What Visa/90 Day Reporting

[mrjon]

My Thai wife and I are tossing around the idea of being "snowbirds" but of a different nature than what happens here in Florida. The tentative plan, would be 6 months in the USA and 6 months in Thailand.

I have been in the shadows of Thaivisa for 6 or more years and have spent a fair amount of time in Thailand on 30, 60 and 90 day tourist visa's.

My question, I'm looking for some thoughts on what visa to obtain for living in LOS for at least 6 months?

I am qualified for the Non-Immigrant O-A, Retirement or Marriage Visa's

It looks like each one has it's good and bad points.

My confusion lies with the 90 day reporting requirement.

If we are gone 6 months of the year from Thailand, there would be no way to report and as I understand it the 90 day report is only to confirm that I have been in country for 90 days.

I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks

[TerryLH]

I don't think there are 30 or 90 day tourist visas.

"I am qualified for the Non-Immigrant O-A, Retirement or Marriage Visa's"

The multiple entry OA Visa would work for you, as would multiple entry Non Imm O based on either retirement or marriage.

The OA would give you a year on every entry, and if you re-enter just prior to the visa expiring, you could get almost two years out of it. After the visa expires, you'd need a re-entry permit to keep the permission to stay date alive if you leave the country and want to return.

You'd need to do 90 day reporting to your local immigration office if you stay in the country 90 days. If you leave before 90 days, no report required. The days start counting the day you return.

The Non O, which you refer to incorrectly as retirement or marriage visas, is good for 90 days per entry. A multiple entry allows you to enter as many times as you want while the visa is valid (1 year), giving you 90 days each time. No 90 day reporting required.

I suggest you read the pinned topics at the top of the forum. There is a lot of good information there that helps explain and answer a lot of questions.

Good luck.

Terry

Edited May 31, 2014 by TerryLH

[Langsuan Man]

I spend 8 months in Thailand and 4 months in the US and I have found the O-A Visa to be the best for my lifestyle since I am able to time the visa so that I only have to get a new one every two years. Dealing with Thais overseas at Embassies and Consulates is much easier, IMHO, than dealing with Thai Immigration here or The US Embassy

90 day reports are getting easier and easier all the time since Immigration offices are slowly moving to computerize the process but since you will be here only for six months that would mean you would only have to do two, since there is no 90 day report requirement when you are not here

The only wrinkle on this would be your wife and her status in the US. Dual citizenship would allow her to use her Thai passport to enter the Kingdom but I don't know if she could use her US passport to re-enter the US without the requisite entry and departure stamps from Thailand.

If she does have a US passport then you would have to crunch the numbers and determine if an O-A Multiple for both of you would be the best way to go ( $200 X 2 = $400 every two years ). Since you say you reside in Florida you could use the Embassy in Washington for the O-A Visas by mail, which they prefer

[ubonjoe]

The only wrinkle on this would be your wife and her status in the US. Dual citizenship would allow her to use her Thai passport to enter the Kingdom but I don't know if she could use her US passport to re-enter the US without the requisite entry and departure stamps from Thailand.

If she does have a US passport then you would have to crunch the numbers and determine if an O-A Multiple for both of you would be the best way to go ( $200 X 2 = $400 every two years ). Since you say you reside in Florida you could use the Embassy in Washington for the O-A Visas by mail, which they prefer

The US does not check for entry/departure stamps for other countries when you enter. There are many many people that have more than one passport that enter the US everyday without stamps in their US passport.

She certainly does not need to get a visa. She is Thai and can enter on her Thai passport.

[sandyf]

I don't think there are 30 or 90 day tourist visas.

"I am qualified for the Non-Immigrant O-A, Retirement or Marriage Visa's"

The multiple entry OA Visa would work for you, as would multiple entry Non Imm O based on either retirement or marriage.

The OA would give you a year on every entry, and if you re-enter just prior to the visa expiring, you could get almost two years out of it. After the visa expires, you'd need a re-entry permit to keep the permission to stay date alive if you leave the country and want to return.

