1 Year Visa Or Retirement Visa

[riclag]

I'm coming to the end of my triple entry tourist visa! I'm going back to the states May 1 I've been here since Sept 3,2012.The must utilize before date on the Visa Stamp is Feb 21,2013.So as of March 10,2013 I have made 2 boarder runs (good for 60 days each) and 2 extensions(good for 30 days each). I have to apply for 1 more 30 day extension before April 20,2013 ,which will carry me through for my May 1 flight.

I have been living with my Thai GF ,in a very modest townhouse in Issan. Financially speaking this is as close to easy street as its going to get for me.Life is good for a 60 year old man living in Issan using my very small Social Security income to live on.

I want to come back and live and be with my Thai GF's family and friends but I want to stay longer then a 3 entry tourist visa will allow me ,also it would be nice to be able to pay less and do less boarder and immigration office visits. For me its always been very difficult to come to terms in understanding all the steps an requirements and options in Thai Visas.I have asked many questions on here before and the forum is and has been a great help, many people map out how to exactly go about doing what's needed step by step. I have been trying to write this post now for about 1 hour and I think it best to just start off with what I have for questions now and ask more later.

Question 1

I don't know weather to apply for a 1 year visa or a retirement visa (I can meet the 800,000 requirement) .I want to prepare while I'm still in Thailand if I need to make retirement visa paperwork(ie:open Thai bank account) etc. Should I do a 1 year visa or Retirement visa?

Question 2. I'll be going back in May I want to come back as soon as possible.Can I apply for one of these visa's as soon as I get back to the states?

Thank You

[lopburi3]

Yes you can apply with proof of 800k in USA and medical and police report. Be sure to get multi entry as that will allow up to almost two years stay before you need to do anything other than report your address to immigration inside Thailand (although second year you would require a re-entry permit for travel/return).

It is up to you what you want to obtain - you might be able to get up to one year multi entry non immigrant O visa (for up to 90 days stay each time) and during the last 30 days of any entry you could then extend for one year if money in Thai account 2 months (three month later). No police report of medical required for this so if expensive or hard to obtain might be better.

You can also use your SS payments as income (Embassy letter of income) and only have to have deposit in bank to equal 800k per year.

[JusMe]

Agree with lopburi.

When you get back to the States, apply at a local Thai embassy or consulate with the necessary papers for the O-A (Retirement) visa. Time it right, and you'll get near enough two years from that, as long as it's a multiple entry. No border runs, just 90 day reports to immo.

At the end of that two years, apply for an extension of permission to remain. That'll give you another year. Again, ad infinitum if necessary.

Only thing is, if you want to leave and return at any time during those extensions, you will need a separate re-entry permit from immo before you leave.

[Mrjlh]

I'd apply while you are still here. Apply now because there is a waiting period. Apply for the retirement visa with multiple entry. Much cheaper that way too. Then you will have it for s year so you only need to come back any time within the year. Then later apply for the extension.

Seems easiest way to me. Did I miss something?

[lopburi3]

He is in Thailand - had can not apply for a non immigrant O-A visa while in Thailand.

[ubonjoe]

For the OA visa the police report can be take some time to get and is not always easy to obtain dependent on where you live. The medical can be costly unless you have a doctor that you have been seeing on a regular basis.

Another option is to get a single entry non-o visa for being over 50 years old from an honorary consulate (Portland Oregon has been reported as being helpful) in the states which would give you a 90 day entry. Then transfer the 800K baht into a bank here shortly after your return or before if you have an account already. Then after you have had the money the bank for 60 days and during the last 30 days of your entry go to your local immigration off and get the extension based upon retirement.

[Mrjlh]

He is in Thailand - had can not apply for a non immigrant O-A visa while in Thailand.

I thought it was possible for him to apply for a Non-O based on retirement. "A" designation only means he got outside of Thailand. Am I still wrong?

[Jingthing]

He is in Thailand - had can not apply for a non immigrant O-A visa while in Thailand.

I thought it was possible for him to apply for a Non-O based on retirement. "A" designation only means he got outside of Thailand. Am I still wrong?

You can get an O visa (single) and an annual extension based on retirement IN Thailand. As said above, NOT an O-A, and NOT a retirement visa (which is an O-A visa).

[ubonjoe]

The discussion was about getting an OA visa.

You cannot get a retirement visa here in Thailand. You can apply for a non immigrant visa at some immigration offices based upon getting an extension of stay for retirement.

[lopburi3]

A retirement visa with multiple entry is the O-A visa (long stay) and is not available in Thailand. The "A" means pre-approved one year stay. What you obtain inside Thailand are extensions of stay for one year and there is no multiple option. To travel requires re-entry permit and that can be obtained in single or multiple versions. But to extend you first much have a non immigrant visa entry. That can be from a Consulate or as a conversion of other type entry at immigration.

