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Am I correctly planning for my retirement visa in Thailand?

Retirement VisaThailand VisaNon-Immigrant O VisaVisa WaiverHua HinExtension of StayThai Bank RequirementsYellow BookExpat Advice
Jun 9, 2018
6 years ago
Chris *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, looking for you expets to check my retirement visa plan please :-)

I own a house in Hua Hin but don't have my Yellow book yet. I have 800,00 in my Thai bank for more than 3 months, I'm 53.

I am planning to arrive BKK with visa waiver stamp, then apply Non-Immi A-O visa in Hua Hin, then apply for 1 year retirement extention after getting my Yellow book & bank letter.

Am I going down the right path? Any help appreciated.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user plans to enter Thailand on a visa waiver and apply for a Non-Immigrant O visa in Hua Hin followed by a one-year extension based on retirement. Community responses indicate approval of the plan while providing essential clarifications: it's noted that the Non-Immigrant O-A visa cannot be obtained in Thailand, and suggestions are made regarding easing the application process with a visa obtained from the user's home country. Additionally, it is highlighted that the Yellow Book is not a requirement for the retirement extension.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Patricia **********
Following as I will be doing the same thing in November in Hua Hin
6 years ago
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Dianne *****
Patricia Wohlwend the advantage of applying for a multi entry non immigrant OA in your own country before you come to Thailand is that you get two years out of that visa by exiting and re-entering Thailand just before your first year is up. As opposed to applying for a non immigrant O within Thailand and extending this for 12 months on the basis of being aged over 50 ie applying within Thailand will only give you 12 months only
6 years ago
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Patricia **********
@Al ******
 no not really but thanks for your input
6 years ago
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Al *******
Patricia Wohlwend interesting as to why the income requirement for you is higher when using the Consulate vs the Embassy. I have no answer. If you choose to pursue this visa, could you not use the Thai Embassy vs the Consulate?
6 years ago
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Patricia **********
@Al ******
 was looking at the consulate in Geneva
6 years ago
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Al *******
@Patricia *********
 you know what works best for you. In looking at the Thai Embassy Switzerland web site, I don’t see the same info that you referenced.
**********************************************
6 years ago
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Patricia **********
@Al ******
 no, Switzerland and I have more than required just not
*****
/month!
6 years ago
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Al *******
@Patricia *********
 again, if we are talking about the US, not really. And whether you apply in or out of the country, you still must deal with financial requirements. The advantage of the non imm o-a is that funds can remain in your home country.
6 years ago
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Patricia **********
Al Olsen each consulate/embassy ask for different docs and on top of that they want me to have Baht
*****
/month, so would be much easier in Thailand. Anyway I hope...
6 years ago
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Al *******
@Patricia *********
 not really. I have gotten five non imm o-a multi entry visas over the past six years and will be getting another one in the next couple of months. I am in the US and use the LA Thai Consulate via mail. They are pleasant, knowledgeable and fairly quick. Plus when I come to Thailand on my non imm o-a I do not need to deal with immigration except for the 24 hour and 90 day reporting requirements.
6 years ago
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Patricia **********
@Al ******
 more complicated than applying in Thailand
6 years ago
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Al *******
If you are not coming to Thailand until November, you may really want to consider obtaining the non imm o-a multi entry visa prior to leaving your home country.
6 years ago
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Al *******
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Chris *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
That's excellent info & new to me about the 15 day waiting period for Non-Immi 'O' visa. You have probably saved me at least one visa run! Thanks
@Tod ********
 🍻🍻
6 years ago
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Chris *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Will do. Should be in mid July🤞
6 years ago
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Tod *********
@Ch***
 if you can, do post back on the process for the initial 90 day Non-O at Hua Hin Immigration office

Thanx (y)
6 years ago
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Chris *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Thanks again. Will post my sucessful visa completeion 😀
6 years ago
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Chris *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Rack'em up Charlie 🍻🍻
6 years ago
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Charlie *********
Hey
@Chris ********
! Direct flights hua hin to Chiang Mai. Just sayin ;-)
6 years ago
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Tod *********
If you run out of time you could always get a 30 day extension on your 30 day visa exempt entry stamp at the immigration office for 1900baht. Believe me a LOT of people can't get the documentation together fast enough and need to get that extension to apply for the 90 day Non-O visa. ;)
6 years ago
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Tod *********
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Tod *********
A correction to your plan you can't get a Non-Immigrant Type O-A visa INSIDE thailand, you get that from the consulate where your passport is from or where you hold legal residence BEFORE you come here

Other than that your plan is good. Come in on a 30 day visa exempt entry, and then get RIGHT AFTER applying for a 90 day Non-Immigrant Type O <-(note there is no A) visa based on being over 50 (retirement). The reason I say get right on it is most immigration offices require at least 15 days left on your current stamp to process Non-Immigrant visa applications because they go under consideration for 14 days before you go back and get it inked into your passport. It costs 2000baht

Once you get the Non-O visa and 90 day stamp you wait until you have 30 days or less left on that stamp and go back and apply for the yearly extension of stay buy meeting the financial requirements. If you are using banked money the 800K baht (or the equivalent) needs to be in a thai bank account in your name only for 60 days before you apply for your yearly extension. Those extensions are issued on the spot and they cost 1900baht
6 years ago
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Chris *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi
@Tod ********
, I'm now reading that the Immigration offices in Hua Hin do not issue New visas but only deal with extentions & 90 day reports. Any advice on which Immigration office I need to use? Thanks
6 years ago
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Chris *********
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Chris *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
All I've read seems to say that application in Thailand is easier. I'm leaving in a few weeks so have passed the point of local Non-Immi visa application process here in China. So definitely just arriving then following steps to retirement. Should be ok right?. Thanks by the way :-)
6 years ago
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Жанна ************
And cheaper
6 years ago
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Жанна ************
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Tod *********
why not cut a few steps out of the process and just get a 90 day single entry Non-O visa from the thai consulate in your country BEFORE you come here?

OR

Instead of doing the 90 day Non-O to yearly extension here in thailand apply for a year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A visa from the thai consulate in your country before you come here.

That visa does require a police back ground check and a medical certificate BUT you can meet the financial requirements using money in your bank account in your country AND that visa is good for unlimited entries for the validity of the visa itself (a year from the date it's issued) and every entry gets you stamped in for a completely NEW year.
6 years ago
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Tod *********
you don't need a yellow book to get an extension based on retirement. They are not connected at all.
6 years ago
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Tod *********
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