You'd need to do 90 day reporting to your local immigration office if you stay in the country 90 days. If you leave before 90 days, no report required. The days start counting the day you return.

The Non O, which you refer to incorrectly as retirement or marriage visas, is good for 90 days per entry. A multiple entry allows you to enter as many times as you want while the visa is valid (1 year), giving you 90 days each time. No 90 day reporting required.

I suggest you read the pinned topics at the top of the forum. There is a lot of good information there that helps explain and answer a lot of questions.

Good luck.

Terry

Why all the nit picking.

I would read the OP statement as he could qualify for a Non-Immigrant O-A visa or a Non-Immigrant (Retirement) visa or a Non-Immigrant (Marriage) visa, but I was educated in the UK not the US.

Strikes me that posters are more concerned about correcting descriptions than providing information

[Acharn]

If I understand the question correctly, the OP wants to understand the details of the requirement for 90-day reporting. The key thing is "reside in the Kingdom for 90 days." If you leave the country, you stop counting. If you come back, you start counting from that day, not from the previous entry.As I understand it, if you leave after 91 days and haven't reported, they don't pay attention.

[Tony125]

TerryLH, on 31 May 2014 - 14:32, said:

I don't think there are 30 or 90 day tourist visas.

He could also come over on a 60 day tourist visa which could be extended at immigration for an additional 30 days for 1900 baht. You can aply for single , double or triple entry which if you extend after each 60 days would give him 9 months. His wife can just use her Thai Passport when flying over.

[CharlesHH]

This man is asking how or if he has to report every 90 days even if he is in the USA when the 90 day due date comes up.

Acharn implies that there is no report due IF the man is not in Thailand on his due date, nor any of his due dates and,

that the man should just enter Thailand again and his 90day clock begins again with no penalty for being absent on his previous due dates.

If I have stated this correctly, please notify me and all because altho I have an O-A retirement visa, I want to know, too.

[stvette2002]

I am from the USA and the best would be the retirement Visa with multiple entry (for you) I don't know about your wife. My wife and I just entered and we both have those visas and at the Thai embassy in NYC they told us that is the best way to go. But continue to check as this seems to be a fluid situation.

[partington]

This man is asking how or if he has to report every 90 days even if he is in the USA when the 90 day due date comes up.

Acharn implies that there is no report due IF the man is not in Thailand on his due date, nor any of his due dates and,

that the man should just enter Thailand again and his 90day clock begins again with no penalty for being absent on his previous due dates.

If I have stated this correctly, please notify me and all because altho I have an O-A retirement visa, I want to know, too.

This is correct. The 90-day report is to inform the Immigration authorities whenever you have spent 90 consecutive days in Thailand. If you have not done this there is simply no obligation to report. You can stay 89 days, leave for a day, and come back in, stay 89 more days, leave, and do this for eternity without ever needing to do a 90-day report, if you so desire.

It is an address report and nothing to do with your visa, or visa extension.

Edited June 1, 2014 by partington

[sandyf]

I am from the USA and the best would be the retirement Visa with multiple entry (for you) I don't know about your wife. My wife and I just entered and we both have those visas and at the Thai embassy in NYC they told us that is the best way to go. But continue to check as this seems to be a fluid situation.

There are two "retirement" visas.

Non-Immigrant O (retirement) available to persons over 65 with state pension and can be single or multiple entry.

Non-Immigrant O-A retirement visa available to persons over 50 and subject to financial,medical and police criteria. This is effectively a single entry visa for 12 months and subject to 90 day reporting similar to visa extension.

[MikeandDow]

I am from the USA and the best would be the retirement Visa with multiple entry (for you) I don't know about your wife. My wife and I just entered and we both have those visas and at the Thai embassy in NYC they told us that is the best way to go. But continue to check as this seems to be a fluid situation.

There are two "retirement" visas.

Non-Immigrant O (retirement) available to persons over 65 with state pension and can be single or multiple entry.

