I lived in Thailand for 7 years with a one year retirement Visa for several years and a one year "married to a Thai" Visa in the last year.

I received my initial retirement visa, through the Thai office in Washington, DC, while still living in the US. Each subsequent year I would get my next year's Visa as a matter of routine - I would get a Statement of Income from the US Embassy in Bangkok, a Statement regarding my address in Thailand, also from the US Embassy in Bangkok....... - never had any problems.

So, this is the first time I am going to be trying to do something out of the ordinary and I don't have any idea how to proceed.

Should I (could I), use a tourist Visa, obtain an address in Thailand and do the same as I did before - get the same paperwork together from the US Embassy in BKK, a medical certificate.... (one thing that concerns me is that included in my original application back in the US was a notarized document from the local police department that said I did not have a criminal record - do I need something like this again?). Should I try to work with the Thai Embassy in Cambodia and also the US Embassy here?

My last one year Visa, before moving to Cambodia, expired in mid October last year. Could I just show up in mid October this year (having gotten a new address, docs from US Embassy.....) obtained while on a tourist visa in September.

As I mentioned, this is my first time in an unusual situation and I really have no idea what to do.

So, any help would be greaty appreciated.

You can get a non-O visa in Cambodia, (based on marriage or retirement) on which you get a 90 day entry. After 60 days in Thailand you can go to immigration in thailand to extend it as you used to do. The rules didn't change.

Alternatively you can get a tourist visa and apply for a conversion to a non-immigrant visa in Thailand.

In the Us you applied for a O-A visa, wich required medical and police check. For a regular non-O there is no such requirement.

Also no Embassy report of address will be required if you have some other proof of where you are living, such as lease, wife home register, letters addressed to you or such. For retirement they only requirement will be over 50 and financials so very easy. You make application during last 30 days or the visa 90 day stay.

Skimming through your post I would say...yes, it's possible....because from what i see you are.

1. Over 50 years of age.

2. Can meet the financial requirements.

3. If you are still married you may to a Thai you may also qualify there....but that will require some help from your wife. But even without her help you can qualify for retirement.

The things you will need to qualify for a retirement visa are:

1. 800K Thai baht in a Thai bank account....initially for 2 months "seasoning" period before application.

2. OR the statement from the U.S. embessythat you have a pension, Social Security, or some source of funds from outside of Thailand for the amount of 65K baht monthly.

3. OR a combination of bank account and monthly income to meet that 800K requirement in #1 above.

Since it seems you originally had an O-A retirement visa requiring a medical check and police report...you may be happy to know that for a retirement visa if done in Thailand you do NOT need either of those two checks.

I presume that since you've been living in Cambodia your former retirement visa in Thailand is now expired?

That means you have to start the process all over again....but it can be done in Thailand...no need to go back to the U.S. unless you want to.

The FIRST thing you need is some kind of visa that will get you back into Thailand.

Personally I would try for a non O visa which would let you open a bank account in Thailand.

But such visas have been dificult to get lately simply for retirement...but IF you are married....it is still possible.

Your "backup plan" should be a (best) double entry tourist visa or (third best) a single entry tourist visa....which you can change in Thailand at your local immigration office to a non O visa.

A non O multi entry good for one year would be the ultimate ... but I don't think you'll get that anywhere in S.E. Asia....except for marriage...not simply for retirement.

You might be able to get a 90 day Non O for retirement in Savannaket, Laos....they are currently the "friendliest" Thai consulate near Thailand for visas.

If not then that double entry tourist visa and next down that single entry tourist visa are the other choices.

A double entry will get you two 90 day stays (intial entry 60 days and a 30 day extension) on each entry....so a total of 180 days to get established in Thailand and convert to a non O visa in Thailand.

Obviously a single entry is one initial 60 day entry and one 30 day extension or 90 days total.

Anyhow, it is possible...but it will be a process....but at the end you can get back to that yearly retirement visa extension...with 90 day reporting at your local immigration.

Edited August 6, 201213 yr by IMA_FARANG

Skimming through your post I would say...yes, it's possible....because from what i see you are.

1. Over 50 years of age.

2. Can meet the financial requirements.

3. If you are still married you may to a Thai you may also qualify there....but that will require some help from your wife. But even without her help you can qualify for retirement.

