Tourist visa - non O - Retirement

[Goldieinkathu]

Went to Phuket town immigration today and was told by the expat volunteer that they were told at 10am today that they were no longer converting a tourist visa to a single entry non O's to then convert to Retirement visas.He said the Non O had to be got outside Thailand now.

Anyone else told this?

[Lite Beer]

You have to go to Bangkok to do this.

[oldsailor35]

If i get a non imm 'O' next time i am in oz, can i convert it to a retirement visa when i return

[Mario2008]

You can convert your tourist visa in BKK or Hat Yai and will need at least 15 days left on your permission to stay. You will also need to return after 15 days to get the actual conversion.

In neighboring countries you can apply for a non-O also.

@oldsailor

If you get a non-O you do not need to converse anything, you already have the right visa and can get an extension based upon retirement on that.

[Lite Beer]

If i get a non imm 'O' next time i am in oz, can i convert it to a retirement visa when i return

You can apply for a 12 month extension if you qualify.

800,000 Baht in the bank.

Or 65,000 Baht monthly income.

Or a combination of the two.

[oldsailor35]

You can convert your tourist visa in BKK or Hat Yai and will need at least 15 days left on your permission to stay. You will also need to return after 15 days to get the actual conversion.

In neighboring countries you can apply for a non-O also.

@oldsailor

If you get a non-O you do not need to converse anything, you already have the right visa and can get an extension based upon retirement on that.

I want to get a retirement visa to avoid all these stupid 90 day border runs. I have had several Non Imm 'O' visas, this one expires on 7th feb. What should i do.

[oldsailor35]

If i get a non imm 'O' next time i am in oz, can i convert it to a retirement visa when i return

You can apply for a 12 month extension if you qualify.

800,000 Baht in the bank.

Or 65,000 Baht monthly income.

Or a combination of the two.

65,000 bht ok. I was able to qualify for the non imm 'O' no problems

[SpokaneAl]

If i get a non imm 'O' next time i am in oz, can i convert it to a retirement visa when i return

You can apply for a 12 month extension if you qualify.

800,000 Baht in the bank.

Or 65,000 Baht monthly income.

Or a combination of the two.

Why not just get the retirement visa prior to leaving Oz, and if you time it right you can do an out of the country and back in and get almost two years off that visa before you need to deal with Thai immigration?

[oldsailor35]

If i get a non imm 'O' next time i am in oz, can i convert it to a retirement visa when i return

You can apply for a 12 month extension if you qualify.

800,000 Baht in the bank.

Or 65,000 Baht monthly income.

Or a combination of the two.

Why not just get the retirement visa prior to leaving Oz, and if you time it right you can do an out of the country and back in and get almost two years off that visa before you need to deal with Thai immigration?

Last time i was at Brisbane Thai Consul i was told that i had to have Non Imm 'O' as retirement visa could not be issued outside of Thailand

[Suradit69]

You can convert your tourist visa in BKK or Hat Yai and will need at least 15 days left on your permission to stay. You will also need to return after 15 days to get the actual conversion.

In neighboring countries you can apply for a non-O also.

@oldsailor

If you get a non-O you do not need to converse anything, you already have the right visa and can get an extension based upon retirement on that.

I want to get a retirement visa to avoid all these stupid 90 day border runs. I have had several Non Imm 'O' visas, this one expires on 7th feb. What should i do.

if you are in Thailand on a permission to stay you were given when you entered on a Non-Imm O visa, you want to apply for an extension of stay (not a visa) based on retirement. You need to be 50 or older and have Baht 800,000 in your Thai bank account for two months before you apply , or you could get an affidavit from your embassy confirming that you have a monthly income of at least Baht 65,000 ... or a combination of the two.

From my experience at Jomtien, which will be basically the same at any Immigrations office, you'll need::

TM7 filled out, signed and with your phone number added below signature. Best to print it out on both sides of a single sheet of paper, not on two sheets of paper.

4 x 6 cm recent photo (they'll reject it if it's the same photo you used last year)

Baht 1900

Passport

Photocopies of:

passport identity page,

all prior extension stamps

original visa you used to enter the country and entry stamp

departure card (TM 6)

All photocopies need to be signed to show you are claiming they are true copies.

Original income affidavit from your embassy and/or original letter from your bank manager if you are using bank balance as part of your proof of finances. Embassy letter can be up to 6 months old, but letter from the bank manager should be at most issued a day or two before you apply for the extension and the balance on the letter needs to be EXACTLY the same as the final entry in your bank passbook.

Good idea to bring along bank book & photocopies of pages even if you are using the income option.

Some proof of your address ... they want this from some people, but I've never been asked for it at Jomtien. Different offices have different views on this.

Download TM.7 here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/files/file/7-tm7-extension-of-temporary-stay-in-the-kingdom-application-form/

Depending on the office, you can go in to apply for the extension 30 to 45 days before your current permission to stay expires.

If you plan to exit and re-enter Thailand while staying here on an extension of stay, you will need a re-entry permit.

[Lite Beer]

If i get a non imm 'O' next time i am in oz, can i convert it to a retirement visa when i return

You can apply for a 12 month extension if you qualify.

