Extending O-A Visa Current income / Thai or Non Thai Bank

[sub101uk]

My OA visa which is a multiple entrie is due in Feb 2015 Since I will be heading back to to UK for 2 months and wont be back before April 5th I was thinking of extending it in Hat Yai I understand this can done with supplying them with Bank Details :-

This is from the Thai web site which to me is a bit vague ?

Once staying in the Kingdom completed 1 year and wishing to extend of stay, this can also be made by submitting the application at the Immigration Bureau, by showing documents of current income the amount equivalent to Thai currency at least 800,000 Baht or monthly income 65,000 Baht. (approximately GBP 14,000.00/annum)

Now my question is " Does this bank account need to be in Thailand " ? or will any bank statement do ?

When I first was issued my OA I just shown them my bank statement from the UK however I have been told to extend your visa this 800,000 needs to be in a Thai Bank account and they will not accept Non Thai banks statement .

I am fully aware that the OA can give you about 2 years however I am in and out of Thailand every few months so the plan was to before I go back to the UK in Late January and return in April I was going to the immigration office in Hat Yai or Bangkok and extend the OA .

If I cannot extend then I think it means running the gauntlet and providing all the information all over again with the total cost of over £450 after all the running around for certs , 2 train fares to london and stamps from a Public Notary .

Many Thanks

[Jingthing]

For application for annual extension based on retirement done in Thailand using either the 800K bank method or the combo method (bank account plus embassy income statement) absolutely the bank account portion MUST be in a THAI bank account in Thailand. No exceptions.

Also the funds must be there (at least 800K for the 800K method) for at least two months for the first annual extension, and at least three months for all subsequent extensions.

When using the combo method, technically no money seasoning is required, but some immigration offices are enforcing the above money seasoning rules on those accounts as well.

[ubonjoe]

If it is your visa that is expiring in February you can get a re-entry permit to keep you current permit to stay valid and will not need to do an extension until when it ends.

The money has to be in a bank here to do the extension.

[OJAS]

To maximise the use of your OA visa why not do a quick border run before your trip back to the UK? If you were to do this on, say, 20 Jan 2015, you should then be stamped back into Thailand until 19 Jan 2016. You would, however, need to obtain a re-entry permit from Hat Yai to keep the Jan 2016 permission to stay alive upon your return from the UK in April 2015 (or, alternatively, take your chances at the airport and obtain the re-entry permit there prior to your outward flight to the UK).

In this way you would not then have to worry about seeking an extension of stay here until this time next year!

EDIT #1 - maybe the border run may not, after all, be necessary in the light of ubonjoe's comments (although the re-entry permit still will be)?

EDIT #2 - Bangkok Bank are IMHO the best one here for us Brits with monies to transfer from UK accounts since transfers can be processed speedily and relatively cheaply via their London branch:

http://www.bangkokbank.com/bangkokbank/personalbanking/dailyBanking/TransferingFunds/TransferringIntoThailand/ReceivingFundsfromUK/Pages/ReceivingFundsfromUK.aspx

[sub101uk]

Thanks Guys

For the fast reply as I think you know my previous mail on this forum that the immigration office in Hat Yai had never seen a TM47 before and in the end they sent me down to Sadao however I went in there the other day for my 90 day reporting and all went well .

Yes thats a good Idea going down to Sadio and getting my Passport stamped but however they will still stamp me out of Thailand from Suvarnabhumi when I leave the end of January and since I wont return until April 5th I think I need a extension before I leave or its back to the Thai embassy in London yet again .

It looks like its going to be one of 2 options Open a Thai Bangkok 3 months before you apply for your visa extension , Or Apply all over again .

Police Cert

Doctors Cert

Bank Statements

Then all stamped by a Public Notary .

Then 2 trips to london

It would help if the london embassy would do all this by post but its all in person only they wont accept postal applications .As 2 trips to london by train is over £100 since you apply one day and return the next you cant do it all in one day .

But many thanks on clearing up that the bank statements have to be from only a Thai bank and a non Thai bank is not acceptable .

Many thanks to all .

[ubonjoe]

You will not be able to apply for an extension of stay until your permit to stay from your last entry is within 30 days of ending. You are not extending your visa.

