Non Imm O-A: Most hassle free route?

[SooKee]

I'm currently resident in Penang and spend most time there but am tempted to rent an apartment in Hat Yai on the basis that it's cheaper than hotels. The last two times I visited I stayed for 30 days and then 20 but always go back to Penang, often for a month or more. Lengthy stays like that are also rare, mostly I visit for 7-10 days max, often less. While my sort of visa exempt visits don't seem to be the type targeted by the current crack down (last time I exited LOS the IO just asked "Your home Malaysia?" and when I said yes and showed him the Malaysian visa he just said OK). However, I'm figuring that with the confusion at borders at the moment, the state of flux and the fact that I might want to buy a bike to keep at the apartment, it might be better for me to make a Non Imm O-A, despite most of the time will still be in Penang.

I've trawled through hundreds of posts on this and other forums and at the moment I figure it will be best for me to:

1) Enter LOS on 30 day leave to enter

2) Straight away apply for Non Imm O for 90 days.

3) Once received straight away apply for 12 months based on retirement.

4) Apply multiple entry permit

It seems the most hassle free route and I don't really have the time to sit around in LOS waiting for the last 30 days of my Non Imm O to apply for Retirement Extension.

I did consider:

1) Enter LOS on 30 day stamp.

2) Apply Non Imm O

3) Apply Single re-entry permit.

4) Exit LOS and return in last 30 days of Non O

5) Apply for Retirement Extension

6) Apply for multi entry permit

Seems more hassle this way, option 1 seems much better.

I did consider applying direct for Non-Imm O-A in Penang but they only give 3 months AND I also need to apply for and wait for med cert, police check and proof income. Difference here is I can prove income by showing funds in my Malaysian account. It still might be an option though.

The only thing with doing the application in Thailand (where I'd want to go the pension income route rather than having money in a Thai bank) is that I think I'd need two Embassy proof of income (unless they will accept, having seen the original, a copy of the Embassy letter when applying at the Non O stage and then a further copy when applying for the retirement extension.

Any thoughts on keeping this as hassle free as possible? With the Penang O-A I can prove the funds easier but need to get the medicals and police certs plus the cost is a bit higher. With the in LOS option I will need 2 x proof of income letters but less hassle overall.

[ubonjoe]

You don't apply for an OA visa here it is an extension of stay.

Unless you have legal residency in Malaysia you will not be able to apply for an OA visa in Penang.

You can get a single entry non-o visa for being 50 or over if you can show financial proof of 800k baht or 65 baht income.and then apply for the extension of stay at immigration in Hat Yai instead of doing a conversion from a 30 day entry.

[OJAS]

"I did consider applying direct for Non-Imm O-A in Penang but they only give 3 months AND I also need to apply for and wait for med cert, police check and proof income. Difference here is I can prove income by showing funds in my Malaysian account. It still might be an option though."

The Penang Consulate can probably only issue you with a 90-day non-O visa, although I am surprised by their apparent insistence on a medical certificate and police check, neither of which are normally required for non-O visas (although they are for OA ones).

I suspect that you could only obtain an OA visa from the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur - although their website (http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/th/home) appears to be bereft of any specific info on this particular visa type unless I've missed something.

[ubonjoe]

If he has legal residency in Malaysia he could get the OA in Penang. It is an official consulate so they can do everything that the embassy can do.

[SooKee]

You don't apply for an OA visa here it is an extension of stay.

Unless you have legal residency in Malaysia you will not be able to apply for an OA visa in Penang.

You can get a single entry non-o visa for being 50 or over if you can show financial proof of 800k baht or 65 baht income.and then apply for the extension of stay at immigration in Hat Yai instead of doing a conversion from a 30 day entry.

If you read through my post I have never said apply for an O-A in LOS. If I enter LOS on a 30 day permission to enter, AFAIK the correct route is FIRST to apply for a Non-O conversion, then apply for retirement extension. As per option 1.

I can apply for Non Imm O-A in Penang as I have resident status. The problem is I need all the certs mentioned and then it's only 3 month, I'm not sure if I'll need to re-prove income etc when applying for extension in LOS or not. If not, going the Penang route might be better.

[OJAS]

I can apply for Non Imm O-A in Penang as I have resident status. The problem is I need all the certs mentioned and then it's only 3 month, I'm not sure if I'll need to re-prove income etc when applying for extension in LOS or not. If not, going the Penang route might be better.

So how come they'll only give you 3 months and not a whole year then?

[ubonjoe]

You can apply for a conversion to a 90 day non immigrant visa at some immigration offices during the first 15 days of a 30 day visa exempt entry. If you can show the needed financial proof. I am am not sure if Hat Yai can do the conversion.