800,000 Baht in the bank.

Or 65,000 Baht monthly income.

Or a combination of the two.

Why not just get the retirement visa prior to leaving Oz, and if you time it right you can do an out of the country and back in and get almost two years off that visa before you need to deal with Thai immigration?

Last time i was at Brisbane Thai Consul i was told that i had to have Non Imm 'O' as retirement visa could not be issued outside of Thailand

You can apply for a Non Imm O-A Visa in Australia. (Retirement Visa)

http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/visa.html

[ubonjoe]

I want to get a retirement visa to avoid all these stupid 90 day border runs. I have had several Non Imm 'O' visas, this one expires on 7th feb. What should i do.

You can apply for an extension of stay based upon retirement during the last 30 days of any of the 90 day entries you get from your non-o visa at immigration. You do not have to wait for your visa to expire.

You will just have to meet the financial requirements post by others.

[PhyllisStein]

I went immigration in Phuket today and was also told that I had to leave the country to get a new non-O visa for retirement.

I screwed up the renewal which should have happened last month - I transferred the 800k a month late (doh!) so was told by the senior immigration officer to leave Thailand and return, and that I could reapply in Phuket when my 3 months deposit qualification was achieved (today).

Apparently the new rule, as the OP said, came into effect yesterday so I am now wondering where is best/easiest to go to get a new non-O. Any suggestions based on recent experiences would be most welcome. I need to leave tomorrow! Last time I just needed my bank book and passport + photos, but I read medical/record of non-criminal status/current proof of address are required in some consulates now.

[Mario2008]

Any consulate will issue with proof of money in the bank. Simply chose the one that is most convinient.

[ubonjoe]

I went immigration in Phuket today and was also told that I had to leave the country to get a new non-O visa for retirement.

I screwed up the renewal which should have happened last month - I transferred the 800k a month late (doh!) so was told by the senior immigration officer to leave Thailand and return, and that I could reapply in Phuket when my 3 months deposit qualification was achieved (today).

Apparently the new rule, as the OP said, came into effect yesterday so I am now wondering where is best/easiest to go to get a new non-O. Any suggestions based on recent experiences would be most welcome. I need to leave tomorrow! Last time I just needed my bank book and passport + photos, but I read medical/record of non-criminal status/current proof of address are required in some consulates now.

From Phuket the best place to go is Penang. Your bankbook and passport will be all you need plus the fee.

Medical and etc. is only needed in your home country to get a OA visa.

[PhyllisStein]

Thanks for the replies Mario and Ubonjoe. Penang looks easy to get to since my missus has family in Hat Yai.

Incidentally, the immigration 'helper' Olaf told me that I am not 'registered' here either, and will need to be to get my new retirement visa after leaving Thailand to get a new non-immigrant O. I have done 90 day reports confirming my address and, not only have immigration had a copy of my lease, they issued me a formal confirmation of address six months ago! According to Olaf, I now need to report to immigration with my landlord's blue house book or I won't get a new retirement extension...

[ubonjoe]

Thanks for the replies Mario and Ubonjoe. Penang looks easy to get to since my missus has family in Hat Yai.

Incidentally, the immigration 'helper' Olaf told me that I am not 'registered' here either, and will need to be to get my new retirement visa after leaving Thailand to get a new non-immigrant O. I have done 90 day reports confirming my address and, not only have immigration had a copy of my lease, they issued me a formal confirmation of address six months ago! According to Olaf, I now need to report to immigration with my landlord's blue house book or I won't get a new retirement extension...

If you are married to a Thai you could apply for a 60 day extension to visit her. Then apply for your one year extension.

Your wife would need to go with you and have copies of her house book and ID card to apply.

[PhyllisStein]

Thanks for that Ubonjoe - but given that I should qualify based on my 800k/3 mo I will go alone. BTW when I was late with my funds by a month I went to immigration and asked whether I could switch from my retirement extension to a marriage visa using my old non-O that was still current then: I had double the cash needed for a spouse visa for the two months required but the answer was still 'No!'...

[nasa123]

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You can convert your tourist visa in BKK or Hat Yai and will need at least 15 days left on your permission to stay. You will also need to return after 15 days to get the actual conversion.

In neighboring countries you can apply for a non-O also.

@oldsailor

If you get a non-O you do not need to converse anything, you already have the right visa and can get an extension based upon retirement on that.

No you most have 21 left not 15 here in Phuket, but now it`s finish

[Mario2008]

Phuket immigration does no longer do conversions. The 15 day requirement is correct.

[phuketjock]

You can apply for a 12 month extension if you qualify.

800,000 Baht in the bank.

Or 65,000 Baht monthly income.

Or a combination of the two.

Why not just get the retirement visa prior to leaving Oz, and if you time it right you can do an out of the country and back in and get almost two years off that visa before you need to deal with Thai immigration?

Last time i was at Brisbane Thai Consul i was told that i had to have Non Imm 'O' as retirement visa could not be issued outside of Thailand

You can apply for a Non Imm O-A Visa in Australia. (Retirement Visa)

http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/visa.html

As far as I am aware there is no such thing as a RETIREMENT VISA.

