1st Retirement Visa? Any Recent Experience with 'Non O' to 'Non O-A' Procedure

[Jingthing]

1 - Is non-o visa by Thai immigration 90 day only ? or it is possible to get a non-o longer than 90 days in Thailand ?

2 - What happens if the 800,000 is not in bank account by the end of non-o visa time ?

1- Yes. No.

2. You need to qualify twice in this scenario. First for the conversion to O visa. Then for the retirement extension. So if using the 800K in Thai bank method, the money must be shown to be seasoned for two months at the time of that application. If not -- REJECT. BTW, bank funds do not need to be seasoned for the CONVERSION first step.

[sunnyjim5]

1 - Is non-o visa by Thai immigration 90 day only ? or it is possible to get a non-o longer than 90 days ?

2 - What happens if the 800,000 is not in bank account by the end of non-o visa time ?

1. A single entry non "O" visa providing a 90 day stay is all that is available when converting a stay provided by a visa exempt or tourist visa entry.
2. The visa cannot be obtained without evidence of adequate finance being available.
3. If there is no evidence of adequate finance when an extension of stay is applied for the application will fail/be refused
4. If an application for an extension is refused the applicant will have to leave the country.

[Suradit69]

Okay, thanks for the info. Obviously my Terminology was wrong. I am not surprised there. It's a specialty of mine.

Unfortunately TVisa says "I don't have permission to edit this topic" so I can't repair my confusion above. Nonetheless, I do think I was clear enough that if anyone out there has done the retirement process recently, from within Thailand, they may understand what I mean.

Note: I am far past the tourist visa stage. I already have all my income forms, residence info, applications, photos, copies, Non O (or...) application AND my retirement visa application in the hands of immigration. So if anyone could still advice me on the 4 questions I had, that would be appreciated.

Cheers!

Nola

"AND my retirement visa application in the hands of immigration. "

No, your application would be for an extension of stay based on retirement, not for a retirement visa.

Once you get this extension, and for any future annual extensions, if you plan to do any travelling outside Thailand & to return, you will need a re-entry permit since you will no longer have a visa.

A visa allows you to enter the country. The extension of stay allows you to stay in the country but does not entitle you to any future entries to Thailand, thus the need for a re-entry permit which acts like a visa for border crossings.

Some people dismiss the distinction between an extension and a visa as unimportant semantics, but they serve different purposes. Assuming an extension is a visa could lead to an unpleasant surprise when returning to Thailand from travels abroad.

[IMA_FARANG]

Yes, I understand what you mean.

I came to Thailand in October 2010 on a Non O multiple Entry visa obtained for the Thai consulate in Hull, England.

It was good for one year (12 months) and required me to exit Thailand every 90 days and re-enter Thailand for another 90day entry stay stamp.

Using this visa I opened a bank account in Thailand and deposited 800k Thai Baht in that account in my name.

Near the end of that 1year multiple entry visa, in October 2011, I applied in my local immigration in Bangkok for a one year extension based on retirement of stay in Bangkok.

Sowing that I had the financial requirements, I received my first 1 year retirement extension in October 2011.

I did 3 more extensions on that same original visa in ,2012, 2013,and 2014, by meeting the financial requirements.

That was a non O multiple entry visa obtained in the U.K.

Now the non O-A visa is something else that in the U.S. at least, must be obtained from one of the Thai embassy branches.

It requires a police records check and a doctor's certificate in the U.S. to obtain it.

A VISA is obtained in a Thai embassy or consulate, and allows you to enter Thailand.

Once you have that VISA, if you meet the requirements for an EXTENSION on that Visa you can do it in Thailand annually, as long as you meet the requirements for that annual extension.

The two main reasons for getting the extension in Thailand annually are:

1. Marriage to a Thai spouse
2. You qualify for retirement in Thailand.

[OJAS]

Some people dismiss the distinction between an extension and a visa as unimportant semantics, but they serve different purposes. Assuming an extension is a visa could lead to an unpleasant surprise when returning to Thailand from travels abroad.

