Requirements for Non-immigrant O from US current July 2017

[thairat]

I'm trying to find the current requirements for a Non-immigrant type O visa to be changed later in Thailand for 1 year retirement visa, and acquired in the USA.  I know this is a moving target. 

 

Application form

Photos

Fee

passport

 

I support my child attending school in Thailand.

 

regards

 

searches for info werent so helpful, but happy to follow link.

 

kind regards

 

 

[perthperson]

http://thaiembdc.org/visas/

 

NB  There is no "retirement visa" which can be applied for in Thailand -- You can however apply for an extension of stay based on retirement (it is not a visa) ...... Anyway you immediate need is for a visa which allows entry to Thailand -- The above link will help

[ubonjoe]

The requirement for the non-o visa is here on the embassy website. http://thaiembdc.org/consular-services/non-immigrant-visas/non-immigrant-visa-category-o/

You can get a single entry non-o at the embassy in DC or one of the official consulates in New York, Chicago and Los Angles in person or by mail. You can also apply for it at one of the honorary consulates in person. See: http://thaiembdc.org/royal-thai-honorary-consulates-general-in-the-u-s/

There would be no change needed to apply for an extension of stay based upon retirement at immigration. You would apply for it during the last 30 days for the 90 day entry from the visa.

[thairat]

Thanks for the links,

 

It appears I have to submit a copies of:

 

• supported childs passport, or national ID
• recent bank statement

I dont recall doing these things before, but no problem.

 

 

I appreciate the O-extension is not officially named retirement visa, but that's what they stamp in the passport. 

Mai bpen rai!

 

Good to note re extension:

"You would apply for it during the last 30 days for the 90 day entry from the visa. "

 

regards

[perthperson]

5 minutes ago, thairat said:

 

I appreciate the O-extension is not officially named retirement visa, but that's what they stamp in the passport

Just as a matter of fact they do not -- The word "visa" does not appear. The word "retirement" is stamped to indicate the reason for the extension of stay being granted. 

 

 

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

The requirement for the non-o visa is here on the embassy website. http://thaiembdc.org/consular-services/non-immigrant-visas/non-immigrant-visa-category-o/

You can get a single entry non-o at the embassy in DC or one of the official consulates in New York, Chicago and Los Angles in person or by mail. You can also apply for it at one of the honorary consulates in person. See: http://thaiembdc.org/royal-thai-honorary-consulates-general-in-the-u-s/

There would be no change needed to apply for an extension of stay based upon retirement at immigration. You would apply for it during the last 30 days for the 90 day entry from the visa.

did it exactly like he said; mine was chicago; you will need to open an account here pretty quickly and get the required funds transferred; i used bangkok bank (branch bank in NYC) and it worked well; need 60 days seasoning of the funds; dont screw this up; maybe even have to have a calendar with dates circled;

example: say you get here and it takes 10 days to open an account (with a thai sponsor) , then transfer the funds, couple more days; now your window that UBJ refers to is 30 less 12 days**; easy to mess up unless you put it in on top of the priority list

 

** need 60 days

[thairat]

Thanx YA

Is 60 days the correct number I thought it was 90 days!

 

At one point it was 90 days, or maybe only the 1st time....I dont know~

 

regards T

 

 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

Just now, thairat said:

Is 60 days the correct number I thought it was 90 days!

For the first extension it is 60 days and then 3 months after that. 

[Suradit69]

3 hours ago, thairat said:

I appreciate the O-extension is not officially named retirement visa, but that's what they stamp in the passport. 

Mai bpen rai!

All of mine have stamps that say "extension of stay permitted up to ... " and "retirement" is stamped separately to indicate the reason the extension has been granted.

 

It's not a visa and, although it is often referred to as a visa by all and sundry, there is an important difference between a visa and an extension. It allows one to remain in the country, but you cannot use it to enter Thailand, which is what a visa would do. That's why someone with an extension needs a re-entry permit if he wishes to leave and return without losing the extension.

 

Something else erroneously called a "retirement visa" is a non-imm O-A visa ... but at least it is actually a visa and can be used to enter Thailand as often as you like while it remains valid.

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, thairat said:

Thanx YA

Is 60 days the correct number I thought it was 90 days!