It is a one year extension of permission to stay NOT a visa.

[SpokaneAl]

You can apply for a 12 month extension if you qualify.

800,000 Baht in the bank.

Or 65,000 Baht monthly income.

Or a combination of the two.

Why not just get the retirement visa prior to leaving Oz, and if you time it right you can do an out of the country and back in and get almost two years off that visa before you need to deal with Thai immigration?

Last time i was at Brisbane Thai Consul i was told that i had to have Non Imm 'O' as retirement visa could not be issued outside of Thailand

You can apply for a Non Imm O-A Visa in Australia. (Retirement Visa)

http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/visa.html

As far as I am aware there is no such thing as a RETIREMENT VISA.

It is a one year extension of permission to stay NOT a visa.

A non-Imm O-A multi entry visa for the purpose of retirement is obtained in your home country from a Thai Embassy or consulate.

An extension of stay is procured within Thailand.

[phuketjock]

You can apply for a 12 month extension if you qualify.

800,000 Baht in the bank.

Or 65,000 Baht monthly income.

Or a combination of the two.

Why not just get the retirement visa prior to leaving Oz, and if you time it right you can do an out of the country and back in and get almost two years off that visa before you need to deal with Thai immigration?

Last time i was at Brisbane Thai Consul i was told that i had to have Non Imm 'O' as retirement visa could not be issued outside of Thailand

You can apply for a Non Imm O-A Visa in Australia. (Retirement Visa)

http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/visa.html

As far as I am aware there is no such thing as a RETIREMENT VISA.

It is a one year extension of permission to stay NOT a visa.

A non-Imm O-A multi entry visa for the purpose of retirement is obtained in your home country from a Thai Embassy or consulate.

An extension of stay is procured within Thailand.

i am not 100% sure on this but I suspect a non O-A multi entry visa for the purpose of retirement is not a

retirement visa persay but merely the means to enter the kingdom to allow someone to apply for an extension

of stay on the grounds of retirement. I am sure the visa boffins here on TVF can clarify this???

[SpokaneAl]

You can apply for a 12 month extension if you qualify.

800,000 Baht in the bank.

Or 65,000 Baht monthly income.

Or a combination of the two.

Why not just get the retirement visa prior to leaving Oz, and if you time it right you can do an out of the country and back in and get almost two years off that visa before you need to deal with Thai immigration?

Last time i was at Brisbane Thai Consul i was told that i had to have Non Imm 'O' as retirement visa could not be issued outside of Thailand

You can apply for a Non Imm O-A Visa in Australia. (Retirement Visa)

http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/visa.html

As far as I am aware there is no such thing as a RETIREMENT VISA.

It is a one year extension of permission to stay NOT a visa.

A non-Imm O-A multi entry visa for the purpose of retirement is obtained in your home country from a Thai Embassy or consulate.

An extension of stay is procured within Thailand.

i am not 100% sure on this but I suspect a non O-A multi entry visa for the purpose of retirement is not a

retirement visa persay but merely the means to enter the kingdom to allow someone to apply for an extension

of stay on the grounds of retirement. I am sure the visa boffins here on TVF can clarify this???

Get the visa in your home country or apply for an extension of stay while in Thailand - your choice. Either way you can stay for a year with employment prohibited and must check in every 90 days.

However, if you get the visa with multiple entries you can do a border run and get a second year without much hassle.

[phuketjock]

You can apply for a 12 month extension if you qualify.

800,000 Baht in the bank.

Or 65,000 Baht monthly income.

Or a combination of the two.

Why not just get the retirement visa prior to leaving Oz, and if you time it right you can do an out of the country and back in and get almost two years off that visa before you need to deal with Thai immigration?

Last time i was at Brisbane Thai Consul i was told that i had to have Non Imm 'O' as retirement visa could not be issued outside of Thailand

You can apply for a Non Imm O-A Visa in Australia. (Retirement Visa)

http://www.thaiconsu...certificate.pdf]

2. You cannot "renew" a visa. To get another visa you must go outside the country and make a fresh application with all the same requirements.

Most people, if they meet the requirements, instead of applying for a new visa, instead remain in the country and apply for the period they are allowed to remain in the country to be extended for a year using a TM 7 form. This is called "an extension of stay" and is not a visa.

For example if you have an O or an OA visa, and you want to stay an extra year on the grounds of retirement, then in the last 30 days of your current permission to stay you go to immigration with proof that you have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account, and have had this for 60 days for your first application, or 90 days for all subsequent applications ( or you have an income of 65,000baht a month, or a combination of income and a Thai bank account that adds up to 800,000 baht annually). You also need copies of all your relevant passport pages, a passport size photograph, and often a proof of address. The exact documentary requirements have been listed here many times, and can be searched. They can differ slightly at different immigration offices.

You do not need a police or health certificate for this route if the reason for the extension is retirement. The extension can also be applied for on the grounds of marriage to a Thai woman: for this the documentary and income requirements are slightly different and can also be searched.

Remember this is an extension to stay NOT A VISA.