Even though you are a resident in Malaysia you could still get a single entry non-o visa in Penang instead of doing the conversion.

[SooKee]

I can apply for Non Imm O-A in Penang as I have resident status. The problem is I need all the certs mentioned and then it's only 3 month, I'm not sure if I'll need to re-prove income etc when applying for extension in LOS or not. If not, going the Penang route might be better.

So how come they'll only give you 3 months and not a whole year then?

No idea. It's merely what their Visa Advisory says. Seems dumb to me. If they'd do a whole year, no question, I'd go for it. But, to jump through all the hoops ONLY to have to do it all again in LOS before 90 days is up seems pointless, UNLESS, having qualified for Non Imm O-A at an embassy, the extension is a mere formality without the need to reprove income.

[ubonjoe]

I can apply for Non Imm O-A in Penang as I have resident status. The problem is I need all the certs mentioned and then it's only 3 month, I'm not sure if I'll need to re-prove income etc when applying for extension in LOS or not. If not, going the Penang route might be better.

So how come they'll only give you 3 months and not a whole year then?

I think that may of just been a misunderstanding or mix up between a non-oa and a non-o.. Penang issue non-o's for being 50 for or over without the police check and medical.

[SooKee]

You can apply for a conversion to a 90 day non immigrant visa at some immigration offices during the first 15 days of a 30 day visa exempt entry. If you can show the needed financial proof. I am am not sure if Hat Yai can do the conversion.

Even though you are a resident in Malaysia you could still get a single entry non-o visa in Penang instead of doing the conversion.

I'll drive to the Embassy and have a chat tomorrow I think. Single Non O is not listed as an option by them unless you have a Thai wife. Maybe it's local implementation.

[ubonjoe]

I can apply for Non Imm O-A in Penang as I have resident status. The problem is I need all the certs mentioned and then it's only 3 month, I'm not sure if I'll need to re-prove income etc when applying for extension in LOS or not. If not, going the Penang route might be better.

So how come they'll only give you 3 months and not a whole year then?

No idea. It's merely what their Visa Advisory says. Seems dumb to me. If they'd do a whole year, no question, I'd go for it. But, to jump through all the hoops ONLY to have to do it all again in LOS before 90 days is up seems pointless, UNLESS, having qualified for Non Imm O-A at an embassy, the extension is a mere formality without the need to reprove income.

The info on the Penang website is only in Thai but it is the same as this on MFA website: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15385-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22O-A%22-(Long-Stay).html

The Penang website takes you to this page on consular website: http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/services/1287/19769-%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%95%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%B8-50-%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%B6%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%9B-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%82.html

Both say one year.

[SooKee]

Yep. Except this confuses it further: http://www.thaiembassy.org/penang/contents/files/services-20140508-110623-169095.pdf

As does the photocopy flyer they hand out.

I'll see what they say when I go in person. I suspect it'll be quieter these days. At the moment though I see little benefit to going through the Penang consulate and may just go the 3 step from 30 day stamp route.

[SooKee]

I can apply for Non Imm O-A in Penang as I have resident status. The problem is I need all the certs mentioned and then it's only 3 month, I'm not sure if I'll need to re-prove income etc when applying for extension in LOS or not. If not, going the Penang route might be better.

So how come they'll only give you 3 months and not a whole year then?

I think that may of just been a misunderstanding or mix up between a non-oa and a non-o.. Penang issue non-o's for being 50 for or over without the police check and medical.

Hope that's the case. Might be an easier route, cut out the step between 30 day stamp and non-O. Then just apply for an extension based on retirement with the proof of income letter which I'll apply for the day I enter LOS.

[ubonjoe]

If you get the OA it will be a multiple entry visa valid for a year so there would be no need for a re-entry permit. You would get a one year entry every time you enter the country. Then after one year you could get a re-entry permit for the the permit to stay from the last one year entry,

[Mario2008]

What they mean by 3 months is that Penang issues a single entry O-A visa, that is valid for one year. That means that it is good for 1 entry only and that entry must be made within 3 months from date of issuance.

When you enter Thailand within those 3 monhsh, you get a permisison to stay for 1 year.

[SooKee]

What they mean by 3 months is that Penang issues a single entry O-A visa, that is valid for one year. That means that it is good for 1 entry only and that entry must be made within 3 months from date of issuance.

When you enter Thailand within those 3 monhsh, you get a permisison to stay for 1 year.

Ahaaaaaa. That might be it then. In that case I might just process the whole thing here this time and apply for multiple re-entry permit when I enter LOS on the first occasion after the OA.

Bit of a pain to get the medical and police check but at least I only need the proof of pension once and less to and fro in LOS going the 3 step route.

