O Visa 50 And Over

[Mario2008]

Bank letter is essential, they will not isue an extension without one.

[lopburi3]

As said you require both - letter to prove current account balance (it should be within a day or so of application and reflect current balance) and passbook/copies to prove in account require period of time at or above requirement (which is two months for first application).

[funlovinkid]

Many thanks for the quick response here. As you might guess, I'm busy photocopying paperwork at the moment, and knowing this up front helps me correctly plan my next move. Off to the bank now!

[Jingthing]

Like I mentioned in my response I travel to States anyway to visit family, actually twice a year. If I ever planed to stay here without ever leaving than extension of stay would be the option but I do leave so for me I prefer "O".

Of course it is no problem traveling outside Thailand with retirement extensions as long as you have a reeentry permit. It's interesting that the Portland consulate is so liberal with the one year O visas. That is unusual for US consulates and not the case at the D.C. Thai embassy. Your tactic is not a standard retirement visa option (which are O-A visas and retirement extensions). I assume you meant you are getting O visas from Portland and not O-A visas (does Portland even offer O-A visas?).

[lopburi3]

Honorary Consulates do not provide O-A visas anymore so the only thing they can issue is non immigrant O. Most seem willing to issue again (after not doing during the period they were issuing O-A). Official Consulates will insist on retirement using O-A.

[willyumcr]

Like I mentioned in my response I travel to States anyway to visit family, actually twice a year. If I ever planed to stay here without ever leaving than extension of stay would be the option but I do leave so for me I prefer "O".

Of course it is no problem traveling outside Thailand with retirement extensions as long as you have a reeentry permit. It's interesting that the Portland consulate is so liberal with the one year O visas. That is unusual for US consulates and not the case at the D.C. Thai embassy. Your tactic is not a standard retirement visa option (which are O-A visas and retirement extensions). I assume you meant you are getting O visas from Portland and not O-A visas (does Portland even offer O-A visas?).

Like I mentioned in my response I travel to States anyway to visit family, actually twice a year. If I ever planed to stay here without ever leaving than extension of stay would be the option but I do leave so for me I prefer "O".

Of course it is no problem traveling outside Thailand with retirement extensions as long as you have a reeentry permit. It's interesting that the Portland consulate is so liberal with the one year O visas. That is unusual for US consulates and not the case at the D.C. Thai embassy. Your tactic is not a standard retirement visa option (which are O-A visas and retirement extensions). I assume you meant you are getting O visas from Portland and not O-A visas (does Portland even offer O-A visas?).

Yes, I am getting "O" from Portland, not O-A as you can not get O-A from Portland only at Los Angeles. The office in Portland is very small and only open for 2 1/2 hours Monday to Thursday. The lady there is very helpful and for the past 4 years when I go there I am generally the only one there so very quick. Again I find this very easy and convenient as I go to Portland anyway.

[Jingthing]

Good for you. But most long term retirees wouldn't enjoy the need for visa runs every 90 days.

[willyumcr]

Good for you. But most long term retirees wouldn't enjoy the need for visa runs every 90 days.

Good for you. But most long term retirees wouldn't enjoy the need for visa runs every 90 days.

You are probably right. I don't know about most long term retirees but in my circle of long term retirees we all go home to home country twice a year to visit and just get away for a short while. Also in addition a lot of us go to the P.I. during songkran. While I do enjoy being retired here I feel it is necessary to get away from it all and back to home roots. Enjoy your input especially your food experiences.

[Jingthing]

Good for you. But most long term retirees wouldn't enjoy the need for visa runs every 90 days.

Good for you. But most long term retirees wouldn't enjoy the need for visa runs every 90 days.

You are probably right. I don't know about most long term retirees but in my circle of long term retirees we all go home to home country twice a year to visit and just get away for a short while. Also in addition a lot of us go to the P.I. during songkran. While I do enjoy being retired here I feel it is necessary to get away from it all and back to home roots. Enjoy your input especially your food experiences.

OK. As Portland is so liberal about this, would they issue serial annual multientry O visas to any age or are they being especially friendly to over 50's? What do you put down as your REASON for the visa?

[Cuchulainn]

The 800k in Thailand must be in a cash savings account. Passbook or fixed deposit is normally allowed. It can not be in funds or other non-cash or at risk investments........

