if you go for that option).

From what I've seen here on this forum, the conversion problem has been with those aiming for an eventual marriage extension (which, yes, necessitates going to Bangkok in most cases). But those going for an eventual retirement extension have had no problems with in-country conversions -- at least at Phuket, Jomtiem, and Chiang Mai, if memory serves...

And, seasoning has *not* been a requirement for conversion. Yes, if not seasoned, you won't get same-day conversion plus extension service (you'll have to come back in 60 days for the latter). But you will get the Non Imm visa -- and the 90 day permission of stay that goes along with it.

Paying 2000 baht for an in-country Non Imm visa -- or similar for one at a Thai consulate abroad -- is a wash, in my opinion.

If you can get a Non Imm visa abroad, without any hardship in time or effort, by all means go for it. This is particularly true for those eventually going for a marriage extension, for, as we've seen, Non Imm O visas for those with Thai wives is easy at Thai consulates (but requires a trip to Bangkok for the in-country version).

For the eventual retirement extension, however, Non Imm O visas are getting harder to get. In the States, you won't get one at all for just meeting retirement criteria. Instead, you're stuck with getting a Non Imm O-A "retirement visa" from NY, Chicago, LA,or DC consulates (with all the extra hassle that involves). Or getting a tourist visa. Or getting an exit ticket, and entering Thailand on a 30-day visa exempt stamp. The latter two options are very similar, in that they both involve conversion to an in-country Non Imm visa for eventual one-year extensions of stay.

Many ways to slice and dice all of this. And the best option is to enter Thailand with a Non Imm visa if your eventual goal is a one-year extension. Next best option, IMO, is a tourist visa, if you have the time. But a 30-day visa exempt entry is almost as good -- assuming you're assured that exit airline ticket you buy on-line is, indeed, refundable.

[MartinL]

The OP posted at the end of his first post "I have an 8 month old son here and I am his only provider so I need to be here for him" .

If you can prove paternity, could you not get an extension of stay based on caring for your son? I think the financial requirements are 400,000 in a Thai bank OR 40,000 per month income but not a combination of both but someone will correct that if I'm wrong.

[lopburi3]

He is asking about retirement and seems to be able to meet the requirements - which is less paperwork. For child support would require legal status as father and taking care (custody) as well as financial requirements.

[elektrified]

It's that time of the year again to get my annual extension for my Non-Immigrant O-A visa and I just wanted to check to be sure that the requirement has not changed for the income from abroad option. Is it still 65,000 THB per month?

Thanks in advance.

[OriginalPoster]

...

[Mario2008]

No changes.

retiremetn still requires:

65,000 a month income

OR

800,000 in a bank account in Thailand

OR

a combination of the two, totaling 800,000.