 

At one point it was 90 days, or maybe only the 1st time....I dont know~

 

regards T

 

 

 

 

if the first one was 90, would be mostly impossible to do it, given your stay is 90;first one only 60, after 90

[perthperson]

Just now, Jim7777 said:

So now I just get an extension once a year and we just live in Thailand and never leave.  I just have to make darn sure that I get my visa extension done on time every year.  As long as I keep doing that on time every year I have no problems.  I've been doing really well for the past 3 years no problems with immigration.  OH YES, and of course I have to report my address to immigration every 90 days as well.

And in another thread you were claiming you had PR so why all this stuff about 90 day reports and extensions ? 

[Jim7777]

Sorry for posting twice I made a correction.  When I got my original Non-Immigrant-O Visa in the United States based on marriage I got mine at the Thai Consulate in New York.  The Thai Consulate in NYC actually gives MULTIPLE ENTRY Non-O Visas valid for a year at a time.  My first year here I had to leave the country every 90 days.  Then after that and ever since I just get a year extension once every year and I never have to leave the country unless I want to.  

 

So now I just get an extension once a year and we just live in Thailand and never leave.  I just have to make darn sure that I get my visa extension done on time every year.  As long as I keep doing that on time every year I have no problems.  I've been doing really well for the past 3 years no problems with immigration.  OH YES, and of course I have to report my address to immigration every 90 days as well.  Other than that it's actually pretty easy.  I know everyone's situation is different I'm actually retired and receiving a pension payment once a month.  I'm retired United States military.  

 

Why wouldn't it be the same for the OP?  Am I missing something here?  Why wouldn't the same rules apply to the OP that apply to me?  Why wouldn't the OP get the same deal that most of the rest of us get on Non-O Visas?  

 

I know for sure that the Thai Consulate in New York City gives multiple entry Non-Immigrant-O Visas that are valid for a year at a time because they gave me one based on marriage back in 2014.  

 

Have the rules changed?  Why would it only be a single entry visa?  I got a multiple entry non-o marriage visa at the Thai Consulate in NYC valid for a year, and now all I have to do is just extend my non-o marriage visa once a year, report to immigration every 90 days, and I'm good to stay to stay for another full year every year I do that. 

 

I just don't understand why the OP would only get a Single Entry Visa.  They gave me a multiple entry non-o marriage visa at the Thai Consulate in NYC.  

 

Why is the OP's situation different?  

[Jim7777]

15 minutes ago, perthperson said:

And in another thread you were claiming you had PR so why all this stuff about 90 day reports and extensions ? 

Yeah I was just messing with someone who was giving me a hard time lol.  I'm being serious now.  Still though it's actually a really good deal.  I just don't understand why all non-o visas aren't the same.  

[Jim7777]

1 minute ago, Jim7777 said:

Yeah I was just messing with someone who was giving me a hard time lol.  I'm being serious now.  Still though it's actually a really good deal.  I just don't understand why all non-o visas aren't the same.  

Why would the OP only get a single entry?  They gave me a multiple entry.  

[Jim7777]

And no I don't have PR I was just messing with someone who was giving me a hard time.  The individual is apparently jealous of me so I just wanted to rub it in a little more.  It's no ones business how much my monthly pension is regardless, and I think I've earned it after losing a leg in Iraq on my 4th combat tour.  I'm a 20 year retired Special Forces veteran so I've earned it and then some.  One of the individuals made a smart ass comment about how much I get paid when we were discussing Proof of Income Affidavits in another thread.  I just happened to mention approximately how much I make in Thai Baht a month that I put on my affidavit from the embassy every year when I get my  visa extension in U.S. Dollars.  

[HuaKuaGuy88]

13 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The requirement for the non-o visa is here on the embassy website. http://thaiembdc.org/consular-services/non-immigrant-visas/non-immigrant-visa-category-o/

You can get a single entry non-o at the embassy in DC or one of the official consulates in New York, Chicago and Los Angles in person or by mail. You can also apply for it at one of the honorary consulates in person. See: http://thaiembdc.org/royal-thai-honorary-consulates-general-in-the-u-s/

There would be no change needed to apply for an extension of stay based upon retirement at immigration. You would apply for it during the last 30 days for the 90 day entry from the visa.