The expiration date or your visa means nothing more than the last day you can do an entry it does not limit the amount of time you can stay in the country.

If you get a re-entry permit just before you leave for your trip to the UK you will be stamped in when you return with a permit to stay date that is equal to the date the re-entry permit is valid to which is equal to the permit to stay it is based upon.

[wayned]

!. Your visa expires "must enter by date" Feb 2015.

2. Go to Sadao and cross the border and come back say 13 Jan 2015. You will get permission to stay until 13 Jan 2016.

3. Purchase a re-entry permit at Swampy as you are leaving for the UK.

4. When you come back in April, put the reentry permit number on your arrival card in the space for visa number. When you enter they will stamp you in with a permission to stay until 13 Jan 2016. It will not matter that your "Visa" has expired as the reentry permit keeps your current permission to stay alive. Check the stamp before you leave the immigration desk.

5. Process a 1 year extension 30 - 45 days before 13 Jan 2016.

6. Anytime that you leave Thailand you need to purchase a re-entry permit to keep your permission to stay alive after the visa actually expires.

Good luck!

[sub101uk]

Thanks Guys I understand what you are saying but I dont just stay in Thailand after I return from the Uk within about amonth I will be leaving Thailand to go to work but its more straight forward than doing the paper chase to apply for new OA .

However Looking at the Thai Embassy web site in London I see the age limit for a "O" class visa has gone back to 50 early this year it was 65 which is why I went for the OA its just the requirements for a "O" are alot less than OA

Non-Immigrant Type O

• Birth Certificate (applicant's child)
• Certificate of Marriage or its equivalents (if married to Thai national)
• a copy of marriage certificate and passport or Thai ID of spouse and (3 months bank statement showing monthly income of more than £1,400 anuually.)
• An official recommendation letter from organization perform voluntary job in Thailand (for volunteer job)
• Pension statement if the applicant is a pension earner.

Or

Non-Immigrant Type O-A

• Proof of income with a minimum of £1,400.00 per month or £1,400.00 or £16,500 anuually for those who have been issue category O with multiple entries
• Medical Record
• Criminal Record check

Oh yes were or what is Swampy ?

Do you know how many times I can extend a OA visa or do I need to re apply in 2016 .

Many Thanks

[paz]

Oh yes were or what is Swampy ?

Do you know how many times I can extend a OA visa or do I need to re apply in 2016 .

"Swampy" is a nickname for the main airport.

You cannot not extend a visa. You need to apply for a new one, with full documentation again each time.

[ubonjoe]

You can get a multiple re-entry permit that will be valid until your permit to stay ends that will cost 3800 baht. No problem to make more trips out of the country.

You can get one year extension of stay for infinity.

Swampy is a bad name for Suv airport (BKK).

I would not count on being able to get a multiple entry non-o visa unless you are 65 or older. Pension on the embassy website means old age pension that you cannot get until you are 65.

[sub101uk]

Oh Ok you mean the airport well after they gave me a standard 30 days tourist stamp with a "O" visa I dont give the airport much of a hope in the end I had to go into the city to the main immigration office and cancel the old stamp to get the 90 day stamp which is straight forward however they required a copy of the stamp and passport so it was a hunt for a local copying shop .

Yes I thought the same as you it was 65 for a " O" but looking at there web site which I assume is up to date its got 50 .

Non-Immigrant Visa
(for purpose of business, study, conference, seminar, film production, journalism, job volunteer, for person accompanying Thai spouse, for persons over 50 years of age and pension earners)

Category "O"
To visit Thai spouse, children, parents, voluntary job, Retirement (with State Pension)

I think its going to be best to stick with the OA since I know what the paper chase requirements are but it was so straight forward before to get the "O" and it was all done in the post and what they required I will check with the london embassy thats if they reply if I need to supply all the same information all over again plus do I need to go there in person if so can it be done in one day other wise it could be time to move over to Vietnam since spending £450 every year just to get a visa is a bit over the top .

Thanks again for all your help .

[ubonjoe]

Oh Ok you mean the airport well after they gave me a standard 30 days tourist stamp with a "O" visa I dont give the airport much of a hope in the end I had to go into the city to the main immigration office and cancel the old stamp to get the 90 day stamp which is straight forward however they required a copy of the stamp and passport so it was a hunt for a local copying shop .

