Bank deposit documentation for O-A visa application in the UK ?

[Seraphina]

FYI, one of the Consulate agents told me today that the automatic 30 day visa re-entry to Thailand by land or air has been reduced to 15 days for UK and US passport holders.

[johnatong]

FYI, one of the Consulate agents told me today that the automatic 30 day visa re-entry to Thailand by land or air has been reduced to 15 days for UK and US passport holders.

Get a new agent !

If you were told that by a Consulate employee then complain to the Consul because that is false information.

[tirekicker]

You only need the equivalent of 800k baht in a UK bank. There is no requirement for the money to be in a Thai bank.

Would a print -out of my U.K. bank statement be acceptable and what about the signed letter Immigration requires from a Thai bank.

Are you asking about applying for a OA visa or an extension of stay applied for here at immigration?

For the extension the money has to be in a Thai bank.

Not sure how the embassy would handle money in a Thai bank for getting an OA visa. If you have the money in a Thai bank it would best to apply for an extension at immigration.

Applying for Non -Immigrant visa based on marriage to a Thai and will be my 8th year.

[ubonjoe]

You only need the equivalent of 800k baht in a UK bank. There is no requirement for the money to be in a Thai bank.

Would a print -out of my U.K. bank statement be acceptable and what about the signed letter Immigration requires from a Thai bank.

Are you asking about applying for a OA visa or an extension of stay applied for here at immigration?

For the extension the money has to be in a Thai bank.

Not sure how the embassy would handle money in a Thai bank for getting an OA visa. If you have the money in a Thai bank it would best to apply for an extension at immigration.

Applying for Non -Immigrant visa based on marriage to a Thai and will be my 8th year.

If you are applying for a multiple entry non-o visa at the embassy in London you don't need financial proof.

[Roy111]

Anyone interested in this thread may also find this one of interest:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/918654-uk-notary-advice-for-a-non-immigrant-visa-category-o-a-long-stay/?p=10768903

Lookme - this may help restore some confidence in carrying on with your application in the UK.

[Lookme]

Thank you Roy111, that is indeed an excellent thread, although it still leaves the question of the bank letter, which makes no sense to me at all.

But it's really good that the notary/solicitor question seems to be completely resolved. It's just certification of copies by any solicitor, for £5 per copy. It does leave the question of whether you could just go to the embassy with the original documents...

Anyway, for me, the trip to London is a deal breaker, and my decision is made. I have already obtained a 60-day tourist visa by post and I'm headed back to Thailand next week. I will go for the 'O' conversion on the basis of retirement at Jomtien immigration. It should be easy enough once I get all the bits together. I will report back, although it will be a while because they don't let you apply until two or three weeks before your current visa runs out.

[Seraphina]

@Lookme

After all the problems you've had so far, it will be interesting to know how you get on. Are you saying that you're going on a 60 day visa which is extendable by 30 days (=90) and then going to apply for a one retirement visa while you're actually in situ? If that's possible, then I might follow your lead. Would you be applying for an over 50 or over 60 retirement visa though?

I understand there are two O visas for the age 50+ category, one which costs 60 euros and one which costs 150 euros (matches their UK equivalents).

I'm thinking of going through an agent. The cost of getting to the embassy and back + overnight stay in a hotel due to the visa section only being open in the morning is making the agency fee look good value!

[Lookme]

Yes, I'm going on a 60-day tourist visa, which I will convert to a a Non-Immigrant “O” Visa at Jomtien immigration. That process is very well documented here:

http://www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com/expats/docs/retirementvisachecklist.pdf

The fee is 2,000 Baht, so quite a bit cheaper than the UK version, but it doesn't allow re-entry. You can easily convert it to multi-entry with a simple form and a fee (about 3,600 Baht, from memory).

You can then extend that “O” Visa annually on the basis of retirement, documented here:

http://www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com/expats/docs/ExtendingStay.pdf

I'm sure the A-O in the UK is feasible if you can get to London easily, but for me that's the deal-breaker. The big difference for me is that my condo in Jomtien is 5 minutes walk from immigration, so I can just go down there as many times as it takes, and the last time I went there they were very nice and very helpful. The London Embassy doesn't give me that impression.

[Seraphina]

Wow! These documents are substantial and well laid out. It'll take me a while to get through both, but that you ever so much.

