One year multiple entry visa.

by **gudtymchuk** » January 9, 2010, 2:45 am

Hello all. Hope someone can give me some advice. I will be making a 2 week trip to Udon next month and will possibly be retiring there within the next 3 to 8 months. My question is, once I am back and have decided to make the move can I apply at a Thai consulate here in the US for a one year multiple entry visa and then convert the one year visa to a retirement visa? (I am 58 and can meet the 65,000BHT requirement? I checked with an online Thai lawyers website and they want $495US plus all fees to process the one year multiple entry visa application. I would prefer to do the visa myself or is it easier to pay the $495 and have the visa processed for me. It is my understanding that a one year multiple entry visa must be obtained from my country of origin and cannot be obtained when I am in Thailand on a 30 passport stay. Appreciate any help.

by **rick** » January 9, 2010, 5:21 am

Assuming the same as UK (which is likely) you can get a one year multi-entry visa, or single entry 90 day visa, by post from the Thai embassy or a consulate. Not usually any problems. Do not think you convert it when you arrive but instead apply in reasonable time before it expires for your retirement visa/extension what ever you call it. Their is lots on this on other queries under the Visa area; but sure someone will give you the relevant bits. But while the 3 month visas are easy to get, in home country, the 12 month retirement visa does require some hoop jumping other than just having the money, check that out first.

by **nkstan** » January 9, 2010, 7:47 am

gudtymchuk wrote:Hello all. Hope someone can give me some advice. I will be making a 2 week trip to Udon next month and will possibly be retiring there within the next 3 to 8 months. My question is, once I am back and have decided to make the move can I apply at a Thai consulate here in the US for a one year multiple entry visa and then convert the one year visa to a retirement visa? (I am 58 and can meet the 65,000BHT requirement? I checked with an online Thai lawyers website and they want $495US plus all fees to process the one year multiple entry visa application. I would prefer to do the visa myself or is it easier to pay the $495 and have the visa processed for me. It is my understanding that a one year multiple entry visa must be obtained from my country of origin and cannot be obtained when I am in Thailand on a 30 passport stay. Appreciate any help.

When I moved to Thailand,I went to the Thai Consulate In Los Angeles to get a 1 year visa.The woman working there suggested my best and fastest option was to take a 60 day ''Tourist''visa and then apply in Bangkok for the 1 year visa based on retirement!

That is what I did and it worked out great!

I am not sure,but I believe at this moment ,''Tourist'' visas a free!

by **gudtymchuk** » January 9, 2010, 7:50 am

When I read about the one year multi entry visa one of the requirements is a letter from a company or other institution explaining the circumstances why a one year visa being requested. How do I find an agency to provide a letter?

by **papaguido** » January 9, 2010, 8:01 am

Whatever you do don't go through an agency save your money and do it yourself, it ain't rocket science. Check on here or attend one of the night market get-togethers for assistance.

If you're planning to settle here and are seeking a 1 year extension on your Imm "OA" visa don't waste your money on a multi entry visa, go for a single entry (good for 3mos) and then apply for a one year extension.

3 month validity, single entry non-immigrant visa: pre-obtained at a Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate and will result in the holder obtaining a 90 day 'permission to stay' stamp. This visa can be extended up to one year for specific reasons and with the required documentation (see 12 month extensions).

12 month validity, multi entry non-immigrant visa: pre-obtained at a Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate (usually) in your home country and will result in the holder obtaining a 90 day 'permission to stay' stamp upon entry. Each time the holder enters the Kingdom whilst the visa is valid, he/she will obtain a further 90 day 'permission to stay stamp'. Such visas can be issued for students/work/family etc. but normally require supporting documentation. This visa can also be extended up to one year for specific reasons and with the required documentation (see 12 month extensions).

Note: a 12 month validity, multi entry non-immigrant visa may also be obtained from some Royal Thai embassies outside your home country if you can provide evidence of your marriage to a Thai citizen (marriage certificate).

12 month extension to a non-immigrant visa: If you are holding a non-immigrant visa, you have the option of extending this by 12 months based on either retirement (50 years old or over) or support to a Thai citizen, work, education and such. This may only be accomplished at an immigration office inside the Kingdom and certain criteria have to be met. Such extensions consist of a stamp in your passport detailing “issue date” and “permitted to stay until” date.

Note 1: If you are residing in the Kingdom under an extension to a non-immigrant visa and wish to leave the Kingdom at any time, then you will need to obtain a “re-entry permit” to avoid losing the extension and the subsequent need to re-apply (i.e. applying for a new non-immigrant visa and then extension of stay).

Note 2: If you are residing in the Kingdom under an extension to a non-immigrant visa it is a legal requirement that the holder reports current address to an immigration office using form TM.47 (in person or by registered mail) every 90 days. Re-entering the Kingdom is the equivalent of a 90 day report.