Yes I thought the same as you it was 65 for a " O" but looking at there web site which I assume is up to date its got 50 .

You could got to Sadao just before you leave for the UK do a border hop and get another one year entry, Then go to the immigration office there and get the multiple re-entry permit. The re-entry permit would be valid for the full year that you got from that entry.

Every time you enter the country you will get a permitted to stay stamp until January 2016.

Just put your re-entry permit number in the space for the visa number on your arrival card. It it is always wise to check that the date stamped is correct before leaving the arrival immigration area.

You need to check some of the consulate websites in the UK or contact them about getting the non-o. I think you will find it is still 65.

The embassy will not issue any non-o for being 50 or ove they only do the OA visa.

[sub101uk]

Hi Joe

Yes I think what you have said maybe the best way to go as back in the UK its one hell of a paper chase getting all the require documents for a new O-A , Plus at Sadao the passport desk on entering Thailand is just 10 feet from the immigration office so it could be a very easy thing to do.

Do you know if they require any other paper to or is it just a case showing them my old permit and paying 3800 baht. to extend for for a extra year .Yes I have got into the habit of checking the stamp before I leave passport control as its a nightmare to change it .

Well I think I will make the trip to Sadao as late as possible as I understand I am only permitted to stay until the date on the stamp .

As far as the "O" class well that information did come from the the London Thai Embassy Web Site but yes as far as I know its like you say you must over 65 so I dont understand why now it says 50 .

I will ask London and see if I get a reply I might even try Hull even if they no longer deal with " O " + OA visas as they all ways replied but it would save me from having to apply for a new OA again , Once every 2 years is not bad .

I will let you know I get on as it wont be long before January is here again .

Many Thanks

[ubonjoe]

You will need a completed TM8 form with attached photo ( http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/pdf/tm8.pdf ).

Copies of your passport photo page, visa, entry/permit to stay stamp and TM6 departure card.

[sub101uk]

Thanks very much taking the time as its a nightmare doing the paper chase for a replacement OA , I am only in the UK for about 2 and a half months and most of that time I spent chasing people for certs and letters so this will put it off for a year so 3800 baht is a small amount to pay for the extra year , What size of stamp do they put in your passport or is it stamped over the original OA permit .

[paz]

Thanks very much taking the time as its a nightmare doing the paper chase for a replacement OA , I am only in the UK for about 2 and a half months and most of that time I spent chasing people for certs and letters so this will put it off for a year so 3800 baht is a small amount to pay for the extra year , What size of stamp do they put in your passport or is it stamped over the original OA permit .

If money is an issue, you can pay Bt 1,200 each time you leave country after the first year of O/A visa.

Otherwise you can get an 1-year extension of stay in Thailand, that cost Bt 1,900 and does not require any certificate.

[sub101uk]

Hi Paz

Well my main problem was I have the money but dont want to open a Thai Bank account plus I do not want to have the long paper chase that I had for the OA visa , The visa its self is no problem but you need a police cert , Doctors Cert , Bank Statement then when you had all this you had to get it all stamped by a Public Notary .Plus to apply for the OA you had to apply in person since they dont do the service by mail and since it takes 2 days it means 2 trips to london .This whole deal was £450 .

So from what Joe was saying go down to Sadao for a visa run then go into immigration office fill out the TM8 and take with you Copies of your passport photo page, visa, entry/permit to stay stamp and TM6 departure card pay them 3800 Baht and your good to go .

Then when I go back to the UK I dont have to chase all over the place getting certs for a new OA visa .

[paz]

Well my main problem was I have the money but dont want to open a Thai Bank account plus I do not want to have the long paper chase that I had for the OA visa.

Alternatively to Thai bank account you may present an embassy affidavit about your income being at least 65,000 Bt a month. Noticeably the "paper chase" is much less for an extension of stay than for an O/A visa.

So from what Joe was saying go down to Sadao for a visa run then go into immigration office fill out the TM8 and take with you Copies of your passport photo page, visa, entry/permit to stay stamp and TM6 departure card pay them 3800 Baht and your good to go .

Then when I go back to the UK I dont have to chase all over the place getting certs for a new OA visa .