I'm in a worse situation being in the south of France with only Paris as my nearest Embassy. I don't think Consulates can issue the O-A visa, but a Lyon agency is telling me differently, but there are two O visas for the 50+ year olds. They are recommending the 2 month one with a the one month extension (60 euros). Not quite sure how that pans out to one year..... The one I'm actually pursuing is the one year, with a 90 day reporting.(150 euros)

I think with the latter, you have to have a Thai bank account to renew. I'm sure you've already got that sorted.

Good luck with it all. Hope things go smoothly!

[johnatong]

Wow! These documents are substantial and well laid out. It'll take me a while to get through both, but that you ever so much.

I'm in a worse situation being in the south of France with only Paris as my nearest Embassy. I don't think Consulates can issue the O-A visa, but a Lyon agency is telling me differently, but there are two O visas for the 50+ year olds. They are recommending the 2 month one with a the one month extension (60 euros). Not quite sure how that pans out to one year..... The one I'm actually pursuing is the one year, with a 90 day reporting.(150 euros)

I think with the latter, you have to have a Thai bank account to renew. I'm sure you've already got that sorted.

Good luck with it all. Hope things go smoothly!

There is no 2 month "O" visa but I am sure you will ask your agent to clarify exactly what s/he is trying to sell you.

[Seraphina]

@johnatong

I regret to inform you that you are 100% wrong. There is indeed a 60 day visa for G7/G8 country passport holders. I don't know which passport you hold, but mine is from a G7 country and I've cross checked this fact on both the French AND UK websites. The 60 day visa is a single entry one and costs 25 pounds.See number 2 @ http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/76.

The agent wasn't wrong, She just didn't realise I wanted the other one year O visa. If you're not in this category, you may not be aware of the different conditions. If you are in the 50+ category wishing to stay on an extendable tourist visa; then you need to do more research/ Check out the same website number 8, one year multiple entry for 125 pounds.

Note: you canNOT extend a 30 day visa on arrival. Perhaps you're getting confused?

[elviajero]

@johnatong

I regret to inform you that you are 100% wrong. There is indeed a 60 day visa for G7/G8 country passport holders. I don't know which passport you hold, but mine is from a G7 country and I've cross checked this fact on both the French AND UK websites. The 60 day visa is a single entry one and costs 25 pounds.See number 2 @ http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/76.

The agent wasn't wrong, She just didn't realise I wanted the other one year O visa. If you're not in this category, you may not be aware of the different conditions. If you are in the 50+ category wishing to stay on an extendable tourist visa; then you need to do more research/ Check out the same website number 8, one year multiple entry for 125 pounds.

Note: you canNOT extend a 30 day visa on arrival. Perhaps you're getting confused?

He is not wrong! He said there is no 2 month 'O' visa which 100% correct.

You seem to be referring to a Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) which gives 60 days on entry. It is available to many nationals and not just G7 countries. There is no G8.

[johnatong]

@johnatong

I regret to inform you that you are 100% wrong. There is indeed a 60 day visa for G7/G8 country passport holders. I don't know which passport you hold, but mine is from a G7 country and I've cross checked this fact on both the French AND UK websites. The 60 day visa is a single entry one and costs 25 pounds.See number 2 @ http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/76.

The agent wasn't wrong, She just didn't realise I wanted the other one year O visa. If you're not in this category, you may not be aware of the different conditions. If you are in the 50+ category wishing to stay on an extendable tourist visa; then you need to do more research/ Check out the same website number 8, one year multiple entry for 125 pounds.

Note: you canNOT extend a 30 day visa on arrival. Perhaps you're getting confused?

You have had one response which I will not repeat other than to note its accuracy.

You will also be interested to learn that there are no 30 day VOA's.

Of course I do not expect you to believe what I say so I have include a link which you will find informative

http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/th/services/36313-VISA-ON-ARRIVAL.html

edit

add link

[Seraphina]

@johnatong The agent WAS wrong (see table below). you will see that there are two O visas for 50 plus year olds (see numbers 7 & 8). Therefore, she completely missed the one year multiple entry visa. There is a visa for 50+ year olds and one for 60+ year olds. The paperwork for each is different. For my category/ 50 plus year olds, the applicant must be aged 50 years and over / is allowed to stay in Thailand for 1 year./ strictly prohibited from working (number 8). The O-A category includes other applicant profiles as well .

