Sorry to clutter this already busy forum. Here's my situation any advice appreciated. Been here in bkk for couple of years on various visas and stamps. Now like many others need long stay visa.
I currently have single entry tourist visa. I have to fly to melbourne in sept. I cant even find out if Melbourne consulate can do non imm o-a. Cambera certainly does. Here is my question assuming Melb does o-a. Apply for o-a which will require police check and all copies to be bound and signed off by a notary etc etc. Sounds bit of effort, or just get a non imm o and when back in bkk apply extension based on retirement. Also is income method obtained from Au embassy as straight forward as it seems. I am already retired and live on super stream and rentals. These can be shown to embassy with anual rental statements etc. Or should i just bring in another 400,000bht. Already have a thai account with 500k. Thankyou

One advantage of non-imm o-a is that you can re-enter Thailand on the last few days of the visa's validity and get a one year stamp, no ? That gives you close to 2 years. Non-imm o is 90 days + 1 year.

If I was in your situation I will go now to get a No imig. visa and a multiple or single re-entry permit. If you can, come back from your country with income cetifications and documentations, and/or wiring the money (better) or with the cash to complete the 800000thb deposit to get the retirement extension easier here than there. Also look in getting your criminal records report and health insurance if you can...and every notarized document that you think may be useful here, now or some day in the future.

You never know what new immigration rules will be in few months.

Edited August 1, 201411 yr by umbanda

In my view, the single-entry non-O for travel to Thailand followed by one-year extensions of stay from the local immigration method based upon proof of income is the simpler of the two options.

If I was in your situation I will go now to get a No imig. visa and a multiple or single re-entry permit. If you can, come back from your country with income cetifications and documentations, and/or wiring the money (better) or with the cash to complete the 800000thb deposit to get the retirement extension easier here than there. Also look in getting your criminal records report and health insurance if you can...and every notarized document that you think may be useful here, now or some day in the future.

You never know what new immigration rules will be in few months.

 

If you are advising a Non-Imm O, he won't need a re-entry permit unless he wants to travel out of Thailand before getting an extension. A re-entry permit obtained before getting the extension will only be valid for the 90 day period based on the Non-Imm O entry. During the last 30 days of his Non-Imm-O entry he can apply for the retirement extension of stay and, if required, get a re-entry permit then which will then be valid for the one year life of the extension.

 

While he may need to have documentation of income for his embassy, he will need to get the income letter/affidavit from his embassy. That embassy issued document is what would be shown to immigrations when applying for the extension. If he chooses to put Baht 800,000 into a Thai bank, it can "season" for the first 60 days of his Non-imm O permission to stay and then be shown to Immigrations with copies of his bank passbook and bank manager's letter.

 

A combination method can be done with an income letter from his embassy and the bankbook & manager's letter. For the combination method, the money does not need to be in the bank for 60 days.

 

There is NO NEED for a police/criminal report or medical exam when applying for the retirement extension in Thailand. Those are only needed when applying for the Non-Imm O-A visa in his home country.

 

The Immigrations rules regarding retirement extensions have not changed and there's no reason to believe they will "in a few months."

 

There are some advantages to getting the O-A before coming to Thailand, but most people seem to think getting the Non-Imm O visa, and then applying for the extension of stay once in Thailand, is less of a hassle.

Edited August 1, 201411 yr by Suradit69

Thankyou to the members for their advice. I love these forums. I try as much as possible to search for answers befor posting.
I find it refreshing that members take the time and effort to help. Much appreciated.