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Posted

Background: I came to Thailand Nov 2010 with my wife (both American) on Education visas, and lived in Sattahip while attending a language school in Pattaya. We extended every 90 days at Chonburi Immigration in Jomtien. We renewed the tuition 3 times each January under the original ED visa, and then the rules changed. Just before my final 90 day extension could be granted in October, I was forced to exit Thailand to obtain a new ED Visa. With the study term ended, this also meant renewing the tuition for another full year. But my 50th birthday arrives on 1 Feb, and I had planned all along to get a Non-O visa once I was finally old enough to retire. My wife is already old enough as well.

The Decision: I opted to drive to Mukdahan and exit Thailand to Savannaket, and apply for Multi-entry Tourist visas, which we did on 10 October. We made a visit to Cambodia on December 08, activating the second 60-day entry, and we plan to return to Savannaket on 5 Feb to apply for Non-O Visas.

The Concern: Whilst applying for the Tourist Visas in Savannaket, we were in discussion with an English gentleman just ahead of us in line, who was applying for a Non-O Visa. On his application for the visa, it requires a reason be provided for the long stay in Thailand. He had written Retirement in the space provided, and the Consulate official rejected his request. An explanation was not forthcoming, and we did not hang around to watch the situation play out. It left me with the concern that I would need to think of a valid reason to want to stay, if I wanted to get a Non-O approval.

I meet the Age requirement as of February. I meet the income requirement and I obtained an Income verification letter from the US Embassy in BKK. I meet the medical and criminal history requirements, and have obtained those documents as well, I have inquired with a few visa agents in Pattaya about the reason I must provide on the application. I received different answers, none of which made me 100% confident I would receive service at Savannaket.

The question: What reason do I provide for requesting the Non-(O-A) visa? My purpose IS to live in Thailand as a retiree expat. I do not intend to work, open a business or perform full-time charity work. I do not need continuing medical treatment. Savannaket enjoys a reputation of being fairly trouble-free on visa applications. Do I simply need to know the magic password to the Kingdom?

I am hoping some experienced members can shed light on this for me. Also if the English gentleman who was refused service at Savannaket on 10 Dec 2014 for giving a reason of "Retirement" on his Non (O-A) application should recognize this post, it would be good to hear from him, and know whatever transpired afterwards.

I wonder if I must use a visa agent rather than apply by myself.?

Posted

Being over 50, you should be able to get a single entry O visa (good for a 90 day stay) in a neighboring country. Laos and Malaysia certainly. Not sure about Cambodia. I would put down: "to apply for retirement extension in Thailand" or perhaps "considering retirement in Thailand". True an actual O-A visa is only available from home countries but an O-A visa is only an option, not a requirement for retiring in Thailand. I would bring along some kind of evidence of financial qualification of the eventual retirement extension in Thailand IF it is demanded but would not present it if not asked for.

Hard to comment on what happened with the British guy without further details.

Posted

As posted, you want to apply for an O Visa. Single entry is all you'll need.

You won't need the medical or criminal checks.

Don't give the embassy/consulate the income letter from the US Embassy. You'll use that when you extend for a year with immigration. If you give it to the consulate, you'll have to get a new one for the extension.

With a single entry Non O, you'll get 90 days permission to stay when you enter Thailand. During the last 30 days of that entry you go to whichever immigration office serves the area where you live and apply for an extension of one year.

For both the visa and the extension, the reason 'for retirement' should bee all you'll need to put down.

Good luck.

  • Like 1
Posted

As said the best location to get your non-o visa is in Vientiane. They will accept your income affidavit from the embassy attach a copy to your application and show the original if asked. If only one you is 50 or over the other will need your marriage certificate and a copy to get the non-o as their dependent.

You could do change of visa status to a non immigrant visa entry at immigration in Bangkok but it requires 2 trips 15 day apart. Also if one is getting the extension based upon retirement they will do the change for a dependent extension.

Posted

it is known that Savannakhet is reluctant to issue non-i 'O' to people older than 50, and will find any excuse to not do so.

You may have better luck in Vientane, or convert tourist visa in bangkok.

why would they not want to give non-o to over 50s paz?

Posted

it is known that Savannakhet is reluctant to issue non-i 'O' to people older than 50, and will find any excuse to not do so.

You may have better luck in Vientane, or convert tourist visa in bangkok.

why would they not want to give non-o to over 50s paz?

You would have to ask them that.

They have turned people away with a bank book showing the 800k baht and were asking for a letter from the embassy to prove the were retired. They will accept an income letter if you have the money in the bank.

Posted

whistling.gif It has been known for a some time that it is very difficult to get a multi-entry one year visa for RETIREMENT purposes anywhere in South Easy Asia.

