Hello everyone,

I understand that if I get a retirement "O" visa, it is possible for me to switch to a work visa later. However, I would need to be careful to not do it repeatedly or it will look like I am manipulating the system. Do I understand this correctly?

Thanks in advance!

Yes you can go from retirement to Non B with work permit, I went from Non B to retirement and then to Non B again when I was employed for a second time, I don't think anyone will think that you are abusing the system, just follow the law/rules regarding the visa type.

Just to clarify, there is no such thing as a work visa, there is a work permit which is totally different to a Visa and is issued by the Labor department not immigration.

To obtain a work permit you need an appropriate Visa and a seperate application for the work permit.

You cannot obtain a work permit with a Retirement O-A Visa or an extension to a Non-O visa based on Retirement.

I do know from experience that switching back after working for some years to an extension based on marriage/retirement you have to leave the country to get a new 90 day type O and then extend back in country. I have changed extensions between one job and another without leaving, but did not apply to reverting to extension not based on work. Yes, I understand that some immigrations may allow something different, or the regs may have changed since then. My experience was with Chiangmai immigration only.

One immigration official who knows my wife (also a Gov official, indicated that when a new boss comes in to the department, some of the required things changes.

The best thing to do is get the information directly from the immigration office in person and not rely soley on TV, even though information provided is given with the best intentions of the posters.