Guys

A friend of mine has been staying here for years using an O Visa, flying back to Japan every 2-3 months. He is not married and over fifty and has a fairly good pension but doesn't want to keep a lot of money in Thailand. He is one of the lucky ones who doesn't pay much for his air tickets ... ex airline worker. He resides in Si Racha area

Now he is in Japan at present and is looking to get another visa but the system has changed a bit and he now need to make an appointment and two weeks plus to get it.

He wants to know the options ... I know that if he gets an O Visa he could change it to a visa based on retirement based on his pension pension.

Can he get a visa on arrival and change it to a "visa based on Retirement " ??

If he applies for a Visit visa can he change it to a 'visa based on retirement over here.

Please advise what options he has as he wants to spend a lot of time here during this year and future years. As I said its quite cheap for him to exit every 2-3 months. But someday maybe they won't give him an O Visa and that would be a problem.

To get an O-A visa in Japan any idea of what is needed ......................................Thanks

Edited February 18, 201313 yr by JAS21

The O-A should require the same police report/medical/financials in Japan that are required anywhere.

He can arrive on a visa or visa exempt entry and convert with proof of financials inside Thailand and later extend normally with the proof again (seasoned if using bank deposit) or letters from his Embassy if pension.

The O-A should require the same police report/medical/financials in Japan that are required anywhere.

He can arrive on a visa or visa exempt entry and convert with proof of financials inside Thailand and later extend normally with the proof again (seasoned if using bank deposit) or letters from his Embassy if pension.

Thanks Lop

I see on Visa Policy for Thailand he will get 30Days ... is that what is called Visa on Arrival?. and he can convert to "Retirement' during those 30days? if I understand correctly

Thanks

That is visa exempt entry and with 15 days or more remaining most immigration offices (always Bangkok) can convert to non immigrant 90 day entry with show of financials in Thailand for cost of 2,000 baht and then after 60 days the retirement extension of stay can be obtained for additional 1,900 baht and new show of financials.

Info on OA visa from Tokyo embassy.

http://www.thaiembassy.jp/rte2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=605%3Anon-immigrant-o-a-longstay&catid=51%3Avisa&Itemid=64

Info on OA visa from Tokyo embassy.

http://www.thaiembas...:visa&Itemid=64

Thanks

That is visa exempt entry and with 15 days or more remaining most immigration offices (always Bangkok) can convert to non immigrant 90 day entry with show of financials in Thailand for cost of 2,000 baht and then after 60 days the retirement extension of stay can be obtained for additional 1,900 baht and new show of financials.

Lop ... sorry to come back to you on this subject.

So he has just SKYPED me and said that he arrived today without a visa and got stamped in for 30Days... so I suppose he arrived visa exempt. He has brought all his paperwork .... he has to within the next 14 Days go to Bangkok Immigration ... that is Chaengwattana? I only live a few kms from there so my wife can go with him.

He needs to get the proof of pension letter from his embassy. Does he need to take anything else ... mayve his rental contract? he lives at Si Racha. That will then get him a non imm 90day entry (is that a non o ?) and then as you say after another 60 days changes to retirement extension.

thanks

Yes he should present evidence of financials for retirement to obtain a non immigrant visa entry of 90 days and believe under current policy will have to return 60 days later to actually do the extension of stay. Bangkok immigration is indeed Chiang Watanna. He will need the Embassy letter of 65k or more income and copies of his passport/arrival stamp and fill out a form at immigration requesting a non immigrant visa entry for retirement extension of stay paying 2,000 baht. Believe 4x6cm photo as for extension may also be required but not sure on that. Some proof of address should be available but in general Bangkok is not strict on this (they do for any office that will not). I would do this as soon as he can get it together - the old standard was 21 days remaining but down to 15 or a bit below is common now.

Yes he should present evidence of financials for retirement to obtain a non immigrant visa entry of 90 days and believe under current policy will have to return 60 days later to actually do the extension of stay. Bangkok immigration is indeed Chiang Watanna. He will need the Embassy letter of 65k or more income and copies of his passport/arrival stamp and fill out a form at immigration requesting a non immigrant visa entry for retirement extension of stay paying 2,000 baht. Believe 4x6cm photo as for extension may also be required but not sure on that. Some proof of address should be available but in general Bangkok is not strict on this (they do for any office that will not). I would do this as soon as he can get it together - the old standard was 21 days remaining but down to 15 or a bit below is common now.

Thanks Lop.............I'll tell him