Can I Change from O-A Visa to O Visa Without Leaving Thailand?

Nov 29, 2019

5 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Barry Tewes  posted in an unrelated thread that they wanted to change an O-A visa to an O visa without leaving the country. Sadly that is not possible.. :( 

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TLDR : Answer Summary

It is not possible to change an O-A visa to an O visa while remaining in Thailand. A foreign national must exit the country and re-enter on a 30-day visa exempt entry to change from an O-A visa to an O visa, as confirmed by high-ranking immigration officials. While different officers may provide varying guidance, the general rule is to 'break the chain' of extensions by leaving the country.

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Bim *******

If you have been in the country a while isn't there a slim change they will give you a 30 day exempt? Sounds risky.

5 years ago

Tod *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

okay, let's dial back the paranoia a notch or two. We are talking about someone being IN the country on an O-A visa OR an extension from an O-A visa not someone who is living here on 30 day visa exempt, tourist visas and 30 day extensions. You're not gonna have ANY problem bouncing out and back.

5 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Gregorio ********

When exiting Thailand and then re-entering to "break the OA visa/extension chain" on a 30-day Visa Exempt stamp, are airport immigration officers requiring proof of onward travel within the 30-day period (i.e., airline ticket)?

There are reports that airlines have denied boarding a flight to Thailand if the person is not traveling on a visa and does not have proof of onward travel within the 30-day permission to stay (round trip ticket or ticket to another destination outside Thailand).

5 years ago

Scott **************

bus buddy can give you a receipt/ticket for travel by bus from Bangkok to Seam Reap for around $20, and they are 80% refundable. (Just another option, Leaving doesn't have to be by air)

and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

5 years ago

Tod *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

they can require the 3 proof ofs when stamping in to the country by air so be prepared.

I would say just bounce out and back in by LAND, that's the easiest and least troublesome usually

5 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Now I freely admit that different offices and indeed different officers IN those offices can give different answers, BUT those people I spoke to yesterday were the highest ranking officers in those sections and they were adamant it can't be done in country.

If anyone does manage to do it, please post your O-A visa, your O-A entry stamp, your O-A extension AND your new O visa from the immigration office because I'd sure like to see the stamps :)

Good Luck (y)

5 years ago

Tod *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I was at the immigration office yesterday and spoke at length with the section head who is in charge of the retirement, marriage, raising kids, etc visa extensions AND the section head who runs the area that issue of Non-Immigrant visas inside the country. BOTH said in no uncertain terms there is no way to go from an existing O-A visa OR a yearly extension from and O-A to an O visa inside the country without exiting and re-entering ONCE <- to "break the chain" of extensions that link back to the O-A visa.

I was able to get confirmation that IF you were asked for insurance when you tried to stamp in on an O-A visa or an extension from an O-A but didn't have it and got a 30 day visa exempt entry you CAN use that entry to immediately go to the immigration office and apply for a 90 day Non-O visa.

BUT right now, straight from the horses' mouths the way I outline it is the only way it can be done..

5 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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Can I switch from a Non-OA extension to a Non-O visa by exiting and re-entering Thailand on a 30-day visa exemption?

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