On the day of applying for an extension, how can you update a passbook that normally won't allow any withdrawals or activity (fixed deposit a/c)? I am now 50 and next year will be my first application for 'Retirement' as opposed to 'Marriage' IF my B800k can be in a fixed deposit a/c

[willyumcr]

I would suggest you go to the Portland Thai Consulate website and look at the Visa application. I check "O" and "$200 multiple entry". There is nothing on application about reason other than check mark for"O". I am 70 years old so I assume the consulate figures my checking "O" means based on age. I don't think Portland is liberal at all as I believe all the applications at all the consulates (at least in the States) are the same.

[lopburi3]

The 800k in Thailand must be in a cash savings account. Passbook or fixed deposit is normally allowed. It can not be in funds or other non-cash or at risk investments........

On the day of applying for an extension, how can you update a passbook that normally won't allow any withdrawals or activity (fixed deposit a/c)? I am now 50 and next year will be my first application for 'Retirement' as opposed to 'Marriage' IF my B800k can be in a fixed deposit a/c

You have teller update - they can always do to current date balance.

[Cuchulainn]

The 800k in Thailand must be in a cash savings account. Passbook or fixed deposit is normally allowed. It can not be in funds or other non-cash or at risk investments........

On the day of applying for an extension, how can you update a passbook that normally won't allow any withdrawals or activity (fixed deposit a/c)? I am now 50 and next year will be my first application for 'Retirement' as opposed to 'Marriage' IF my B800k can be in a fixed deposit a/c

You have teller update - they can always do to current date balance.

So, you can update a fixed term a/c on the day of extension (Teller update) even if there has been no movement in your a/c for the past 6 or 12 months? What about proof of living expenses?

[Jingthing]

I would suggest you go to the Portland Thai Consulate website and look at the Visa application. I check "O" and "$200 multiple entry". There is nothing on application about reason other than check mark for"O". I am 70 years old so I assume the consulate figures my checking "O" means based on age. I don't think Portland is liberal at all as I believe all the applications at all the consulates (at least in the States) are the same.

Most US consulates won't issue a multi-entry annual O visa without a valid reason. For those seeking retirement extensions in Thailand, they only need a SINGLE entry O anyway. Portland has had a "liberal" reputation for such things for many years now. Sometimes consulates won't even issue a single entry O for reasons of retirement and will refer people to LA or DC, etc. for an O-A visa. Don't assume your experience in Portland, which has been very good for you, is universal.

[lopburi3]

The 800k in Thailand must be in a cash savings account. Passbook or fixed deposit is normally allowed. It can not be in funds or other non-cash or at risk investments........

On the day of applying for an extension, how can you update a passbook that normally won't allow any withdrawals or activity (fixed deposit a/c)? I am now 50 and next year will be my first application for 'Retirement' as opposed to 'Marriage' IF my B800k can be in a fixed deposit a/c

You have teller update - they can always do to current date balance.

So, you can update a fixed term a/c on the day of extension (Teller update) even if there has been no movement in your a/c for the past 6 or 12 months? What about proof of living expenses?

Immigration requirement is proof of account balance - not living expenses.

[willyumcr]

I would suggest you go to the Portland Thai Consulate website and look at the Visa application. I check "O" and "$200 multiple entry". There is nothing on application about reason other than check mark for"O". I am 70 years old so I assume the consulate figures my checking "O" means based on age. I don't think Portland is liberal at all as I believe all the applications at all the consulates (at least in the States) are the same.

Most US consulates won't issue a multi-entry annual O visa without a valid reason. For those seeking retirement extensions in Thailand, they only need a SINGLE entry O anyway. Portland has had a "liberal" reputation for such things for many years now. Sometimes consulates won't even issue a single entry O for reasons of retirement and will refer people to LA or DC, etc. for an O-A visa. Don't assume your experience in Portland, which has been very good for you, is universal.

I would suggest you go to the Portland Thai Consulate website and look at the Visa application. I check "O" and "$200 multiple entry". There is nothing on application about reason other than check mark for"O". I am 70 years old so I assume the consulate figures my checking "O" means based on age. I don't think Portland is liberal at all as I believe all the applications at all the consulates (at least in the States) are the same.

Most US consulates won't issue a multi-entry annual O visa without a valid reason. For those seeking retirement extensions in Thailand, they only need a SINGLE entry O anyway. Portland has had a "liberal" reputation for such things for many years now. Sometimes consulates won't even issue a single entry O for reasons of retirement and will refer people to LA or DC, etc. for an O-A visa. Don't assume your experience in Portland, which has been very good for you, is universal.