Non-Immigrant O-A retirement visa available to persons over 50 and subject to financial,medical and police criteria. This is effectively a single entry visa for 12 months and subject to 90 day reporting similar to visa extension.

there is only 1 type of retirement visa and that is O-A this poster does not know what he is talking about,

[meatboy]

I don't think there are 30 or 90 day tourist visas.

"I am qualified for the Non-Immigrant O-A, Retirement or Marriage Visa's"

The multiple entry OA Visa would work for you, as would multiple entry Non Imm O based on either retirement or marriage.

The OA would give you a year on every entry, and if you re-enter just prior to the visa expiring, you could get almost two years out of it. After the visa expires, you'd need a re-entry permit to keep the permission to stay date alive if you leave the country and want to return.

You'd need to do 90 day reporting to your local immigration office if you stay in the country 90 days. If you leave before 90 days, no report required. The days start counting the day you return.

The Non O, which you refer to incorrectly as retirement or marriage visas, is good for 90 days per entry. A multiple entry allows you to enter as many times as you want while the visa is valid (1 year), giving you 90 days each time. No 90 day reporting required.

I suggest you read the pinned topics at the top of the forum. There is a lot of good information there that helps explain and answer a lot of questions.

Good luck.

Terry

Why all the nit picking.

I would read the OP statement as he could qualify for a Non-Immigrant O-A visa or a Non-Immigrant (Retirement) visa or a Non-Immigrant (Marriage) visa, but I was educated in the UK not the US.

Strikes me that posters are more concerned about correcting descriptions than providing information

nobody is nit picking,they are stating the facts,just go along to immigration and ask for a yearly visa and you will get the same answer that we are all saying,dont mix a visa and an extension.

[noosard]

The only wrinkle on this would be your wife and her status in the US. Dual citizenship would allow her to use her Thai passport to enter the Kingdom but I don't know if she could use her US passport to re-enter the US without the requisite entry and departure stamps from Thailand.

Away around the stamp in the US passport is to pass through another country on the way to Thailand or the way back to US

Edited June 2, 2014 by ubonjoe
moved reply from quoted text

[ubonjoe]

The only wrinkle on this would be your wife and her status in the US. Dual citizenship would allow her to use her Thai passport to enter the Kingdom but I don't know if she could use her US passport to re-enter the US without the requisite entry and departure stamps from Thailand.

Away around the stamp in the US passport is to pass through another country on the way to Thailand or the way back to US

There is no need to get around something that does no exist. The US does not check for entry/departure stamps for another country.

I would say that when flying into a country there would very few if any that do.

[stoli]

This man is asking how or if he has to report every 90 days even if he is in the USA when the 90 day due date comes up.

Acharn implies that there is no report due IF the man is not in Thailand on his due date, nor any of his due dates and,

that the man should just enter Thailand again and his 90day clock begins again with no penalty for being absent on his previous due dates.

If I have stated this correctly, please notify me and all because altho I have an O-A retirement visa, I want to know, too.

Acharn implies that there is no report due IF the man is not in Thailand on his due date, nor any of his due dates and,

that the man should just enter Thailand again and his 90day clock begins again with no penalty for being absent on his previous due dates.

The above statement is correct.

[StefanBBK]

6 month can be achieved with a double entry tourist visa, both entries extended by 30 days for 1900 baht each and a boarder crossing after the first 90 days. This depends a little on how long the visa is valid. I got one in Europe two years ago that was valid full 6 month....Anyway, if you qualify for non "o" that might be easier with the current interpretation of law changing rapidly. 90 day report only needed if you are in the country. Clock resets every time you exit / enter.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[sandyf]

I don't think there are 30 or 90 day tourist visas.

"I am qualified for the Non-Immigrant O-A, Retirement or Marriage Visa's"

The multiple entry OA Visa would work for you, as would multiple entry Non Imm O based on either retirement or marriage.

The OA would give you a year on every entry, and if you re-enter just prior to the visa expiring, you could get almost two years out of it. After the visa expires, you'd need a re-entry permit to keep the permission to stay date alive if you leave the country and want to return.

