Changing Non-B To Non-O Visa

[jayjay2001]

Hi all,

My employment with a company here in Thailand is ending towards the end of this month. Thus, I'm needing to change from a non-B (with work permit) visa to a non-"O-A" retirement visa. I believe I need to leave the country and go to Laos or Malaysia, etc. Is this correct, i.e., I cannot make a visa change without leaving the country?

Thanks for any help.

JJ

P.S. By the way, I could no longer find info on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs's website for 1) an ED visa or2) a non-O visa regarding foreign monks at http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2637.php . (???)

[digitalchromakey]

Are you on an Extension of Permission to Stay obtained at your local Immigration Dept, or are you on a 90 day Border entry?

If you are on an Extension of Permission to stay then this ends the day you leave employment and you thus need to leave Thailand Immediately to get a new visa.

If you are on a 90 day entry, then you can apply for an Extension of Permission to Stay on the grounds of Retirement (Police Order 777/2551 Section 2.22), but you may need to do one more border run to allow enough time for you money to season in the bank (2 months for the first application).

[Mario2008]

You do not need to leave the country or apply for a O-A visa, when your employment ends you go and cancel your permission to stay based on employment and at the same time you simply ask for an extension of stay based on retirement. Of course you will need to have the right paperwork for an extension of stay based on retirement.

- have an income of 65,000 baht a month ( can be from abroad)

OR

have 800,000 baht in a bank account in Thailand for at least 2 months the first time

OR

- have a combination of yearly income and money in the bank totaling at least 800,000 baht.

[jayjay2001]

Thank you Digitalchromakey and Mario2008 for your responses. It appears the two responses are saying different things, but I may be missing something. If someone would reply with a further response based on the following information, I'd appreciate it:

As stated, I have a non-B visa and a work permit.

Further information to follow up on Digitalchromakey's questions:

The visa is a one year single entry. I obtained it last September, and every 90 days I go to the local immigration office for my 90 day check-in. My next 90 day check-in is May 8, 2012 so a few weeks after my employment ends. I understand that once my work permit is canceled, I have 7 days to either leave the country-- if I was leaving for good-- or to obtain another visa. If I choose to stay in Thailand, I will go for a retirement visa (the O-A visa).

While I have a current Thai bank account, there is NOT 800,000 bht in it at this time; I would have to tranfer some money into it from my home country account.

With that said, can anyone confirm if I need to leave the country for the O-A visa, or if I can simply change to the O-A visa at the local immigration office without leaving the country? However, it does sound like doing the change without leaving the country might not be possible if I need to take into account having 800,000 bht for two months in the bank (unless I can do an extension of stay and border run to cover the 2 months ???)

Thanks again for the help.

Cheers,

JJ

[beechguy]

You are currently here on a one year "Extension of Stay" based on employment, and you will be applying for a one year "Extension of Stay" based on retirement, they are not visas. An "O-A" is issued in your home country, you will need to exit and apply for a an "O" visa at a consulate in a neighboring country, then when your financial situation is in order apply for the extension based on your retirement..

[Mario2008]

Per above you are on an extension of stay. Unless you also have an incoem (penison or rental income or sorts) with wich to make up 800,000 baht, you do not qualify for an extension of stay, unless you are married to a Thai national.

[jayjay2001]

OK, thanks guys. Questioned answered thanks to your help!

I really appreciate you all taking the time to respond.

Kind regards,

JJ

[lopburi3]

You have several options - the easy method is just exit to a Consulate for a single entry non immigrant O visa allowing 90 days stay and that will provide time for the 60 days bank account deposit. A second option (at Bangkok and a few other immigration offices) is a quick visa exempt or tourist visa entry and immediate conversion to non immigrant entry at Immigration for 2,000 baht with show of the required financial amount in account (not need for 60 days until you do the extension).

[jayjay2001]

Thanks, Lopburi3. Yes, I'll do the first option you mentioned. I really appreciate your help! It clarified for me how to manage the two month bank account w/ 800,000 bht issue.

Cheers,

John

[digitalchromakey]

The visa is a one year single entry. I obtained it last September, and every 90 days I go to the local immigration office for my 90 day check-in. My next 90 day check-in is May 8, 2012 so a few weeks after my employment ends. I understand that once my work permit is canceled, I have 7 days to either leave the country-- if I was leaving for good-- or to obtain another visa. If I choose to stay in Thailand, I will go for a retirement visa (the O-A visa).

While I have a current Thai bank account, there is NOT 800,000 bht in it at this time; I would have to tranfer some money into it from my home country account.

With that said, can anyone confirm if I need to leave the country for the O-A visa, or if I can simply change to the O-A visa at the local immigration office without leaving the country? However, it does sound like doing the change without leaving the country might not be possible if I need to take into account having 800,000 bht for two months in the bank (unless I can do an extension of stay and border run to cover the 2 months ???)

As has already been posted, you no longer have a Visa, you are on an Extension of Permission to Stay which is obtained within Thailand.

You could change the basis of the Extension, but you write that you will not have had enouigh cash in the bank for long enough to change the basis of your Extension of Permission to Stay to Retirement.

So you will have to leave Thailand as soon as your Work Permit is cancelled.

In this case, you do not have 7 days to leave - you must leave Thailand the same day; else you can apply for a 7 day Extension at Immigration, if you can show travel tickets for a departure within that 7 day period.

[jayjay2001]

Digitalchromakey,

Thanks for the further info about not having 7 days after the work permit is cancelled, and needing to leave thailand the same day or apply for the 7 day extension (a very important piece of information!)

Thanks for all of your help

Kind regards,

JJ