Retirement Visa Living In Thailand

[ChiangraiTony]

I am a US citizen over 50 and wish to apply for a "retirement" Visa. My two questions:

1) Do I have to apply in the US or can I apply if I am in Thailand?

2) Once I obtain the "retirement" Visa, after 1-year do I have to go back to the US to apply (reapply) again or can I reapply in Thailand?

Thank you

[beechguy]

You can apply for an "O-A" Visa in the U.S. Or, you can also apply for a an "O" there and then apply for a one year "Extension of Stay" (not a visa) in Thailand, you would not need to return to the U.S. You can also make entry on a Tourist Visa, and apply for the extension, but would have to have the visa status changed as part of that process.

[moe666]

You can do everything in Thailand. Applying in the states has a upside as well as a downside. The O-A visa from Thai Embassy in the states will give you 2 years with one border run. The downside is more paper work a notirized statement from your Dr. and the police.

Go to the Thai Embassy wesite and they have all of the requirements and the downloadable documents you need.

If applying in Thailand you can arrive on a 90 day non-o visa that can be extended for one year extension of stay based on retirement. For this you need either the 65,000baht a month income or the 800,000baht deposited in Thai bank account 2 months before first extension 3 months for all extension after that. Also copies of your passport front page, visa page, departure card, photo, tm7 form, and if you are doing the monthly income, letter from US Embassy or consulate stateing amt of monthly income.

Their are several post on this forun that will have everything listed.

If you arrive on a tourist visa or 30 day permission to stay you can go to immigration and change these to a 90 day non-o visa and then apply for a retirement extension of stay. They will do this at the same time on ocassion or you may have to come back at a later date.

One of the moderators will be on later and give you info. as well Getting a O-A visa has the upside of two years stay with only a border run but the added burden of extra paper work

Good luck

[moe666]

Tony are you in Thailand now or the states

[TerryLH]

"For this you need either the 65,000baht a month income or the 800,000baht deposited in Thai bank account 2 months before first extension 3 months for all extension after that."

You can also use a combination of the bank deposit and income. It needs to total 800k.

If you use the combination, the money in the bank does not have to be seasoned.

[Lite Beer]

Tony. You appear to be in Asia at the moment.

If possible enter Thailand with a Non Imm O Visa. If not it can be done with a Tourist Visa or even a Visa Exempt Entry. You can apply every year within Thailand.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM);

(2) The applicant is 50 years of age or over;

(3) Proof of income of not less than Baht 65,000 per month; or

(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than

800,000 Baht as shown in the bank account for the past 3 months at the filing date of the application. For the first year, the applicant should have that amount in his bank account for not less than 60 days or

(5) Annual income plus bank account deposit totaling not less

than Baht 800,000 as of the filing date of application

[barryofthailand]

Tony. You appear to be in Asia at the moment.

If possible enter Thailand with a Non Imm O Visa. If not it can be done with a Tourist Visa or even a Visa Exempt Entry. You can apply every year within Thailand.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM);

(2) The applicant is 50 years of age or over;

(3) Proof of income of not less than Baht 65,000 per month; or

(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than

800,000 Baht as shown in the bank account for the past 3 months at the filing date of the application. For the first year, the applicant should have that amount in his bank account for not less than 60 days or

(5) Annual income plus bank account deposit totaling not less

than Baht 800,000 as of the filing date of application

You can also enter Thailand on a tourist visa, change it to a non o 1900 Baht and apply for a one year extension based on either 800,000 Baht in the bank, or 65,000 Baht a month income. This will cost an additional 1900 Baht.

Barry

[lopburi3]

A change of status/visa costs 2,000 baht. It is extensions of stay that cost 1,900 baht.

[ableguy]

Hi, do not forget where ever you apply you will need a police background report and when presented to immigration it must not be more than 30 days old, you do not need a nation wide report a state check will do, I had mine done in CA I think it cost around 15 bucks, for myself I applied in Thailand and it was very easy, you also need a medical report which will be much cheaper to get in Thailand and I mean much cheaper, this also must not be more than 30 days old. Good luck.

[Jingthing]

Hi, do not forget where ever you apply you will need a police background report and when presented to immigration it must not be more than 30 days old, you do not need a nation wide report a state check will do, I had mine done in CA I think it cost around 15 bucks, for myself I applied in Thailand and it was very easy, you also need a medical report which will be much cheaper to get in Thailand and I mean much cheaper, this also must not be more than 30 days old. Good luck.

To clarify this a bit, you DO need the medical form and police report for 0-A applications done in your home country. Neither are required for retirement extensions IN Thailand, and many people never bother with an O-A, so technically NOT required at all for retirement in Thailand.

As far as Thai embassies abroad accepting medical reports from Thailand, I am doubtful they would usually be accepted. In any case, I would definitely ASK them first.

[Lite Beer]

As JT said, police reports and medical reports are not need when applying for 12 month extensions in Thailand.

They are needed when applying for O-A Visa in your own country.

[ChiangraiTony]

Hi, do not forget where ever you apply you will need a police background report and when presented to immigration it must not be more than 30 days old, you do not need a nation wide report a state check will do, I had mine done in CA I think it cost around 15 bucks, for myself I applied in Thailand and it was very easy, you also need a medical report which will be much cheaper to get in Thailand and I mean much cheaper, this also must not be more than 30 days old. Good luck.

To clarify this a bit, you DO need the medical form and police report for 0-A applications done in your home country. Neither are required for retirement extensions IN Thailand, and many people never bother with an O-A, so technically NOT required at all for retirement in Thailand.

As far as Thai embassies abroad accepting medical reports from Thailand, I am doubtful they would usually be accepted. In any case, I would definitely ASK them first.

Thank you very much. Can you please make it more clear to me as to your statement of "Neither are required for retirement extensions IN Thailand, and many people never bother with an O-A, so technically NOT required at all for retirement in Thailand". What do you mean O-A is not technically required at all for retirement in Thailand? Does that mean that I can get a different visa and stay in Thailand without applying for "retirement status?" Can you explain please.

[ChiangraiTony]

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH! You are all very kind to take the time to respond to my questions. I am very happy and excited with what the requirements are. I love Thailand and I expect to live there soon.

[ChiangraiTony]

Tony are you in Thailand now or the states

Asia

[lopburi3]

You extend a current non immigrant visa entry for one year at Immigration inside Thailand on the basis of retirement. This is normally done from a non immigrant O visa entry. There is no need for O-A in this process.