Have Retirement Visa from Chicago Thai Consulate

[bjsanook]

Hello,

My question to everyone is this:

I have an Non Immigrant "O-A" Visa from the consulate in Chicago. It was a fairly easy process. I plan to fully retire in 3 years once my contract expires here in Wisconsin. The Visa has a "M" stamped on it which I am guessing means multiple visits.

I am coming to visit next month. Now the issue

Should I enter with the Visa or just do the regular visit entry? I will be there 3 weeks. I do visit every 3-4 months. If I use it and then leave in 3 weeks is there a specific time I have to return?

I wanted to start the busy work things like address, bank account, drivers license, things like that. Can I do those things without using the "O" Visa? I know they will ask if I have it so is it good enough to show it or is the entry stamp different?

I also saw somewhere you get one duty free household move into Thailand. Is there any information on that other than the Thai Customs site?

Any other suggestions welcome.

Thanks,

BJ

[Jingthing]

There is no minimum time of residence in Thailand when using O-A visas.

Yes you have a multiple entry visa.

You get a one year stay each time you enter Thailand during the original validity of your original visa.

So it can be stretched for about a two year maximum stay from the time it is first used to enter Thailand.

To make the two year thing work, you need to reenter Thailand just before the expiration of the original validity date.

As far as household import allowances, I am not aware of any ... maybe someone can correct my impression.

It will be easier to do some business with a visa in your passport other than a 30 day stamp.

But beyond that, Thai immigration may FORCE you to use the visa when you enter Thailand.

In fact, you will probably need to explicitly ASK them not to begin use of your O-A if that's what you want.

They may agree. They may not.

After the O-A is fully played out, then you need to apply for annual extensions based on retirement in Thailand (each year).

Or alternatively start over with or without a new O-A.

Maybe you got this O-A too early for a planned three year move here?

[TerryLH]

There is no good reason to not use the O-A to enter with.

As long as the visa is valid, you can get as many entries as you want. Each will get you a year 'permission to stay'.

[Jingthing]

Yes, and again, if you've got the visa in your passport they are going to want you to use it when you enter. There are different reports on people asking to save use of a visa for later. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. I actually have never heard of anyone asking not to use an O-A visa specifically. Once I was able to get them not to use a tourist visa I had. Especially with the new systems in place, I reckon it would be even more unlikely that they would not use your visa.

[bjsanook]

Ok, sounds good.

I got it this year as it was easy in Chicago. Then my contract was extended and it's too lucrative to walk out on. The 3 years and amount I'm socking away with company matching will be well worth it. The damn 27 hour flights aren't tho.

Thanks for the info

BJ

[ubonjoe]

For all intents and purposes you will have to use your visa and there is no reason not to. The visas one year validity started on the date it was issued.

You must pay attention to the enter before date on your visa. All entries up to that date will give a one year entry. When you have made your last planned entry before your visa expires you will need to get a multiple re-entry permit to keep that last entry valid when you return.