Non-Immigrant O Requirements

[HarryLL76]

I just reviewed the Non-Immigrant O Visa requirements on the Thai LA Consulate website. I meet both the income and age requirement but according to the Consulate, Non-immigrant visas will not be issued for such purposes as tourism, seeking employment opportunities, looking for a school for teaching or studying purposes, etc.

If I can obtain a Multi Entry Non-Immigrant O, I can then present the proof of income and apply for the extension based on retirement.

How do I work around the above requirements or reason should I use on the visa application?

I suppose I can do the extra steps and get an O-A if all else fails.

Thanks guys

[Jingthing]

Where will you be living in Thailand? Is your goal retirement in Thailand?

[HarryLL76]

My Plan is to retire in Thailand. I have not made a final decision on where I will live. I have not ruled out Chiangmai but I may spend at least the first year in Bangkok. It will give me an opportunity to learn the city and to visit other locations. I meet all the requirement for the O-A visa but my research here seems to suggest that it is much eaiser to just get the O and extend.

Harry

Where will you be living in Thailand? Is your goal retirement in Thailand?

[bunnydrops]

My Plan is to retire in Thailand. I have not made a final decision on where I will live. I have not ruled out Chiangmai but I may spend at least the first year in Bangkok. It will give me an opportunity to learn the city and to visit other locations. I meet all the requirement for the O-A visa but my research here seems to suggest that it is much eaiser to just get the O and extend.

Harry

Where will you be living in Thailand? Is your goal retirement in Thailand?

I guess I do not understand your problem---You do not have to tell them you are going to do any of the above. I did the same as you, came to find my home. Yes it is easier to get the O. Only need prove of income here in the USA. (by the way, it is even easier to get O at local consulates, but they can no longer do A-O) . With the O you have to do border runs ever 90 days, A-Os you just have to report in locally. O-A is cheaper $65, O is $175 one year muli entre.

[bunnydrops]

Sorry ---- you can just put down that you are setting up house keeping

[Mario2008]

How do I work around the above requirements or reason should I use on the visa application?

Both A-O and O visa are given for the reason of retirement. That is what you should fill in on the application form.

[Jingthing]

I don't have any recent information about this, but some years ago the L.A. consulate had a reputation of refusing single entry O visas for the reason of retirement (with that you could start with a retirement extension in Thailand) and instead demanding you apply for an O-A. So if you want a single entry O to start this, you may need to look for another U.S. consulate that will grant you one. Another option is to start with a tourist visa and do the famous "two step process" which involves applying for a change of visa status to an O IN Thailand where the second step is to apply for a retirement extension. However, the problem with that is that not all local Thai immigration offices will do the first step, Bangkok and Pattaya will. If you are using the bank account method, the 800K baht must be in a Thai bank account for two months prior to the application for the second step of the two step process. You will probably have more questions about this.

Yet another way to get a single entry O -- simply apply for one in Malaysia or Laos, being over 50, easy peasy.

[lopburi3]

As said US Consulates have not been keen to issue O visa for retirement since the advent of the O-A visa class. Now that they can not issue these perhaps it has changed but if not just obtain a tourist visa (free) and when in Thailand make the conversion to non immigrant entry (2,000 baht) and then you can extend from that.

If the local immigration office can not do the conversion they will send you to Bangkok to have that function done.

[Tafia]

My Plan is to retire in Thailand. I have not made a final decision on where I will live. I have not ruled out Chiangmai but I may spend at least the first year in Bangkok. It will give me an opportunity to learn the city and to visit other locations. I meet all the requirement for the O-A visa but my research here seems to suggest that it is much eaiser to just get the O and extend.

Harry

Where will you be living in Thailand? Is your goal retirement in Thailand?

The OA has some advantages, You only need to report to Imm every 90days instead of doing border runs, and if you get a multi entry a border run just before it expires gives you another year, so 2 years without showing funds in Thailand.

Thereafter its the annual extensions showing funds etc...

[Jingthing]

The OA has some advantages, You only need to report to Imm every 90days instead of doing border runs, and if you get a multi entry a border run just before it expires gives you another year, so 2 years without showing funds in Thailand.

Thereafter its the annual extensions showing funds etc...

A correction about the first so called advantage. A person starting in Thailand on a single entry O visa and then applying for an extension based on retirement, they are in the EXACT same boat as the O-A visa holder in regard to the need for 90 day address reports IN Thailand and the lack of a need for external border runs. Cheers.