Note that you will still need a new O/A visa and all the chase, at most one year after the "enter before" data that is stamped on you current one.

[sub101uk]

I fully understand that I will be required to do the paper chase in 2016 but not next year , I intend to go around Late Jan Early Feb since my Visa is good to 24th of Feb .So if I go down to Sadao on the 5th of Feb 2015 pay the 3800 baht , Then as far as can see this will extend my current OA .

[paz]

I fully understand that I will be required to do the paper chase in 2016 but not next year , I intend to go around Late Jan Early Feb since my Visa is good to 24th of Feb .So if I go down to Sadao on the 5th of Feb 2015 pay the 3800 baht , Then as far as can see this will extend my current OA .

Yes. But there is one thing that doesn't square with me. You said:

Oh Ok you mean the airport well after they gave me a standard 30 days tourist stamp with a "O" visa I dont give the airport much of a hope in the end I had to go into the city to the main immigration office and cancel the old stamp to get the 90 day stamp which is straight forward

With an O/A visa, you should have been allowed one year from the date of your latest entry. Not 90 days.

Possibly the 90 days date is next report date. These are different things.

[sub101uk]

Hi Paz

Lets put this to bed , Please ask Ubonjoe as its very clear from what he has said I do not have do a paper chase in the UK next year for a OA visa .

I will go down to Sadao and go to the immigration office there and get the multiple re-entry permit. every time I enter the country I will get a permitted to stay stamp until January 2016.

Thanks again for all your feed back .

.

[paz]

Hi Paz

Lets put this to bed , Please ask Ubonjoe as its very clear from what he has said I do not have do a paper chase in the UK next year for a OA visa .

I will go down to Sadao and go to the immigration office there and get the multiple re-entry permit. every time I enter the country I will get a permitted to stay stamp until January 2016.

No problem, what I was trying to convey is that you fail to report every 90 days, you can be fined Bt 2,000. Up to you if you care or not.

[sub101uk]

Sorry Paz please read my original Question :-

My OA visa which is a multiple entrie is due in Feb 2015 Since I will be heading back to to UK for 2 months and wont be back before April 5th I was thinking of extending it in Hat Yai I understand this can done with supplying them with Bank Details :-

This is from the Thai web site which to me is a bit vague ?

Once staying in the Kingdom completed 1 year and wishing to extend of stay, this can also be made by submitting the application at the Immigration Bureau, by showing documents of current income the amount equivalent to Thai currency at least 800,000 Baht or monthly income 65,000 Baht. (approximately GBP 14,000.00/annum)

Now my question is " Does this bank account need to be in Thailand " ? or will any bank statement do ?

When I first was issued my OA I just shown them my bank statement from the UK however I have been told to extend your visa this 800,000 needs to be in a Thai Bank account and they will not accept Non Thai banks statement .

I am fully aware that the OA can give you about 2 years however I am in and out of Thailand every few months so the plan was to before I go back to the UK in Late January and return in April I was going to the immigration office in Hat Yai or Bangkok and extend the OA .

If I cannot extend then I think it means running the gauntlet and providing all the information all over again with the total cost of over £450 after all the running around for certs , 2 train fares to london and stamps from a Public Notary .

Yes I am fully aware of the 90 day rule and I did report to Hat Yai immigration office as I have done every 90 days .

Thanks again .

[Suradit69]

The visa expiration and the permission to stay expiration given you by immigrations are two different things.

All you need to do is doing a border hop even today. Since the visa is still valid you will be given a new permission to stay good until November 2015 at the border crossing.

Since the visa will expire in February you just need a re-entry permit (in place of the visa for border crossings) that will be valid until the expiration of your permission to stay. Even though the visa expires you will have permission to stay in Thailand until November 2015 (or a year from whenever you do the border hop re-entry) and the re-entry permit will allow you to return to Thailand after the visa has expired.

As long as you have a re-entry permit, your permission to stay will be OK and you can do a new extension for an additional year late in 2015 and get another re-entry permit.

I think you're making things more complicated than they need to be. Shouldn't be any reason to get a new O-A.

