Retirement visa options

[ubonjoe]

The nearest thing to a retirement visa is a OA long stay visa.

The non-o visa can be issued for many reasons. The O means other. That is is what you will apply for in Vientiane.

Just be sure you have the financial proof and you will not have a problem. There have been many people get their non-o's in Vientiane.

If using an income letter attach a copy to the application and show them the original so that you can use the letter for the extension.

I'm glad you said that! I probably would have just surrendered the original income affidavit and then felt like a fool when realizing I need to get another for the extension.

But on 2nd though I'll probably go to Penang since I prefer to fly and I don't see any carrier flying from DMK to Laos. What I've learned from the other thread is that going to Laos would require me to cancel my work permit & extension, which seems like a waste of a day since both will be expiring in few weeks anyway.

Is the non-O in process Penang is as easy as it is in Vientiane? (i.e. only 2 documents needed and next day turn around)

Penang is the same as Vientiane. Easy to get the non-o with financial proof, it is the same next afternoon service.

Leaving at Nong Khai you would just need a termination letter to show them when leaving. No need to cancel the work permit and extension ahead of time.

[JDGRUEN]

Several posters have explained different ways to get to the end point ...which is an Extension of Stay based on Retirement. And to do that you must be on a visa status of Non Immigrant 'O' to apply. Others have explained how to go from an Exempt Entry of 30 days to get to the Single Entry Non 'O' Visa and the tight time frame to get several things done. It some refresher help from the members here done along the way -- you can do it -- others have in similar circumstances. None the less it is still a tight time frame.

Since you are in the Philippines - you could fly to Honolulu and go to the Royal Thai Honorary Consul General's office there. Honorary Consul Generals are contractors to the Thai Government. The Consul there for $200.00 and completed application form grant you a Non Immigrant Multi- Entry Visa with multiple 90 day permissions of stay for the term of 12 to 15 months. The only requirement is to Exit and Re-Enter Thailand at least every 90 days - perform a Border Run.

This may sound strange on the surface but you would not be in a compressed Time Frame to get anything done. No visits to Thai Immigration offices until you are ready to apply for the Extension of Stay based on Retirement. Many people take this option just as I did to avoid the big compressed time hassle.

The only requirement to get the Non Imm Multi 'O' is to be age 50 or more. No financial obligations except to show you have money enough to finance your in and out stay for a year. You do not have to have any justification or reason.

I have the contact info for the Honolulu Consul General and it is posted several places on Thai Visa Forums - just search . Round trip Airfare from BKK to Honolulu is in the $1000,00 range so a flight from Manila would like be cheaper.

Just throwing out another option ... some like it -- some don't. I just personally do not like to be push up against time deadlines with anything especially Thai Immigration.

[phaholyothin]

Penang is the same as Vientiane. Easy to get the non-o with financial proof, it is the same next afternoon service.

Leaving at Nong Khai you would just need a termination letter to show them when leaving. No need to cancel the work permit and extension ahead of time.

"Termination letter" means a letter from the school stating my last day of work, correct?

Do I have to exit on the exact date in the letter or can it be a week or two before?

[ubonjoe]

You can leave before the date on the letter.

[OJAS]

I'm taking advise Ubonjoe gave Which is simple Fly in then convert VOA to Non" O" for 90 days then apply for retirement extension during the last 30 days on the 90 day non "O" simple step by step If I'm correct[.]

This seems more attractive option to me, too. I'm too confused of what's required at the various consulates and afraid of getting stuck outside without the right document. Requirements seem to be all over the place. For example, HCMC wants criminal and health check documents according to their web site, while I see no such requirement on the Savannakhet consulate web site. (although their site has no English language option so I'm relying on Google translate for this info)

Also I'm not sure how long a wait to expect (and therefore when to book return flight) as some places say next day service while in other threads people report waiting 3-5 days for the non O-A.

As already said by ubonjoe, you can only obtain an OA visa in your home country and not from a Thai embassy or consulate in this part of the world. For a non-O based on being over 50, the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane, PDR Laos is, I gather, a better bet than the Savannakhet Consulate. Click on http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/en/consular/consular_check/ for details of their requirements (in English!).

But should you be contemplating an non-O conversion instead, there are 3 important points which you should bear in mind:-

1) Chaengwattana Immigration (who, as already stated, are the only office who process such conversions these days) is notoriously awkward and time-consuming to get to from Central Bangkok since it is located a considerable distance out in the sticks - and completely off the beaten track as far as public transport is concerned, I gather..