I stand corrected as I reviewed the application and further down there is a "Reason for visit". I put Retirement. I am not wrong in what I am doing. If so I have been wrong for 4 times now. In any event it has all been done legally according to the consulate and when I pass in immigration.

[Jingthing]

I stand corrected as I reviewed the application and further down there is a "Reason for visit". I put Retirement. I am not wrong in what I am doing. If so I have been wrong for 4 times now. In any event it has all been done legally according to the consulate and when I pass in immigration.

Of course you are not wrong. You are just fortunate that you are using the Portland consulate! I only pointed this out so that others don't assume they will get the same results at every consulate. Because they won't.

[willyumcr]

I only put in this information about Portland as it relates to my past experience. Maybe it is helpful to some people who do not wish to go the O-A route.I have only needed to use one consulate so I cannot comment on what the other consulates do or don't do. If how I do this can help someone, then it is good. After all this is a forum to be able to throw around different ideas. As far as fortunate to use Portland, anyone can use it and even do it by mail if you check the website. By using the mail I naturally mean if you are in the States.

[Jingthing]

I only put in this information about Portland as it relates to my past experience. Maybe it is helpful to some people who do not wish to go the O-A route.I have only needed to use one consulate so I cannot comment on what the other consulates do or don't do. If how I do this can help someone, then it is good. After all this is a forum to be able to throw around different ideas. As far as fortunate to use Portland, anyone can use it and even do it by mail if you check the website. By using the mail I naturally mean if you are in the States.

Yes I agree. Of course I would suggest people ask Portland first before mailing in their passport and application to make sure they are currently welcoming out-of-region applications.

For people new to this game, the fact that with a multiple entry O (as opposed to an O-A or a retirement extension) you are required to travel out of Thailand every 90 days you are in Thailand needs to be emphasized. For you, obviously not a problem. For most people, I think a big disadvantage.

[willyumcr]

Just another option.

[Sophon]

The 800k in Thailand must be in a cash savings account. Passbook or fixed deposit is normally allowed. It can not be in funds or other non-cash or at risk investments........

On the day of applying for an extension, how can you update a passbook that normally won't allow any withdrawals or activity (fixed deposit a/c)? I am now 50 and next year will be my first application for 'Retirement' as opposed to 'Marriage' IF my B800k can be in a fixed deposit a/c

You have teller update - they can always do to current date balance.

Not all bank's systems allow a teller update if there are no transactions on the account. I used my Kasikorn Bank fixed account for my last extension, and the teller wasn't able to update the account nor did she understand my suggestion to make a credit entry of zero baht. I had to go to the Kasikorn Bank near Immigration in Suan Phlu (it was during the floods) and while he also couldn't do the update, he had enough experience to do the zero baht credit transaction.

Sophon

[AlaskaDave]

Embassy letter showing minimum of 65K baht per month INCOME

RE: Eligibility. I will be applying for a retirement visa (a long-stay visa) this summer before I return to Thailand. I have retirement income in excess of 65K baht per month and can prove it with statements from the U.S. Social Security Administration, but you mentioned an "embassy letter". Is that different?

Also I understood from a conversation I had with the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles last year that there are several additional requirements: a statement from your doctor, a statement from the police officials in your town stating that you are not a criminal or fugitive from justice. Is that the general case as far asyou know ?

Can one apply for a multiple entry retirement visa in the states?

Thanks for any information you can provide.

I tried to apply for OA from China which I am qualified to do. The problem was too many required documents as you mentioned. I decided to go for retirement extension. Arrive on 30 day visa, apply for O , have money in the bank (60 days or more) and apply for extension. No medical, no criminal record statement. Just need a bank statement and letter from the bank.

I spoke with the Thai Embassy people in Los Angeles again yesterday. They do require the medical and police statements as well as proof of retirement benefits.They also told me the visa they issue would be valid for 90-days and that I could apply for the one-year visa with multople entries once I'm in Thailand. One other thing about those documents: they must be notarized. This could be a major stumbling block. How to request the Social Security Administration to send a notarized statement, for example? The lady told me I could attach statements, signed before a notary, stating that the information provided was accurate.

I'm in the process of obtaining the required documents and when I have them will attach notarized Affidavits to each. Then I will apply for the O-A visa from the LA Embassy. I'll let you know how that goes.