The Non O multi entry one year visa that have been given in tat least he fast 2 years have all been for MARRIAGE to a Thai.

Check all the reports of NON O visa from Laos, including Savannakhet, for the last year at least......you will, I believe not see one that was for the purpose of retirement.

They have all been for MARRIAGE

At best, if you meet the requirements for a NON O visa based on retirement , INLUDING BEING ABLE TO DEMOSTRATE THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS, you might be able to get a 90 day visa.

It is expected, and frankly desired, by Thai immigration that you may get a 90 day NON O, IF YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMNTS, and then get a retirement EXTENSION in Thailand.

That is how Thai immigration wants it done ..... I believe because that means more direct control by the local immigration that way.

This has been the norm for at least a year now.

Like it or not, that is a fact, and has been for at least two years.

Now, immigration is getting much more serious about FINANCIAL proof before they give any NON O visa.

Posted

it is known that Savannakhet is reluctant to issue non-i 'O' to people older than 50, and will find any excuse to not do so.

You may have better luck in Vientane, or convert tourist visa in bangkok.

why would they not want to give non-o to over 50s paz?

That is what I heard as well by many people recently.

Savannakhet is a good option for Non-Imm-O, based on marriage, but if based on retirement Vientiane is far easier.

Posted

So funds are required in some instances and not in others

I don't think anybody said financial proof was not needed.

In Vientiane you can a single entry non-o based upon being 50 or over with an income letter showing at least 65k baht or 800k baht in the bank or a combination of the two.

If you only have 800k baht in the bank they want proof you are retired or proof of income and money in the bank in Savannakhet it seems.

Posted

So funds are required in some instances and not in others

I don't think anybody said financial proof was not needed.

In Vientiane you can a single entry non-o based upon being 50 or over with an income letter showing at least 65k baht or 800k baht in the bank or a combination of the two.

If you only have 800k baht in the bank they want proof you are retired or proof of income and money in the bank in Savannakhet it seems.

I may have implied before that it isn't always needed in general in neighboring countries (as in Laos and Malaysia). My impression of that sounds like it was dated ... it happens.

Posted

G'day 3R1c. In answer to a specific question you (Immigration questionnaire) asked viz. why do you wish to stay (in Thailand)? It is not a trick question. I received my 12 month 'retirement' extension about 3 weeks ago (previously posted). In response to the aforementioned question I simply wrote the truth, 'married to a Thai lady'. Perhaps a simple, honest, response eg love the lifestyle in Thailand..........would suffice. Good luck

Posted

For retirement extensions the obvious answer for reason is just one word ... retirement.

OP was asking about O visa applications in neighboring countries.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Posted

For retirement extensions the obvious answer for reason is just one word ... retirement.

OP was asking about O visa applications in neighboring countries.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I understand old boy but clearly that was not an acceptable response from one English gentleman for that particular immigration officer on that day. Offering an alternative mate. Learn to play the game as that is what it is - absolutely no malice intended.

Posted

The OP would possibly be better advised to get a tourist visa in Savannakhet and then go through the process of converting and extending it at immigration within Thailand.

Posted

The OP would possibly be better advised to get a tourist visa in Savannakhet and then go through the process of converting and extending it at immigration within Thailand.

That's an option as well. I guess it depends on travel preferences. Laos and Malaysia are also options to get a single entry O.

Posted

The OP would possibly be better advised to get a tourist visa in Savannakhet and then go through the process of converting and extending it at immigration within Thailand.

That's an option as well. I guess it depends on travel preferences. Laos and Malaysia are also options to get a single entry O.

Indeed. He could even fly back into Bangkok without a visa and get a 30-day permit and convert that, but I believe only in certain immigration offices now. It all depends on where he's based and/or how mobile he is.

Posted

Just in case there is anyone from the UK who is in receipt of the State Retirement Pension reading this looking for guidance - non of the facts about getting a non-O to stay in Thailand apply to your situation, especially the financial requirement, unless it has all changed since my last application. Correction welcomed if i'm not up-to-date. (Applying from inside the UK in mind).

Posted

Just in case there is anyone from the UK who is in receipt of the State Retirement Pension reading this looking for guidance - non of the facts about getting a non-O to stay in Thailand apply to your situation, especially the financial requirement, unless it has all changed since my last application. Correction welcomed if i'm not up-to-date. (Applying from inside the UK in mind).

That is only for getting a multiple entry non-o visa in the UK. You have to be 65 or over and on a OAP. It is still possible to get a single entry non-o visa if 50 or over at one of the consulates (the embassy will not do them).

It also does not apply to getting a OA visa at embassy in London.

  • Like 1

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