Hello,

I would like to get some advises about the best way to achieve a transition from an ED visa to a ‘Retirement’ one.

Actual situation : My current ED visa expire around middle of august. Is is my second year on ED visa, so I’ve lived here for 2 years with only a trip to Laos one year ago to get my second ED visa.

Now, to switch to ‘retirement’, I’m apparently in front of two choices :

A - ask a letter to the school to cancel my ed visa, go out country (LAOS?) to ask for a Non-O visa

- convert it to ‘retirement’ extension of stay in Thailand.

questions related :

1 - do they require a medical certificates in Laos Thai Embassy ? Is one from Thailand ok ?

2 - is a ‘non criminal record’ attestation required in Laos Th. Embassy ? I’m not sure where I need to ask for this since I’m already living in Th for 2 years.

B - Do a border run ( with the letter of the school) to get a visa on arrival

- ask for a Non-O inside Thailand (Bangkok Immigration I suppose) where apparently I don’t need medical certificate not criminal record.

- Later convert the non-o to ‘retirement…’

Question related:

1- if I take a plane to go over the we to HK for example, is there some risk that the border officer refuse me the visa on arrival because of my 2 preceding ED visa ?

2 - If I do a land run (Laos), is it more safe and is the 15 days visa good for converting to non-o ?

Thanks in advance for the time that you’ve already spend reading this and the eventual answers.

Have a nice day

T.

No certificates are needed for a visa, but you would need the financial documentation.

Other than that both options will work. You should also ask if immigration will simply process the change for extension without leaving country.

A. If you have a non- visa there is no conversion. You apply for an extension of stay based upon retirement during the last 30 days of the entry you get from the visa.

1. and 2 no. You just need your passport to prove your age and a bank book showing 800k baht in the account (60 days not needed) or an income letter showing 65k baht of income or a combination of the 2 totaling 800k baht.

B. To convert a visa exempt entry to a 90 day non visa entry at Bangkok immigration you will need at least 15 days remaining on your entry. You will also need to show the financial proof. You will have to make 2 trips to immigration 15 days apart to get your visa/entry stamps.

1. No

2. The 15 day entry would not give you enough time to to do the conversion. You would have to apply for a 30 day extension (1900 baht).of it before doing the conversion. If you are from a G7 country you would get a 30 day entry.

IMO getting the non-o visa from Vientiane is the best option.

Many thanks for the answers

T.

Double knucklehead here...

As confusion reigns...

If he is on an ED visa, then he likely cannot switch to a Non-O without leaving the country, no?

The way things were stated was unclear to me.

Double knucklehead here...

As confusion reigns...

If he is on an ED visa, then he likely cannot switch to a Non-O without leaving the country, no?

The way things were stated was unclear to me.

For an extension of stay like retirement, all is needed is a non-immigrant visa, which the non-imm ED visa is.

But some office discriminate against ED visa holders and refuse to apply the written regulations.

ED visa IS an non-O visa with the code ED.

ED visa IS an non-O visa with the code ED.

It is not a "non-O". It is a non-immigrant ED. Check below:

ED visa IS an non-O visa with the code ED.

Not correct.

The non means non immigrant. The O means other.

It is a non immigrant ED visa also written as non-ed.with ED meaning education.