Applying For An "O-A" Visa At The Thai Embassy In London

[hippoman]

I am planning to apply next month for a Non-Immigrant category "O-A" (Long stay) visa at the Thai Embassy in London. If anyone has been through this partcular visa application process recently, I would be very grateful for any advice on possible pitfalls/difficulties which might arise.

In particular, I have read on the Embassy website that bank statements, medical certificate and police certificate "must be certified by Notary Public or from the competent authority concerned of the country of application" and that " In case attached copy of bank statement as stated in 2.4, the original reference letter from the banking concerned is necessary." Any further explanation of what is actually meant by these requirements in practice would be very welcome.

Also, the website says: "Applicants residing in the United Kingdom will need to have a police clearance issued only from the Scotland Yard". Does this mean that your Subject Access Request must be made to the Metropolitan Police in London, and the police certificate come from them, or can it be from a local police force. I am currently applying for the police cerificate via a Subject Access Request, to my local police force in Surrey.

Any advice on these or any other aspects of the application process would be very welcome. Forewarned is forearmed!

[JohnLeech]

You will find the Hull website more informative.

[oilthebeast]

Apply for a non-imm O in Hull is much easier and give you 1 year 3 months stay for 100 quid.

[moe666]

Get non-o visa Hull and then apply for retirement extension of stay in Thailand, less paper work, no police report or medical. The steps are listed here on Thaivisa and what is needed.

[Lite Beer]

Just a Note.

O-A Visa can only be obtained at the Embassy in London . It cannot be obtained at one of the Consulates.

As said the op might find it easier to obtain a Non Imm O Visa and extend his stay in Thailand.

[lopburi3]

But obtaining an extension of stay in Thailand will require the issue of a non immigrant visa for entry and then several months later proof of funds from Thailand and perhaps a medical from Thailand.

If London issues multi entry non immigrant O-A it may well be better value and provide up to two years stay. If only single entry would recommend extension of stay in Thailand as long as financial is not a problem.

[Tafia]

Police Report - go to your local police station they will give you a form to complete, return it to them they will send it to Scotland Yard you will get the result in about 2 weeks

Medical - there is a medical form on the web site noting a number of strange diseases print it off take it to your Dr ask him for a medical and to fill in the form.

Bank Statements & Pension - Upto date statements showing necessary funds and pension statement.

When you got all the paperwork together goto a Notary Solicitor who will certify the docs for you.

Thai Embassy go early, as they close applications at around 1pm...I think you return in 2 days to pick up the passport but they will tell you. they will check everything while your there relieve you of £100 and give you a receipt to return...no hassle if you have everything complete.

You will get a Multi Entry Non OA visa, and will be stamped in for 12 mths, just before the visa expires you do a border run, this will give you another 12 mths before having to show funds in Thailand. Thereafter an annual extension application and you will have to show funds. If you wish to travel during your 2nd year outside Thai you will need a re-entry permit to keep the visa alive.

Note: you will be required to report every 90days to Imm in your area filling in a simple form.

Hope this helps. I did it almost 2 yrs ago any questions PM me

[Tafia]

The forms you need are on their website.

Medical x 1

Standard App - You need 3

OA Form - Again you need 3

Not sure how to put link on here so if you want me to send them PM me with email.

They are all on the 'Thai Embassy London' site.

[hippoman]

Dear all

Many thanks for your replies. It seems that if the application for the non-Imm "O-A" in London is straightforward, as it seems, then this is the better option. But I will bear in mind the advice about getting an "O" visa from Hull and then an "O-A" in Thailand. However my understanding was that you still need the police report from the UK to get the "O-A" visa in Thailand, so, as I say, perhaps it is better to try the "O-A" application in London first.

Thanks again!

[lopburi3]

You can not obtain an O-A in Thailand. What you get here is a one year extension of stay (of the 90 day non immigrant O visa entry). No police check is required for an extension of stay.

[Lite Beer]

Extension in Thailand requires no police report or medical cert.

[hippoman]

Dear lopburi3

I am a little confused by your post.

