Must Have 12 Or 18 Months Valid Passport

[patjah]

I am converting my present non B visa to a non O-A. However my passport expires 17 months and one week from the date of my application for the non O-A. I have read that you require 18months valid passport to apply for the non O-A how ever some legal offices say only one year validity is required. Can anyone clarify this for me. I tried the immigration in Chiang Mai but it was a war zone this morning.

Cheers

PAT

[InterestedObserver]

One year validity on the passport should be enough for a Non "O-A" visa. But more to the point, it is not possible to get an "O-A" visa from inside Thailand. Are you per chance talking about a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement?

[Mario2008]

If you are currently on an extension of stay based on work, you do not need to convert anything or travel abroad to get a new visa. The day your employment ends you can simply apply for an extension of stay based on retirement at immigration.

Basically you will need proof of adress and show that you meet the financial requirement:

- have 800,000 in the bank in Thailand for 3 months

OR

- have an income of 65,000 baht a month (income from abroad must be certified by your embassy, income from within Thailand must be shown with tax documents

OR

- show money in the bank + yearly income totaling a least 800,000. (no need to season the money)

[Mario2008]

The passport will be no problem.

[patjah]

"But more to the point, it is not possible to get an "O-A" visa from inside Thailand. Are you per chance talking about a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement"

Yes I believe that you would call it a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement. I would like to believe one year would be sufficient however if I wait until I apply and find out it is 18 months I will have e to leave Thailand again and start the application process all over again.

[lopburi3]

Extension of stay can be issued with less than one year validity but will only be until expiration date of passport (new passport will get remainder of the year).