Below is a copy from the Royal Thai Embassy webpage on the different TYPES of visa (http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/44) so that you can see in summary what is available. I will promise to photocopy my one year visa in my passport when I get it unless I decide to go for the 3 month version...the paperwork for which is far less stringent, no bank references, no medical, no criminal record check.

Visa Type

1. Transit (3 months validity/single entry)

(£) 20

2. Tourist (3 months validity/Up to 60 days/Single)

(£) 25

3. Tourist (6 months validity/Up to 60 days/Multiple Entries)

(£) 125

4. Non-Immigrant (3 months validity/Single Entry/up to 90 days)

(£) 50

5. Non-Immigrant (1 year validity/ Multiple Entries)

(£) 125

6. Non-Immigrant (3 year validity/ Multiple Entries)

(£) 250

7. Non-Immigrant O (3 months validity/ Single Entry/Up to 1 year)

(£) 50

8. Non-Immigrant O (1 year validity/ Multiple Entries/Up to 1 year)

(£) 125

I think yo'all are younger than me which is why you're not so familiar with the Non-Immigrant O visas.

Regarding the Visa on Arrival (VOA), this is essentially a G7 exemption visa: read and be enlightened....http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/188

Tourist Visa Exemption: Since 20 December 2013,Nationals of (G7) the following countries who enter via a land crossing or enter via an airport will be entitled to a 30 day visa exemption , UK, U.S.A, Canada, Italy, Germany, Japan, France

The O-A category includes other applicant profiles as well .

[johnatong]

@johnatong The agent WAS wrong (see table below). you will see that there are two O visas for 50 plus year olds (see numbers 7 & 8). Therefore, she completely missed the one year multiple entry visa. There is a visa for 50+ year olds and one for 60+ year olds. The paperwork for each is different. For my category/ 50 plus year olds, the applicant must be aged 50 years and over / is allowed to stay in Thailand for 1 year./ strictly prohibited from working (number 8). The O-A category includes other applicant profiles as well .

Below is a copy from the Royal Thai Embassy webpage on the different TYPES of visa (http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/44) so that you can see in summary what is available. I will promise to photocopy my one year visa in my passport when I get it unless I decide to go for the 3 month version...the paperwork for which is far less stringent, no bank references, no medical, no criminal record check.

Visa Type

1. Transit (3 months validity/single entry)

(£) 20

2. Tourist (3 months validity/Up to 60 days/Single)

(£) 25

3. Tourist (6 months validity/Up to 60 days/Multiple Entries)

(£) 125

4. Non-Immigrant (3 months validity/Single Entry/up to 90 days)

(£) 50

5. Non-Immigrant (1 year validity/ Multiple Entries)

(£) 125

6. Non-Immigrant (3 year validity/ Multiple Entries)

(£) 250

7. Non-Immigrant O (3 months validity/ Single Entry/Up to 1 year)

(£) 50

8. Non-Immigrant O (1 year validity/ Multiple Entries/Up to 1 year)

(£) 125

I think yo'all are younger than me which is why you're not so familiar with the Non-Immigrant O visas.

Regarding the Visa on Arrival (VOA), this is essentially a G7 exemption visa: read and be enlightened....http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/188

Tourist Visa Exemption: Since 20 December 2013,Nationals of (G7) the following countries who enter via a land crossing or enter via an airport will be entitled to a 30 day visa exemption , UK, U.S.A, Canada, Italy, Germany, Japan, France

The O-A category includes other applicant profiles as well .

Suggest you return to that website and read this

"Non-Immigrant Type O

Birth Certificate (applicant's child)

Certificate of Marriage or its equivalents (if married to Thai national)

a copy of marriage certificate,a copy of Thai passport/a copy of Thai ID of spouse and (3 months bank statement showing monthly income of more than £1,400 anuually.)

An official recommendation letter from organization perform voluntary job in Thailand (for volunteer job)

Pension statement if the applicant is a pension earner."

The pension referred to is a UK State Retirement Pension which is paid to those aged 65+

Good luck.

I am certain your "agent" will be of great assistance.

