I am a 60 year old British National married to a Thai girl and have lived in Thailand approximately 10 years on a type Non 'O' (issued in Hull) through Retirement Visa extensions and the last four years through Marriage Visa extensions. My latest Marriage Visa extension and my Multiple Re-Entry Permit expires 06 August 2014. I also have a Habitation for Life and a Yellow House Book for our home in Udonthani.

Both myself and my wife traveled to Norway in January this year as I was offered a job and we plan to be here permanently until January 2015 when my Contract expires or possibly longer if renewed (strong possibility it will be renewed but no guarantee).

Due to my work I will not be able to return to Thailand to renew my Marriage Visa extension or get a Retirement Visa Extension before the expiry of my present Marriage Visa extension 06 August 2014.

My questions are:

1. I believe that if I let my present Marriage Visa extension expire on 06 August 2014 without renewing before hand then I will have to start the whole process over again with getting a new Non-Immigrant Visa and then either a Marriage or Retirement Visa extension. Is my assumption correct?
   
2. When we plan to come back can I apply for a 90 day Non-Immigrant Visa at the Thai Embassy in Oslo and use that to get a Retirement Visa Extension, I meet all the requirements financially and otherwise for a Retirement Visa (more than 800k in the bank for several years).
   
3. Do I instead need to apply for a type "O-A" Non-Immigrant Visa at the Thai Embassy Oslo for one year and then apply for a Retirement Visa. There is a lot more work involved with this option as I need to get a medical certificate and a verification of no criminal record "notarised by notary organs or the applicant’s diplomatic or consular mission." There is no problem in getting these it is just a hassle involving taking time of work and travelling a long way to Oslo.
   
4. When I plan to come back what happens if I just arrive at Suvarnabhumi with my wife with an expired Marriage Visa extension, how long can I stay in Thailand and can I get a Non-Immigrant Visa and retirement or Marriage Visa extension from within Thailand.
   
5. Are there any other options available that may be better.

Many thanks in advance for all help.

Edited July 2, 201412 yr by metisdead
Please do not post using all caps. Topic title edited to remove all caps.

The one time I got a non-O with retirement extension, I

Arrived in Thailand with a visa exempt 30 day stay. (visa on arrival.) I don't know if your country qualifies for that. A 30 day visa would have sufficed.

I immediately went to Immigration and got converted to a non-O which gave me 90 days. I jumped through a few easy hoops including with my embassy, qualified on income, and then got a 1 year multi-entry based on retirement.

I had to wait until not more than 30 days, but not less than 15 days remained on my visa to apply for the extension based on retirement. I was able to easily get everything I needed except proof of income in case I needed it in Thailand. I was able to get the income statement from my embassy in Thailand.

Someone who's done it more recently can give you a complete list of what you need, and how to get it, even for marriage.

Edited July 2, 201412 yr by NeverSure

Are you HullyBully who left a similar question in CM forum within 30 minutes of this one?

Both you guys have a habit of typing your subject in all CAPS ;-)

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739481-converting-a-type-o-vis-to-retirement/

Are you HullyBully who left a similar question in CM forum within 30 minutes of this one?

Both you guys have a habit of typing your subject in all CAPS ;-)

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739481-converting-a-type-o-vis-to-retirement/

No. Mods must have changed that as that was not my original subject title. Christ knows why it was changed.... Originally said "Long termers - has this country changed in last 10 years" or something like that. And it wasn't in caps

And I wasn't returning to Thailand after working abroad. I was away for 1 month so they got that wrong also

Edited July 2, 201412 yr by thelongshoot

Are you HullyBully who left a similar question in CM forum within 30 minutes of this one?

When you see "repeated character" nicknames with a single posting count, you know that is someone that just wants a quick answer to an occasional questions. After having got it, most often they don't even bother saying thank you, or f... you as the better TV tradition dictates.

You can follow NeverSure's advice, or I think I would go ahead and apply for a single entry, Non-Immigrant "O" Visa, can be based on marriage, or retirement. Then no issues with flying on a one way ticket if needed. Then when you arrive, just take care of the financials, and apply for another extension, marriage or retirement, whichever you prefer. If retirement, you should be able to make just one trip to immigration, and be set for a year.

You should apply for a single entry non-o based upon marriage In Oslo. Then after arriving you can do the extension based upon retirement if that is what you want.

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You should apply for a single entry non-o based upon marriage In Oslo. Then after arriving you can do the extension based upon retirement if that is what you want.

Many thanks to all who provided a positive response if I did as a Newbie in my first post upset certain people by writing the title in Capital letters I am sorry.

Getting the non-O in Norway is probably best. However, it can be rather painless even if you wait to you get to Thailand before you seek the visa.

I have done the retirement extension for seven years now--actually two non-O visas, I went to Vietnam without a re-entry and had to repeat the non-O/retirement process.

I have done it from Penang. The first time I went, I brought only what I considered necessary--passport and money. I was told I needed all the paperwork that was needed for a retirement extension. So I went back to the Bangkok embassy, got the income statement notarized, returned to Penang to secure the non-O visa, then processed the retirement extension at Hatyai Immigration.

When I returned from Vietnam, I got the income statement first, then went to Penang for the non-O and returned to immigration for the retirement extension. My proximity to the Malaysian border makes the trip to Penang less painful and I have friends there, so it is a pleasant visit.

However, my retirement process is complicated by my non-Thai wife piggybacking the non-O and retirement extension. However, that too is little problem. We simply had our marriage license certified by our embassy and got a Thai translation of that certification. That and the income statement from our embassy is all that is needed.

I go back to immigration to report every 90 days, and back to the Bangkok embassy for the income statement every year. The people at Hatyai immigration are always friendly and capable, I know most of them, never had an issue or had to wait.

Of course, the facts I have a non-Thai wife with me and we have sufficient income to meet their requirements, may be reasons for our easy processes--my wife also brings home-made cookies frequently, but that is the only bribe.