Obtaining a Non-Imm 'O' visa

[Rigsby]

Firstly, apologies if this is answered elsewhere. Please direct me if needed.

A British friend of mine staying in Pattaya wants a Non-Imm 'O' (12 mth, multi) visa in order to convert it into a Retirement visa. He has a tourist visa about to expire & was told (by authorities in Bangkok) that there is insufficient time remaining on it to convert it into a Non-imm 'O'. (I was suprised that this conversion is even allowed by the Embassy or whoever in BKK).

Do the 'Visa shops' still provide this service ??

If he goes back to the UK, what are the requirements ?? I've heard different stories from various people - that you need to be 65 (I thought it was 50); need to provide evidence of income either 1000GBP a month or have 20K GBP in an account.

If anyone has definitive answers to these questions it would be greatly appreciated. The consulate websites give some info but there is no mention of minimum age etc.

[ubonjoe]

All he needs is a single entry non-o visa to apply for a one year extension of stay (it is not a visa) based upon retirement. There is no conversion needed or done if he has a non-o visa.

It is possible to do a change of visa status from a tourist visa entry to a non immigrant visa in Bangkok but 15 days is required on the current entry. Has he done the 30 day extension yet of his 60 day entry yet. If not he could get it and apply for the non immigrant visa if can meet the financial requirements for the extension of stay.

He could make a trip to Vientiane Laos to get the single entry non-o but would need to show the financial proof.

It is only possible to get a multiple entry non-o in the UK unless you are 65 or over and getting an old age pension.

A single entry non-o is possible if younger than 65 at one of the consulates in the UK.

[Rigsby]

Thanks a lot ubonjoe. I didn't even realise there was a single-entry non-imm 'O'. Have passed the info on.