O-A Visa questions from UK

[SimonD]

Hi. following an earlier post I have decided to go for an O-A visa for my long-stay return to Thailand later this year and would like some advice on the requirements please.

 

I have the funds in my UK bank accounts to more than meet the 800,000 THB equivalent requirement. Most of the money is in easily-accessible savings accounts rather than my current account to gain the better interest rate. Is this acceptable or will the Embassy demand the money be ‘on-tap’ in the current account only? Would a combination of account statements suffice?

 

Is there any minimum period (seasoning) for the money to be in my UK bank accounts prior to applying for the visa as most of the money has only been there since late April this year?

 

Assuming I get the visa, how long is it valid for from issue? It may be two months or more before I actually get to Thailand and I don’t know if the clock starts ‘ticking’ on the one-year period immediately or only when I first gain entry?

 

I see that it claims to be multi-entry. As I will be returning briefly to UK at least twice during the first year do I not need any re-entry permits to keep the visa alive?

 

Sorry for so many questions but I really don’t want to make a mess of this application.

Simon

Edited September 6, 2016 by SimonD
Spacing

[Lite Beer]

The Visa becomes valid on the date it is issued and valid for one year.

So don't apply too early.

While the Visa is still valid you will get 12 months entry every time you enter Thailand.

After that you will need a re entry permit.

Edited September 6, 2016 by Lite Beer

[ubonjoe]

Your savings accounts will be accepted. No need for the money to be in the bank any amount of time.

[OJAS]

How "easily accessible" are your savings accounts? Are you able to withdraw cash from them directly by sticking a card into an ATM machine like I was able to with a savings account I had in the UK before moving out here (again under an OA visa) 8 years ago?

 

I am not aware of any specific seasoning requirements on the Embassy's part, but, if there were any, these would, I think, be unlikely to exceed the 90 days required for retirement extensions here in Thailand. Seeing as you made your deposits 4 months ago, therefore, I would think it highly unlikely for this to be an issue for you.

 

The whole OA visa application process certainly sounds daunting, but, so long as you follow the Embassy's procedures as set out on their website faithfully, you should not come a cropper. At least that was my experience in 2008.

[elviajero]

5 hours ago, SimonD said:

Assuming I get the visa, how long is it valid for from issue? It may be two months or more before I actually get to Thailand and I don’t know if the clock starts ‘ticking’ on the one-year period immediately or only when I first gain entry?

 

I see that it claims to be multi-entry. As I will be returning briefly to UK at least twice during the first year do I not need any re-entry permits to keep the visa alive?

• The visa is valid for 1 year from the date it's issued. If you want to maximise the visa you should apply as close to your first entry as possible.
• The visa will be issued with an 'enter before' date (expiry). You can enter as often as you want until on or before that date and don't need a re-entry permit.
• Every time you enter you are granted permission to stay for 1 year. Even if you enter on the 'enter before' date, the last possible day you can use the visa, you get a permission to stay for a full 1 year.
• If you want to exit, and re-enter after the visa expires, you need a re-entery permit to keep the last entry/permit to stay alive.

[SimonD]

Thank you all for your helpful replies - your help is much appreciated! 

 

@OJAS: My savings accounts require online transfer to the current account for access via ATM but as Ubonjoe informs me that they will be acceptable to the Embassy I won't have to worry about that now. It's good see that no-one has flagged any pitfalls I hadn't even thought of. That's a relief.

 

I dare say there will be a few more questions related to my long anticipated (nine years) return to LoS in the near future but I know I can count on friendly and sound advice in the appropriate places on this forum.

 

Thank you all once again.

 

Simon