Will Be ‘Visa Less’ 3 Months Prior To 50Th Birthday

[royaljenny]

I have read and been told of different options that may be available to me, unfortunately all different! So I am hoping that I can find out once and for all what is the best / easiest option for me. I really don’t want to be traveling back to the UK, so hopefully whatever I need to do can be done locally.

I am a British Passport Holder, my Multi Entry O Visa expires early Oct 2011 so will be doing my last visa run around that time and obtain my final 90 day stamp. So very late December I will need to sort out a new visa. My 50th Birthday is early March 2012.

I am married to a British Passport Holder (who is in the same situation with visas) but she will not be turning 50 for several years yet.

I have been told the following:

I can apply for a Single Entry O Visa in KL, so giving me 90 days, which will mean that I am on a visa when I reach 50 years old.

After my 50th Birthday, I can visit Phuket Immigration and change this visa to a Retirement Visa (obviously proving that I have either 800,000 in the bank for 3 months prior to application. Or an income of 65,000 per month (confirmed by British Consulate) or a combination of both?)

I was also told that because my wife is under 50, she too can apply for a Single Entry Visa in KL (based on her husband applying for a Retirement Visa), and then ‘piggy back’ on my retirement visa (but she doesn’t have to prove having money in the bank).

Once on this visa - we both have to report every 90 days at Immigration?

Is anybody able to confirm if what I have been told above is correct?

If it is correct, what are the chances of obtaining a Single Entry O Visa in KL, and does anybody know what evidence will be needed by both of us to apply for this?

If it is not correct, what options are left available to me (single entry Tourist Visa)?

Apologies if I have used any incorrect terminology in this post, but if anybody can help or advise me, it would be greatly appreciated.

If you need me to clarify anything further, please let me know.

Regards,


RoyalJenny

[terak69]

It all seems ok, but if you cannot get single O, then get Tourist Visa & convert from that when 50. This conversion will cost an extra 2000 baht as you have to convert from TR to O first, but you will get 15 months out of it. Partner can piggy back subject to marriage certificate being proved.

[lopburi3]

You are unlikely to obtain a non immigrant O visa until age 50 so a tourist visa first extended 30 days seems your best option. At that point of being over 50 you can either obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa or convert your current stay to non immigrant with proof of ability to extend for retirement (same 2,000 baht cost as a new visa). Once on a one year extension of stay spouse can obtain a non immigrant O visa with copy of passport and marriage proof and then extend stay to match as dependent.

[royaljenny]

Thank you for the replies.

lopburi3, I'm still not 100% sure on what I need to do, so can I clarify what you have written (in my own words) and see if I have understood you correctly.

Both myself and my wife apply for a single entry tourist visa (KL?)

Prior to 60 days expiring - both of us extend for a further 30 days at Phuket Immigration (which will take me past my 50th Birthday).

Now this is where I get a little confused! You say that once I am past my 50th Birthday I can covert my current stay to non immigrant with proof of ability to extend for retirement. Are you saying here that I can visit Phuket Immigration with all my financial details (800,000 baht / 65,000 per mth / combination) and they will convert my 30 day extension stamp to a one year extension of stay based on retirement?

If I have understood you correctly, on the same day I convert mine, can Mrs RoyalJenny also obtain the same extension to stay (with proof of marriage and passport)?

Many thanks for your time.

Kind regards,

RoyalJenny

[Lite Beer]

You change to a Non Imm O Visa at Immigration. 2,000 Baht. You might have to do this in Bangkok.

You then apply for the Retirement Extension. (1,900 Baht) You might have to wait 60 days to do this or they might do it all in one go.

BTW The money has to be in the bank for 2 months not 3.

[lopburi3]

You can convert to a non immigrant 90 day visa entry at immigration (some offices require you do in Bangkok) for a fee of 2,000 baht with the financial/age proof but wife would not have any option at that time. She will have to obtain one more tourist visa entry so if she can obtain a two entry now it would only require a border run for her at that time.

Perhaps better that you both exit and you obtain single entry O visa and she a new tourist visa. Then 60 days later you can do the actual extension of stay. Expect she will have to exit with proof of your extension to obtain a non immigrant O visa at that point and after return obtain matching extension of stay as dependent. Once this first year process done following years will be in sync and no exits required.

[royaljenny]

i think the wife is muddying the waters (for me!), so as I think she is off back to the UK sometime in April, perhaps she can just get a single entry tourist visa in December, (extend that and then fly out and get a 30 day stamp which will take her to April). Hopefully she can then pick up a single entry O Visa from the UK (Hull) and we can sort her out when she comes back?

So for me: I pick up a single entry Tourist Visa in December, extend for a further 30 days. Hopefully Phuket Immigration will convert my 30 day extension to a 90 day non immigrant O visa after my 50th Birthday (me having proved financial requirements at this stage) - and then at some stage I can do my extension of stay - when I am not sure?

Does anybody know if Phuket will do any of the above or do I need to go to BKK?

Thanks again for all your assistance, sorry to sound a bit slow - but having only ever been on a multi-entry O visa and doing visa runs every 90 days - that was simple to understand!!!

Regards

RoyalJenny

[lopburi3]

Some have done the extension same day - others have wanted you to wait 60 days (normal last 30 days of 90 day entry). Most recent reports have been wait. But the sooner you get the one year extension of stay the sooner wife can get a non immigrant O visa and extend as your dependent.

[royaljenny]

Once again, thanks for all of the replies.

If the wife is back in the UK, and I haven't yet got my one year extension to stay, as they want me to wait 60 days, therefore she hasn't got proof that I have got it. Will she still be able to apply for a single entry O visa? I know she will be able to apply for one 'visiting family' as her brother and Sister in Law live in Phuket, so she will have proof for that? If she is on this O visa, will she still then be able to extend as my dependent?

Regards,

RoyalJenny

[lopburi3]

There is no issue of non immigrant O visa to visit anyone other than Thai spouse or child. Hull used to provide but no longer. As for on basis of your status believe it will have to wait until you have the one year extension of stay stamp in your passport (a copy of that with proof of marriage is what allows Consulate to issue the non immigrant O visa). But this can be done in a quick trip to Laos/Cambodia/Malaysia after you get that stamp. That said nothing lost in trying - send her a copy of what you have received in your passport and tell her to explain the non immigrant change was for retirement - perhaps they will allow.

[royaljenny]

Thanks lopburi3 - didn't realise that about Hull not issuing them anymore I would have thought that with her Brother and Thai Sister in Law both living here, she would have been OK - wow talk about making it difficult for under 50's who don't need to work to come over here. Oh well, she will just have to wait until I have got my extension to stay before she heads back to the UK then

[Lite Beer]

From the Hull website.

Category “O”

Married to a Thai national

Evidence required: Copy of marriage certificate (in English).

or

Visiting family working/living in Thailand

Evidence required: Birth/Marriage Certificate to show relationship plus letter from relative confirming

they are in Thailand together with copy of valid entry visa in their passport or copy of valid work

permit.

or

Volunteer work

Evidence required: Suitable letter from recognised charity.

or

Visiting Thailand as Pensioner

Evidence required: Copy of bank statement showing receipt of pension.

or

Visiting Thailand as retired person aged 50 years and over

Evidence required: Copy of bank statement showing income of minimum £900.00 per month.

[royaljenny]

Thanks Lite Beer - the wife can provide the required paperwork for a single entry O visa - visiting family living in Thailand.