Retirement Visa

[wazza]

For whats its worth now.

Thai consulate in Savanaket in Lao was not issuing any Non Imm O visas for retirement. Even Single Entry to be used for conversion to Retirement....

[MALC]

I am a bit confused. If only a single entry non immigrant o visa, is the visa that allows you to have long stay in Thailand without border runs but instead visits three monthly to Thai immigration office. But in Vientiane they do not issue this visa? Then that means you can only get the single non immigrant single o visa from your home country. Am I correct there?

hi phil u ok send me a pm then i will send u my e mail address,i think i can help you ,with what u want,nothing dodgy don't worry malc

[sometimewoodworker]

I am a bit confused. If only a single entry non immigrant o visa, is the visa that allows you to have long stay in Thailand without border runs but instead visits three monthly to Thai immigration office. But in Vientiane they do not issue this visa? Then that means you can only get the single non immigrant single o visa from your home country. Am I correct there?

No. a Non-O is easy to get, from most embassy's, you are confusing this with the Non-OA

a Non-O gets a 90 day entry (easy to get, from most embassy's [consulates often can not issue it] very few documents) cheapest
a Non-O multi entry, gets a 90 day entry each time ( becoming progressively more difficult to get everywhere) more expensive
a Non-OA (always a multi entry) gets a 365 day entry each time(difficult to impossible get outside your country of residence, requires lots more stuff including a police clearance. Not even so easy in your country of residence) most expensive

The process is.

Be over 50 years old.
Get a Non-O visa (for the purpose of retirement) showing 800,000 baht deposited in a Thai bank to the embassy in Vientiane . (Savanaket can not issue a Non O for this reason)
Alternatively get the same visa in London (different paperwork)

Enter Thailand and you get a 90 day stamp.

Do not touch the account with 800,000 baht in it
After 60 days visit immigration pay 1,900 baht (they will want proof that the money has been in the bank for at least 60 days, the bank will issue a letter) you will need proof of where you are staying
Immigration will extend your permission to stay for 1 year (the remaining time on your current stay is added on)

The next year you do the same (apart from the fact that you must have had the 800,000 baht in the bank for 90 days befor applying)

Rinse and repeat until you either want to stop living in Thailand or just stop living.

Every 90 days you are in Thailand you must go to immigration and report your stay ( your application to extend your permission to stay DOES NOT COUNT AS A REPORT, unless you also go to the report desk and fill in the form there.) You may be able to do a report in the same visit.

You might be able to do the 90 day reporting on line. Some people are successful, for others it does not work.

There are agents who will take care of the bits in Thailand for about 5,000 baht (If you want to take a chance of finding a crooked agent) there are good ones as well.

Regrettably there are also good agents who become bad as well. But TIT. (This Is Thailand)

[sometimewoodworker]

For whats its worth now.

Thai consulate in Savanaket in Lao was not issuing any Non Imm O visas for retirement. Even Single Entry to be used for conversion to Retirement....

FWIW They have not been able to Issue them for a long time.

[lassebasse]

I am a bit confused. If only a single entry non immigrant o visa, is the visa that allows you to have long stay in Thailand without border runs but instead visits three monthly to Thai immigration office. But in Vientiane they do not issue this visa? Then that means you can only get the single non immigrant single o visa from your home country. Am I correct there?

The Visa that allows for a one year stay without border runs is the Non O-A. This visa you can only obtain in your home country.

I could add that if yoy nget the O-A visa with multiple entries you can actually stay for two years before you have to apply for an extension of stay, this is due to the fact that every time you enter Thailand during the validity of your O-A visa you get permission to stay for one year. In short there are NO border runs instead you visit your local immigration office every 90 days.

[sometimewoodworker]

I am a bit confused. If only a single entry non immigrant o visa, is the visa that allows you to have long stay in Thailand without border runs but instead visits three monthly to Thai immigration office. But in Vientiane they do not issue this visa? Then that means you can only get the single non immigrant single o visa from your home country. Am I correct there?

The Visa that allows for a one year stay without border runs is the Non O-A. This visa you can only obtain in your home country.

I could add that if yoy nget the O-A visa with multiple entries you can actually stay for two years before you have to apply for an extension of stay, this is due to the fact that every time you enter Thailand during the validity of your O-A visa you get permission to stay for one year. In short there are NO border runs instead you visit your local immigration office every 90 days.

Two corrections
The Non-OA is issued in your country of residence as well as (usually in) your home country, I am resident in Japan and am a U.K. Citizen so I can get it here or in London.
The Non-OA is A multi entry visa there is no single entry option.

Also the London embassy will only issue a Non-OA to people over 65 with proof of pension. Most other embassy's will issue it to those over 50.

