O-A options.

[1happykamper]

I am looking at O-A options. Again. I will be in Mexico when I depart for Thailand.

 

1. If I apply at the consul in Mexico then all I need is my social security letter stating income... Or needs to be certified by USA consul first? 2 years ago in Los Angeles I only presented the ssa letter.

 

2. If I arrive in Thailand a us citizen gets 30 day entry. Yes? Then I can apply for my long stay visa?

 

Pros and cons of these will be much appreciated.. Thank you.

 

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[Jingthing]

If you're  U.S. citizen and not a permanent resident in Mexico, if you want an O-A visa, you need to apply in the U.S.

 

U.S. citizens, yes, get a 30 day stamp upon arrival in Thailand with no visa needed.

 

Yes it's possible to convert a 30 day stamp to a 90 day O visa (not an O-A) in Thailand and then to apply for your first annual extension based on retirement. (No O-A ever needed.)

 

If using income letter you will need that from the U.S. embassy in Bangkok (or Chiang Mai consulate) and you will need a letter for BOTH steps, the conversion to O and the extension. The U.S. embassy will take your word for it about your income but you will be required to formally declare that is true.

 

I have not provided all the details you need if you want to do the two step process (conversion to O and then extension). You'll need to explore that some more if that's your intention. 

 

If not applying for an O-A, you will not need the health form or the criminal record report.

 

The O-A best feature is that it allows a stay of almost two years if used correctly, so that applying for the first annual extension can be delayed. With the two step process entering on a 30 day stamp, you will be under great time pressure to start to deal with Thai immigration for two different applications (plus the embassy letters). 

[buick]

you get the 30 day visa exempt entry and you can extend that by 30 days if you can't get your stuff together in time for the deadline for conversion to a non imm O (package needs to be submitted with at least 15 days left on your permission to stay).  i recently converted a visa exempt entry to a non imm O at chaeng wattana in bangkok.  not sure where you plan to do it (assuming you don't get the OA in USA).

 

here is a recent thread on converting a tourist visa (also applies to visa exempt entry):

 

 

[Jingthing]

Also, as long as you're in Mexico and near a Thai embassy/consulate there, perhaps you might be able to get a TOURIST visa there. That gives you more time to get your applications done for the two step process in Thailand and of course you can convert a tourist visa to a 90 day O just like a 30 day stamp.

[1happykamper]

If you're  U.S. citizen and not a permanent resident in Mexico, if you want an O-A visa, you need to apply in the U.S.
 
U.S. citizens, yes, get a 30 day stamp upon arrival in Thailand with no visa needed.
 
Yes it's possible to convert a 30 day stamp to a 90 day O visa (not an O-A) in Thailand and then to apply for your first annual extension based on retirement. (No O-A ever needed.
 
  

Very interesting information. In the past I have secured 60 day tourist visa and 1 year o-visas. This O visa.. 90 days sounds good too.

Since I need to do a 90 day address report anyway.. Might just skip the O-A route... Which I qualify for.

I am also legally married to a thai.. So I also have that option.. But again.. 90 day reporting... AND my wife.. AND the house book!

So it boils down to cost. Is there significant savings with one particular non immigrant visa? Cheers!


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[Jingthing]

Someone else will need to do the comparison of retirement vs. marriage. 

I mentioned a 90 day O visa done in Thailand as a conversion from a 30 day stamp or tourist only in the context of your stated desire for retirement status. 

You need to show proof of your RETIREMENT qualification (basically about finances) for that status for both applications, the initial conversion to a 90 day O visa and then the annual retirement extension application. 

[ubonjoe]

9 minutes ago, 1happykamper said:

I am also legally married to a thai.. So I also have that option.. But again.. 90 day reporting... AND my wife.. AND the house book!

So it boils down to cost. Is there significant savings with one particular non immigrant visa? Cheers!

The fee for single entry non immigrant visa is 2000 baht ($80 in the US) and a multiple entry is 5000 baht ($200 in the US). There is no difference between the categories they are issued as or what they are based upon.

The fee for an extension of stay is 1900 baht for all extensions.

An extension of stay based upon marriage requires 400k baht in a Thai bank for 2 months or proof of 40k baht income. For retirement it is 800k baht in the bank for 60 days for the first extension and 3 months after that or proof of 65k baht income or a combination of the 2 totaling 800k baht.

[wpcoe]

23 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Also, as long as you're in Mexico and near a Thai embassy/consulate there, perhaps you might be able to get a TOURIST visa there. That gives you more time to get your applications done for the two step process in Thailand and of course you can convert a tourist visa to a 90 day O just like a 30 day stamp.

A Thai embassy/consulate in Mexico might also be able/willing to issue a single-entry Non-Immigrant O visa.  It seems to vary from country to country, and no harm in asking.   If they ask for a reason:  "Investigating retirement in Thailand..."

 

If they do issue a Non-Immigrant O, you'll be stamped with a 90-day permission to stay upon arrival in Thailand, and then all you need to do is apply for a one-year extension (for retirement) within the last 30 (maybe 45?) days of that 90-days at your local Thai Immigrations office.  Of course, you need to meet the financial and/or income requirements when applying for the extension.

 

One risk with trying to start the process with a visa-exempt entry stamp is that technically you need an outbound flight within 30-days, and some (most?) airlines won't let you board the flight to Thailand unless you meet that requirement.  With any type of visa, no return flight needs to be shown.

[Jingthing]

Great points.

It's worth trying to get a single entry O in Mexico though I have no idea if that would work.

If not, you've also provided a very good reason to get a tourist visa instead in Mexico (assuming they're game).

If no visa,  the flight boarding issue can be resolved by buying a "throwaway" (or refundable) ticket out of Thailand within 30 days.

[ubonjoe]

25 minutes ago, wpcoe said:

If they ask for a reason:  "Investigating retirement in Thailand..."

 

He married to a Thai. Much easier to get a non-o visa based upon that than retirement.

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

He married to a Thai. Much easier to get a non-o visa based upon that than retirement.

Good point and I'm assuming he could still use that visa to apply for a RETIREMENT extension in Thailand even though the reason to the embassy was marriage, correct?

[ubonjoe]

Just now, Jingthing said:

Good point and I'm assuming he could still use that visa to apply for a RETIREMENT extension in Thailand even though the reason to the embassy was marriage, correct?

A non-o visa is a non-o visa it does not matter what it was based upon when applying for an extension.

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

A non-o visa is a non-o visa it does not matter what it was based upon when applying for an extension.

As I assumed but that info may be very useful to the O.P. I started with a single entry O from the U.S. and there is no reason code on the visa (but had to state on the application of course).