[Sophon]

Agree with lopburi.

When you get back to the States, apply at a local Thai embassy or consulate with the necessary papers for the O-A (Retirement) visa. Time it right, and you'll get near enough two years from that, as long as it's a multiple entry. No border runs, just 90 day reports to immo.

At the end of that two years, apply for an extension of permission to remain. That'll give you another year. Again, ad infinitum if necessary.

Only thing is, if you want to leave and return at any time during those extensions, you will need a separate re-entry permit from immo before you leave.

In order to get the almost two years you mention he will have to do one border run (at the end of the first year).

Sophon

[riclag]

Hi again, First I very much appreciate everyone's advise and quick response,Thank you. This is very confusing,Its rocket science for me,especially when other members start correcting other members advise . In any event, I'm going to open up a bank account tomorrow at the Bangkok Bank.Then I'm going to wait for more step by step instructions from here,Hopefully someone will draw me out a map. There's one thing that sticks out in my mind, and that is weather I can or cannot apply for a multi entry retirement visa at a immigration office while I'm still in Thailand ,I'll be here until April,30. I would very much like to avoid the Police report and the medical report only because it would probably take a considerable time to obtain and seeing I want to come back to Issan before September.I'll wait for more responses .Ok enough for now.Please refer to my original post for my questions.

Thanks

[Jingthing]

Hi again, First I very much appreciate everyone's advise and quick response,Thank you. This is very confusing,Its rocket science for me,especially when other members start correcting other members advise . In any event, I'm going to open up a bank account tomorrow at the Bangkok Bank.Then I'm going to wait for more step by step instructions from here,Hopefully someone will draw me out a map. There's one thing that sticks out in my mind, and that is weather I can or cannot apply for a multi entry retirement visa at a immigration office while I'm still in Thailand ,I'll be here until April,30. I would very much like to avoid the Police report and the medical report only because it would probably take a considerable time to obtain and seeing I want to come back to Issan before September.I'll wait for more responses .Ok enough for now.Please refer to my original post for my questions.

Thanks

You can indeed apply for retirement EXTENSIONS in Thailand, starting with an O visa ... in Thailand. For that you will not need a medical or police report. Those are only needed for O-A applications in your home country. You DO NOT need an O-A visa to retire in Thailand! Best for you is to forget about O-A visas, forget about "retirement visas" and focus on your application for

1. Single O visa at your local Thai immigration office (if they offer, if not can be done in Bangkok). Must show financial qualifications for this same as for the retirement extensions but for the bank method the SEASONING not required until Step 2.

2. Annual retirement extension application based on retirement

The O visa is good for a 90 day stay so typically the second step (retirement extension) would be done during the last 30 days of the 90 day stay.

There is no such thing as a multiple entry retirement extension. If you need to travel, you must apply separately for either single or multiple REENTRY PERMITS which keep your current annual extension alive when you travel and return before the end of the expiry of your current annual extension date.

Once in the system, you must apply for NEW annual extensions every year you wish to stay in Thailand. Typically people go in about a month early to get that sorted ... every year.

[lopburi3]

Unless the office allows conversion and extension at the same time the poster does not have this option on this visit as he is leaving too soon. I do not know if the 800k is even seasoned long enough to qualify but most recent reports indicate two trips are often required.

For now returning with a single entry non immigrant O visa from an Honorary Consulate would seem to fit his plans and after being here 60 days on that he can extend for a year.

[Jingthing]

Sorry I missed the part about leaving. I was describing a general process for someone who is actually staying in Thailand.

[NancyL]

Jingthing summed up the procedure quite nicely in post #13. I don't think the OP cares one fig if he has a O-A retirement visa or a O visa with a 12 month extension of permission to remain due to retirement. To the average foreign retiree living in Thailand, all this talk about how an O visa isn't really a "retirement visa" and how a 12-month extension of permission to remain really isn't "renewing a visa" is just splitting hairs. All they want to do is learn how to live here legally as retirees.

The fact that the OP talks about being able to deposit 800,000 baht into a Thai bank tells me it will only make his head spin for us visa geeks to tell him how he can obtain nearly 24 months of life out of an O-A visa without having to bring funds into Thailand. Sounds like the funds are already here. Besides, Thai bank pay higher interest than U.S. banks and as the dollar continues to weaken, it only makes sense to have some funds here. Considering the decline of the value of the dollar and the fairly good interest rates at safe Thai banks, my 800,000 baht retirement visa account has proven to be a good investment.

[pmarlin]

Agree with lopburi.