The Thai visa rules and restrictions on foreigners are complex and confusing. Even in Thailand those rules are interpreted differently depending on which city you're in. I found that out when I bought a motorcycle in Thailand last year and wanted to register it in my own name. And Thaivisa forum members have had various experiences that are reported in here that are not always competely accurate nor uniformly true across Thailand. What a mess it is!

Thanks for your replies.

[Jingthing]

Embassy letter showing minimum of 65K baht per month INCOME

RE: Eligibility. I will be applying for a retirement visa (a long-stay visa) this summer before I return to Thailand. I have retirement income in excess of 65K baht per month and can prove it with statements from the U.S. Social Security Administration, but you mentioned an "embassy letter". Is that different?

Also I understood from a conversation I had with the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles last year that there are several additional requirements: a statement from your doctor, a statement from the police officials in your town stating that you are not a criminal or fugitive from justice. Is that the general case as far asyou know ?

Can one apply for a multiple entry retirement visa in the states?

Thanks for any information you can provide.

I tried to apply for OA from China which I am qualified to do. The problem was too many required documents as you mentioned. I decided to go for retirement extension. Arrive on 30 day visa, apply for O , have money in the bank (60 days or more) and apply for extension. No medical, no criminal record statement. Just need a bank statement and letter from the bank.

I spoke with the Thai Embassy people in Los Angeles again yesterday. They do require the medical and police statements as well as proof of retirement benefits.They also told me the visa they issue would be valid for 90-days and that I could apply for the one-year visa with multople entries once I'm in Thailand. One other thing about those documents: they must be notarized. This could be a major stumbling block. How to request the Social Security Administration to send a notarized statement, for example? The lady told me I could attach statements, signed before a notary, stating that the information provided was accurate.

I'm in the process of obtaining the required documents and when I have them will attach notarized Affidavits to each. Then I will apply for the O-A visa from the LA Embassy. I'll let you know how that goes.

The Thai visa rules and restrictions on foreigners are complex and confusing. Even in Thailand those rules are interpreted differently depending on which city you're in. I found that out when I bought a motorcycle in Thailand last year and wanted to register it in my own name. And Thaivisa forum members have had various experiences that are reported in here that are not always competely accurate nor uniformly true across Thailand. What a mess it is!

Thanks for your replies.

And here's more.

LA offers ONE YEAR O-A visas with the option of MULTIPLE ENTRY which is what you want because you can stretch to make a TWO YEAR stay if you use it correctly. O-A visas DO require the medical form and the police record form.

LA is well known for NOT offering single entry 90 day visas with the reason of retirement. Rather they will tell you to apply for a ONE YEAR O-A visa instead. That's what she was talking about. You need to USE the O-A visa within 90 days but again if you get a multiple entry one you can make it last two years before needing to do any extension in Thailand.

The info about what happens in THAILAND is much better at this website than what any consulate tells you. They have their role. They are not in Thailand. They are not the experts on what happens at Thai immigration in Thailand.

BTW, if you want to avoid the medical/police thing, you should contact a friendly consulate like Portland (doesn't offer O-A) where you can probably get a single entry O visa based on the reason of retirement, and then you can apply for annual extension based on retirement in Thailand during the last 30 days of your stay on that 90 day stay single entry visa. I doubt you will need any notarization BS at a friendly consulate. In other words, if you aren't seeking an O-A, AVOID LA.

Confusing? Probably. There are different options.

[lopburi3]

The 800k in Thailand must be in a cash savings account. Passbook or fixed deposit is normally allowed. It can not be in funds or other non-cash or at risk investments........

On the day of applying for an extension, how can you update a passbook that normally won't allow any withdrawals or activity (fixed deposit a/c)? I am now 50 and next year will be my first application for 'Retirement' as opposed to 'Marriage' IF my B800k can be in a fixed deposit a/c

You have teller update - they can always do to current date balance.

Not all bank's systems allow a teller update if there are no transactions on the account. I used my Kasikorn Bank fixed account for my last extension, and the teller wasn't able to update the account nor did she understand my suggestion to make a credit entry of zero baht. I had to go to the Kasikorn Bank near Immigration in Suan Phlu (it was during the floods) and while he also couldn't do the update, he had enough experience to do the zero baht credit transaction.

