I have this question, but I am only merely interested as I seem to get different answers from different people.

In regards to having a 90 day visa vs a one year one. I have a friend in Khon Kaen on the retirement visa, but he still has to leave the country every 90 days instead of simply reporting, is this just a function of how much money he has shown in the bank??? if he had shown more would he have gotten a year one instead of a 90 day one?, is there a threshold for how much you have that makes or breaks your ability either one (i.e with 400,000 in the bank you get 90 days, with 800,000 you get a year, something like that??) likewise I have a friend on a marriage visa, he has also leave the country every ninety days, but another buddy is also with a "O" visa and he only has to report to Udon.. This is just for my own curiosity, I have only been in Thailand three years, and there are bound to be more seasoned souls with an answer to this query.

The difference is having a non-o multiple entry visa from an embassy or consulate and an extension of stay from immigration which is not a visa.

A visa only gives 90 day entries.

An extension of stay is for one year. Staying in the country longer than 90 days requires reports to immigration.

If you have a non-O visa that you have obtained at a consulate abroad you must leave every 90 days.

Your friends that only report at immigrations every 90 days have got an one year extension of stay at immigrations within Thailand.

The difference is having a non-o multiple entry visa from an embassy or consulate and an extension of stay from immigration which is not a visa.

... or a one-year Non-Immigrant O-A visa (often called a "retirement visa.") I think that might factor into the OP's confusion.

Smurkster: IF your Khon Kaen friend were back in his home country and got a Non-Immigrant O-A visa, he would only need to report every 90 days in Thailand. To qualify for that Non-Immigrant O-A visa, he would need to be 50 or older, provide a police report and medical statement, and prove income/savings (either B800k in savings, B65k/month income, or a combination of the two to equal B800k).

All the confusion comes from wrongly calling extensions of stay visas. This happens all the time.

Most people have one year extensions of stay not OA visa entries.

So whether or not it is a 90 day or one year, one still must show they same amount of money in their bank account?

It depends upon the reason for the extension or visa. And for visas where you get them.

An extension based upon retirement requires 800k baht in the bank or 65K baht income. For marriage to a Thai it s 400k baht or 40K baht.

At most places a multiple entry non-o based upon marriage can be obtained with no financial proof. For retirement it can be no money shown or 800K baht or possibly more.

It depends upon the reason for the extension or visa. And for visas where you get them.

An extension based upon retirement requires 800k baht in the bank or 65K baht income. For marriage to a Thai it s 400k baht or 40K baht.

At most places a multiple entry non-o based upon marriage can be obtained with no financial proof. For retirement it can be no money shown or 800K baht or possibly more.

Was under the impression that multiple entry visas were becoming rarer than hens teeth --------with the exception of of a very few Thai consulates.

I suspect this form of visa whether for retirement or marriage is being phased out or at least very difficult to obtain.

It depends upon the reason for the extension or visa. And for visas where you get them.

An extension based upon retirement requires 800k baht in the bank or 65K baht income. For marriage to a Thai it s 400k baht or 40K baht.

At most places a multiple entry non-o based upon marriage can be obtained with no financial proof. For retirement it can be no money shown or 800K baht or possibly more.

Was under the impression that multiple entry visas were becoming rarer than hens teeth --------with the exception of of a very few Thai consulates.

I suspect this form of visa whether for retirement or marriage is being phased out or at least very difficult to obtain.

you are correct Multi Entry visa's are becoming hard to get. this statement is incorrect (At most places a multiple entry non-o based upon marriage can be obtained with no financial proof) there is only 1 place I know of and itis savannakhet if there are more please post.

It depends upon the reason for the extension or visa. And for visas where you get them.

An extension based upon retirement requires 800k baht in the bank or 65K baht income. For marriage to a Thai it s 400k baht or 40K baht.

At most places a multiple entry non-o based upon marriage can be obtained with no financial proof. For retirement it can be no money shown or 800K baht or possibly more.

Was under the impression that multiple entry visas were becoming rarer than hens teeth --------with the exception of of a very few Thai consulates.

I suspect this form of visa whether for retirement or marriage is being phased out or at least very difficult to obtain.

you are correct Multi Entry visa's are becoming hard to get. this statement is incorrect (At most places a multiple entry non-o based upon marriage can be obtained with no financial proof) there is only 1 place I know of and itis savannakhet if there are more please post.

There are plenty of places you can get them with no financial proof but none near here (or that even issues them). I have seen report of them being done in the US, Australia and not so long ago even the UK.

Can wipe out OZ,and UK need money to show, and that was what olddoc was getting at, getting hard to get, now are you saying ( but none near here (or that even issues them). savannakhet need to show money because I know that they issue multi entry based on marriage without proof of money and there are close to Thailand

Edited February 19, 201412 yr by MikeandDow

Can wipe out OZ,and UK need money to show, and that was what olddoc was getting at, getting hard to get, now are you saying ( but none near here (or that even issues them). savannakhet need to show money because I know that they issue multi entry based on marriage without proof of money and there are close to Thailand

Suspect Savannakhet is now one of very few ---------i wonder for how much longer ?