Hi there UbonJoe...  As I will be traveling to Udon Thani in November .  I was checking the Thai Embassy site yesterday..and they seem to be having a problem..  Looking at your first website addy.... It is the same requirements they have had for the past 30 odd years I have been going to our home north of Udon Thani.. I did see that they added a lot more to improve the information.. i.e.   Thai citizen.. Volunteering , etc..    Be safe.. and great reading all your very informative comments... Oh, I spent 2 years stationed at the Ubon Royal Thai Airbase back in the 70's...   Lion Radar Control..   Be safe... 

[ubonjoe]

8 hours ago, Jim7777 said:

I just don't understand why the OP would only get a Single Entry Visa.  They gave me a multiple entry non-o marriage visa at the Thai Consulate in NYC.  

Because that is all he needs since he will be applying for an extension of stay based upon retirement during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the visa. 

[thairat]

21 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

All of mine have stamps that say "extension of stay permitted up to ... " and "retirement" is stamped separately to indicate the reason the extension has been granted.

 

It's not a visa and, although it is often referred to as a visa by all and sundry, there is an important difference between a visa and an extension. It allows one to remain in the country, but you cannot use it to enter Thailand, which is what a visa would do. That's why someone with an extension needs a re-entry permit if he wishes to leave and return without losing the extension.

 

Something else erroneously called a "retirement visa" is a non-imm O-A visa ... but at least it is actually a visa and can be used to enter Thailand as often as you like while it remains valid.

Very good, its clear now! descriptions like this, should be on the Thai gov website, to clarify the what and why of the various visa types.

 

Well done.

[Jim7777]

16 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Because that is all he needs since he will be applying for an extension of stay based upon retirement during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the visa. 

Okay that makes sense now the way you said it it sounded like that was the only option available.  Would his extension be for a year?  

[perthperson]

2 minutes ago, Jim7777 said:

Okay that makes sense now the way you said it it sounded like that was the only option available.  Would his extension be for a year?  

 

 

All  extensions of Stay based upon retirement are valid for one year if a the passport is valid for 12 months or more. 

[Jim7777]

16 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Because that is all he needs since he will be applying for an extension of stay based upon retirement during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the visa. 

Actually I should have done the same thing instead of doing all those border hops every 90 days during my first year here.  If you're living here on a non-o getting the year extension is so much easier than getting a whole new visa every year.  For us pensioners this is a really nice place to live.  

[Jim7777]

4 minutes ago, perthperson said:

 

 

All  extensions of Stay based upon retirement are valid for one year if a the passport is valid for 12 months or more. 

Oh yes I'm so sorry extensions of STAY not an extension of the visa lol.  

[thairat]

Well I'm now in US, applying for my non-immigrant O type visa on family grounds, with the intention of extending to retirement status after the initial 3 month visa expires.

 

The Thai webpage

 

http://thaiembdc.org/consular-services/non-immigrant-visas/non-immigrant-visa-category-o/

 

says:

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************

3. A copy of flight confirmation/reservation , showing going from US to Thailand  (The name of the applicant must indicated clearly)

5.For non-US citizen, a copy of permanent resident alien card or a copy of valid US visa with a letter proof of employment ( **we don’t accept pay stubs**)

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************

This is new! I've gotten visa from LA before but, never faced this!  What now?, I dont have residence status in the US only visiting, nor have I booked a flight yet to Thailand.

 

Sure I can book a flight, but what about the proof of employment, and US residence status?

 

You guys are great really appreciate the help!

 

TR

 

 

[ubonjoe]

5 hours ago, thairat said:

5.For non-US citizen, a copy of permanent resident alien card or a copy of valid US visa with a letter proof of employment ( **we don’t accept pay stubs**)

That is only required for those that do not get a visa waiver entry. Just your passport and a entry stamp is enough.

Are you applying at at the embassy?

[thairat]

Thanks Joe, I entered the US on as ESTA, and was planning on sending in my application to the Thai consulate in LA.

 

So I should be good to go with my passport as is?  Do you think I still need to send a flight confirmation with my application?

 

 

Many thanks

TR

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, thairat said:

Thanks Joe, I entered the US on as ESTA, and was planning on sending in my application to the Thai consulate in LA.

 

So I should be good to go with my passport as is?  Do you think I still need to send a flight confirmation with my application?

 

 

Many thanks

TR

The LA consulate shows the flight confirmation as well. See: http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=34

[USPatriot]

I was told the copy of the birth certificate does nothze to be noterized.

I have a copy of my sons birth certificate and an original birth certificate for my daughter