Best visa ?

[fire1]

Just looking for advice.

Have just left Thailand (weds) and am returning on 9th March for 6 weeks, April 22nd. Will then be back towards end of May with a view to getting retirement visa. So my question is.. Which visa will suit me best? Can I get a triple entry tourist and then change to retirement whilst in Thailand after May ?

Appreciate any advice. Many thanks

[ubonjoe]

You can change a tourist visa entry to a 90 day non immigrant visa entry at immigration in Bangkok based upon qualifying for an extension of stay for retirement. You will need 800k baht in a Thai bank or proof of 65k baht income or combination of the 2 totaling 800k baht. It requires two trips to get the visa/entry stamps 15 days apart.

Then during the last 30 days of the entry you could apply for the extension of stay.

It would be best to apply for a single entry tourist visa for your first trip and then a single entry non-o visa for the 2nd trip. Whether you can get the non-o or not will depend upon where you are able to apply for it.

[steve187]

A single entry non immigrant 'O' visa would give you 90 days on entry,something like 7th June, before leaving obtain a re-entry permit at local immigration office in Thailand, this would preserve the original 90 day permission to stay stamp. use this for your entry end of May

[fire1]

Thanks for swift replies. Being a little ignorant of these matters , if I get the 90 day,endin approx 7 June, would I have to go out again on that date ? Is it worth me starting the process during the 6 weeks I am there before I come home 22 April?

[fire1]

I live in London so getting to Thai embassy is not difficult

[ubonjoe]

If you didn't get the extension of stay done by the 7th of June you would have to leave. If you got the extension would be able to stay for a n year if you wanted to. If you use the 800k baht in the bank option the money would need to be in the bank for 60 days when you apply.

You cannot apply for the extension until the last days of the 90 day entry which means you would have to do it when you return in May.

[FritsSikkink]

It depends when the enter before date will be (check with embassy before applying). If that date is before you arrive in Thailand the second time you could get a double tourist visa.Then you gave a lot of time to change that in a non-o in Thailand during your second visit.

[ubonjoe]

I live in London so getting to Thai embassy is not difficult

You would not be able to get the single entry non-o at the embassy. They will only do the OA visa that requires a medical certificate and background check.

You could get it in person at one the consulates (but not Hull). You would need to show financial proof to get it.