Any Limit To How Many Times You Can Extend O Visa?

[NancyL]

I have an O visa that has been extended once for 12 months based on retirement. Someone told me there is a limit to how many times you can extend an O visa -- that at some point I'm going to have to return to my home country to get a new visa or even jump thru the hoops to get an O-A visa in my home country. Is this true?

What about limits to the number of times you can extend an O visa due to marriage or volunteer work (with a WP)? Maybe this is what the person had in mind when telling me my O visa could only be extended for a total of two years.

[Jingthing]

Well, there is no limit on retirement extensions under current law, even after you get new passports (but there is a process for that).

[Lite Beer]

You are not extending your "O" Visa.

That died a long time ago.

You are extending your permission to stay in The Kingdom and can extend every year indefinitely providing you qualify.

[NancyL]

Thanks LiteBeer and Jingthing. Looks like I don't have any concerns.

Where did my friend get the idea that there is a limit to how many times you can extend an O visa? Is there a limit if you're extending for other reasons besides retirement, say if the extension of permission is based on marriage or volunteer work (with a WP)?

[rgs2001uk]

Thanks LiteBeer and Jingthing. Looks like I don't have any concerns.

Where did my friend get the idea that there is a limit to how many times you can extend an O visa? Is there a limit if you're extending for other reasons besides retirement, say if the extension of permission is based on marriage or volunteer work (with a WP)?

My extension based on marriage has been extended for the last 6 years with no problems, either mentioned or hinted at to come in the future.

Every time I leave the immigration office they always say to me, " see you again next year".

[clinique]

As stated above, so long as you qualify each time there is no limit on the extensions of Permissions to stay.

Where your friend got the wrong impression is anyones guess, a barside conversation perhaps!

[merijn]

I'm living here for 22 years on my NON-O extensions. ( i'm getting old )

So i don't think that you have any problem.

[Tywais]

I'm living here for 22 years on my NON-O extensions. ( i'm getting old )

So i don't think that you have any problem.

And I've been here on work extensions for 18 years and have not left the country in that time.

[dsj]

Thanks LiteBeer and Jingthing. Looks like I don't have any concerns.

Where did my friend get the idea that there is a limit to how many times you can extend an O visa? Is there a limit if you're extending for other reasons besides retirement, say if the extension of permission is based on marriage or volunteer work (with a WP)?

My extension based on marriage has been extended for the last 6 years with no problems, either mentioned or hinted at to come in the future.

Every time I leave the immigration office they always say to me, " see you again next year".

I got my last Non Immigrant "O" Visa (marriage) in Canada, I am married to a Thai lady and it is expiring in September, so I would like to renew it here in Bangkok so I was wondering what papers what I have to show them to renew my Visa in Bangkok. and would I have to report every 90 days

[Mario2008]

You apply for an extension of stay, not a new visa.

basicly what is needed is that you can show an income of at least 40,000 baht per month (can be from abroad) OR show 400,000 baht in a bank account in Thailand for at least 2 months. In both cases it must be your money only. It is also necesarry that you live together with your wife.

You need to submit a lot of documents:

- copy of passport

- copy of arrival card

- passphoto

- pictuers of you together with your wife, inside and outside the house

- map to your house

- marriage certificate

- extract from wedding register

- copy of ID-card of wife

Your wife wil need to come along as well.

[Lite Beer]

I got my last Non Immigrant "O" Visa (marriage) in Canada, I am married to a Thai lady and it is expiring in September, so I would like to renew it here in Bangkok so I was wondering what papers what I have to show them to renew my Visa in Bangkok. and would I have to report every 90 days

(6) In case of marriage with a Thai lady, the husband who is an alien must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 baht per month or a money deposit in a local Thai bank of not less than 400,000 baht for the past 2 months for expenses within a year.

Letter from Thai Bank showing balance and up to date bank book.

OR.

Letter from Canadian Embassy showing income.

Marriage Certificate

Marriage Registry entry.

Wife's Tabbien Baan and ID Card.

Your Passport.

Copies of everything.

Photos of you and your Wife in and around the house.

A map showing the way to your house.

Passport size photos and 1,900 Baht fee.

Take your Wife to be interviewed.

You will be given a 30 day under consideration stamp.

Go back in a month and get the remainder.

Yes you report every 90 days you are in the country.

[lopburi3]

One off topic post removed.

[moe666]

NancyL many people have mistaken Idea about visas and the visa process as well as extensions of stay where they get their info who knows. Afriends wife kept telling me they needed both the money in the bank as well as the income. No matter how many times I explained to her she was incorrect she would not believe me because she got her info from a Thai friend.

So who knows where they get false info, thin air.

[Iamemjay]

Merrie - You've just peeked my curiosity. What is the process you alluded to after obtaining a new passport? (Mine is nearly full and will soon have to be renewed.)

Well, there is no limit on retirement extensions under current law, even after you get new passports (but there is a process for that).

[Jingthing]

Merrie - You've just peeked my curiosity. What is the process you alluded to after obtaining a new passport? (Mine is nearly full and will soon have to be renewed.)