Not trying to hijack this thread, I think my questions are on line with what the OP asks but,

The more I read about Thai visas the more I get confused.

I am a US citizen, by wife is Thai born, but is now a naturalised US citizen.I have been coming to Thailand for many years, and we own property there,So far visas have not being a problem because I never stay there longer than 3 months.

After my retirements, we have being considering living in Thailand full time. but I would like the option of being able to work, in case I get bored, maybe teach English.

So I guess a Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage would be my only viable option? (required money ,not a problem, will be collecting social security, and Union pension, plus 401K and savings)

So the question is , with marriage based visa, would I need to leave the country every year? Would I be better of giving up my option to work(probably by then, about 7 years from now. I might not want to work) and get a retirement visa?

Not trying to hijack this thread, I think my questions are on line with what the OP asks but,

The more I read about Thai visas the more I get confused.

I am a US citizen, by wife is Thai born, but is now a naturalised US citizen.I have been coming to Thailand for many years, and we own property there,So far visas have not being a problem because I never stay there longer than 3 months.

After my retirements, we have being considering living in Thailand full time. but I would like the option of being able to work, in case I get bored, maybe teach English.

So I guess a Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage would be my only viable option? (required money ,not a problem, will be collecting social security, and Union pension, plus 401K and savings)

So the question is , with marriage based visa, would I need to leave the country every year? Would I be better of giving up my option to work(probably by then, about 7 years from now. I might not want to work) and get a retirement visa?

You can get one year extension of stay (it is not a visa) at immigration based upon marriage a Thai. You do not have to leave every year.You just apply for another extension.

You can get a work permit and work with this extension.

You cannot work if you do a retirement extension

Not trying to hijack this thread, I think my questions are on line with what the OP asks but,

The more I read about Thai visas the more I get confused.

I am a US citizen, by wife is Thai born, but is now a naturalised US citizen.I have been coming to Thailand for many years, and we own property there,So far visas have not being a problem because I never stay there longer than 3 months.

After my retirements, we have being considering living in Thailand full time. but I would like the option of being able to work, in case I get bored, maybe teach English.

So I guess a Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage would be my only viable option? (required money ,not a problem, will be collecting social security, and Union pension, plus 401K and savings)

So the question is , with marriage based visa, would I need to leave the country every year? Would I be better of giving up my option to work(probably by then, about 7 years from now. I might not want to work) and get a retirement visa?

You can get one year extension of stay (it is not a visa) at immigration based upon marriage a Thai. You do not have to leave every year.You just apply for another extension.

You can get a work permit and work with this extension.

You cannot work if you do a retirement extension

Thank you for your prompt and precise answer

One additional question , while living in Thailand, health and finances permitting, we plan to travel, possible going back to the US to visit family, and countries in the region, (Australia, Hong kong , Laos , Cambodia etc.) How does that work? I read some place that I would need a reentry permit every time I leave the country. is that an easy permit to get?

As it is now, when we are in Thailand we like to take short trips with the family in to Laos, (we live in KKC easy to do via NongKhai). Will I need a reentry permit every time we do that?

Not trying to hijack this thread, I think my questions are on line with what the OP asks but,

The more I read about Thai visas the more I get confused.

I am a US citizen, by wife is Thai born, but is now a naturalised US citizen.I have been coming to Thailand for many years, and we own property there,So far visas have not being a problem because I never stay there longer than 3 months.

After my retirements, we have being considering living in Thailand full time. but I would like the option of being able to work, in case I get bored, maybe teach English.

So I guess a Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage would be my only viable option? (required money ,not a problem, will be collecting social security, and Union pension, plus 401K and savings)

So the question is , with marriage based visa, would I need to leave the country every year? Would I be better of giving up my option to work(probably by then, about 7 years from now. I might not want to work) and get a retirement visa?

You can get one year extension of stay (it is not a visa) at immigration based upon marriage a Thai. You do not have to leave every year.You just apply for another extension.

You can get a work permit and work with this extension.

You cannot work if you do a retirement extension

Thank you for your prompt and precise answer

One additional question , while living in Thailand, health and finances permitting, we plan to travel, possible going back to the US to visit family, and countries in the region, (Australia, Hong kong , Laos , Cambodia etc.) How does that work? I read some place that I would need a reentry permit every time I leave the country. is that an easy permit to get?

As it is now, when we are in Thailand we like to take short trips with the family in to Laos, (we live in KKC easy to do via NongKhai). Will I need a reentry permit every time we do that?

You can get a multiple re-entry permit when you get your extension that will be valid for the length of your get your extension. Cost is 3800 baht for a multiple and 1000 baht for a single. Both are easy to get. Just a form with a photo attached and copies of your passport.