[BobHelm]

Also the London embassy will only issue a Non-OA to people over 65 with proof of pension. Most other embassy's will issue it to those over 50.

That is not what the Thai Embassy in London's web site says about an OA visa..

However for a non 'o' based on retirement the applicant does need to show that they are receipt of a Government pension.
For most people that does require that they are 65 years old, but not all. Armed Service personnel, the police & fire services (plus certain other Government employees) can obtain a Government pension earlier than 65 years old.

[sometimewoodworker]

There have been no reports in the last few years of anyone under 65 years old being given an O-A (long stay) visa from London. There have been no reports of anyone getting an O-A (long stay) visa without it being for the purpose of retirement from London.
There have been quite a few reports of people under 65 being refused an O-A visa from London, their previous employment has not been mentioned.

So it would seem that, as is not uncommon with Thai embassy's, the London embassy is making its own rules.

If you know, or know of, anyone who has got one under the age of 65 it would be a very useful addition.

[BobHelm]

I would be interested where the reports are concerning the London Embassy refusal of OA visas to applicants under 65 years of age, as that is certainly not something I have heard of.

Yes, absolutely, I have heard of people under 65 being refused an 'o' visa based on retirement because they didn't have a Government pension from the London Embassy - infact I was refused one myself in 2014..

While I absolutely agree that Thai embassies & consulates have differing sets of rules I would be surprised if they had a different set of rules to those they outlined on their own web site - that would be a recipe for total confusion.
The screen shot I printed above was from the Thai Embassy London web site. I would be very surprised if those are not the rules that they are applying..

http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/51

[747man]

For whats its worth now.

Thai consulate in Savanaket in Lao was not issuing any Non Imm O visas for retirement. Even Single Entry to be used for conversion to Retirement....

But Are they STILL Issuing Multi Non-Imm " O " Based On Marriage ?? Do you know ??

[sometimewoodworker]

I would be interested where the reports are concerning the London Embassy refusal of OA visas to applicants under 65 years of age, as that is certainly not something I have heard of.

Yes, absolutely, I have heard of people under 65 being refused an 'o' visa based on retirement because they didn't have a Government pension from the London Embassy - infact I was refused one myself in 2014..

While I absolutely agree that Thai embassies & consulates have differing sets of rules I would be surprised if they had a different set of rules to those they outlined on their own web site - that would be a recipe for total confusion.
The screen shot I printed above was from the Thai Embassy London web site. I would be very surprised if those are not the rules that they are applying..

http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/51

There is no mention of the requirement for a government pension that I can see, though I know that it is (or was) a requirement. Have I missed that? I think that it used to listed but can't see it now.
There are also reports of people being given an O-A visa when they are over 65 but have a government pension that is less than the minimum of 65,000 baht equivalent and are not asked to show any savings.

No standard basic government pension provides the required £14,000 per annum income and they have issued O-A visas to people with the base pension and no savings were asked for.

So it's clear that the rules applied appear to be a little different than the ones on the website.

It is certainly possible that they are now applying the rules listed. That would mean that if you were to apply today as you did 2years ago (with the same circumstances i.e. no government pension) you might be given an O-A visa

It would also mean that no one on the basic pension and no savings would get an O-A

[Balthasar G.]

Bob, sometimewoodworker is right. There are several reports on Thaivisa that the London Embassy have stopped issuing them to people without a state pension. Things are changing fast.

[wazza]

For whats its worth now.

Thai consulate in Savanaket in Lao was not issuing any Non Imm O visas for retirement. Even Single Entry to be used for conversion to Retirement....

But Are they STILL Issuing Multi Non-Imm " O " Based On Marriage ?? Do you know ??

Sorry 747 not married so didnt pursue that line.

[sometimewoodworker]

From the authority on visas UbonJoe

The 65 or over rule is only for getting multiple entry non-o visas.

Many people under 65 have got the OA visa at the embassy in London.

O-A visa
Proof of income with a minimum of £1,400.00 per month or £16,500 annually


No mention on the website of a 65 year rule for the multiple entry type O. However it is being applied.

[BobHelm]

I only doubt that people mix up the OA & the 'o' visa Balthasar
I believe that is the main source for confusion over requirements..

There is no 'pension' requirement for the OA visa, only

Non-Immigrant “O-A” (Long Stay) Form
Copy of bank statement or evidence of adequate finance showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate with monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht, (approximately GBP 14,000.00/annum) or a deposti acocount plus a monthly income totaling not less than 800,000 Baht.

