Hi to all,

Not sure what to do!

I'm a 55yr old British citizen and arrived in TL four weeks ago on a Tourist 3-entry visa, which as I understand can provide up-to 9 months stay her in Thailand.

When I applied at the Birmingham Consulate in UK, I asked for a "O" non-immigrant visa for the purpose of retirement. I was told by the consulate they were only allowed to those individuals over the age of 65 or over the age of 50 and married to a Thai. They also told me that the Royal Thai embassy in London had informed them of this procedure and to apply for a tourist visa but take all documentation with me, e.g. Police certificate, Doctors letter and proof of funds both income and savings and to sort at Immigration when in TL. I also tried to contact the Royal Thai embassy in London (website/phone) they had no information or help at the time.

I intend to visit immigration next week but after reading other sources of information, the rules seem to have changed again and I may have the wrong visa to apply. It appears I now require a 90-day visa (not a tourist visa) and can only apply back in UK. Although this visa was not available/offered at the time of application at Birmingham Consulate.

Is this correct? What are my options? I really wanted the long stay option for retirement. The thought of having to go back to the UK and stay x-months to re-apply fills me with dread!

I have stayed here for 18 months (18 months ago) and did have the "O"-non immigrant visa and also applied for retirement extension although had to return UK..

I also have a bank account here.

Also visited the UK embassy but they were not helpful..

Any advice would be helpful, Thanks B

​You can "convert" a tourist visa entry to a Non "O" visa entry in Bangkok. You will need at least 15 days "permission to stay" remaining and be able to demonstrate you can meet the requirements of an extension of stay based on retirement. (800K Bht in a Thai Bank or a letter from the British Embassy certifying income of 65K Baht/month) The conversion will require two visits to immigration.

Alternatively a single entry non "O" visa based on being over 50 can be obtained from Vientiane or Panang with financial proof.

Once you have the "O" visa you can apply for an "extension of stay based on retirement" once again with proof of finances.

Police checks and doctors letters are not required.

No "rules" have changed.

You can only apply for a change of visa status to get a 90 day non immigrant visa entry at Bangkok immigration and a few nearby offices. It requires 2 trips to immigration 15 days apart to get the visa/entry stamps. You can apply for it up to the last 15 days during any of 60 day entries (or extension of it). You do not need to wait for your tourist visa to expire.

If not living in or near Bangkok it would be best to go to Vientiane or Penang to get a single entry non-o visa.

No "rules" have changed.

But it looks like there have been "rule" changes at the UK end at any rate, in that the honorary consulates there now appear to be following the Embassy's lead in no longer issuing non-O's to singles aged between 50 and 64. They are presumably paying the price for one of their number (Hull) having been deemed by the Embassy to be naughty boys on account of having previously issued such visas in circumstances which they should not have done!

If I have understood the OP's current position correctly, he will need to undertake a couple of border runs to keep his tourist visa alive. Unless, therefore, he was minded to opt for conversion in Bangkok in due course, these border runs would appear to provide ideal opportunities for him to check out Vientiane and/or Penang, so that, come the time he needs a non-O, he won't be feeling as if he was boldly going into the unknown!

Sorry for the late reply as i've been off-line for the past few days..

Thanks to all for the information suppled, I now feel more at ease regard my visit to Bangkok Immigration, hopefully next week..

No "rules" have changed.

But it looks like there have been "rule" changes at the UK end at any rate, in that the honorary consulates there now appear to be following the Embassy's lead in no longer issuing non-O's to singles aged between 50 and 64. They are presumably paying the price for one of their number (Hull) having been deemed by the Embassy to be naughty boys on account of having previously issued such visas in circumstances which they should not have done!

anybody can confirm this ? This definitely now happens in the UK ?

At other European countries too ?