Answered4 years ago

Do I have a time limit to apply for a retirement visa in Thailand after arriving on a Visa Exempt?

Retirement Visa Visa Exempt Thai Immigration Visa for Americans Bank Requirements for Visa Visa Application Timing

Harry *********

asked Oct 25, 2022

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Hey guys, I’m coming to Thailand, a few months from now, and I qualify for a retirement visa. My question is do I have a certain amount of time to apply for retirement visa the O visa after I arrive on a VOA? ￼ 

thanks, cheers

Answer summary

An American arriving in Thailand qualifies for a Visa Exempt status instead of a Visa on Arrival. You are allowed to stay for 45 days, with a possibility of a 30-day extension. To apply for a retirement visa (O visa), it is crucial to secure a Thai bank account and have at least 800,000 THB transferred for two months before applying for the visa extension. Ensure to apply for the retirement visa extension while there are 15-21 days left on your initial stay to avoid complications.

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Kool *******

You want to get a Thai bank account in your name only as quick as you can after you get here, as your bt800,000 transferred in from an overseas source in to your Thai bank account for at least two months before you apply for your year extension is the most time sensitive item in getting your type O visa extension based on retirement. You can not get your one year extension until you have this taken care of. That is the most important time sensitive detail.

4 years ago

Alex *******

@Kool ******

Isn't it that for the initial 90 day non-O visa preceeding the 1 year extension normally there is no seasoning requirement, so you have plenty of time to open your bank account during this time and have everything ready in seasoned funds when doing the 1 year non-O extension at the end of these 90 days?

4 years ago

Kool *******

@Alex ******

that is why I said for your one year extension. Read the last to sentences.

4 years ago

Harry *********

@Kool ******

gotcha, so funds must have 60 days aging I take it. I don’t know if you can answer this follow on question. If I’m doing a combination of documented monthly income and USD deposited into Thailand bank to get to 800,000 baht. do I have to have the US Embassy verify my us government source of income and submit it at the end of the 60 days of my USD in a thai bank? Thanks

4 years ago

Kool *******

@Harry ********

to be clear on a few things, the only monthly deposits immigration accepts are direct deposits from overseas into your bank account verified by bank letters. The only way you can have US dollars in a Thai bank is if you have a FCD account, foreign currency deposit account. I have one. Immigration accepts deposits made to them, and for the bt800,000 in US dollars if you choose, but by doing that you are subject to the Forex and variations in the dollar to baht exchange rates. If any monthly deposit drops below the bt65,000 threshold, it doesn't count, and the 12 continuous months starts over.

4 years ago

Brandon ************

@Harry ********

Americans can't use the combination method. You can only use the combination method if your embassy will verify income and the US embassy does not.

You must use 800,000 in a Thai bank for your initial 90 day non-O visa (no time required in the bank, it just must be in there the day you apply) and then when you apply for the 1 year extension it must have been in the bank for 60 days by the day you apply.

You can start transferring 65,000 baht to Thailand before you get your 1 year extension, and then continue doing that every month for your first year. Then when you go apply for your second year extension, you can use your bank statements to show 65,000 international transfer every month for 1 year. It must show that the funds came from overseas and it must be every month for 12 months. If you're even 1 day late on a month, you lost all your progress.

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Harry ********

the US embassy no longer issues affidavit of income letters. It’s at least 65,000 baht for 12 months or 800k lump sum for an extension.

Your local immigration office may allow for you to use a combination method but you’d be best to go see them and find out their rules for this.

4 years ago

Brandon ************

Based on your profile, it looks like you are American. If that's the case, you do not qualify for Visa on Arrival. That is for a small subset of countries where they have to buy a visa when they arrive.

Americans get Visa Exempt, meaning NO VISA. Until March 31st you would be stamped in for 45 days. You can also extend that for 30 days one time at immigration.

You need to have at least 15-21 days left on your stay, depending on the office you will be applying to. So that's your deadline, apply before you don't have enough time and have to leave the country and get a new stamp.

4 years ago

Harry *********

@Brandon ***********

well that clarifies that. thanks.

4 years ago