[ubonjoe]

What they mean by 3 months is that Penang issues a single entry O-A visa, that is valid for one year. That means that it is good for 1 entry only and that entry must be made within 3 months from date of issuance.

When you enter Thailand within those 3 monhsh, you get a permisison to stay for 1 year.

I think it really will have a one year validity. Perhaps info he read was out of date. I have not heard of a single entry non-oa being issued for a long time. The info on their website says the fee is 5000 baht baht which is for a multiple entry.

[Mario2008]

I was referring to his link. That information in there says 3 months, 220 ringit (the price for a single).

There is no date on the information, so might be indeed old.

EDIT: link on website is dated 8 May 2014.

[SooKee]

What they mean by 3 months is that Penang issues a single entry O-A visa, that is valid for one year. That means that it is good for 1 entry only and that entry must be made within 3 months from date of issuance.

When you enter Thailand within those 3 monhsh, you get a permisison to stay for 1 year.

I think it really will have a one year validity. Perhaps info he read was out of date. I have not heard of a single entry non-oa being issued for a long time. The info on their website says the fee is 5000 baht baht which is for a multiple entry.

If this is the case it does indeed sound the best route. I was concerned (and a bit baffled) as to why I would apply for an O-A that would last only 3 months, pretty much to have to apply for the whole thing again in LOS to get the year. The 3 month period relating to the 'must use within' time makes sense. It will be esp useful if I can get the multi entry permit here too. One off application, 12 month visa and multi entry to boot.

I suppose if I couldn't be bothered with the police cert and med check I could apply for a Non O in Penang (if they will do it) and apply for the extension in LOS based on retirement. But not sure if I need to wait for the last 30 days if going that route. Can't afford to wait in LOS 60 days.

Failing that, the 3 step route as envisaged before.

[ubonjoe]

If you got the single entry non-o you could get a re-entry permit for the 90 entry it gives and then apply during the last 30 day of that entry.

[SooKee]

If you got the single entry non-o you could get a re-entry permit for the 90 entry it gives and then apply during the last 30 day of that entry.

Yah. Problem is I really need to visit Hat Yai every month but for no more than 7-10 days, at least at the moment. So it's doing it all in the most effective and efficient way.

If the O-A at Penang is 12 month from first use AND will come with multi re-entry permit it might be the best one stop option, despite the need for a police cert and medical form. At least the visa will be activated on arrival with no further applications being needed (until renewal). I need to ask the Consulate whether a letter from the UK Embassy in KL will be OK or whether it needs to be the BKK Embassy.

Other than that I could either get a Non O at Penang, IF they'll do it, and convert it on arrival IF I can (e.g. before the expiry of 60 days) straight away or as soon as the letter from the BKK Embassy arrives OR

Opt for the 30 day exempt, apply for Non O straight away and then apply for retirement extension on the day I get the non O, and apply for multiple re-entry same time.

[TerryLH]

If you really want the most hassle free, continue doing what you do now.

A single entry O-A does not come with a re-entry permit. You'd have to get that at an immigration office in Thailand.

[DKNY77]

A friend of mine just applied ,US ctiizen, for the ''retirement'' visa in Chiang Mai. He did'nt need a police check or a medical certificate.Because he applied within Thailand. Had he did from the states then he would have. He got the proof of income affadavit from the U.S. consulate ,deposited about 5000$ USD into a bank account ,(to make up the difference),went to immigration with the proof and done.

[Bigfarang1948]

It has been my experience that the Immigration officers interpret the 800,0000 baht or 65,00 baht monthly income differently, meaning in my case, they wanted my bank book to show 800,000 for two months PLUS 65,000 a month

Nothing I could do to change their mind. Apparently that particular group of immigration officers do not know the difference between AND, meaning both, OR meaning either; all very frustrating

You don't apply for an OA visa here it is an extension of stay.

Unless you have legal residency in Malaysia you will not be able to apply for an OA visa in Penang.

You can get a single entry non-o visa for being 50 or over if you can show financial proof of 800k baht or 65 baht income.and then apply for the extension of stay at immigration in Hat Yai instead of doing a conversion from a 30 day entry.

[joejai]

I applied for a (90 day) single-entry Non-Immigrant O Visa in the US before I left for Thailand. I'm 63 so I only had to show proof of funds from my US bank account. Once I got to Thailand, I chose to go the "Marriage Visa" route to get a 1 year extension for retirement. This was a lot more complicated than I thought, but since I was getting married anyway, I went for it (and got it). There's a lot more documentation needed which i won't go into, but if your not getting married then a straight retirement visa is the way to go. The only good thing about the marriage visa is immigration requires (in a Thai bank account) half the amount of the funds that they ask for with a straight retirement visa. Oh yes, before I forget, make sure the funds (marriage visa) are in an account in the applicants name ONLY (no joint account).

