Retirement Visa Renewal Problem- Advice Needed

[mtw1000]

I know there are many who have much more knowledge that I on this issue and I need some advice.

On August 9 2011 I obtained my O-A multiple entry visa for Thailand. I arrived shortly thereafter and everything went fine during the year. My visa expired on August 8, 2012. In early August 2012, I made a trip to Singapore, but arrived back in Thailand on August 8 2012. After several discussions with the immigration staff, they stamped my passport with a stay until date of September 5, 2013.

On August 28, 2012 I went back to america and returned on Sepember 15, 2012. The immigration staff stamped my passport with a valid visa date until September 14, 2013. On September 28 I had another trip to Singapore and returned on October 3, 2012. Immigration staff refused to extend my O-A visa and only gave me a 30 day visa. I spoke to several people in immigration, but language barriers kept me from understanding their reasoning. They just keep pointing at the August 8, 2012 expiration date on my original paper visa and said 30 days!!

I am at a loss for what to do and even who to talk to. Do I need to start the process over again? Did I make a mistake?

Any advice whould be greatly appreciated since I have 30 days to get this fixed. Thanks!!!!!!!

[Jingthing]

The multiple entry feature of an O-A visa where they give you a new year each time is only valid while the original VISA (as opposed to the current ending date of permission to stay) is still valid. It is not a lifetime visa!

Yes, you do need to start over. BUT you do NOT need a NEW O-A visa. You DO need a new O visa though, just not an O-A.

Your basic easier options are to get a single entry O visa IN Thailand or in a neighboring country and then apply for your annual extension based on retirement in Thailand. The former we call here the two step process. As you are now on a 30 day stamp you should hurry to start the two step process at your local Thai immigration office in Thailand. Where is that office? Some won't do that, the big ones generally will. To be qualified to start the two step process you MUST be financially qualified for a retirement extension in Thailand. Income method (needed a letter from your embassy or consulate), bank account method (needing money seasoning two months), or combo method, no seasoning needed. For these extensions no new medical or police form is needed. Good luck.

If you choose to get a single entry O visa in Malaysia or Laos your only qualification for that is to be over 50 and state your intention to apply for an annual retirement extension in Thailand. Then in the last 30 days of your 90 day stay on that single entry, apply for your annual extension at your local Thai immigration office, meeting the financial qualifications.

If you are married to holding a multi-entry O-A visa, which you do not need, you must start over in your home country.

[Jingthing]

I'd like to add that what you want at Thai immigration is called a CHANGE OF VISA STATUS. In your case from a 30 day stamp to an O visa. Can also be done from a tourist visa. Tell them you need it to apply for an annual extension based on retirement which will likely happen later.

[lopburi3]

arrived back in Thailand on August 8 2012. After several discussions with the immigration staff, they stamped my passport with a stay until date of September 5, 2013.

None of this makes any sense - you can never get a stamp for more than a year after visa expiration date. And any travel done after visa expiration date would require a re-entry permit and the date stamped would be the same as on that permit.

You now have a 30 day visa exempt entry. You can go to immigration to convert to a non immigrant visa but needs to be done within the first part of your current stay. That will provide a 90 day entry which you can then extend for retirement after 60 days. And you will require a re-entry permit for any travel (or you lose your previous entry). You will require proof of meeting financials in Thailand of the normal 800k in Thailand located bank or 65k income in Embassy letter.

Your other option is to return to home country and start the O-A process again with medical/financial/police report.

[Jingthing]

I agree some of the details in the OP's story don't make sense. But if he's got a 30 day stamp now, that's all history and there no way to "fix it" to get his original O-A visa back.

Will also add if using a bank account method for annual retirement extension (either the full 800K or as part of a combo with income) the banked money MUST be in Thailand. That differs from O-A qualification where the banked money shown is typically not in Thailand and that is acceptable.

[lopburi3]

There is a way and I clearly outlined it - conversion is easily available inside Thailand - you can never renew an O-A visa in any case - you either get a new one or you extend as I have said.

[Jingthing]

There is a way and I clearly outlined it - conversion is easily available inside Thailand - you can never renew an O-A visa in any case - you either get a new one or you extend as I have said.

I agree. I think you misunderstood the semantics of what I said. If he wants to activate his ORIGINAL O-A visa, that will never happen. His starting point now is a 30 day stamp.

[lopburi3]

True the O-A is gone; but it was history in August from the dates - although suspect he received a 30 day entry on that August return (although again dates do not seem to line up). Obviously serious errors somewhere but net result is he needs to do his extension of stay process (starting with conversion) or obtain a new long stay visa.

[Jingthing]

Yes, and since he has probably never been in the retirement extension system IN Thailand before, it would behoove the OP to learn how that works (as it's pretty clear he didn't understand how an O-A works).

