Can we apply for a Non-Immigrant OA visa directly from the USA or do we need an O visa first?

Non-Immigrant OA Visa Non-Immigrant O Visa Visa Application Process Retirement Visa Visa Requirements for Expats Moving to Thailand Immigration to Thailand

Oct 8, 2018

6 years ago

Scott ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

We are planning on moving my wife and I and our 3 teenagers to Thailand next year from the USA. My wife and I are both over 50, so we will apply for a retirement Non-Immigrant OA visa. I saw somewhere our first step is to get an O visa first and then return to immigration 3 months later while in Thailand to get the OA. Is that correct? I thought I had seen a couple of years ago that we could apply for the OA right away in our home country before we move.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user seeks clarification on whether they need to apply for a Non-Immigrant O visa first before applying for a Non-Immigrant OA visa, as they plan to move to Thailand with their family. The comments indicate that the Non-Immigrant OA visa should be applied for directly in their home country before relocating, contradicting the need for an initial O visa.

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Ellie *******

I guess your first step is read

@T**

's post first...

6 years ago

Ellie *******

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6 years ago

Reply to

Ellie *******

Scott ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

So we don't need the O visa first?

6 years ago

Robert *******

Use a hotel in the first city of arrival. The Consulate understand that you don't buy a house before you make your way.

6 years ago

Scott ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I went to the Thai Consulate and opened up the OA visa application.Some of the information they are asking is: Dates of arrival in Thailand, Flight number, Proposed address in Thailand, Reference person in Thailand. I would think all of that information would be dependent on if and when I would receive my visa, especially my residence. Does everybody applying for these visas have a residence bought or rented prior to the application? I would think that would be risky. Who would you typically list as a reference in Thailand?

6 years ago

Robert *******

Or here for New York:

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%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A9%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AD-%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A4%E0%B8%A9-english-version/visa-service/doc-non-im-oa/

6 years ago

Robert *******

Or here for Los Angeles:

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6 years ago

Robert *******

Or here for Chicago:

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6 years ago

Robert *******

You need nothing in Thailand to apply for a Visa in the US. How can you have residence or bank account if this is the first time you plan to visit Thailand. Take a look at the requirements here in Washington:

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6 years ago

Scott ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I remember being a little confused with the OA application a couple of years ago when I looked into it. I thought we needed to list where would be living in Thailand. But how could we have a residence lined up before we applied for the visa?

6 years ago

Robert *******

No, but you can only apply at some consulates in the US for this.

6 years ago

Reply to

Robert *******

You have to apply for the Non Immigrant O-A visa before you make your way to Thailand, This Visa you can only get in the country of residence.

6 years ago

Reply to

Robert *******

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