My wife (UK citizen, aged 48) and I (UK citiizen, aged 50) own a condo in Hua Hin and are looking to spend more time in Thailand.

I think I need to obtain an non-immigrant O-A visa and my wife can then 'piggy back' off my visa with an O visa? I satisfy the requirements to obtain the O-A visa.

If this is the correct visa can we both enter Thailand on a visa exempt entry (30-day) and then go to Hua Him immigration and convert to the non-immigrant O-A visa (multiple entry) and my wife to the O visa (multiple entry)? Or are we better both getting a 60-Day Tourist Visa before we depart the UK?

Any help with this, the paperwork requried and the costs greatly appreciated.

You should both get a non-O visa (single entry) while in the UK from one of the consulates. Once in Thailand you can get an extension of stay for 1 year and your wife an extension as your dependent. Will be easier and cheaper.

You can not get an O-A visa in Thailand, and getting one abroad would be ill advised as your wife can't get an extension of stay as your dependent until you yourself get an extension of stay first.

You will not be applying for a OA visa you will applying for an extension of stay based upon retirement.

I suggest you both get tourist visas before traveling to give you more time to get the conversion done to obatin a 90 day non immigrant visa entry prior to applying for your extension. You would have 15 days to get it done after entry if you only got a 30 day entry.

Your wife will not be able to do the conversion to obtain a dependent extension. She will need to get a non immigrant O visa from a nearby embassy or consulate to apply for the extension after you get your extension done..

Thank you for your prompt replies and your help.

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Hi Mario and ubonjoe.

Apologies for raising again but I am confused as I think you are advising us to get different types of visa in the UK i.e. Tourist Visa or non-O visa which I think are different?

Having looked at the Thai Immigration web site it seems that I can use form TM.86 to change my Tourist Visa to a non-O visa for retirement purposes.

But I do not think either if you are suggesting I do this? And not sure what my wife does if I went down that route?

If we both get Tourist Visas in the UK we do not seem to qualify for Visa Extensions based on the list on the Immigration web site but I have probably misunderstood.

I am sure I am confused and I am keen to understand what it is we need to apply for in Thailand and the process.

Obtaining Tourist Visas in the UK is no problem it is what we then do in Thailand that is tying me up in knots.

Thanks for your help.

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Your wife will be a dependent and you will be able to convert to a non-immigrant visa, your wife will not be able to convert. She would need to travel abroad and get a non-o visa herself once you have a non-immigrant visa yourself.

That is why I suggest to both get a non-O visa while in the UK. Much easier and saves time, money and trouble.