[mtw1000]

I want to thank everyone who posted responses! Clearly I had some misunderstanding of this process and that will need to change.

If I understand correctly, I should now go to immigration in Thailand and apply for an O visa with the understanding that I want to renew my previous O-A retirement visa. I meet the financial requirements with an account in Thailand so that shouldn't be a problem. During the end of the O visa, I should approach immigration again in Thailand and renew my previos O-A visa ensuring I have met the financial requirements. I assume that my previous O-A visa can still be renewed using this method.

Do I have this right? I will do more research on the O visa and renewal of the O-A visa as well.

Thanks again! I will be at the CheckInn99 event Saturday and hope to meet some of the ThaiVisa members.

[beechguy]

I want to thank everyone who posted responses! Clearly I had some misunderstanding of this process and that will need to change.

If I understand correctly, I should now go to immigration in Thailand and apply for an O visa with the understanding that I want to renew my previous O-A retirement visa. I meet the financial requirements with an account in Thailand so that shouldn't be a problem. During the end of the O visa, I should approach immigration again in Thailand and renew my previos O-A visa ensuring I have met the financial requirements. I assume that my previous O-A visa can still be renewed using this method.

Do I have this right? I will do more research on the O visa and renewal of the O-A visa as well.

Thanks again! I will be at the CheckInn99 event Saturday and hope to meet some of the ThaiVisa members.

No, you still don't get it. You aren't renewing anything, you will be requesting an "O" Visa with the intention of applying for an "Extension of Stay" based on retirement, that is not a visa, just permission to stay for a year.

[mtw1000]

I want to add that I am not married to a Thai national, so I am unsure about the O visa.

[ThaidDown]

I want to thank everyone who posted responses! Clearly I had some misunderstanding of this process and that will need to change.

If I understand correctly, I should now go to immigration in Thailand and apply for an O visa with the understanding that I want to renew my previous O-A retirement visa. I meet the financial requirements with an account in Thailand so that shouldn't be a problem. During the end of the O visa, I should approach immigration again in Thailand and renew my previos O-A visa ensuring I have met the financial requirements. I assume that my previous O-A visa can still be renewed using this method.

Do I have this right? I will do more research on the O visa and renewal of the O-A visa as well.

Thanks again! I will be at the CheckInn99 event Saturday and hope to meet some of the ThaiVisa members.

No you do not have it right as Lopburi3 has already said you cannot renew your O-A visa, it is gone ,forget about it. The only way to get another O-A is to return to your own country.

Again read post#4 from Lopburi3, convert your exempt entry to a Non Imm O and in the last 30 days of that 90 days apply for a 1 year extension for the purpose of retirement.

edit to add....'O' visas and extensions are 'other' and the reasons can include marriage to a Thai, looking after a dependant or in your case 'retirement'

[mtw1000]

OK, thanks again for the advice.

[Lite Beer]

Your O-A Visa is dead and buried.

You now need to apply for a 12 Month Extension of Stay.

You need a Non Imm O Visa to start the process and you can get this at Immigration if you hurry.

Read post 4

[lopburi3]

To help: think of the non immigrant O visa as what the "O" actually means "Other reasons". It is not just for marriage.

[Jingthing]

Good news that you meet the financial requirements by Thai bank account. To review, that means you need a bank account in Thailand with over 800K baht in it, that never goes one baht under 800K during the two month seasoning period for the FIRST annual extension based on retirement (this will be your first). For subsequent years, the money seasoning period needed is three months. At the date of your extension application (the second step to the change of visa status to O which is the first step) you will need a letter from your Thai bank that is VERY FRESH showing the balances in the letter and your bank book at exactly the same amount. I can't say how fresh as that varies office to office. Once you start in the retirement extension system with your new single entry O visa obtained in Thailand or a neighboring country, you will no longer need a new O visa ever again as long as you keep getting new annual extensions before expiration of your current permission to stay. You COULD have done this with your O-A visa, but that option is gone.

Again, what immigration office are you using in Thailand (the one local to your residence)? I ask because not every office offers the change of visa status option that you need.

Also note once you are on an annual extension based on retirement obtained in Thailand, whenever you leave Thailand you MUST have a valid reentry permit in your passport (you can buy single ones or multi ones as needed) or you just get another 30 day stamp, lose that current permission to stay, and have to start over as now with a new O visa.

You must also do an address report to your local immigration office every 90 days you are in Thailand.

To emphasize: assuming you are going for a change of visa status in Thailand (30 day stamp to O visa) you really should make it a priority to go into your local office and do that step. As said before, it usually will not be allowed if you wait until too far into your current 30 day stay. We can't know the exact policies of all immigration offices on this detail, but basically, sooner is safer and better. I suggest bringing in your update bank account book showing you will be qualified for the retirement extension as well to justify giving you the O.