The things you will need to qualify for a retirement visa are:

1. 800K Thai baht in a Thai bank account....initially for 2 months "seasoning" period before application.

2. OR the statement from the U.S. embessythat you have a pension, Social Security, or some source of funds from outside of Thailand for the amount of 65K baht monthly.

3. OR a combination of bank account and monthly income to meet that 800K requirement in #1 above.

Since it seems you originally had an O-A retirement visa requiring a medical check and police report...you may be happy to know that for a retirement visa if done in Thailand you do NOT need either of those two checks.

I presume that since you've been living in Cambodia your former retirement visa in Thailand is now expired?

That means you have to start the process all over again....but it can be done in Thailand...no need to go back to the U.S. unless you want to.

The FIRST thing you need is some kind of visa that will get you back into Thailand.

Personally I would try for a non O visa which would let you open a bank account in Thailand.

But such visas have been dificult to get lately simply for retirement...but IF you are married....it is still possible.

Your "backup plan" should be a (best) double entry tourist visa or (third best) a single entry tourist visa....which you can change in Thailand at your local immigration office to a non O visa.

A non O multi entry good for one year would be the ultimate ... but I don't think you'll get that anywhere in S.E. Asia....except for marriage...not simply for retirement.

You might be able to get a 90 day Non O for retirement in Savannaket, Laos....they are currently the "friendliest" Thai consulate near Thailand for visas.

If not then that double entry tourist visa and next down that single entry tourist visa are the other choices.

A double entry will get you two 90 day stays (intial entry 60 days and a 30 day extension) on each entry....so a total of 180 days to get established in Thailand and convert to a non O visa in Thailand.

Obviously a single entry is one initial 60 day entry and one 30 day extension or 90 days total.

Anyhow, it is possible...but it will be a process....but at the end you can get back to that yearly retirement visa extension...with 90 day reporting at your local immigration.

Thanks to you and others for taking the time to reply.

I am only on my first cup of coffee, so, I will need to re-read your reply to fully comphrehend it. Specifically with regards to your first #3 and ". If you are still married you may to a Thai you may also qualify there....but that will require some help from your wife" - I am still married to my Thai wife, I have an original marriage certificate. But, with regards to "some help from your wife", I am not sure what you refer to and I don't think I could get help from her. Briefly, my Thai wife at one time was diagnosed as schizophrenic by a female Thai Psychiatrist. While this was not an accurate diagnosis, since she stopped hearing voices after about 5 months, my wife does seem to have some sort of multiple presonality disorder. Also, she lives in Amnat Choren (sp?) about a 9 hour bus ride from BKK (I will actually end up in Naklua and use the Pattaya-Jomtien immigration office - but, I could start out with the BKK office). Anyway, while I do provide her with financial support, I don't think I could count on my Thai wife "doing" anything on my behalf.

I am over 50 (well over unfortunately) and I have more than 400,000 baht (equivalent in US $) in a Cambodian bank but, I also have an income of more than 65,000 baht a month (from Soc Sec and my former employer pension (lucky for me, my former employer is one of the most profitable companies in the US and has a fully funded pension plan). My last Thai Visa expired in Oct., 2011.

Thanks for reading this and for any additional help.

However, there is one area that you mentioned that I would like to give some background on and find out your thoughts.

Skimming through your post I would say...yes, it's possible....because from what i see you are.

.

Regarding my prior reply to you, the last sentence, "However......." was supposed to supposed to come right after my first sentence, "Thanks.....". The area I wanted to mention was the second paragraph concerning my wife. Thanks, again.

Edited August 6, 201213 yr by Tiger7Moth

The extension based on retirement will be the easiest way for you to go and probably also to get a non-O visa to start with.

For a non-O visa based on your wife you wmight need some documents, like copy of the ID-card and household registration of your wife.

But if you intend to live in Thailand even a single entry tourist visa would be fine as you can easily change to non immigrant entry at immigration inside Thailand but will cost an extra 2,000 baht and a $50 Embassy letter of income. But Consulate may issue the non immigrant O visa just on the basis of your being over 50 and added by having previous retirement.

The income affidavit from the embassy can also serve as proof of address because you also swear that the address you put on it is correct.

