Tourist Visa

[DB2]

Hi, well the time has come for me to retire in Thailand never had to get a visa before always on visa exempt, I'm going in April when should I apply for the visa, I want to go first of all on a tourist visa as may have to come back to the UK for a few months, if I don't have to come back in the second month of the tourist visa, when should I apply for the extension of stay for retirement.

hope I have given enough information, thank you in advance for any helpful reply's.

[paz]

To apply for a retirement extension you need to enter with a non-immigrant 'O' visa, not tourist visa or visa exempt.

So whenever you want to do it, either obtain the visa in your home country if possible, or obtain it in a Thailand nearby country, or obtain by conversion in Bangkok. You will apply for extension in the last 30 days of you allowed stay on the non-imm visa.

[Maestro]

I see that you want to keep both options open:

1. Return to the UK within 60 days from arrival in Thailand.
2. Remain in Thailand, convert Thai immigration office from tourist visa status to non-O visa and subsequently apply for retirement extension

The single-entry tourist visa will be valid for travel to Thailand for 90 days or three month, depending on the consular official, from its date of issuance. Therefore, you can apply for it already now for your trip to Thailand in April.

Option 1 above: no complications.

Option 2: At the time you apply for the change of visa status, you should already meet the financial requirements for the retirement extension, but in case of 800k in the bank it does not yet have to be seasoned for 2 months. The real complication is that at the moment only the Bangkok immigration office and a couple of other offices that are located at regional head offices are permitted to do the change of visa, but the subsequent application for the retirement extension will be done at your local immigration office. Depending where you plan to live in Thailand, this could involve a lengthy trip for the change of visa.

[steve187]

age and marital status would help. if possible for you, a multi entry non 'O' would make everything simpler,

[DB2]

OK so how does a non o visa work, I 'm married and over 65 I would only need the single entry o visa, do I need to have money bhat 40000 in the Bank when I apply for it at the Embassy in London.

[steve187]

you can get a multi entry non immigrant "o" visa for being married to a Thai national, or by reason of retirement by showing your state pension, then there is a non immigrant 'O''A' visa which is a different kettle of fish and a bit more complicated to obtain link to Thai embassy visa page here -- http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/49

[DB2]

thanks for all reply's, just one more thing for the o visa do I need money in the bank here or in Thailand for the visa.

[nzexpat]

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thanks for all reply's, just one more thing for the o visa do I need money in the bank here or in Thailand for the visa.

If you are referring to an "O-A" visa the money can be shown in a UK bank.

The same applies to a single entry "NON "O" visa which will allow a stay of 90 days.

BUT if you wish to apply, in Thailand, for an extension of stay , based on retirement, the money will have to be shown to be in a Thai bank OR that you have an income equal to 65,0000 Bht evidenced by a letter from the British Embassy in Bangkok.

A muti -entry "NON O" VISA (Valid for one year) can be obtained by demonstrating you are in receipt of an OAP. If you choose this option you will have to leave Thailand every 90 days.

If you can determine which path you wish to follow further advice will be available here.

[steve187]

if you get a multi entry which is valid for one year from issue it could if used wisely, give you 15 months in Thailand , with the requirement to leave the country every 90 days, on each 90 day permission to stay stamp you could if married to a Thai national get a 60 day extension to visit Thai wife at local immigration (1,900 baht)

If you set up the financial requirements within Thailand, you could apply for a one year extension at local immigration (1,900 baht) within the last month of any of your entries

Retirement 800,000 baht or 65,00 per month or a combination of both.

Marriage 40,000 baht or 40,00 baht a month no combination allowed

the multi entry option, would give you more flexability to choose how you stay in Thailand, you could enter on your first 90 day stamp and if you have to return home you will get another 90 day stamp when you re-enter. this could be extended by 1 year of you could choose to do a border run every 90 days, depends on how near you are to a neighbouring country. the choice would be yours.