Advise from Non O / WP to...

[jphasia]

Hello,

My sister has been leaving and working in Thailand for the last few years (i think 10 years) with a proper Visa Non O, extension and work permit.

She will stop work at the end of this month or beginning of April and she is also turning 50 end of May.

She is not sure yet what she will do after. Her chance of working again here are very poor. She is considering leaving for good Thailand but a new start in Europe (France) where we don't have anymore contacts or family are not very excited. To be honest, I am little bit worry about this option (she has been here 20 years already).

I suggested her to take time and think before making a decision. She is also very short on budget but i can support her for the time being.

I believe she can go for the option of tourist visa. She can probably get easily a single entry tourist visa in the region but as I read this forum, that will be a short option.

As she will turn 50 very soon, I am thinking about the option "retirement". She doesn't have the 800k fund but i can get it for her.

So my questions are:

- Would it work if she goes for the "retirement option" by having me to deposit 800k in her bank account?

- If her work permit is cancel let's say in April, she will need to go apply for a new visa (I guess non O) in order for her to apply for the extension of stay based on retirement when she will turn 50 in May?

- Does this kind of extension can proceed exactly on her birthday of there are some timeline to respect? But also i understood that the 800k must be in her bank account 3 months before the application which is already short even if i deposit the amount today in her bank account.

- I also considering another option for her which would be to purchase a Thai Elite 5 years for her. Would might be the easiest solution?

Thanks

[sunnyjim5]

The retirement option would work. The money needs to be in the bank for 2 months prior to application.

Your sister needs an "O" visa before she can apply for an extension based on retirement but would have to be 50 and have the money in the bank before she could get the visa.

A tourist visa would bridge the gap between April and her turning 50.

[jphasia]

Thanks for quick reply.

I am little confused:

For the retirement option, i understand the need to apply for a non O first, then later a the end of the visa, apply for the extension:

- can this type of non o be apply in any Thai consulate / embassy nearby? What are the basic requirements for this non O "For retirement"? I mean i am on Non O based on child so when i apply i present at least the Thai birth certificate of my child.

Shall she just turn to any embassy and said "look at my passport, i will be 50 next month, so i need a non O..."?

Thanks

[sunnyjim5]

Thanks for quick reply.

I am little confused:

For the retirement option, i understand the need to apply for a non O first, then later a the end of the visa, apply for the extension:

- can this type of non o be apply in any Thai consulate / embassy nearby? What are the basic requirements for this non O "For retirement"? I mean i am on Non O based on child so when i apply i present at least the Thai birth certificate of my child.

Shall she just turn to any embassy and said "look at my passport, i will be 50 next month, so i need a non O..."?

Thanks

Your sister applies for the "O" visa at a nearby Thai Embassy/Consulate, Vientiane or Penang are popular places.

Her passport "proves" her age and that together with a Thai Bank book showing an updated balance of 800.000 Bht enables the single entry visa to be issued on the basis of being 50+ or "for retirement".

[jphasia]

Thanks a lot. Very clear now.

[jphasia]

Sorry to come back on this thread but i talked to a Thai lawyer yesterday who told me that as part of requirements to apply for a Non O visa "for retirement", a criminal record is required? When I asked him which consulate of embassy he is referring for the application, he is not very clear saying "all" and particularly Singapore, KL or even Penang. Can any of the experts here confirm that? Thanks

[johnatong]

Sorry to come back on this thread but i talked to a Thai lawyer yesterday who told me that as part of requirements to apply for a Non O visa "for retirement", a criminal record is required? When I asked him which consulate of embassy he is referring for the application, he is not very clear saying "all" and particularly Singapore, KL or even Penang. Can any of the experts here confirm that? Thanks

Absolute nonsense ! The "lawyer" is poorly informed. A criminal record check is not required for a single entry no imm "O" visa.

Your sister should apply for her visa at either Vientiane or Penang where she will experience no difficulty.

She should stay away from both Singapore and KL which are known to be "difficult" no matter which visa is applied for.

[jphasia]

Ok thanks. I thought so but just wanted to hear it from another source. Thanks

[jphasia]

Thanks for quick reply.

I am little confused:

For the retirement option, i understand the need to apply for a non O first, then later a the end of the visa, apply for the extension:

- can this type of non o be apply in any Thai consulate / embassy nearby? What are the basic requirements for this non O "For retirement"? I mean i am on Non O based on child so when i apply i present at least the Thai birth certificate of my child.

Shall she just turn to any embassy and said "look at my passport, i will be 50 next month, so i need a non O..."?

Thanks

Your sister applies for the "O" visa at a nearby Thai Embassy/Consulate, Vientiane or Penang are popular places.

Her passport "proves" her age and that together with a Thai Bank book showing an updated balance of 800.000 Bht enables the single entry visa to be issued on the basis of being 50+ or "for retirement".

Sorry to come back on this but I would like to get a confirmation:

My sister work permit and last extension expired last 24 May (last Tuesday). She was scheduled to go out of Thailand last Sunday to apply for a tourist visa to make the gap while she reach 50 for the non O.

Unfortunately, last Saturday, she had a serious health issue and been admitted in hospital. She got a special extension of stay from immigration until 6 June following this health issue (she is not allowed to travel until 4 June).

She will turn 50 on 28 May. So when she will go apply for a new visa, she will have the required age for the Non O.

