Answered7 years ago

Can I apply for a Non Immigrant O Visa while in Thailand on a tourist visa?

Non-O Visa Visa Extension Tourist Visa

Aidan *******

asked Nov 27, 2019

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Sorry to go on a bit folks. If I come to Thailand on 30 tourist visa, extend to 90 days. Is it feasible during this time to apply for a Non Imm O Visa for 12 months and then extend that annually? Many thanks in anticipation. Aidan

Answer summary

The user inquired about the feasibility of applying for a Non Immigrant O Visa for 12 months while initially entering Thailand on a tourist visa. Comments clarified that a 30-day visa exempt entry cannot be extended to 90 days and that it's more efficient to apply for a Non O Visa directly, especially for those over 50. There are discussions on the requirements and strategies for obtaining bank accounts and handling the visa application process.

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Zach *******

About the bank account..

Some banks will not let u open account with a tourist visa. Phuket branches no. Chiang Mai yes.. 🤔

7 years ago

Tod *********

you didn't go to enough bank branches in Phuket :/ There is nothing IN banking law that states you can't open a bank account on a 30 day visa exempt entry or a 60 day tourist visa entry. It's decided by the branch manager. if one says no, walk to another one down the street. I bet dollars to durian you WILL find a bank that will allow you to open an account. You just have to be persistent

7 years ago

Robert *******

i would say forget about the tourist visa. Apply for the Single Entry Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age in the UK, come to Thailand get 90 days of stay. Get your money over into a Thai bank as soon as possible and 60 days later apply for the 1 year Extension of Stay

7 years ago

Robert *******

Same problems as to get a Tourist Visa, you have to put in some information, send copies in small jpeg format. And not start over and over again if it goes wrong, but go back to you application or delete and start from scratch

7 years ago

Tod *********

how easy is it to get that 90 day Non-O based on being over 50 from the thai consulate in the UK? That I don't know..

7 years ago

Robert *******

no problems at all. Only thing is that I hope you bought a Single Entry Tourist Visa before you made your way into Thailand and then you get 60 days in stead of 30 days, you can apply for Extension of Stay once for 30 days and while on this visa you can apply to convert to a Non Immigrant Visa as long as you visit an Immigration Office who has the clearance to do this and you meet all the requirements

7 years ago

Robert *******

Yes, you need at least 21 days left on your Admitted to Stay

7 years ago

Aidan *******

@Robert ******

Do you know if Chiang Mai has the clearance to do this?

7 years ago

Tod *********

wise words (y) especially seeing as they're gonna set up camp in Chiang Mai and would need at least 21 days left on their current entry stamp.

A single entry tourist visa is definitely the way to go

7 years ago

Tod *********

How about stating where you are gonna be inside thailand AND what you wold be getting a Non-O visa/extension for ?

7 years ago

Tod *********

First there is no 30 day tourist visa, that'd be a 30 day visa exempt entry, second you can't extend that to 90 days, you can get a 30 day extension on it ONCE..

7 years ago

Aidan *******

@Tod ********

thanks I am in UK and planning to retire in Chiang Mai

7 years ago