Can U.S. citizens enter Thailand on a tourist visa and convert to a NON-O retirement visa later?

Dec 8, 2021
3 years ago
Sara *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Need advice please, we are United States citizens.

Myself (49), my husband (51), and my mother (86) would like to eventually obtain the non immigration O retirement visa while in Thailand, which seems to be the easiest to do.

I won't turn 50 until June. I'm trying to find a way to move to Phuket earlier than July.

Can all 3 of us enter Thailand using a tourist visa, extend stay until I turn 50 IN THAILAND, then convert to the O retirement visa while in Thailand?

Also, if this is our plan, will having a one way plane ticket be an issue flying out of the US or flying into Thailand (using just a regular tourist visa)? I don't want to book three return tickets only to throw them away. We don't plan on coming back to the US for at least 1 year. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A family of three U.S. citizens, including an 86-year-old, is considering entry to Thailand on a tourist visa to later convert to a NON-O retirement visa. The wife turns 50 in June and seeks to move to Thailand before that. They are inquiring if they can enter Thailand on a tourist visa, extend it, and subsequently apply for the retirement visa. Additionally, they ask about potential issues with one-way tickets during their flight and suggestions for alternative onward travel arrangements.
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Benjamin ******
To prevent further bad / outdated information from being posted, I’m closing comments.
@Sara ************
, if you want commenting reopen, please send an admin/mod a message.

Thank you.
Scott ******
If you have to Leave Thailand, it doesn't have to be a Flight to the USA. (A Bus Ticket to Cambodia, or Laos, or Malaysia, solves the issue. usually less than $20.00)
Benjamin ******
@Scott *****
sadly, the land borders are closed.
Sara *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you everyone!!! I really appreciate all the help you've given. I'm trying to get as many ducks lined up as possible. Thank you for your response!
Doug ******
On the ticket issue: Compare the prices of RT versus one way. It may be cheaper for you to buy a RT ticket and throw away the return. Getting a tourist visa for Thailand in the US does require proof of return or onward travel. If you don't have a RT ticket then I suggest booking an onward ticket that you can refund. In my case I've done that using frequent flyer miles. Costs me nothing but miles to book and they get refunded when I eventually cancel the ticket after arriving in Thailand.
Chris *******
@Sara ************
Todd knows exactly what he is talking about. He was instrumental for us.

As far as flights go, we did this.

Purchased 1 way flight in.

Purchased a throw away ticket to Singapore as our flight out. It was about 35 US dollars a flight.

We were never asked for it, not worth chancing it.

Also at 86 health insurance may be not available or super costly.
Sara *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ******
ok thx!

Yes, I'm aware her health insurance will be super costly...I can't leave her in the US 🤷‍♀️. I'm shopping it now...
Tod *********
@Sara ************
you'll only need to get the 50K USD covid policy for the amount of time you'll get stamped in on (so 60 days if you're comin' in on a tourist visa stamps).
Andy *******
Airlines, and some times immigration will ask to see a ticket out if Thailand when traveling on a tourist visa BUT it doesn't have to be a return to your home country, can be an onward ticket to Singapore, $60, for instance. Your plan sounds good and I think (someone will correct me if wrong) that you can trail on his retirement visa (as the spouse) until you turn 50.
Ellie *******
Airline usually doesn't ask for an outbound ticket if you have a legit visa. But you may need one for a visa itself and Thai Pass.
Brandon ************
@Andy *********
The problem is you cannot get a trailing spouse visa inside Thailand. Once her husband got the visa she would have to leave and apply for the trailing spouse visa and then could return on it. And then I believe you can't renew it once you are eligible for your own so it would only work for that first year until she turns 50.
Andy *******
@Brandon ***********
so Tod's explanation and process will probably be the best
Tod *********
coming in on a single entry tourist visa will give you 60 days stamped in when you arrive and you can extend that for 30 more days at the immigration office here.

So whether you will have enough time left on your stamps once you turn 50 to able to apply for the 90 day Non-O visa based on retirement is dependent on when you arrive here. You need a minimum of 15 days left on your stamps to apply for in country Non-O visas at the immigration office.

I'd say come here on tourist visas, get the bank accounts open (you each will need to have a thai bank account in your name only and transfer 800K baht into it from abroad) and your husband and mother apply for the Non-O's as soon as they can and you apply as soon as you can (you will have to turn 50 before you can apply for one)

That you don't want to book return tickets doesn't mean you don't have to do it and whether you will need proof of onward travel comin' in on a tourist visa is between you the consulate you get the tourist visas from and the people who approve the Thai Pass <- which lets you IN to the country.
Rampi ********
@Tod ********
Opened bank account for friends on Tourist visas, coming from Singapore. Had no problem in Kasikorn Bank. Just tell them that you will be getting in some expense money from your country overseas soon.
Sara *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
thank you! Yes I should have clarified don't want to buy full return tickets (back to the US) and if there was instead a way around it that was cost effective. 👍
Tod *********
@Sara ************
"throw away" onward travel to Singapore or some other nearby destination that's open is the way to go
Tod *********
@Michael *****
again, the requirements to open a bank account in thailand are set by that bank branch's manager, NOT the head office SO you will find requirements all over the place. My advice is get here and start pounding the pavement and hitting banks as soon as you can, you will find one, it will just take you a while.

Google "open a bank account in thailand" and you'll get tons of good advice
Michael ******
@Tod ********
from memory I had to supply a certificate of residence….?

But the memory is fuzzy…
Michael ******
@Tod ********
yes ok…I’ve got my own accounts for a number of years…been on the O RETIREMENT there before but it expired while I was a COVID exile…I was just asking for the person who posted this post.
Tod *********
@Michael *****
that is between you and the bank you deal with.

As far as I know there is NO change in the banking law as far as foreigners being able to open bank accounts in thailand.

Google has hundreds (maybe thousands) of hits on how to do it and internet groups and forums are filled with posts of people who have done it.

It usually comes down to you not trying enough banks (it can take anywhere from 4 to 6 different banks to try before you hit one that will let you do it)
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