Can she apply for this Non O if the 800k has not been in her bank account for 2 months? I have just transfered the necessary funds to her bank account as I was expecting for the tourist visa prior to the Non O.

[johnatong]

If your sister can show 800K Bht in a Thai bank on the day she applies for an "O" visa based on being over 50 the visa will be issued.

The money does, however, need to have been in the bank for 60 days on the day she applies for an extension of stay based on retirement.

[jphasia]

Thanks. That's perfect. She will then apply for the Non O directly.

[jphasia]

I went to the Thai Embassy in Yangon last Friday as I had a meeting near. I am working in Myanmar and thought that i will be easier for my sister to come to Myanmar to apply for her visa as I am based there.

The Thai Embassy give me the following requirements for a Non O over 50 application:

Copy of the bank book showing 800k

Medical Certificate

Police record

Cost 200 USD

I left the embassy and read again the doc they give me and realized that these requirements are actually for a 1 Year Non O-A and not Non O (which justify the cost)

I used to get for myself a Non O 1 year multi entries quite easily in the embassy for the last 4 years so I am wondering if they might be easy to deliver a Non O-A to my sister...

It is worth to try in my opinion but my sister can get easily the medical certificate and 800k but I have no clue how she can get a police record.

I am in Phuket right now and went to the police station and asked but they seems confusing and don't know what they are talking about.

Any idea how to get this police record?

[ubonjoe]

I am certain she will not get a OA visa in Myanmar. One of the primary requirements to get one is that the applicant is is a citizen or legal resident of he country where the application is done.

The embassy website does not mention the OA visa. It only mentions a non-o visa and being 50 or over for retirement is not shown. See: http://www.thaiembassy.org/yangon/contents/files/services-20130529-103948-768837.pdf

I suspect there was a misunderstanding when you asked about the visa. You should try again and try to make it clear your are asking about a single entry non-o visa for being 50 or over.

[jphasia]

I am certain she will not get a OA visa in Myanmar. One of the primary requirements to get one is that the applicant is is a citizen or legal resident of he country where the application is done.

The embassy website does not mention the OA visa. It only mentions a non-o visa and being 50 or over for retirement is not shown. See: http://www.thaiembassy.org/yangon/contents/files/services-20130529-103948-768837.pdf

I suspect there was a misunderstanding when you asked about the visa. You should try again and try to make it clear your are asking about a single entry non-o visa for being 50 or over.

Yes that's also my understanding and when I realized that the requirements they gave me are for Non O-A, I really doubt she can get it.

Anyway her last extension of stay is until 6 June. I have already arranged everything for her to come to Yangon on the 5th of June. This is not that easy as my sister can't travel alone. She not at her best health right now. I have to manage my time to come pickup her in Thailand, travel with her..and I am quite busy also.

So she will be in Yangon on 5th of June, we will go to the embassy on the 6. She will have whatever supporting documents that they might required. Best case she will be given a O-A (I doubt), or a O 3 months single or at last a tourist visa.

Please correct me if I am wrong but a tourist visa can be converted to Non O in Thailand?

I am aslo seriously considering to opt for her for the Elite Visa. I really doubt she will be able to work again and she is limited to travel, I might just put 500k at the end of her next visa. She will then be fine for the next 5 years without the need to travel.

[ubonjoe]

I think the best you can expect is a single entry non-o visa. Having a bank book updated just before she leaves for the trip showing the 800k baht in the bank will be important.

Next would be a single entry tourist visa,

It is possible to do a change of visa status to obtain a 90 day non immigrant visa entry at Bangkok immigration and a few nearby offices. She could apply for it at anytime during the 60 day entry from the tourist visa up to the last 15 days. It requires two trips 15 days apart to immigration to get the visa/entry stamps. Then during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry she could apply for the one year extension based upon retirement.

If she gets the elite visa and does not travel to get new one year entries she would need to apply for one year extensions at a immigration office. Reports indicate that the extensions are easy to get done.

[jphasia]

Just to give an update and if it can help for others:

So as mentioned above, it was too short for my sister to get a criminal record and medical certificate, so I followed the advises above and she came to the Thai Embassy in Yangon this morning with only a book bank updated showing 800k and explain the she would like to apply for a Non O as she just passed 50 years old.

She has been waiting a little and then asked to meet the "manager" who questioned her very politely.

She explained her story that she has been working with work permit these last 15 years in Thailand, that now she stop work and will be retired. She also mentioned that she has some health issues, reason why she had a special extension before leaving the country.

The "manager" replied that he understand very well her situation and he was ready to give her a visa Non O-A to her that might suit her better if she had the medical certificate and the criminal record.

He gave her a 3 months Non O instead and invited her to try to get the criminal record and.medical certificate and she will be granted a Non O-A after this 3 month Non O.

She paid 80 USD for the 3 months Non O.

Now, I told my sister that as she got a Non O, I don't see much the necessity for her to try to get a criminal record and apply for a Non O-A in 3 months. She should instead go for the extension route?

[ubonjoe]

She should apply for an extension based upon retirement at immigration instead of traveling back to Yangon to get a OA visa.

She can apply for the extension during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the non-o visa.

[jphasia]

She should apply for an extension based upon retirement at immigration instead of traveling back to Yangon to get a OA visa.

She can apply for the extension during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the non-o visa.

Thanks. As soon as she is back to Phuket, she will to the immigration and ask the requirements to get the extension.

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