Something new for me today at Immigration upon renewing my Retirement Visa. Since it's been a year since I renewed last time, others may have experienced this already.

The owner of the property where I reside had to sign paperwork today verifying that my Yellow Book is true and correct. A portion of that form was then stapled into the back of my passport (similarly to what they do with the 90 Day Report notice).

In the past, all I had to present was a copy of the applicable pages of the Yellow Book and have the Yellow Book itself readily available.

Just a friendly heads up for the forum.

PS - They still only required one copy of everything. They returned my duplicate copies to me.

had my retirement extension and multi-re-entry permit transferred from my old passport to my new one today.. It took roughly 45 minutes with all the stamping, writing and some computer inputs.. Upon completion he laid the new passport on the counter, showed me my transferred ret extension then said in Thai, "the fee is 500 baht.." I looked at him and said in Thai "your website says its free.." He colored up, stammered, gave a little grin and said in English, "oh, for you.. free!" Then I perused my passport and asked him "where's my multi-re-entry permit?" Ooops.. That took another 10 minutes stamp, stamp, copies, and putting it into the system... Don't be afraid to challenge those fishing for free money..

Just to confirm on this that, I entered Thailand a few weeks back with the OA and was given a 12 month stamp so, as stated previously, it will presumably be OK for 2 years if I leave Thailand just before expiry. Well worth the extra effort and, as someone who regularly leaves LOS, it beats depositing money in a Thai bank a/c

samster wrote: ↑

July 28, 2018, 10:16 am

Just to confirm on this that, I entered Thailand a few weeks back with the OA and was given a 12 month stamp so, as stated previously, it will presumably be OK for 2 years if I leave Thailand just before expiry. Well worth the extra effort and, as someone who regularly leaves LOS, it beats depositing money in a Thai bank a/c

It will as long as you get a re-entry permit after expirey if you need to make a trip out.

sometimewoodworker wrote: ↑

July 28, 2018, 10:39 am

samster wrote: ↑

July 28, 2018, 10:16 am

Just to confirm on this that, I entered Thailand a few weeks back with the OA and was given a 12 month stamp so, as stated previously, it will presumably be OK for 2 years if I leave Thailand just before expiry. Well worth the extra effort and, as someone who regularly leaves LOS, it beats depositing money in a Thai bank a/c

It will as long as you get a re-entry permit after expirey if you need to make a trip out.

Do you mean get a re-entry permit BEFORE expiry?

arjay wrote: ↑

July 28, 2018, 2:54 pm

sometimewoodworker wrote: ↑

July 28, 2018, 10:39 am

samster wrote: ↑

July 28, 2018, 10:16 am

Just to confirm on this that, I entered Thailand a few weeks back with the OA and was given a 12 month stamp so, as stated previously, it will presumably be OK for 2 years if I leave Thailand just before expiry. Well worth the extra effort and, as someone who regularly leaves LOS, it beats depositing money in a Thai bank a/c

It will as long as you get a re-entry permit after expirey if you need to make a trip out.

Do you mean get a re-entry permit BEFORE expiry?

No. After the visa expires, and while on the last 1 year permission to stay.

Aah, I think I understand.

So, if my visa expires on 30/6/19 and I re-enter on 29/6/19, I will get a 1 year stamp to 29/6/20. If I then leave Thailand on, say 31/8/19, I will need a re-entry permit when returning? Presumably the stamp will still be valid though so I don't need to extend or renew until 29/6/20 ?

samster wrote: ↑

July 29, 2018, 9:20 am

Aah, I think I understand.

So, if my visa expires on 30/6/19 and I re-enter on 29/6/19, I will get a 1 year stamp to 29/6/20. If I then leave Thailand on, say 31/8/19, I will need a re-entry permit when returning? Presumably the stamp will still be valid though so I don't need to extend or renew until 29/6/20 ?

Almost correct, however you must get the re-entry permit before you leave, you can't get one coming in. Some international airports have a desk where you can get the permit. When coming in write the re-entry permit number in the space for visa number.

You will get a new stamp with the 29/6/20 date on it

If you don't think you will be making more than 4 trips and have plenty of space in your passport then single re-entry permits are cheaper 1,000 Baht each.