Also, don't rely on forum(s) for your information, you may get conflicting advise, here are a couple links to research.

http://www.thai-la.net/visa/visa-non-im-oa.htm

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/post-a70477-.html

*if haven't already done so, join thaivisa and look up Order of the Royal Thai Police Headquarters
No.777/2551, scroll down to 2.22 of the order (you'll find it under Thai Visa sub-forum, "Useful Immigration Information & Visa Descriptions, Laws, addresses, download forms, Etc" thread).

Good luck...

by **gudtymchuk** » January 9, 2010, 8:05 am

Thanks papaguido. I appreciate the info. Where is the night market located and when are the get togethers? I will be there for several days mid Feb.

by **papaguido** » January 9, 2010, 8:07 am

gudtymchuk wrote:When I read about the one year multi entry visa one of the requirements is a letter from a company or other institution explaining the circumstances why a one year visa being requested. How do I find an agency to provide a letter?

Where are you getting this information from?

You don't require a muti-entry visa if you're planning to make the move and retire here, unless you're planning to test the waters or do some traveling, then a multi O-A visa will benefit it you.

by **papaguido** » January 9, 2010, 8:08 am

gudtymchuk wrote:Thanks papaguido. I appreciate the info. Where is the night market located and when are the get togethers? I will be there for several days mid Feb.

look here:

night-market-fun-saturday-jan-9th-t16297.html

by **Ray.Charles** » January 9, 2010, 8:14 am

I received that visa (O-A longterm, 50+, and B800,000+) twice, in 2008 and 2009, from the NYC consulate, each time within a week of mailing. Downloaded the forms and instructions from the website of the NYC consulate. Had a minor hassle of having a doctor fill in a medical certificate form, and needed a trip to the town police for a certificate that I did not have a criminal record there. I just sent them copies of financial statements, not bothering to have them notarized.

by **jackspratt** » January 9, 2010, 8:34 am

One of the advantages of an O-A visa is that it can effectively give you 2 years in Thailand.

In Ray's case above, assuming his 2008 visa was a 12 month one, just before the expiry he could have done a border run and re-entry, and gained a further 12 month permission to stay - thereby avoiding the need for the 2009 visa.

by **gudtymchuk** » January 9, 2010, 10:12 am

Thanks to everyone for all your help. I will try to make a night market get-together in Feb. When I make the permanent move upon retirement I will take the 60 day tourist visa advice and then convert it to a retirement O-A.

by **jackspratt** » January 9, 2010, 10:43 am

You can convert a tourist visa to an O visa in Thailand, and then get an extension based on retirement (with the required money in a bank etc etc).

O-A visas are only issued overseas (generally in your home country).

by **Ray.Charles** » January 9, 2010, 12:02 pm

I can add a little more to Jackspratt’s. There are 2 different one year windows, say “A” and “B”.
Window “A” is that you can enter Thailand any number of times within one year of the date when the visa was issued. So if the visa was issued on February 1, 2008, you could have entered Thailand until January 31, 2009, any number of times.
Window “B” is that you can stay up to one year from the date of entry into Thailand. So if you entered Thailand on May 1, 2008, you could have stayed until April 30, 2009. You could have also extended this stay by leaving Thailand and getting anther one year window “B” stamp on your return, but the return had to be within window “A”, that is before January 31, 2009.
The reason that I had to get a new visa in 2009 was that although I was within the window “B”, I could not get back to Thailand within the window “A”.
At least that is how I think it works, or at least that is how I explained to the agent at the airport.

A couple of further notes quoting from the website of the NYC consulate:
“Having the nationality of or the residence in the country where his/her application is submitted”
That validates jackspratt’s, that is you have to apply where you live for the O-A.
Fees
Tourist Visa (Maximum 2 Entries) exemption from June 25, 2009 to March 4, 2010
Non-Immigrant Visa
Single entry $65 USD
1 Year Multiple entry $175 USD
Non-Immigrant Type O-A "Long Stay" Visa $175 USD (For 1 Year Multiple entry)

by **thalenoi** » January 11, 2010, 9:33 am

gudtymchuk wrote:Thanks to everyone for all your help. I will try to make a night market get-together in Feb. When I make the permanent move upon retirement I will take the 60 day tourist visa advice and then convert it to a retirement O-A.

Better to get a 3 month valid non O from your home country, piece of cake, and get retirement extension at you local Thai immigration office during the last 30 days of your visa, showing 800K baht in the bank for 2 months or showing a certified letter of income from your embassy 65k or more, no need for money in the bank. I got my retirement extension at Udon Thani immigration last week based on an embassy certified income letter, no bank balance was asked.

Even better is a one year multiple non OA from your home county, but is more difficult to get (you need police clearance report and show money in your home country bank and not all embassies are willing to go through the process (too much work for them). As mentioned earlier, with a non OA multiple entries you can get two years by leaving and re-entering the kingdom just before the permit expires.

And you can not convert to an OA in Thailand, you can only get extension of stay for retirement on a non O in Thailand.

by **jackspratt** » January 11, 2010, 9:43 am

At the end of the (possible) 2 years on an O-A, you can then switch in Thailand to 12 month extensions (based on retirement etc), with the requisite money in the bank/monthly income/combination.

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