Retirement Visa Question

[lopburi3]

1. Yes, yes.

2. Yes, no. Only the permitted to stay would be valid - a re-entry permit would be required to keep it alive if you travel.

3. You would get a 30 day visa exempt entry if from a country allowed that as you would not have a visa or a valid re-entry permit.

must enter Thailand by 1 Dec. 2012.

That is your expiration date for visa.

[nal]

On Checking - The Visa O-A document says Issued 1 Dec 2011 then the next line says ENTER BEFORE by 30 Nov 2012 It does not say it expires or is only valid, till that date.. My old O visa said Date of Visa lets say 1 Dec 2000 and then VALID UNTIL 30 Nov 2001. It definitely neede extensions annually.

I understand that the Multiple re-entry needs to be renewed as it is only valid for the 12 months of the stamp in the passport. But you can apply for Multi entry whenever you wish, bearing in mind it will only be vailid for the remaining time stamped in yr passport.

The case I mentioned is not a fairy story, nor misunderstanding. I know this lady very well, we hve been friends/neighbours for some years and and we have discussed this at length.

What apart from not having to bring in 800,000 Bt (at least in the first say 2 years) is the benefit of this type of Visa - I know it can be accredited to applying for a Residence Visa but I am not looking to do that. I am still confused. Sorry.

[nal]

ENTER BEFORE surely is like most other visas, One is given a time period in which to activate the visa. I have travelled around the world for over twenty years and applied for visas all over the place. Some have an 'enter before' or if you will 'use by date'. But this is neither the term of the Visa's validity nor when it will expire once it has been activated. e.g. India gave a six month visa but it had to be acted upon (or entered ) within three months of being issued. It did not mean that you only got three months. Ditto for Egypt - an 'enter before' date was stipulated. As long as one entered even just one day before the 'enter before' date - if 6 months was visa permitted time, then that's how long one could stay

Any further clarifaction - is there anyone out there with a Visa O-A who believes it functions, as I do ? .NAL

[Jingthing]

Again, you can use the O-A MULTI visa for about two years stay in Thailand as long as you exit and reenter before the original O-A visa expires. Then for the additional year after that, you need new reentry permits which which be LIMITED to keep alive your permission to stay for that second additional year. What I think you think about being able to use one O-A with permits for more than two years to get new annual permissions to stay on entry for life is simply completely false. You of course can use that original O-A as a base for continuous annual extensions based on retirement from Thai immigration in Thailand for life (under current rules). I may be confused by what you are asking or what you actually think. Not really interested in arguing about how credible your friend is. I do know 100 percent you cannot keep getting additional one year stays with one O-A multiple entry for life at the airport. Total confidence on that.

Sorry in advance if I have misunderstood you. I am sure you will learn the rules to your satisfaction before the end of this thread.

[lopburi3]

You do not activate a visa - you use a visa. You did not mention any "case" or lady but did say "I have a Visa O-A Long Stay"; and then asked questions to which we have responded with the correct answers.

The visa is like a party invite with a specific time period to attend - at the door the visa is used to obtain the stamp that allow entry/stay for a specific time period. The date on the visa is issue day and last day you can use for entry (expiration date). In the case of a long stay O-A visa it is a combined visa and pre-approved extension of stay so you have the normal time of use (one year from date of entry) and a one year extended stay on entry. In the case of the multi entry you have a one year period where each entry gets a new one year period from the date of entry. So an entry just before the expiration will allow one year stay from then (but you can not obtain any new stay and any return to use remainder of current stay requires a re-entry permit). The visa provides a max time for stay - it is up to immigration on entry if you receive that stay or not. This visa can only be obtained in foreign country where you reside - if you reside in Thailand you extend your stay at an immigration office inside the country by meeting the qualifications.

The advantage is you have it in hand prior to travel and two year before financials have to be in Thailand and for one year no re-entry permit is required if you have the multi entry version.

[nal]

Hi Jingthing and others - thanks for all the input. I would like to hear from someone who has a Visa O-A, and about their experience in using it etc. Is there anyone on the Forum with such a Visa ? Thanks.

It appears that there are only two advantages: a. one does not have to bring funds into Thailand until doing an 'extension' say in the second 12 month period and b. If one is prepared to exit the country and return, then you can theoretically get almost another 12 months, but still have to apply for another entry (1,000 Bt) to get back in.

But there are many disadvantages, mailing times, personal time into visiting the appropriate departments etc and - costs - UK 125 pound plus police GPB10, heatlh ? etc. In Aust $225 Police $45, Health $65 + etc etc If you weigh these against the simpler O Visa and if there is no great financial loss in transferring 800,000Bt from overseas to Thailand, (I suppose it depends on the interest rate one is getting but on only approx GPB 17,000 it's not a great sum, is it ?)

then why are people applying for an O-A ? Is this a hard sell by Thai Embassies around the world ? (it certainly puts mopre money in their coffers than a Visa O)

I see that one of the 'visa' companies in Thailand is offering to change your hard earned O-A into a 'Retirement Visa" (their words) for the princely sum of 15,000 Bt. after one has been here for the permitted O-A visa period. Is this a con or what ??? Amazing Thailand !!! I love the place, it sure keeps you on your toes !!!!

[Jingthing]

There is another advantage to getting into the retirement EXTENSION system in Thailand sooner than later (rather than stretching use of an O-A) that is of appeal to the more paranoid among us. IF the financial requirements are raised (of course someday you can bet they will be), those on O-A visa stays before their first actual EXTENSION will (based on historical precedent) be subject to the new financial requirements and not eligible for grandfathering on their current lower levels.