Answered8 years ago

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

Scott ******

asked Oct 8, 2018

1.4k

views

replies

likes

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.

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.

12 repliesnewest first

Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.

Ellie *******

I guess your first step is read

@T**

's post first...

8 years ago

Ellie *******

****************************************************************************

**********

*****

3/permalink/

*****

8 years ago

Scott ******

So we don't need the O visa first?

8 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.

8 years ago

Scott ******

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?

8 years ago

Robert *******

Or here for New York:

************************

%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/

8 years ago

Robert *******

Or here for Los Angeles:

******************************************************************

8 years ago

Robert *******

Or here for Chicago:

*********************************************************************

8 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:

***************************

8 years ago

Scott ******

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?

8 years ago

Robert *******

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

8 years ago

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.

8 years ago