Skimming through your post I would say...yes, it's possible....because from what i see you are.

Thanks again for your reply. Please see my latest post, which I will enter in a half hour or so - after thanking others who have replied. In my latest post I will summarize my thinking how I will proceed based upon the input I have received.

The extension based on retirement will be the easiest way for you to go and probably also to get a non-O visa to start with.

For a non-O visa based on your wife you wmight need some documents, like copy of the ID-card and household registration of your wife.

But if you intend to live in Thailand even a single entry tourist visa would be fine as you can easily change to non immigrant entry at immigration inside Thailand but will cost an extra 2,000 baht and a $50 Embassy letter of income. But Consulate may issue the non immigrant O visa just on the basis of your being over 50 and added by having previous retirement.

Thanks for your reply. Please see my latest post, which will happen in a few minutes, in which I will try to summarize my thinking based upon input received. Thanks.

The income affidavit from the embassy can also serve as proof of address because you also swear that the address you put on it is correct.

Thanks for your reply. Please see my latest post, which will happen in a few minutes, in which I will try to summarize my thinking based upon input received. Thanks.

Edited August 6, 201213 yr by Tiger7Moth

The income affidavit from the embassy can also serve as proof of address because you also swear that the address you put on it is correct.

Thanks for your reply. Please see my latest post, which will happen in a few minutes, in which I will try to summarize my thinking based upon input received. Thanks.

MY LATEST THINKING

Firstly, due to my wife's mental health problems, I think it's best to go with a retirement Visa as my ultimate goal.

Secondly, there is one other factor or concern for me - I have only 9 pages left in my Passport - so, I will have to be careful with regards to exits and entry from, to Cambodia and Thailand - once I am settled (have a Visa that doesn't require Visa runs, I can turn my Passport over to the US Embassy to have pages added (which I think could take up to 2 months).

Thirdly, I don't presently have an address in Thailand. But, I know where I want to live (middle part of Naklua) and know a place I could rent for a month or two. Anyway, my plan is to come to Thailand in early September and find a place to stay. Then return to Cambodia and ship some things to my new address in Thailand. Then, go to the US Embassy in BKK and get the income and address notarized paperwork. Then, go to Thai Immigration (Pattaya/Jomtien) and get a retirement Non-O Visa. (This would hopefully get me back to one year and give me time to have pages added to my Passport??).

Fourthly, this leads to my conclusion that I should get a single entry 60 day Tourist Visa and this should allow for sufficient time to convert to Non-O Visa.

My initial trip to Thailand, for a week to look for a place to rent, would simply be a Visa on arrival in Thailand.

How does this sound??

Not very important, I don't think - but, coincidentally, my last Thai Visa expired on Oct. 17, 2011 and my one year Cambodia Visa expires on Oct. 17, 2012.

Thanks in advance for any further input and comments.

Actually you can convert down to about 11 days remaining on permuted to stay so a tourist visa will provide plenty of time. As for pages added to passport that takes only a few minutes at US Embassy but you must make appointment on-line for all services now. But I would ask Thai Embassy for a non immigrant O visa first - if they say no that a tourist visa.

Actually you can convert down to about 11 days remaining on permuted to stay so a tourist visa will provide plenty of time. As for pages added to passport that takes only a few minutes at US Embassy but you must make appointment on-line for all services now. But I would ask Thai Embassy for a non immigrant O visa first - if they say no that a tourist visa.

Are you sure about having pages added in one day? I have had pages added one time already (so, I am also concerned about having pages added a second time - would I need a new Passport book?) and, while it's possible my memory is off, I recall that my Passport had to be sent to the US and retuned from the US (handled by the US Embassy - they called me when my Passport was available - and, that it took several weeks.

Thanks for your help and interest

Up to three sets can be inserted. This is the official US Embassy Bangkok Web information.

Procedure to obtain extra visa pages

Complete an application form, DS-4085. Complete and print your online application.

Make an appointment

Submit the application to the American Citizen Services section between 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Pay the required fee. The fee for additional visa pages is $82.

Allow one hour for this service. We can do this while you wait.

http://bangkok.usemb...visa_pages.html

Be aware many people now consider it more cost effective/easier to use to obtain new passports rather than extra page inserts.