I have downloaded the document "Af Retirement Visa Application Pack" from the Thai Consulate website in Hull, UK , and following the list of requirements for eligibility to retire in Thailand it states the following:

Start of extract

Provided you can meet the above requirements, the next process is to apply for a Non-Immigrant category “O” visa,

see pages 3/8 to 6/8.

When you have received your ”O” visa you need to ensure you have all of the following documents which you must take with you for presentation at the “Thai Immigration Bureau” in Bangkok (Thai Immigration Bureau, Section 1,

Sub Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Sathorn District, Bangkok 10120 - tel: 00 66-22873101-10

Extension 2236) or in the town close to where you will be living in your retirement:-

1) Passport containing your “O” visa, passport to be valid for at least one year from date of entering Thailand.

2) Three “Additional Application Form for Non-Immigrant ‘O-A’ Visa” duly completed and with recent passport

type photograph 4cm x 6cm attached to each one – see page 7/8.

3) Subject Access (police) Report – to be no more than 3 months old when presented in Thailand.

4) Medical Report form – to be completed by a doctor in Thailand – see page 8/8.

5) Evidence to show minimum income of 65,000 baht per month going into a bank account in Thailand or minimum 800,000 baht deposited in a bank account in Thailand (a combination may be accepted).

We advise applicants to visit the Thai Immigration Bureau at the earliest opportunity although

you may be asked to return after having been in Thailand for 60 days

Af 01/Jul/2009

1/8

If your application is approved you will be issued with the non-immigrant category “O-A”

long stay visa by the relevant Thai Immigration Bureau

End of extract.

This seems to indicate that an "O-A" visa can be applied for and issued in Thailand, and that a police report from the UK and a medical certificate are required. Can you clarify the situation for me?

[moe666]

Visaa are not issued in country only at a Embassy or Consulate. There is a lot of misunderstanding on Thaivisa about Non O and O-A visas they get confused with extensions of stays. Lopburi has been consulateing people on this forum for years and knows what he is saying.

[digitalchromakey]

This seems to indicate that an "O-A" visa can be applied for and issued in Thailand, and that a police report from the UK and a medical certificate are required. Can you clarify the situation for me?

In this case, Hull as a Thai Consulate can only issue non immigrant O visas; for retirement they offer you a non immigrant O Visa and send you to apply for an Extension of Permission to Stay at Thai Immigration on the basis of retirement, whilst you are in Thailand, this is not an OA Visa.

You have to go to the Thai Embassy in London to apply for a non immigrant OA Visa.

That's the way it is.

[Tafia]

Dear all

Many thanks for your replies. It seems that if the application for the non-Imm "O-A" in London is straightforward, as it seems, then this is the better option. But I will bear in mind the advice about getting an "O" visa from Hull and then an "O-A" in Thailand. However my understanding was that you still need the police report from the UK to get the "O-A" visa in Thailand, so, as I say, perhaps it is better to try the "O-A" application in London first.

Thanks again!

Lopburi is correct, you can only apply for a Non O-A in your home country and in the UK it must be done in person at the Thai Embassy in London.

Trust me I went thro all the pro's and cons when I was considering the best option.

The main advantage of having the Non O-A over the Non O is showing finances. If you go for this option Ensure you mark it for multi entry

The O-A allows you to have 2 years without showing funds in Thailand, whereas if you apply for the Non O and change to a retirement extension in Thailand then you have to show the funds or income.

It just gives you a couple of years where you can leave your cash in the Uk and with the £ low at present it isn't a bad idea.

[hippoman]

Thanks everyone for the clarification.

This is an important matter since both the Hull Consulate and the Thai Ministry of Foreign affairs have erroneous information on their web sites. On the Ministry web site in particular, in the section on Visas and Travel Documents - 8. Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long-Stay), there is the statement:

Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay)

3. Channels to submit application

Applicant may submit their application at the Royal Thai embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in their home/residence country or at the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Thailand located onGovernment Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Tel 0-2141-9889.

I hope that no one is misled by this, or the Hull Consulate document, into thinking that they can apply for the "O-A" visa in Thailand. I certainly was!