For an 'o' visa based on retirement there is only a requirement for

ategory "O"
To visit Thai spouse, children, parents, voluntary job, retirement (with State Pension)

No amount is specified - i.e. you just need to prove a pension of ANY amount, as long as it is a GOVERNMENT pension.

http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/49

I received, via post, a multi-entry non imm 'o' based on retirement from London Embassy in July this year, based on that requirement..

[Zidane]

But Are they STILL Issuing Multi Non-Imm " O " Based On Marriage ?? Do you know ??

It would appear that Savannakhet still are,Alan,provided you have a permanent address in Thailand.
This from there current website......

                      VISA APPLICATION CHARGES
VISA CATEGORY                                    Fee (per entry per person)
VISITOR ( TRANSIT )                               800 Thai Baht
VISITOR ( TOURIST )                               1,000 Thai Baht
NON-IMMIGRANT  ( Single Entry )           2,000 Thai Baht
NON-IMMIGRANT ( Multiple Entries )      5,000 Thai Baht (ONLY for Resident Applicants)
Notes:     Visa Fee must be paind in Thai Baht only.
               Visa Fees are not refundable in any cases.

[sometimewoodworker]

But Are they STILL Issuing Multi Non-Imm " O " Based On Marriage ?? Do you know ??

It would appear that Savannakhet still are,Alan,provided you have a permanent address in Thailand.
This from there current website......

                      VISA APPLICATION CHARGES
VISA CATEGORY                                    Fee (per entry per person)
VISITOR ( TRANSIT )                               800 Thai Baht
VISITOR ( TOURIST )                               1,000 Thai Baht
NON-IMMIGRANT  ( Single Entry )           2,000 Thai Baht
NON-IMMIGRANT ( Multiple Entries )      5,000 Thai Baht (ONLY for Resident Applicants)
Notes:     Visa Fee must be paind in Thai Baht only.
               Visa Fees are not refundable in any cases.

You seem to have missed the fact that the embassy is in Laos, and as such the (ONLY for Resident Applicants) means you must be resident in Laos.

Many Thai embassy's have a ONLY for Resident Applicants policy for some or all visas. None of them ever apply to people who are residents of Thailand.

[747man]

But Are they STILL Issuing Multi Non-Imm " O " Based On Marriage ?? Do you know ??

It would appear that Savannakhet still are,Alan,provided you have a permanent address in Thailand.
This from there current website......

                      VISA APPLICATION CHARGES
VISA CATEGORY                                    Fee (per entry per person)
VISITOR ( TRANSIT )                               800 Thai Baht
VISITOR ( TOURIST )                               1,000 Thai Baht
NON-IMMIGRANT  ( Single Entry )           2,000 Thai Baht
NON-IMMIGRANT ( Multiple Entries )      5,000 Thai Baht (ONLY for Resident Applicants)
Notes:     Visa Fee must be paind in Thai Baht only.
               Visa Fees are not refundable in any cases.

Thanks Andy, I Don't need to renew until next June....But Always handy to get confirmation.....Permanent address in Thailand ?? Ha ! The way the Exchange rate is Going..." Will Begging on the Street Count " ??

[lassebasse]

There have been no reports in the last few years of anyone under 65 years old being given an O-A (long stay) visa from London. There have been no reports of anyone getting an O-A (long stay) visa without it being for the purpose of retirement from London.
There have been quite a few reports of people under 65 being refused an O-A visa from London, their previous employment has not been mentioned.

So it would seem that, as is not uncommon with Thai embassy's, the London embassy is making its own rules.

If you know, or know of, anyone who has got one under the age of 65 it would be a very useful addition.

In Sweden the age limit is 50 years, this is clearly stated on the Thai Embassy web-site.

[Zidane]

But Are they STILL Issuing Multi Non-Imm " O " Based On Marriage ?? Do you know ??

It would appear that Savannakhet still are,Alan,provided you have a permanent address in Thailand.
This from there current website......

                      VISA APPLICATION CHARGES
VISA CATEGORY                                    Fee (per entry per person)
VISITOR ( TRANSIT )                               800 Thai Baht
VISITOR ( TOURIST )                               1,000 Thai Baht
NON-IMMIGRANT  ( Single Entry )           2,000 Thai Baht
NON-IMMIGRANT ( Multiple Entries )      5,000 Thai Baht (ONLY for Resident Applicants)
Notes:     Visa Fee must be paind in Thai Baht only.
               Visa Fees are not refundable in any cases.

You seem to have missed the fact that the embassy is in Laos, and as such the (ONLY for Resident Applicants) means you must be resident in Laos.

Many Thai embassy's have a ONLY for Resident Applicants policy for some or all visas. None of them ever apply to people who are residents of Thailand.

If you are married to a Thai and can show a permanent residence in Thailand you can get a Non Immigrant O Multi Entry visa in Savannakhet.