Non-Immigrant O-A (Retirement

[HarryLL76]

Questions for anyone who obtained a Non-Immigrant O-A (Retirement) visa prior to leaving your home country.

Two of the Visa requirements state that the “no criminal record” and the “medical verification” documents must be notarized by a notary organization, or Consulate. Since I would be applying for the visa while still in the United States, would I use a Notary Public?

If I arrive in Thailand on a Non-Immigrant O Visa, can I convert to an O-A retirement visa and not have to leave the country every three months?

Thanks

Harry

[Lite Beer]

Moved to the Visa Forum

[InterestedObserver]

1. Yes, in the US a Notary Public is what's called for.

2. Upon entry into Thailand with a non-immigrant "O" visa you are admitted for 90 days. A multiple entry visa allows multiple entries, each for 90 days, until the visa expires.

3. Before your 90 days expires you can apply for a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement, if you qualify. Note: Your 800,000 baht needs to be in a Thai bank for 60 days on the day you apply.

4. You cannot get a non-immigrant "O-A" visa in Thailand, what you can get a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement.

5. When on an extension of stay the requirement is to report your address to immigration every 90 days, not leave the country.

[gpdjohn]

Your local police/sheriff can provide a "wants'/warrants" check for around 5 bucks. They will notarize it for you. It took me while before I could find a medical ofice which also was a notary, but they are out there.. will do your required medical and notarize it at the same time. Cost me around 100 bucks.<BR>This was 5 yrs ago. and went through the Houston Consulate.<BR>Attempt to get a "muiltiple entry", then you can come and go as you wish during the around 15 months you can streach ( never can spell that word correctly..helps that I've had several Samsong 'n soda's already too..)<BR><BR>Chok Dii

[Pib]

When I came over on my O-A Visa a couple years ago from the US, my police and medical clearance documents were not notarized; they were only stamped and/or signed by the organization/person accomplishing the clearance. In my case I sent off for a FBI clearance letter (a national check) which came back just with a stamp on the submitted fingerprint record stating "No Arrest Record" with a date accomplished...no signature anywhere...it also included a little cover memo sheet with a one-line statement saying the check had been accomplished...no signature on the memo sheet...just a small stamp saying what FBI department had accomplished the check. And the medical clearance letter was just signed by my military clinic doctor....he ran blood tests and such to confirm I didn't have any of the prohibited diseases...after the tests came back, he just signed the letter above his signature stamp. No notary stamps/signatures on any of my submitted O-A documents. Your results may vary.

[Tafia]

I'm not sure if it is done differnetly in the US compared to the UK.

There I got all the necessary paperwork, Medical Cert, Bank Statements, Pension Notice and Police Check ;then went to a Notary to get it all done together, this seemed acceptable to the Thai Embassy. I aquired a Multi Entry OA.

Towards the end of my first year in Thailand (almost end date for visa) I did a border run and got a further 12 mths without showing funds. A re-entry permit is required if you wish to leave and re-enter Thailand during that 2nd year.

Subsequent years are then subject to extensions and the rules that apply to them.

On an OA (Retirement) it is not neccesary to leave every 90 days but you must report your address to your Imm office every 90 days.

You cannot get a Non OA in Thailand.

There are others who are more Knowledgable who I'm sure will assist and advice you further.

[HarryLL76]

Thanks for the information. I seem to be missing something. If I can enter Thailand on a Non-Immigrant “O” Visa, get it extended for one year based on retirement and not have to leave the country every 90 days (only report to immigration) what are the advantages of doing the extra steps to obtain a Non-Immigrant OA Retirement Visa?

From what I am reading on this forum, both the O and the OA visas have to be extended each year. Isn’t that correct?

1. Yes, in the US a Notary Public is what's called for.

2. Upon entry into Thailand with a non-immigrant "O" visa you are admitted for 90 days. A multiple entry visa allows multiple entries, each for 90 days, until the visa expires.

3. Before your 90 days expires you can apply for a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement, if you qualify. Note: Your 800,000 baht needs to be in a Thai bank for 60 days on the day you apply.

4. You cannot get a non-immigrant "O-A" visa in Thailand, what you can get a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement.

5. When on an extension of stay the requirement is to report your address to immigration every 90 days, not leave the country.