[SheungWan]

Hi Paz

Well my main problem was I have the money but dont want to open a Thai Bank account plus I do not want to have the long paper chase that I had for the OA visa , The visa its self is no problem but you need a police cert , Doctors Cert , Bank Statement then when you had all this you had to get it all stamped by a Public Notary .Plus to apply for the OA you had to apply in person since they dont do the service by mail and since it takes 2 days it means 2 trips to london .This whole deal was £450 .

So from what Joe was saying go down to Sadao for a visa run then go into immigration office fill out the TM8 and take with you Copies of your passport photo page, visa, entry/permit to stay stamp and TM6 departure card pay them 3800 Baht and your good to go .

Then when I go back to the UK I dont have to chase all over the place getting certs for a new OA visa .

You do not require documents to be stamped by a Public Notary. The guidance leaflet handed out at the London Embassy specifically says Public Notary or solicitor.

[DogNo1]

Just to be clear, you can get a one-year extension of your permit to stay IN THAILAND if you meet the requirement of being 50 or over and have 800,000 in the bank IN THAILAND three months before you apply or have a monthly income of 65,000 or a combination of the two to equal 800,000 per year. Do your border hop, get a multiple re-entry stamp and then extend your permission to stay IN THAILAND 30-45 days before the permission to stay you get after you do your border hop is due to expire.

[Jingthing]

Just to be clear, you can get a one-year extension of your permit to stay IN THAILAND if you meet the requirement of being 50 or over and have 800,000 in the bank IN THAILAND three months before you apply or have a monthly income of 65,000 or a combination of the two to equal 800,000 per year. Do your border hop, get a multiple re-entry stamp and then extend your permission to stay IN THAILAND 30-45 days before the permission to stay you get after you do your border hop is due to expire.

Seasoning period is two months, not three for the FIRST TIME extension.

[ubonjoe]

I fully understand that I will be required to do the paper chase in 2016 but not next year , I intend to go around Late Jan Early Feb since my Visa is good to 24th of Feb .So if I go down to Sadao on the 5th of Feb 2015 pay the 3800 baht , Then as far as can see this will extend my current OA .

Yes. But there is one thing that doesn't square with me. You said:

Oh Ok you mean the airport well after they gave me a standard 30 days tourist stamp with a "O" visa I dont give the airport much of a hope in the end I had to go into the city to the main immigration office and cancel the old stamp to get the 90 day stamp which is straight forward

With an O/A visa, you should have been allowed one year from the date of your latest entry. Not 90 days.

Possibly the 90 days date is next report date. These are different things.

That was a comment about getting the wrong stamp when he had a non-o multiple entry. It has nothing to with what he is doing now.

He is straight on what he needs to do now.

He going to get another one year entry on his OA visa and then get a multiple re-entry permit that fits his needs.

[ubonjoe]

Thanks very much taking the time as its a nightmare doing the paper chase for a replacement OA , I am only in the UK for about 2 and a half months and most of that time I spent chasing people for certs and letters so this will put it off for a year so 3800 baht is a small amount to pay for the extra year , What size of stamp do they put in your passport or is it stamped over the original OA permit .

By the time your new entry ends in 2016 you could have the money in the bank here to avoid having to do the OA visa again. You mentioned you are working outside the country you could get a income letter from the UK embassy to prove 65k baht income using income from your job. No need for money in the bank.

As soon as you make the border hop you will to need go to a copy shop and make a copy of your new entry stamp and TM6 departure card before applying for the re-entry permit.

They will do the re-entry permit stamp wherever you have empty space for it in your passport. It takes about a half page. It will fit cross ways on a passport page and immigration often stamps it that way.

[sub101uk]

Thanks Joe for confirming the bank statement side of things , As for making copys of all the required documents I have my own scanner + Printer so thats no problem . Ok on the space required in my passport yes that should ok but as I do have space just ! But the passport its self is due to expiry in March 2016 so it will mean the paper chase all over again for a new OA in 2016 but who knows the requirements may have changed by then .As for all documents being counter signed by a Public Notary or if you like Notary Public! The best deal I got on that was about £120 cash in hand but I went through the list and some were charging over £400 just to counter sign your documents . Oh yes I do have 2 British passports so that side of things is coved but getting a new passport from Hong Kong takes only a few a few weeks .

Thanks again