It could be a good idea to get the re-entry permit from immigration in Udon soon after your last entry just in case something comes up suddenly.

90 day reporting is completely separate and required for anyone staying in Thailand more than 90 days and the count starts again every time you enter Thailand

Thanks. I appreciate the clarification

For those who may be interested

Have inquired at the local Thai Embassy as to what I need to bring/show them for my application for a Thai Non-immigrant “O-A” visa.

I realize some that some might say, that some of these documents are not required, however this is what the Thai Embassy where I work, has asked me to bring, for my Thai Non-immigrant “O-A” visa (1 year Multi Entry). This is in the Middle East.

1.Original Passport.
2.Copy of Original Passport (signed by Applicant).
3.Copy of Work/Residence Permit (both sides and must have 3 months validity left on it), signed by Applicant.
4. 3 x Completed Visa Forms with Photo attached to each. (Must be downloaded and typed from Thai Embassy website).
5.Copy of Thai Condo Title showing your name as Owner (if you have one).
6.Copy of Thai Condo Blue Book or Yellow Book.
7.Recent copy of Electricity Account for Thai Condo in your name. Its OK if in Thai.
8.Copy of my previous 6 months of Bank Statements from Bank in current Country of Residence. Must be signed and stamped by Bank. Need to get these direct from Branch, cannot download copies from the internet.
9.Copy of Thai Bank Account. Doesn’t have to have TB 800k in it, if your current Country of Residence Bank Account shows more than the TB 800K.
10.Salary letter from Employer, addressed to Royal Thai Embassy in Country of Residence.
11.Copy of CV is to be attached to Employer Salary letter.
12.Current Police Clearance Certificate from Country of Residence. Must be attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the Country of Residence.
13.Original copy of Medical Certificate from recognized Medical Facility in Country of Residence.
14.Copy of Airline Booking in and out of Thailand.

So, will start the process of collating it together, for early next year

pipoz4444

pipoz4444 wrote: ↑

October 20, 2018, 11:45 am

For those who may be interested

Have inquired at the local Thai Embassy as to what I need to bring/show them for my application for a Thai Non-immigrant “O-A” visa.

pipoz4444

Apart from 14) it looks like a usual set of requirements.

It is reasonably onerous and that is why, unless you really, really, really want or need an OA most people get a regular Non-O if it's available or come in on a visa exempt or tourist visa then hop over to Laos for a Non-O and then get a 1 year extension of stay in Udon.

If you choose the visa exempt (I did) you can book a flight to Vientiane within the 30 days and get one way tickets for both routes (again I did)

Far less paper work that way.

sometimewoodworker wrote: ↑

October 20, 2018, 2:18 pm

pipoz4444 wrote: ↑

October 20, 2018, 11:45 am

For those who may be interested

Have inquired at the local Thai Embassy as to what I need to bring/show them for my application for a Thai Non-immigrant “O-A” visa.

pipoz4444

Apart from 14) it looks like a usual set of requirements.

It is reasonably onerous and that is why, unless you really, really, really want or need an OA most people get a regular Non-O if it's available or come in on a visa exempt or tourist visa then hop over to Laos for a Non-O and then get a 1 year extension of stay in Udon.

If you choose the visa exempt (I did) you can book a flight to Vientiane within the 30 days and get one way tickets for both routes (again I did)

Far less paper work that way.

I thought 14 was a must. Its just a Booking, not an actual Ticket. So one can book, print and then cancel after getting the Visa

I thought the Non O were for Married or ........?

Given as I am not married, I also wanted to get a Multiple Entry, as I may come back to here and do a few 2 - 3 month work stints, after I have had a few months break from here, that is if the offer me enough to make it worth my while.

pipoz

non immigrant OA visa you can only get in your country of origin not in Los ....
otherwise it will be the normal non immigrant O....

kopkei wrote: ↑

October 20, 2018, 4:38 pm

non immigrant OA visa you can only get in your country of origin not in Los ....
otherwise it will be the normal non immigrant O....