[Tafia]

Thanks for the information. I seem to be missing something. If I can enter Thailand on a Non-Immigrant "O" Visa, get it extended for one year based on retirement and not have to leave the country every 90 days (only report to immigration) what are the advantages of doing the extra steps to obtain a Non-Immigrant OA Retirement Visa?

From what I am reading on this forum, both the O and the OA visas have to be extended each year. Isn't that correct?

If you enter on a Non OA Multi Entry you can get 2 yrs without showing funds in Thailand by doing a border run just before the visa expires, extensions are then required annually thereafter showing the neccesary funds etc.

You do not need to do 90day runs only report to Imm every 90days.

[InterestedObserver]

A Non "O-A" visa allows 1 year stay per entry, a Non "O" visa allows 90 days stay per entry. Both the "O" and "O-A" permission to stay will need to be extended regularly for a long term retirement stay. At some point in time you will need to apply to immigration for a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement. A visa only allows you entry into Thailand, to remain you need permission to stay.

[gpdjohn]

Ok Harry..

The advantage of having a OA Retirement is that you do not have to exit the country every ninety days as opposed to any other which will require you to leave Thailand every 90 days, period.

The visa will have to be extented after the first 15 ( ?) months and after every 1 year. Simple as pie. Show the correct amount either in monthly amount ( 65K ) or in a bank account ( 800K) a couple of forms filled out and presto...you're good for another year. Every year after that within 30 days of the expiry date, same same...good for another year. Easy as pie.

I use the monthy amount method, and as an American the worst thing about it is that I have to go to Bangkok to the Embassy and get an "income letter", which is just a form filled out by me stating how much I make every month. Normally a "raise your right hand and swear to it that the amount is true" and your out the door.. ( if you live in Chiang Mai, which I once used to, it seems much more hassle free at the Consulate, less time that is..) Thai Immigration seems to not give too much problem for a O-A extension since the rules are cut and dry..either you make the monthly amount, have the correct amount in the bank for the time specified or you do not.

Usually takes me around 10-15 minutes to get my extension, depends on how much the immigration guy wants to chit chat.. the re-entry permit seems to take longer..same guy, more chit chat..really haven't figured out why it does take longer, but it does.

A friend of mine who lives here also in the middle of nowhere, has a O type and has to drive to Aran every 90 days and walk back and forth across the border.. me, I drop all my shit in the mail a few days before my 90 days to immigration and presto...they send back the bottom of the 90 day form to put in my passport and I go on with my stupid little life....

Like I said..easy as pie....

[Jingthing]

Ok Harry..

The advantage of having a OA Retirement is that you do not have to exit the country every ninety days as opposed to any other which will require you to leave Thailand every 90 days, period.

You got that a bit wrong. You don't EVER need an O-A visa to retire in Thailand on retirement extensions and with retirement extensions you certainly do not need to leave the country every 90 days (address report only). To start retirement extensions you do need some kind of a non-immigrant O visa but it doesn't need to be an O-A one ... ever.

[lopburi3]

The advantage of the O-A is:

1. You are approved before you travel.

2. The money is in your home country.

3. You receive a one year permitted to stay stamp on arrival.

4. If using multi entry no re-entry permit is required for first year.

5. If using multi entry up to two year can be obtained with one exit/return before any new show of money is required.

For many the above are likely not that important and an extension of stay directly for retirement within Thailand is more fitting.

[jimcogan]

Hate to be stupid, BUT:

If I already have the Non-Immigrant O-A visa, can I renew it for a year BEFORE the last 30 days of the visa

(I will be overseas for those 30 days) or must I renew it in the last 30 days prior to expiration of the one year?!

PS I have come and gone repeatedly in the first year and now have 90 day extensions already well past the

one year expiration of the original visa.

Thanks for any help!

[lopburi3]

A non immigrant O-A visa does not provide 90 day stays so not sure what you have - but it sounds like a simple multi entry non immigrant O visa and that would require meeting normal age/financials in Thailand to extend. If you qualify they normally only accept during last 30 days of current permitted to stay but may allow doing a bit earlier with proof of travel. So basically you will have to explain and ask. Or you could obtain a single entry O visa for return and use that to extend after 60 days.