[mtw1000]

Thanks so much guys! With the complexity of the thai visa processes and the language barrier, this is the best place to get advice on visa related issues! I am going to get started on the O visa tomorrow.

I am disappointed that I misunderstood the O-A visa, but that is in the past at this point.

[Jingthing]

Thanks so much guys! With the complexity of the thai visa processes and the language barrier, this is the best place to get advice on visa related issues! I am going to get started on the O visa tomorrow.

I am disappointed that I misunderstood the O-A visa, but that is in the past at this point.

Happy to hear that you feel you have been helped. Again, what is the location of your local Thai immigration office in Thailand? Asking because we might be able to tell you definitely if they will offer the change of visa status option (from a 30 day stamp or tourist visa TO a single entry O visa). Not all offices do.

[mtw1000]

I'm not sure. I have not had to report yet since I have been outside the country at least every 90 days over the past year. I live in Phra Khanong near the BTS station.

I can look up the locations and go to one nearby. Any syggestions?

[Jingthing]

You're in Bangkok. You can DEFINITELY do the change of visa status in Bangkok. I am not the one to ask about Bangkok immigration office location but that should be easy to find. Good news for you. Just get the change to an O visa done and you're well on your way. You will need some kind of proof of residence in the Bangkok area for both the retirement extension application AND your 90 day address reports if you need to do them. I am not sure if you need proof of residence for the change of visa status though. Proof meaning something like a utility bill, lease, etc.

[Mario2008]

BTs means Bangkok: http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/location1.html

(for map and directions)

[Jingthing]

In your case, as you are a frequent traveler, I would advise you purchase a multiple entry permit (3800 baht) right after you obtain your annual extension based on retirement. This keeps your current (after you get it) annual permission to stay alive when you reenter Thailand during that period. You need to purchase new permits every year for each new annual extension.

[eyebee]

Mtw, don't forget to get a multiple re-entry permit as well. This will cost you 3,800 baht but will allow an unlimited number of trips overseas during the validity of your extension. I suspect that you didn't get one after the expiry of your O-A visa. During the first year of an O-A visa you don't need a re-entry permit, but once it has expired, your O-A visa will be cancelled unless you have a re-entry permit, and you only get a 30 day permission to stay. I guess this is what happened to you.

Edit: JT just beat me to it!

[mtw1000]

Thanks, I have a lease contract for my condo that extends for another 11 months so I think that should work. If I go to the immigration office for the first step O transfer, will I need an legal help locally??

I would prefer to do it myself if it's simple enough, but I'm just concerned with the language issue.

[mtw1000]

Thanks eyebee! I think that is the main cause of my mistake in this case. I assumed that I still had reentry rights.

[Mario2008]

No legal help required. it is al straight forward, with filling in the correct forms and any questions cna be easily asked here.

[Jingthing]

Thanks, I have a lease contract for my condo that extends for another 11 months so I think that should work. If I go to the immigration office for the first step O transfer, will I need an legal help locally??

I would prefer to do it myself if it's simple enough, but I'm just concerned with the language issue.

I think most people do these things themselves. English shouldn't be a problem at all at Thai immigration Bangkok. There should even be staff that is there to help and answer basic questions about applications before you visit an officer. For someone who doesn't speak Thai or English well, help might be a good idea. There is some Bangkok specific advice about best times to go to the office, etc, that I can't give. Perhaps a Bangkokian can help with that.

One other tip, if you go there are for some reason and an intake staff person, sometimes trainees, tell you that you can't do a change of visa status to O in your situation, don't believe them. If that happens it would be a communication issue where you asked them in a way they didn't understand. You can definitely do this in Bangkok.

[bushwacker]

Lots of very good and clear advice.

I have a question. If a person was here on an extension of stay (from an O-A Retirement), and had multi reentry visas, and needed to leave the country close to his renewal entension date. And was out of the country when the renewal date past. What happens when he returns to Thailand? What steps can be taken to keep the "extension" alive?

Example:

Enter Thailand on an O-A Retirement Nov. 2005

Annual extensions of stay with latest one expiring in Nov 5, 2012

Valid multi reentry visas expiring same as extension i.e. Nov. 5

Leave Thailand on Sept 5 2012

All extension requirements in place i.e. bank balances, lease etc

Tries to re-enter on Dec 5 2012

How will immigration handle this scenario and is there anything the old dude can do to return and keep the status quo?

cheers

[lopburi3]

He will either have to obtain new extension/re-entry permit prior to leaving (if allowed) or more likely (with that long a period) should return on a single entry non immigrant O visa and make a new extension of stay 60 days later or of unable to obtain the non entry visa prior to return do conversion inside Thailand for the 2,000 baht fee.