UGH! More visa questions!

[kanela]

My husband and I are both considering a move to Thailand. We are American citizens and would be coming on a retirement visa. I have been reading your forum for a couple of months now and well.... lets just say I am more confused than ever. First I would like to better understand the difference between a non-immigrant O visa and a non-immigrant OA visa. Second I have read numerous completely different explanations for a retired American couple (as in no thai marriage) coming into Thailand. I need official clarification please, hopefully with something to back up the statements. I have read that my husband would come in using the OA visa and have the required funds and that I would come in with the O visa on the back of his OA. Thereby only having need for my husband to have the required funds. I have also read that each of us would need to come in on an O visa thereby each of us needing to meet the required funds.

Also, I need to understand do each of these visa's have both single entry and multi-entry and is there a better benefit to one or the other. This is the most confusing thing I have ever seen. I have been having difficulty understanding the explanations given so please baby level responses. Also please let me know if you need any further information in order to give me a better more complete response. Thank you in advance for anyones input!!!

Frustrated!

[ubonjoe]

A non-oa visa allows a person to enter the country for a year at time and is issued as multiple entry visa meaning for the first year a person make as many entries as the want getting one year permit to stay. A non-o only gives an entry of 90 days each time. A multiple would allow you to do 90 entries for a year.

If your husband was to get an OA visa. You would get a multiple entry non-o visa and have to leave the country every 90 days.

Your best option is for you both to get single entry non-o visas from a honorary Thai consulate in states. The embassy and 3 official consulates will not issue them.

Contact info for honorary consulates is here: http://www.visetkaew.com/wp/directories/

When you enter Thailand with your non-o visas your husband would need to open a bank account in his name only to deposit 800K baht if using the money in the bank method and then after money has been in the bank for 60 days he would apply for his extension.

If using the 65K baht method he would need to go the embassy in Bangkok to get an income affidavit to prove his income. Or if using income and money in the bank combination method show the income affidavit and a bank letter showing the amount needed to meet the 800K baht requirement. Then he could do his extension during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry you will get on arrival.

Then after your husband has his extension you would apply for an extension of stay as his dependent. All that you would need to get this extension is your marriage certificate to prove your relationship.

[lopburi3]

Without more information there is no simple answer. There are many options.

Can you both meet money requirements in US?

Can you both meet such in Thailand within 3 months?

Do you wish independence of others stay?

Do you plan frequent travel?

Would police/medicals be expensive to obtain?

It really is simple and easy to change at any time but there are many paths available.

[TerryLH]

O visas do not require medical and police checks. O-A visas do require them.

[Suradit69]

A non-oa visa allows a person to enter the country for a year at time and is issued as multiple entry visa meaning for the first year a person make as many entries as the want getting one year permit to stay. A non-o only gives an entry of 90 days each time. A multiple would allow you to do 90 entries for a year.

If your husband was to get an OA visa. You would get a multiple entry non-o visa and have to leave the country every 90 days.

Your best option is for you both to get single entry non-o visas from a honorary Thai consulate in states. The embassy and 3 official consulates will not issue them.

Contact info for honorary consulates is here: http://www.visetkaew.com/wp/directories/

When you enter Thailand with your non-o visas your husband would need to open a bank account in his name only to deposit 800K baht if using the money in the bank method and then after money has been in the bank for 60 days he would apply for his extension.

If using the 65K baht method he would need to go the embassy in Bangkok to get an income affidavit to prove his income. Or if using income and money in the bank combination method show the income affidavit and a bank letter showing the amount needed to meet the 800K baht requirement. Then he could do his extension during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry you will get on arrival.

Then after your husband has his extension you would apply for an extension of stay as his dependent. All that you would need to get this extension is your marriage certificate to prove your relationship.

"A multiple would allow you to do 90 entries for a year."

Ummm, seems a lot of border crossings for one retiree.

[kanela]

Ok, another question. It seems from your description that it almost wouldn't make sense for my husband to get the OA visa if I have to get the O visa and do the border crossings anyway. Is that correct? We travel with American passports, but are currently living in Ecuador. There is a Thai Embassy in Quito about 2 1/2 hrs from where I am living. Would we be able to go there and request 2 multi-entry O visa's for Thailand? How long would they be good for? Are these the only differences between the OA/O visas: no proof of medical or criminal and the border runs?? Do my husband still have to meet the same financial requirements as the OA visa? Would be then both have to meet it or still just him? I appreciate everyones help.

[lopburi3]

More than a single entry non immigrant visa is not likely to be issued but you could ask. If only one financial available a single entry and then extension by one in Thailand with financials here and then other extending as dependent seem best.

[wayned]

I think that your best bet would be to email them and ask them. I doubt very seriously that anyone here obtained their visa in Ecuador so the answers you get will only be opinions rather than direct experiences. Different consulates and embassies have different regulations. Here;s the website: http://www.embassypages.com/missions/embassy19996/

[ubonjoe]

There is not an embassy in Ecuador but there is a honorary consulate in Quito.

Info here: http://www.guidetothailand.com/thailand-travel-information/honcon-americas.php

I am sure they would issue single entry non-o visas to you. The visa would give you a 90 entry and it will have a 3 months enter before date from date of issue.

Ninety days should be enough time for your husband to open a bank account and transfer the funds into the country if doing the money in the bank method.