BobHelm wrote: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

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.

747man wrote:

wazza wrote: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.

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.

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..

747man wrote: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.

Zidane wrote:

747man wrote: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.

Zidane wrote:

747man wrote: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 " ??

sometimewoodworker wrote: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.

sometimewoodworker wrote:

Zidane wrote:

747man wrote: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.

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

For both the OA & the 'o' for reason of retirement the London Thai Embassy paperwork also mentions that the applicant must be over 50 years old.
However for the 'o' retirement visa there is also a necessity for the applicant to prove that he is in receipt of a State pension.
For the vast majority of UK citizens (but NOT all) this means that they must actually be over 65 years old in order to obtain a non Imm 'o' visa in the UK based on retirement.

The pension restriction does NOT apply to an applicant of a OA visa.

I have still seen absolutely no evidence to suggest that the Thai London Embassy are restricting the issue of an OA to applicants over 65 years of age...

Zidane wrote: 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.

It is well known that you can get a multiple entry non-o visa based upon marriage in Savannakhet you do not have to show any kind of residence information for yourself just your wife (a copy, signed and dated copies of your wife's house book registry and ID card,) you also do not need proof of money for that one, however this thread is specificaly addressing the Non-O for retirement.

So although your statement is mostly true it is also totaly irrelevant.

Yes,the thread is for a visa based on Retirement but the question was asked below and I was merely responding to it out of courtesy.

747man wrote:

wazza wrote: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 wrote:"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."

Although,the wording on the website is ambiguous its the Thai consulate referring to residents in Thailand.

Zidane wrote:Yes,the thread is for a visa based on Retirement but the question was asked below and I was merely responding to it out of courtesy.

747man wrote:

wazza wrote: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 wrote:"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."

Although,the wording on the website is ambiguous its the Thai consulate referring to residents in Thailand.

The website does not seem to be ambiguous at all.
If you are resident in Thailand you DO NOT need a visa.

Consulates and embassy's issues visas to those who wish to visit Thailand. They also assist Thai nationals in the country's they are in.
The embassy is in Laos and as such the statement Resident Applicants means those who are resident in Laos it has nothing to do with people who are residents of Thailand who deal with the immigration offices in Thailand.

If you looked rather than assuming you would and will find you have been providing incorrect information. If you are not a permanent resident of the PDR you can not get a multiple entry Non immigrant visa for retirement
The consulate in Savanaket does not issue them it is only the embassy in Vientiane.
The consulate in Savanaket will issue "marriage visas" ( the terminology is incorrect but it will do for now as this thread is not about them)

Popped into Udon Immigration today to apply for 1 year extension to my retirement visa as existing visa expires in 3 weeks.
I departed 30 minutes later with new 1 year extension and multiple entry permit.
Total paid 4,800.
No extras requested.

Excellent friendly and professional service.
Top marks.

so... no more "Under Consideration" for 30 days?

Hunter58 wrote:Popped into Udon Immigration today to apply for 1 year extension to my retirement visa as existing visa expires in 3 weeks.
I departed 30 minutes later with new 1 year extension and multiple entry permit.
Total paid 4,800.
No extras requested.

Excellent friendly and professional service.
Top marks.

How do you explain the 4 800 baht ?
I thought that the 1 year extention was 1 900 B and the multiple re-entry 3 800 B
Thanks.

Monk
you are correct.
I got the money mixed up as my wife paid them.
The point I was trying to highlight was that no additional fees were requested and that service was excellent.

Interesting refusal by immigration when I renewed my retirement visa yesterday, I was doing it with 800k in the bank, they refused initially as bank book was not updated to yesterdays date despite letter from the bank and book stating the same amounts, I had asked when at the bank for the book to be updated.
So, went back to the bank, turns out the machine (SCB) will only update the book when there has been a transaction! the only way around it was to withdraw money, then update the book and get a new letter stating the "new" amount.
No further problems when I returned though it did take near a couple of hours to get visa, multi entry and as I also had a new passport transfer old visa's over.

The same happened to me in December last year I had to withdraw 100 baht then update my book the letter was two days old that was ok.