Sophon

I had K-Bank teller at Chiang Watanna update a passbook two weeks ago (quite by accident as had not been checked in about a year and update machine refused to process) so I know they can. They may not want to do it (it did take a lot of keystrokes for a one line entry) but they did it.

[lopburi3]

They also told me the visa they issue would be valid for 90-days and that I could apply for the one-year visa with multople entries once I'm in Thailand.

Total nonsense. Your visa, if single entry, would have been valid for 90 days to use but on use it would have provided a one year stay. And you could then request a multi re-entry permit for travel during that time period. One year visas are not available in Thailand - only extensions of stay are longer than 90 days.

[AlaskaDave]

They also told me the visa they issue would be valid for 90-days and that I could apply for the one-year visa with multople entries once I'm in Thailand.

Total nonsense. Your visa, if single entry, would have been valid for 90 days to use but on use it would have provided a one year stay. And you could then request a multi re-entry permit for travel during that time period. One year visas are not available in Thailand - only extensions of stay are longer than 90 days.

Thanks for the reply. I'm going to try to straighten this all out when I talk to the Portland Embassy tomorrow. I have been unable to reply to these messages (get an error: You have used too many blocks) so I doubt this will get through. If it does I will respond more fully later.

[lopburi3]

I suspect you quoted too many previous messages. Most times you need not quote anything if still on-topic and that avoids those warnings.

It is a Consulate in Portland and from them you would get a single entry non immigrant O visa (not the O-A that LA would issue) so no medical or police report required. With that you enter Thailand for a 90 day stay and after 60-80 days visit immigration with financial proof and extend for one year on basis of retirement. If you want to travel you also obtain a re-entry permit (or multi version).

Alternative would be the multi entry non immigrant O visa allowing up to 90 day stay each time that can be used for one year from date of issue. No immigration contact/financials required with that but you can only stay 90 days each time.

[ubonjoe]

Once you are here and are ready to get your extension done you will need to get an income affidavit at the US embassy to prove your income. Info here:http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service/notarial-services.html

[mikekim1219]

Embassy letter showing minimum of 65K baht per month INCOME

RE: Eligibility. I will be applying for a retirement visa (a long-stay visa) this summer before I return to Thailand. I have retirement income in excess of 65K baht per month and can prove it with statements from the U.S. Social Security Administration, but you mentioned an "embassy letter". Is that different?

Also I understood from a conversation I had with the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles last year that there are several additional requirements: a statement from your doctor, a statement from the police officials in your town stating that you are not a criminal or fugitive from justice. Is that the general case as far asyou know ?

Can one apply for a multiple entry retirement visa in the states?

Thanks for any information you can provide.

I tried to apply for OA from China which I am qualified to do. The problem was too many required documents as you mentioned. I decided to go for retirement extension. Arrive on 30 day visa, apply for O , have money in the bank (60 days or more) and apply for extension. No medical, no criminal record statement. Just need a bank statement and letter from the bank.

I spoke with the Thai Embassy people in Los Angeles again yesterday. They do require the medical and police statements as well as proof of retirement benefits.They also told me the visa they issue would be valid for 90-days and that I could apply for the one-year visa with multople entries once I'm in Thailand. One other thing about those documents: they must be notarized. This could be a major stumbling block. How to request the Social Security Administration to send a notarized statement, for example? The lady told me I could attach statements, signed before a notary, stating that the information provided was accurate.

I'm in the process of obtaining the required documents and when I have them will attach notarized Affidavits to each. Then I will apply for the O-A visa from the LA Embassy. I'll let you know how that goes.

The Thai visa rules and restrictions on foreigners are complex and confusing. Even in Thailand those rules are interpreted differently depending on which city you're in. I found that out when I bought a motorcycle in Thailand last year and wanted to register it in my own name. And Thaivisa forum members have had various experiences that are reported in here that are not always competely accurate nor uniformly true across Thailand. What a mess it is!

Thanks for your replies.

I had my girl call Mae Sai Immigration. They confirmed what I stated above. No medical, no criminal. Just bank statement and letter.

[mikekim1219]

You are absolutely right. If I had listened to the lady at Beijing Embassy, I would have to fly to Thailand for bank statement and medical. Fly back to Beijing for criminal record from local police (who knows how long that would take. China is worse in terms of ownership and common sense) and other required documents. She had no idea about different options. It's not her job to be a consultant. She was only stating the policy for O-A visa according to her embassy.