When you get back to the States, apply at a local Thai embassy or consulate with the necessary papers for the O-A (Retirement) visa. Time it right, and you'll get near enough two years from that, as long as it's a multiple entry. No border runs, just 90 day reports to immo.

At the end of that two years, apply for an extension of permission to remain. That'll give you another year. Again, ad infinitum if necessary.

Only thing is, if you want to leave and return at any time during those extensions, you will need a separate re-entry permit from immo before you leave.

I thought only the Thai emb in Washington D.C. could issue a "O-A" visa.

[Mario2008]

No, several general consulates in the US can issue an O-A visa. Especially in large countries, genral consulates will have the authorithy to issue a O-A visa, while honorary consulates do not have that authorithy.

[JusMe]

For the OA visa the police report can be take some time to get and is not always easy to obtain dependent on where you live. The medical can be costly unless you have a doctor that you have been seeing on a regular basis.

Yes, it really does depend on where you get that police report. In Canada, we can drop into the closest RCMP office and get it in ten or fifteen minutes, free.

The medical is really a bit of a joke. The form has check boxes to ask if you've got elephantiasis, a couple of other things, and third stage syphilis (perhaps second stage is okay?). Then the doctor signs to say you're mentally competent. After all, why else would you be coming to Thailand?

[riclag]

Sorry I missed the part about leaving. I was describing a general process for someone who is actually staying in Thailand.

I went to the bank of BKK in Sakon Nakhon ,They want a government employee to guaranty me. along with the other requirements to open a account in a thai bank . I want to start transferring money (800,000 bht) from the states to a thai bank account for the single O, I'm leaving May 1,Correct me if I'm wrong. Now what I understand is I go back to the states as I original planned because my triple entry is finished and my flight was planned for a may 1 departure.I want to come back in August after tying up some tax issues after that I can get a tourist visa come back and apply for the single O visa

[NancyL]

Sorry I missed the part about leaving. I was describing a general process for someone who is actually staying in Thailand.

I went to the bank of BKK in Sakon Nakhon ,They want a government employee to guaranty me. along with the other requirements to open a account in a thai bank . I want to start transferring money (800,000 bht) from the states to a thai bank account for the single O, I'm leaving May 1,Correct me if I'm wrong. Now what I understand is I go back to the states as I original planned because my triple entry is finished and my flight was planned for a may 1 departure.I want to come back in August after tying up some tax issues after that I can get a tourist visa come back and apply for the single O visa

If you tell the Bangkok Bank people you want to open the account to deposit 800,000 baht they will probably be more willing to waive their silly local requirement for a gov't employee to guaranty you. They didn't ask that when I opened my visa account by plopping $10,000 U.S. on their counter and saying I wanted to open an account. Go to another bank, even another branch of the same bank if this gov't employee guarantee nonsense is a problem.

Now for the visa question -- you can apply for an O visa in your home country -- that's the visa that you'll extend into a 12 month permission to stay due to retirement once in Thailand. With a tourist visa, you'll have to go thru the "two step" process, where you convert the tourist visa into a 90 day O visa and then extend that for 12 months due to retirement.

Not every province's immigration office will do the 2-step process. Those that don't will send you to Bangkok. Why not obtain an O visa in your home country if you're going thru the hassle of getting a visa?

[lopburi3]

This Bangkok Bank page lists the requirements (there are alternatives to government official) so if you can meet one of the others, or obtain documents to do so, you should be able to open account - if not ask them to check with Bangkok, or call 1333, and ask why that location will not open your account.

As said another bank/location is often the fast track to success but if you really want a specific bank a bit of patience and asking them to check and check again often proves successful.

[riclag]

You answered: "Now for the visa question -- you can apply for an O visa in your home country -- that's the visa that you'll extend into a 12 month permission to stay due to retirement once in Thailand. With a tourist visa, you'll have to go thru the "two step" process, where you convert the tourist visa into a 90 day O visa and then extend that for 12 months due to retirement.

Not every province's immigration office will do the 2-step process. Those that don't will send you to Bangkok. Why not obtain an O visa in your home country if you're going thru the hassle of getting a visa?"

Hi,I was thinking also of the post#13 Jingthing mentions I can start the process here at a Immigration office in Thailand

[Mario2008]

if coming from the US, you will need a (tourist) via anyway, as the ailrine might not let you board without either a visa or proof of onward travel within 30 days of arrival.

It would make more sense to just aply for a non-O visa in the states.

[ubonjoe]

You can easily get your non-o at a honorary consulate in the states for being over 50. Most give same day turnaround of mailed in applications. Portland Oregon has been mentioned as being very helpfull.

Contact info at bottom of this page: http://www.visetkaew.com/wp/directories/

Don't bother with the embassy or one of the three official consulates because they will only do OA visas.