Non-Immigrant O - Retirement

[sezzo]

Hello,

I am doing some research for a family member who is considering moving to Thailand and a Non-Imm O and then applying for the 12 month extension at the end of the initial 3 months visa. I downloaded some information from the Thai Embassy website here in Australia and I need some clarification. The way that I have read the fact sheet is that you have to have 800k in a thai bank account prior to the visa being granted. Is this correct or are they referring to the 12 month extension to the Non-Imm O visa.

Thanks in advance

[cardholder]

They are referring to the 12 month extension. Reasons for applying for a Non-Imm 'O' are as follows:-

1) Married to a Thai national

Evidence required:

a) If married in Thailand:

Copies of Original Thai Marriage Certificate and Thai ID Card or Thai Passport.

If married in UK:

Copies of Original UK Marriage Certificate and Thai ID Card or Thai Passport.

or

2) Visiting family working/living in Thailand

Evidence required:

a) Birth/Marriage Certificate to show relationship

Letter from relative confirming they are in Thailand together with a copy of page

in their passport showing valid entry visa or a copy of their valid work permit..

or

3) Volunteer Work

Evidence required:

a) Sponsor Letter from Registered Charity.

or

4) Visiting Thailand as Pensioner

Evidence required:

a) Copy of Bank Statement showing receipt of State and/or Private Pension.

or

5) Visiting Thailand as Retired Person aged 50 years and over

Evidence required:

a) Copy of Bank Statement showing income of minimum £900 per month.

[Lite Beer]

The above are the requirements for applying for a Non Imm O Visa at the Consulate in Hull UK.

Consulates in Australia may well be different.

To apply for the 12 month extension in Thailand you need 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank 2 months before the application date.

OR

A monthly income of 65,000 Baht.

OR

A combination of both.

[lopburi3]

The above is a specific requirement for Hull in UK for issue of multi entry visa and may not be what a Consulate in Oz will want to see. Poster is interested in a single entry visa for later extension for retirement it seems and most likely no financial conditions would be required. But financial would not need to be in Thailand for non immigrant O or O-A (long stay) visa issue in any case.

[cardholder]

The above are the requirements for applying for a Non Imm O Visa at the Consulate in Hull UK.

Consulates in Australia may well be different.

To apply for the 12 month extension in Thailand you need 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank 2 months before the application date.

OR

A monthly income of 65,000 Baht.

OR

A combination of both.

Bugger! Just seen that the OP is asking about an Australian citizen !

[Sateev]

Although you don't state his/her age, the title of the topic implies retirement, so why not consider a multiple-entry non-immigrant O-A visa, issued in Oz?

Advantages include: no need to deposit in a Thai account, stay for almost two-years on one visa (with a single visa run, and 90-day reports), and, most pleasantly, no need to deal with immigration during that time, except to do 90-day reports, which can be done by mail in most areas.

Downside: medical certificate (1 page), police letter of good conduct, 'bank guarantee', which is nothing more than a letter stating the applicant has an account, with the equivalent of over 800,000THB. To be able to leave Thailand and return after the initial one-year validity, one needs a re-entry permit, easily obtainable at Immigration (1000 baht (single-entry), 3800 baht(multiple-entry)).

Check with your local Consulate for details.

Good luck.

[sezzo]

The family member would definately qualify for the retirement visa with no problems, on the age and monetary grounds. My question was just to clarify with the info that I received from the Thai embassy here in Canberra. I know from personal experience with other friends applying for multi entry non imm O visas that the embassy in Canberra and the two consulates in Melbourne and Sydney are reluctant to hand out multi entry one unless married or have a thai child. Im thinking that the best way to go is the 3 month non imm followed by the 12 month extension on retirement grounds.

Thanks for all the replies so far

[lopburi3]

The O-A is issued specifically for long stay (retirement) so is not subject to reluctance to provide multi non immigrant O visa. Even a single entry would provide a one year stay on arrival.