And would such people really prefer to make a trip every 3 months to Vientiane or Penang for a real genuine McCoy visa in the form of a single-entry non-O, rather than an annual trip to their local immigration office for an extension of stay stamp?

Personally I can see little to commend such a course of action apart, arguably, from exemption from the 90-day reporting requirement. Your passport would soon get filled up ahead of its renewal date, meaning, in the case of us Brits, having to endure the rigours of the dreaded "With-It Tower Passport Renewal Experience" rather more frequently than we need to!

[mpyre]

I'm sure this question has been answered, but I don't see it. Apology in advance. Question is: is it possible to obtain a non O INSIDE Thailand if you have entered on a 30 day visa exemption? Or do you have to travel to Vientiane or Penang to obtain it? I meet retiree age and income requirements, and I assume an embassy affidavit of funds can be used in lieu of a bank account?

Thank you.

[lopburi3]

You need at least 15 days remaining so if below that on original entry you might need to extend 30 days for that first. Yes you can do this but it takes two visits a couple days apart in Bangkok and Embassy letter of income can be used if for 65k or more as required.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/tm87.doc

[laislica]

I'm sure this question has been answered, but I don't see it. Apology in advance. Question is: is it possible to obtain a non O INSIDE Thailand if you have entered on a 30 day visa exemption? Or do you have to travel to Vientiane or Penang to obtain it? I meet retiree age and income requirements, and I assume an embassy affidavit of funds can be used in lieu of a bank account?

Thank you.

Yes, see below but also see the post after it where the costs were corrected

OK, not exactle recent but....

I arrived end Jan 2012 on a 30 day visa waiver, not a visa.

before it expired, in Chiang Mai I presented a letter from my embassy proving I had sufficient funds.

A friend said I was living at their house and gave me coppies of a Thai ID and copy of the blue book.

I paid Imm 1,900b, gave 2 recent pp pics and they gave me a non imm O visa good for 90 days.

45 days before it expired (CM allow up to 45 days, other places 30) I needed a new, original letter from the embassy proving funds

plus the pics, copies to prove my address and Imm gave me a 1 year permission to stay stamp (Extension of stay)

I paid an additional 1,000b and got a re-entry permit.

After some months I left Thailand for Europe.

I returned and they stamped my re-entry permit as Used and stamped the PP with a permission to stay till xx/xx/xxxx

I went to live with a Thai friend and she needed to advise Imm that a Farang was living at her address.

After 90 days I made the 90 day report to Imm.

Before the "extension of stay" expired I applied to Imm for a new extension but this time I had the 800,000b in the bank for at least 60 days.

I got a letter from the bank (only 100b) as proof of funds.

Showed the bank book which had been made up with a deposit on the day before I went to Imm.

The following year, before the "extension of stay" expired I applied to Imm for a new extension but this time I had the 800,000b in the bank for at least 90 days.

I got a letter from the bank (only 100b) as proof of funds.

Showed the bank book which had been made up with a deposit on the day before I went to Imm.

Every year now I need to show the funds in the bank for at least 90 days, otherwise, submit the same paperwork.

So in short.

Unless you stay in a hotel/resort/Guest House, where they advise Imm of your arrival.

You need to ensure that whoever you stay with notifies Imm that you are staying at their address.

It should be the address you put on your TM6 arrival card.

Every continuous 90 days in Thailand you myst notify Imm (get fined if you don't)

If you leave, ensure you have a re-entry permit or your extension will be cancelled and you have to start again.

45 - 30 days prior to expiry of your "Extension" apply for a new one.

Note Extension: Permitted to stay: it is not a visa, you only needed that at the beginning and it expired and forgotten about.

The number on your current extension is what you will use as a Visa No.

Hope this helps

lopburi3

Posted Yesterday, 17:22

Sorry but above fees do not equate to official rules - change or obtaining non immigrant entry fee is 2,000 baht (not 1,900 and we do not get any handsome man discount). All extensions of stay cost 1,900 baht - so total spent prior to re-entry permit should have been 3,900 baht in official fees