Thanks and yes I am applying for my Non Immigrant O-A Visa in my "Temporary Country of Origin" . I forgot to mention it will cost me TB 6,800 to apply for my O-A Visa at the Thai Embassy here

At a point in time, six to nine months after I arrive in Thailand, I presume that I will then need to convert my O-A to a Retirement type Visa

pipoz4444

i do not know exactly if things have changed? , normally non immigrant OA visa allowed you to stay up to +2years in los ,
you had to apply in your home country (country of residence ) and it allowed you a year stay in los and when you go over the border (border run ) on fe day 364 you would get an extra year extension or permission of stay or what ever you want to call it ,without showing again any proof of money/income ...i have several friends whom have done it this way (before)..

The O-A visa is a non-immigrant visa based on retirement. No need to convert it after you arrive here.

pipoz4444 wrote: ↑

October 20, 2018, 2:43 pm

I thought 14 was a must. Its just a Booking, not an actual Ticket. So one can book, print and then cancel after getting the Visa

I thought the Non O were for Married or ........?

Given as I am not married, I also wanted to get a Multiple Entry, as I may come back to here and do a few 2 - 3 month work stints, after I have had a few months break from here, that is if the offer me enough to make it worth my while.

pipoz

As to 14) each embassy has thier own rules, some require tickets, some bookings, some nothing.
They also have their own rules as to who may apply for a Non O, Non O multiple entry and Non OA


As you are looking at getting an OA I realised that you weren't married (also the jungle drums would have told SWMBO that your status had changed ) and that you must be over 50.

The only disadvantage to the "extension of stay with multiple reentry permit" route is that you would need to be in Thailand on its anniversary to renew it. It doesn't prevent you spending as much time out of the country as you like or working in another country.

The only point is that your country of residence may not offer the single entry for you, so that is when entering visa exempt and hopping over to Vientiane comes in and you are committed to staying in Thailand for 60 days after entering with a Non-O visa before you can apply for the extension.

pipoz4444 wrote: ↑

October 20, 2018, 6:28 pm

kopkei wrote: ↑

October 20, 2018, 4:38 pm

non immigrant OA visa you can only get in your country of origin not in Los ....
otherwise it will be the normal non immigrant O....

Thanks and yes I am applying for my Non Immigrant O-A Visa in my "Temporary Country of Origin" . I forgot to mention it will cost me TB 6,800 to apply for my O-A Visa at the Thai Embassy here

At a point in time, six to nine months after I arrive in Thailand, I presume that I will then need to convert my O-A to a Retirement type Visa

pipoz4444

No if you get an OA then with an entry just before the visa expires you get another 1 year that needs a reentry permit to maintain.

Also you can't convert the O-A you can only extend a permission to stay and you can only do that when there's less than 30 days left. And that is not a Visa

Visas only issued at embassy's or consulates never in Thailand (except in one case when it is immediately used)
Extensions of stay only ever issued at immigration offices.
Permision to stay virtually always (there is one exception that is different) issued only at boarders

The rules are different for visas and extensions of stay and that difference will bite you if you don't pay attention.

Thanks STWK

So, assuming I start on an Non Immigrant O-A in the not too distant future, do I just extend it indefinitely for years to come, staying on that O-A until I get to the Crematorium

Or is there a point in time or an age limit, in the future, where I change over from that O-A to a Retirement Visa

pipoz4444

pipoz4444 wrote: ↑

October 21, 2018, 4:46 pm

Thanks STWK

So, assuming I start on an Non Immigrant O-A in the not too distant future, do I just extend it indefinitely for years to come, staying on that O-A until I get to the Crematorium

Or is there a point in time or an age limit, in the future, where I change over from that O-A to a Retirement Visa

pipoz4444

Basically that's exactly what you do. (However the O-A will only last for the first year after that you have no visa.)

During the first year you come and go as you please.

Just before the VISA finishes you go out and come back which gives a second year during the second year you then MUST have a reentry permit if you want to exit and return.

30 days or less before the second year permission to stay expires you go to immigration and extend your permission to stay for another year. After that rinse and repeate until you pop your clogs.

FWIW there is no Retirement Visa. The Visa "Non O-A" (Long Stay) Is the one often called a Retirement Visa, however there is also the Non O which can be issued to people over 50 and can be called a Retirement Visa, and last and most confusingly the "extension of stay for the purpose of retirement " which again is often called a Retirement Visa but is not a visa.