Well, there is no limit on retirement extensions under current law, even after you get new passports (but there is a process for that).

There must be over 100 threads on that topic alone. I haven't done it myself personally but you might want to test your forum search skills for that one.

[dsj]

You apply for an extension of stay, not a new visa.

basicly what is needed is that you can show an income of at least 40,000 baht per month (can be from abroad) OR show 400,000 baht in a bank account in Thailand for at least 2 months. In both cases it must be your money only. It is also necesarry that you live together with your wife.

You need to submit a lot of documents:

- copy of passport

- copy of arrival card

- passphoto

- pictuers of you together with your wife, inside and outside the house

- map to your house

- marriage certificate

- extract from wedding register

- copy of ID-card of wife

Your wife wil need to come along as well.

why would you need a map to your house and from what point to your house, and why the pictures when you have all the proper papers. When I got my 1 year non imm "O" Visa in Canada they just wanted everything listed above except for pictures and map to my house.

[lopburi3]

As was said:

You apply for an extension of stay, not a new visa.

Extension of stay requirements from Immigration in Thailand are not the same as for a visa issued by a Consulate outside of Thailand.

[Galong]

basicly what is needed is that you can show an income of at least 40,000 baht per month (can be from abroad) OR show 400,000 baht in a bank account in Thailand for at least 2 months. In both cases it must be your money only. It is also necesarry that you live together with your wife.

Has this changed recently? I thought it was 800,000 Baht in the bank three months prior to applying for a visa.

If it's only 400,000 Baht, it looks like I'm retiring early! I live a simple, quiet life in Phuket for around 25,000 - 30,000 Baht per month as it is.

[lopburi3]

400k is for Thai wife. For retirement it is 800k for 2 months (first application). That is for extension of stay - not for a Consulate visa.

[asiaexpat]

I got my last Non Immigrant "O" Visa (marriage) in Canada, I am married to a Thai lady and it is expiring in September, so I would like to renew it here in Bangkok so I was wondering what papers what I have to show them to renew my Visa in Bangkok. and would I have to report every 90 days

(6) In case of marriage with a Thai lady, the husband who is an alien must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 baht per month or a money deposit in a local Thai bank of not less than 400,000 baht for the past 2 months for expenses within a year.

Letter from Thai Bank showing balance and up to date bank book.

OR.

Letter from Canadian Embassy showing income.

Marriage Certificate

Marriage Registry entry.

Wife's Tabbien Baan and ID Card.

Your Passport.

Copies of everything.

Photos of you and your Wife in and around the house.

A map showing the way to your house.

Passport size photos and 1,900 Baht fee.

Take your Wife to be interviewed.

You will be given a 30 day under consideration stamp.

Go back in a month and get the remainder.

Yes you report every 90 days you are in the country.

Photos for application should be 4cmX6cm.

[JohnAllan]

I'm intrigued by many of the answers to this question. In physically extending a visa, you are obtaining permission to stay beyond the date on the visa, and dependent on the type of visa, will obtain an extension for up to two months, with a further extension allowable.

But indefinite extensions . . .?

My visa is based on my Thai/British son's Thai nationality, and is for a year, but does necessitate re entering every ninety days - although I can exit and enter just one day before the visa expires, and obtain another ninety days. But I do then have to leave the country to renew the visa for another year.

I believe retirement visas are renewable in-country. Otherwise, in order to avoid leaving the country, you should have, at the very least, permanent residence - possibly citizenship.

But then . . . perhaps I'm missing something, somewhere . . .

And remember - the rules are very fluid.

[Mario2008]

I'm intrigued by many of the answers to this question. In physically extending a visa, you are obtaining permission to stay beyond the date on the visa, and dependent on the type of visa, will obtain an extension for up to two months, with a further extension allowable. <br><br>But indefinite extensions . . .?<br><br>My visa is based on my Thai/British son's Thai nationality, and is for a year, but does necessitate re entering every ninety days - although I can exit and enter just one day before the visa expires, and obtain another ninety days. But I do then have to leave the country to renew the visa for another year. <br><br>I believe retirement visas are renewable in-country. Otherwise, in order to avoid leaving the country, you should have, at the very least, permanent residence - possibly citizenship.<br><br>But then . . . perhaps I'm missing something, somewhere . . .

A visa is a permission to travel to Thailand, nothing more. Once you arrive at the border you ask for permission to enter in Thailand. That can be denied, visa or not. If allowed to enter, you get a permisison to stay. That is a seperate issue.

In Thailand you do not extend your visa, as you are already in Thailand. you extend your permission to stay.

[lopburi3]

Your missing a bit - it is called Police Order 777/2551 (Google will find it or pinned useful information) and lists all kinds of reasons for extensions of stay and most can be done as long as you meet the requirements.

As for extending it is your permitted stay not the visa that is being extended. The visa is like a ticket to entry (invite) but once allowed entry it is your permitted to stay stamp that is all important.

I don't know age or if you are legal father but you may be able to obtain extensions from 60 days on any entry (to visit) to one year (under 20 and living with you and your proof of 400k in bank account). You might want to take a look at it.