2) Once you do eventually get there, you will probably have to wait many more hours before you are attended to by an immigration officer since that particular office is usually lain to siege throughout the day by all manner of foreigners seeking extensions of stay, etc.

3) Finally, as already stated, you will have to endure this whole "joyful" experience not once but twice over a period of 15 days!

[phaholyothin]

But should you be contemplating an non-O conversion instead, there are 3 important points which you should bear in mind:-

1) Chaengwattana Immigration (who, as already stated, are the only office who process such conversions these days) is notoriously awkward and time-consuming to get to from Central Bangkok since it is located a considerable distance out in the sticks - and completely off the beaten track as far as public transport is concerned, I gather..

2) Once you do eventually get there, you will probably have to wait many more hours before you are attended to by an immigration officer since that particular office is usually lain to siege throughout the day by all manner of foreigners seeking extensions of stay, etc.

3) Finally, as already stated, you will have to endure this whole "joyful" experience not once but twice over a period of 15 days!

If you're trying to make it sound as arduous as possible, it really didn't work. I live in Bang Khen, about a 100 baht taxi ride from Chaengwattana so #1 isn't a problem. As for 2 & 3, well I'm retired so what else have I got to do all day?

I've already committed to doing this at Penang, but it's nice to know that if, for whatever reason, something goes wrong (say, my dog eats my homework), that I can just swing back in on a visa exempt and do it here.

[lopburi3]

As said Chiang Watanna is not really in the sticks - but perhaps a bit far from the areas of Bangkok best known. As for facility it is a modern place with plenty of space and with banks/shops and restaurants and as clean as most shopping centers so not that hard to spend a few hours in.

[OMGImInPattaya]

As said Chiang Watanna is not really in the sticks - but perhaps a bit far from the areas of Bangkok best known. As for facility it is a modern place with plenty of space and with banks/shops and restaurants and as clean as most shopping centers so not that hard to spend a few hours in.

It may not be but try getting a CBD taxi to take you there...good luck.

[TDCNINJA]

Crazy as it may seem, I'm going to have the US Embassy in Manila notarize an income statement as well as downloading my retirement pensions yearly statements and take that to the Royal Thai Embassy in Makati.

If they deny me, I'll try Phenom Penh. I've been wanting to visit Cambodia for a long time so might as well try the Embassy there before heading off to Thailand.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Crazy as it may seem, I'm going to have the US Embassy in Manila notarize an income statement as well as downloading my retirement pensions yearly statements and take that to the Royal Thai Embassy in Makati.

If they deny me, I'll try Phenom Penh. I've been wanting to visit Cambodia for a long time so might as well try the Embassy there before heading off to Thailand.

No problem in Phnom Penh. I did it a month ago and posted about it.

[phaholyothin]

Crazy as it may seem, I'm going to have the US Embassy in Manila notarize an income statement as well as downloading my retirement pensions yearly statements and take that to the Royal Thai Embassy in Makati.

What's the reason for pension statements if you'll have the affidavit? I thought the income affidavit was all that's needed. In fact, isn't that the whole point of the affidavit? If you have pension statements or bank statements or similar sort of hard evidence then the affidavit shouldn't be needed. Is having both a sort of 'just-in-case-they-ask-for-it' back up (belts & suspenders)?

[OMGImInPattaya]

Crazy as it may seem, I'm going to have the US Embassy in Manila notarize an income statement as well as downloading my retirement pensions yearly statements and take that to the Royal Thai Embassy in Makati.

What's the reason for pension statements if you'll have the affidavit? I thought the income affidavit was all that's needed. In fact, isn't that the whole point of the affidavit? If you have pension statements or bank statements or similar sort of hard evidence then the affidavit shouldn't be needed. Is having both a sort of 'just-in-case-they-ask-for-it' back up (belts & suspenders)?

The pension statements are not really necessary or useful. The US embassy doesn't require them for the income affidavit and the Thai embassies generally can't be bothered to thumb through English language financial papers that can be easily faked anyway.

The first step is to procure your "O" visa from either the Manila Thai embassy or from Phnom Penh (should just be able to on the basis of being a westerner 50 or over but manila is know as being hard nosed on everything) and then extending it yearly with the income affidavit from the Bangkok embassy annually.

[lopburi3]

He is talking about getting the basic non immigrant O visa from Thai Consulate section of Embassy in Manila or other place - not the extension of stay from immigration. What the Consulate wants can vary by the officer on duty at the time so always a good idea to have extra paperwork.

[TDCNINJA]

Just bought my ticket. I fly Cebu Pacific to Phuket on 3 August. And Phuket to Koh Samui the next morning.