Hi,

A good friend from Germany recently arrived in Thailand on a Double Entry Tourist Visa. He is 59 years old and he wants to stay and change his visa to a Non-Immigrant O with the intention of applying for a Retirement Visa Extension.

He will have the required 800K baht to deposit into a local bank in a couple of months, but does not have the money here yet. So if he goes to Chaeng Wattana they may not give him the Non-Imm O Visa if he cannot show them the money in the bank. Is there a Consulate in Laos, Vietnam or Cambodia that issues 90 day Non Immigrant O Visas to European nationals without proof of the 800K baht? Does anyone have experience or know someone who got a Non-Immigrant O Visa without showing the money first?

Any advice on how to get the Non Imm O Visa for someone who is already here in Thailand and wants to stay in the country or do a short visa run to a neighboring country to get the new visa? Thanks.

Without money in the bank OR a letter from his embassy confirming he has an income of 65,000 baht a month he cannot apply for a conversion to a non-immigrant visa. (The embassy sets the requirements what they ned to issue the letter).

For conversion the money in the bank does not have to be seasoned, only be in the bank account.

If he is married to a thai national, he could go to savannaket, laos and get a non-o visa for marriage. That's the only one i can think of from a nearby country.

"...the 2nd best time to plant a tree is today." Sent from ThaiVisa app (Galaxy Note 2).

You friend needs to get the bank deposit sorted out so that there is time for seasoning (2 months on initial application) and then head for Cambodia, Laos, wherever to get his non-O visa based on retirement. He will need proof of his permanent address in Thailand too.

Be aware that different embassies/consulates in adjoining countries apply the rules in their own way. It's best to go fully prepared with everything but the kitchen sink

Vientiane would be a good location to get the non-o. No need for financial proof. Just passport to prove age of 50 or over.

Cambodia takes 3 to 4 dat for visa issue.

Vientiane would be a good location to get the non-o. No need for financial proof. Just passport to prove age of 50 or over.

Cambodia takes 3 to 4 dat for visa issue.

Thanks UbonJoe. That is solid information. Is the Non-O visa from Vientiane good for 90 days? Do you know the period of validity of the visa?

It will be a single entry visa that gives a 90 day entry.

It can be used any time within 90 days but that does not matter since it will probably be used the same day it is issued for entry back into Thailand.

Edited July 19, 201312 yr by ubonjoe

Vientiane would be a good location to get the non-o. No need for financial proof. Just passport to prove age of 50 or over.

Cambodia takes 3 to 4 dat for visa issue.

Thanks UbonJoe. That is solid information. Is the Non-O visa from Vientiane good for 90 days? Do you know the period of validity of the visa?

It's batter if you read the latest here : http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/en/consular/consular_check/

Yes a single entry non immigrant visa will be valid for use for a period of 90 days from date of issue and upon entry will receive a 90 day permitted to stay from immigration.

Yes a single entry non immigrant visa will be valid for use for a period of 90 days from date of issue and upon entry will receive a 90 day permitted to stay from immigration.

If you get the non immigrant visa issued by Immigration within Thailand, when does the visa start? From the day they issue the visa, or from the day that your previous tourist visa expires?

Edited July 22, 201312 yr by lopburi3
fix quote

If u have the correct paperwork, Penang will issue u one as well ( as well as Khota baru on the east coast)

Although the seasoning of the 800,000 Baht for an initial application for retirement is generally two months ( and 3 months for all subsequent extensions) , I am surprised that the Royal Thai Consulate in Vientiane sets the seasoning up to 3 months for the issueing of a Non-Imm-O based on retirement.

Regarding the police report ( polizeiliches Fuehrungszeignis) and the medical check, which are needed for the initial application, for your friend it means he must sort the deposit with the bank first, fly back and then start the process within a consulate in Germany.

Also he should be advised that it is against the law (in Germany) to bring more than 10T Euros out of the country at one time. 800,000 Baht plus is over 20T Euros. He must get this sorted first.

Yes a single entry non immigrant visa will be valid for use for a period of 90 days from date of issue and upon entry will receive a 90 day permitted to stay from immigration.

If you get the non immigrant visa issued by Immigration within Thailand, when does the visa start? From the day they issue the visa, or from the day that your previous tourist visa expires?

It starts when issued - it is your new entry not a visa for later entry.

Although the seasoning of the 800,000 Baht for an initial application for retirement is generally two months ( and 3 months for all subsequent extensions) , I am surprised that the Royal Thai Consulate in Vientiane sets the seasoning up to 3 months for the issueing of a Non-Imm-O based on retirement.

Regarding the police report ( polizeiliches Fuehrungszeignis) and the medical check, which are needed for the initial application, for your friend it means he must sort the deposit with the bank first, fly back and then start the process within a consulate in Germany.

Also he should be advised that it is against the law (in Germany) to bring more than 10T Euros out of the country at one time. 800,000 Baht plus is over 20T Euros. He must get this sorted first.

The Consulate is not immigration and does not issue retirement extensions of stay. A non immigrant O-A visa for one year entry is what requires medical/police check and that is not issued to anyone not a resident of the country issuing so has nothing to do with this thread.

Once the 800,000 baht is deposited in a Thai bank, then the person who is here on a Tourist Visa (not a visa on arrival but a normal tourist visa issued by a Thai Consulate abroad), then this person can go to Immigration at Chaeng Wattana and they will issue a Non Imm Visa or Entry? Does the applicant need to have a minimum number of days left on his tourist visa or as long as the visa entry is still valid, or does he need to apply when he still has several weeks left on the tourist visa entry? Does he just need to show his passbook with the 800,000 baht or does he also need a confirmation letter from the bank?

If you are here on a tourist visa or visa exempt entry, you can convert to a non-immigrant visa at Cheang Wattana. Best is to have at least 15 days left for this.

With the money in the bank option you show both bankbook and letter from the bank. For the conversion the money does not have to be seasoned.

If you are here on a tourist visa or visa exempt entry, you can convert to a non-immigrant visa at Cheang Wattana. Best is to have at least 15 days left for this.

With the money in the bank option you show both bankbook and letter from the bank. For the conversion the money does not have to be seasoned.

Thanks, Mario. You write it's best to have at least 15 days left for this. Is this a requirement or is it possible to convert to non-immigrant visa with only a few days left on tourist visa if you have the correct paperwork?

Anything less than 15 days should be considered an exception - the published (long time ago) time was 21 days minimum but generally that seems to have unofficially changed to 15 or even less in a few cases after land visa exempt entry because 15 days. If they do not allow just make a new entry and immediately apply.