[bangkoklasse]

A friend of mine just applied ,US ctiizen, for the ''retirement'' visa in Chiang Mai. He did'nt need a police check or a medical certificate.Because he applied within Thailand. Had he did from the states then he would have. He got the proof of income affadavit from the U.S. consulate ,deposited about 5000$ USD into a bank account ,(to make up the difference),went to immigration with the proof and done.

He didn't apply for any visa. Or the O-A visa. He just did the normal extension of stay. For people that already have a non immigrant visa. And he can only do it in Thailand. He couldn't have done it in the States.

[DKNY77]

A friend of mine just applied ,US ctiizen, for the ''retirement'' visa in Chiang Mai. He did'nt need a police check or a medical certificate.Because he applied within Thailand. Had he did from the states then he would have. He got the proof of income affadavit from the U.S. consulate ,deposited about 5000$ USD into a bank account ,(to make up the difference),went to immigration with the proof and done.

He didn't apply for any visa. Or the O-A visa. He just did the normal extension of stay. For people that already have a non immigrant visa. And he can only do it in Thailand. He couldn't have done it in the States.

Well all I know is that he's in Thailand , RETIRED does'nt have to do any border runs and he is good for a year. Has to report into immigration every 90 days .So what ever the hell he did ,which according to you was next to nothing , he did it right.

[DKNY77]

You really don't know what you're talking about .A U.S citizen can apply for a for a Non O-A from the states ...This a page from the Thai Embassy in Washington....

And Get your facts straight before you start running at the mouth. He applied for the same visa in Thailand..which anyone can do if they fit the criteria. ''He did'nt apply for any visa'' ..What? You know him? you're a tool.

Non-Immigrant Visa Category “O-A” (Long Stay)

Purpose of Visit:-
This type of visa may be issued to applicants aged 50 years and over who wish to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 1 year without the intention of working.
Holder of this type of visa is allowed to stay in Thailand for 1 year. Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited.

Eligibility:-
- Applicant must be aged 50 years and over (on the day of submitting application)
- Applicant not prohibited from entering the Kingdom as provided by the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979)
- Having no criminal record in Thailand and the country of the applicant’s nationality or residence
- Having the nationality of or residence in the country where applicant’s application is submitted
- Not having prohibitive diseases ( Leprosy, Tuberculosis, drug addiction, Elephantiasis, third phase of Syphilis) as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No. 14 B.E. 2535

Required Documents:- (Required 3 sets: 1 original and 2 copies)
- Your actual Passport or Travel Document. (Passport or Travel Document must not expire within 6 months and contain at least ONE completely empty visa page).
- Visa application form completely filled out (download)
- Addition Application form (download)
- A medical certificate showing no prohibitive diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No.14 (B.E. 2535) certificate shall be valid for not more than three months (download)
- Three passport-size photographs (2"x2") (photocopy or photo taken from Photostat will not be accepted). Photographs must have a light color background with a full- face view of the person without wearing a hat or dark glasses. Photos must be taken within 6 months.
- A copy of bank statement or evidence of adequate finance showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht, or a deposit account plus a monthly income totaling not less than 800,000 Baht
- In the case of submitting a bank statement, a letter of guarantee from the bank (an original copy) is required
- A letter of verification stating that the applicant has no criminal record (verification shall be valid for not more than three months)
- In the case where the accompanying spouse is not eligible to apply for the Category ‘O-A’ (Long Stay) visa, he or she will be considered for temporary stay under Category ‘O’ visa. A marriage certificate must be provided as evidence

[SooKee]

I went to the Penang Consulate today and discussed the O-A visa. The guy at the desk basically said forget the website info etc. Penang will not / cannot issue a 12 month Non Imm O-A any longer. The only option is a straight Non O which will be valid for 90 days on entering Thailand, from which I can then convert / extend on the basis of retirement in Thailand. As I am ultimately going for retirement extension I will have to prove I have the funds required but this can be in a Thai or local bank and that a bank statement only is required, no certification or affidavits necessary. Police and medical checks also not needed. So for me it's:

Copy Passport

2 passport photos

Bank statement

Application

Police Check - Not needed

Medical Cert - Not needed

What has changed and why I've no idea but the guy insisted Penang can no longer issue Non Imm O-A.

[Seekingasylum]

What a bizarre thread. Just rent your place in Hat Yai and carry on as usual. If they refuse you then think again but given your MYS residence status there's no way they're going to knock you back. If on the rare occasion you need to stay longer than 30 days just apply for the new 30 day extension which has just become available.

Talk about crossing bridges before one meets them........