You'd need to do 90 day reporting to your local immigration office if you stay in the country 90 days. If you leave before 90 days, no report required. The days start counting the day you return.

The Non O, which you refer to incorrectly as retirement or marriage visas, is good for 90 days per entry. A multiple entry allows you to enter as many times as you want while the visa is valid (1 year), giving you 90 days each time. No 90 day reporting required.

I suggest you read the pinned topics at the top of the forum. There is a lot of good information there that helps explain and answer a lot of questions.

Good luck.

Terry

Why all the nit picking.

I would read the OP statement as he could qualify for a Non-Immigrant O-A visa or a Non-Immigrant (Retirement) visa or a Non-Immigrant (Marriage) visa, but I was educated in the UK not the US.

Strikes me that posters are more concerned about correcting descriptions than providing information

nobody is nit picking,they are stating the facts,just go along to immigration and ask for a yearly visa and you will get the same answer that we are all saying,dont mix a visa and an extension.

Can the OP go along to immigration in Florida?

[sandyf]

I am from the USA and the best would be the retirement Visa with multiple entry (for you) I don't know about your wife. My wife and I just entered and we both have those visas and at the Thai embassy in NYC they told us that is the best way to go. But continue to check as this seems to be a fluid situation.

There are two "retirement" visas.

Non-Immigrant O (retirement) available to persons over 65 with state pension and can be single or multiple entry.

Non-Immigrant O-A retirement visa available to persons over 50 and subject to financial,medical and police criteria. This is effectively a single entry visa for 12 months and subject to 90 day reporting similar to visa extension.

there is only 1 type of retirement visa and that is O-A this poster does not know what he is talking about,

Category "F" To perform official duties. Category "B" To conduct business, to work, to study teaching course, to work as an English teacher, to take scuba diving or boxing lessons, to work as a sport coach, to do an internship, to work as a film-producer, journalist or reporter for a short period. Category "IM" To invest with the concurrence of the Thai Ministries and Government Departments concerned. Category "IB" To invest or perform other activities relating to investment, subject to the provision of the established laws on investment promotion. Category "ED" To study, to come on a work study tour or observation tour, to participate in projects or seminars, to attend a conference or training course, to study as a foreign Buddhist monk. Category "M" To work as a film-producer, journalist or reporter. Category "R To perform missionary work or other religious activities with the concurrence of the Thai Ministries or Government Departments concerned. Category "RS" To conduct scientific research or training or teaching in a research institute. Category "EX" To undertake skilled work or to work as an expert or specialist. Category "O" To visit Thai spouse, children, parents, voluntary job, Retirement (with State Pension)

Category"O-A" To applicants aged 50 and over who wish to stay in Thailand for an entended period without the intention of working.

Edited June 2, 2014 by sandyf

[mrjon]

LOL, great discussion.

Acharn is correct, I needed to understand the details of the requirement for 90-day reporting and I believe that issue hs been answered.

Now, when the time comes to stay for 6 months I'll have to determine what visa to come in on, I believe that there is enough information on this post to make a good judgement call about that.

We have just returned from the Kingdom last week after a 3 month stay.

My Thai wife is now an American Citizen as well and so she used her American Passport to leave SRQ (Sarasota Florida International) in America at both the airline check in and Immigration

When we arrived at BKK she used her Thai passport to enter Thailand.

When we left Thailand last week she used her American passport at the airline counter check in and when we went through Immigration at the airport she used her Thai passport.

While on the airplane when they passed out immigration forms, she asked for 2 forms ( information is asked about the flight number, destination, passport number, etc) she placed the completed forms in both passports.

When we arrived at SRQ (Sarasota Florida International) in America she used her American passport at Immigration.

I entered Thailand on a 90 day Non-Immigrant Visa obtained at the Thai Embassy in Washinton, DC fo $80

Thanks to all for your thoughts, I appreciate it.

[mrjon]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730694-what-visa90-day-reporting/