[elviajero]

Regarding the Visa on Arrival (VOA), this is essentially a G7 exemption visa: read and be enlightened....http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/188

Tourist Visa Exemption: Since 20 December 2013,Nationals of (G7) the following countries who enter via a land crossing or enter via an airport will be entitled to a 30 day visa exemption , UK, U.S.A, Canada, Italy, Germany, Japan, France

Wrong again!

• Nationals from the G7 countries do not qualify for the Visa On Arrival (VOA).
• G7 nationals don't need to get a VOA because they qualify for the Tourist Visa Exempt Scheme which exempts them from the need to have a visa.

VOA and Tourist Visa Exemption are two different methods of entering the country. A list of the nationals that qualify for each is here; http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/doc/services.pdf

[Seraphina]

The website you've quoted does not mention the words, "Visa on Arrival" so you haven't quite convinced me yet nor have you explained the difference or your source. Perhaps redirect me to a website with a full link?

Furthermore, whenever I go to the UAE, Qatar or Oman, which also have reciprocal arrangements with the UK, they do call it "A Visa on Arrival". Not sure why Thailand should call it something different?

Similarly, Korea, Hong Kong, Egypt and Taiwan also gave me visas on arrival. Thus, I didn't have to apply for a visa prior to travel. For Australia, you have to apply for an electronic visa, but Australians pay nothing to enter the UK so I'm told.

Strangely enough, UK citizens pay nothing to enter Bahrain on an 'entry stamp' or whatever you choose to call it, but I still have to pay - even WITH a British passport! There are special reasons for this, essentially, there is a hierarchy of passports.

[Seraphina]

OK OK I'm convinced! Thanks. I'll read it now!

[lkv]

@Seraphina.

Right look you are contradicting people here that have answered these questions a million times in the last 10 years or so.

VOA is a paid visa (1,000 baht) that a limited number of nationalities (including mine) get.

Visa exempt is free and it's for 30 days or in some cases 90 days (for certain nationalities).

This is not the Middle East, it's Thailand.

[Seraphina]

lkv, you are assuming a person watches a forum for 10 years? I'm new to this forum and to blogging. I'm also old: and by the way the 'entry' stamp DOES carry the word 'visa' on it. For those new to the forum, here's a simple summary:

What is the difference between the Visa on Arrival and the Visa Exempt stamp? http://www.thai-faq.com/thailand-visa/

These two are often confused but are basically the same thing. If you are coming to Thailand for tourist purposes and hold a citizenship from 48 specific countries you do not need to get a visa in advance and you can show up at the border and receive either a stamp that allows you to stay for either 15 or 30 days depending on if you show up at a land crossing or at an international airport.

The visa on arrival is the same thing but available for citizens of 19 different countries. You also must have 2 recent photographs and pay a 1000 Baht fee. The full list of countries can be found on the Thai Immigration website.

(perhaps we could have done with this from the beginning?)

Tony Joh has interesting things to say about red stamps on re-entry.

[elviajero]

lkv, you are assuming a person watches a forum for 10 years? I'm new to this forum and to blogging. I'm also old: and by the way the 'entry' stamp DOES carry the word 'visa' on it. For those new to the forum, here's a simple summary:

What is the difference between the Visa on Arrival and the Visa Exempt stamp? http://www.thai-faq.com/thailand-visa/

These two are often confused but are basically the same thing. If you are coming to Thailand for tourist purposes and hold a citizenship from 48 specific countries you do not need to get a visa in advance and you can show up at the border and receive either a stamp that allows you to stay for either 15 or 30 days depending on if you show up at a land crossing or at an international airport.

The visa on arrival is the same thing but available for citizens of 19 different countries. You also must have 2 recent photographs and pay a 1000 Baht fee. The full list of countries can be found on the Thai Immigration website.

(perhaps we could have done with this from the beginning?)

Tony Joh has interesting things to say about red stamps on re-entry.

The two are often confused but they are not the same thing.

You are quoting another commercial website full of wrong, out of date and misleading information.

[elviajero]

lkv, you are assuming a person watches a forum for 10 years? I'm new to this forum and to blogging. I'm also old: and by the way the 'entry' stamp DOES carry the word 'visa' on it.

• Entry stamps carry the words "Visa Class" which is for the IO to record the class of visa used for entry.
• An entry stamp is not a visa if that is what you are alluding to.