I searched but can't find what I'm looking for. Can someone kindly inform me or just paste the link of where I can find an answer:

I arrived in Thailand (living in BKK) on a NON-OA visa valid for one year. I'm arrived about 2.5 months. What should I do next? Go to the immigration office near the old airport and get my Retirement visa (I applied outside Thailand for a long-stay visa and qualified for a Retirement visa). So should I apply now for the Retirement visa or wait until almost end of my 1 year stay?

Also, to leave Thailand can I just before my next flight apply at the airport for a multi-entry permit?

Please help and thanks so much.

Gavin

Right now you have to do nothing, only make a 90 day report every 90 days to inform immigraiton of your address.

I presume you have a multiple O-A visa and not a single. In case of a multipe you do not need a re-entry permit if leaving and returning whilst the visa itself is valid. (1 year from date of issuance). Leave and re-enter during the validity and oyu get another 1 year permission to stay at the border.

You do not apply for a visa at immirgaiton, you already have one. At immigraiton you apply for a one year extension of stay. You cna do that during the last 45 day of your permisison to stay (the stamp they gave you at the airport teling you till when you are allowed to stay).

If you have a multiple entry OA visa you will get a one year entry every time you enter the country up to the enter before date on your visa.

You can do an entry just before the enter before date and get another one year entry. Then you can get a re-entry permit to keep that one year permit to stay valid if you want to travel.

You can get almost 2 years of total stay from your visa before you need to apply for an extension.

If you have an O/A visa it makes sense to maximise its value.

Make sure that every 90 days you report your address to Thai immigration.

Toward the end of the one year allowed in country leave Thailand and re enter PRIOR to the visa expiring and you will be given another one year permission to stay.

Toward the end of the second year application can be made for an "extension of stay" based on retirement (There is no retirement "visa"v )

Edited June 5, 201511 yr by nzexpat

Thanks very much for the advice. Yes I have a Thailand visa sticker in my passport and it states "Number of entry: M". So its multiple and I don't have to apply for re-entry.

At what point do I have to prove that I have 800,000+ baht in a Thai bank? Only at the time I request for an extension...which sounds like it will be after 2 years after first arrival?

Edited June 5, 201511 yr by webcrawler00

Yes, at the time of extension. At that time the money in the bank must be seasoned for at least 2 months prior to applying forthe extension. Every next extension it needs to be seasoned 3 months.

Thanks very much for the advice. Yes I have a Thailand visa sticker in my passport and it states "Number of entry: M". So its multiple and I don't have to apply for re-entry.

At what point do I have to prove that I have 800,000+ baht in a Thai bank? Only at the time I request for an extension...which sounds like it will be after 2 years after first arrival?

The important issue is whether the visa sticker also states the type of visa to be O/A

Thanks very much for the advice. Yes I have a Thailand visa sticker in my passport and it states "Number of entry: M". So its multiple and I don't have to apply for re-entry.

At what point do I have to prove that I have 800,000+ baht in a Thai bank? Only at the time I request for an extension...which sounds like it will be after 2 years after first arrival?

The important issue is whether the visa sticker also states the type of visa to be O/A

Yes it clearly states Non-immigrant, O-A, M(ultiple)

OP - as an alternative to holding 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account for 2/3 months, you can also prove finances when you eventually apply for an annual extension of stay on the basis of monthly income totalling the equivalent of at least 65,000 THB as formally confirmed by your country's Embassy in Bangkok. Or a mixture of the 2 (known as the "combo" method).

Hi Ojas,

I am in a similar position of having to prove income from my pension fund next year. I see you suggest the Australian embassy for this information. I can get a letter from my pension fund. Is it better to get one from the embassy and also, does the embassy in Australia do this service for expats here?

Thanks

Proof of income can only be provided by your embassy. In case of a statutory declaration immigraiton can ask to see additional proof of the income.

The Australian embassy will be of service to you. Look on their website.

Ok, thanks for the help