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How can a USA passport holding couple convert their visa-free entry into a valid visa in Thailand?
Thailand Visa RulesVisa Free EntryNon-O VisaRetirement VisaEducation VisaImmigrationBank Account RequirementsCovid ExtensionsExpat Advice
Apr 19, 2021
5 years ago
Scot *******
ORIGINAL POSTERWould someone please advise us, a USA passport holding couple, 50+, coming from Malaysia, entering Thailand using a visa free entry, how we can from within Thailand convert that visa free entry into a real visa? What visas would be an option? Thank you.
TLDR : Answer Summary
A USA passport-holding couple entering Thailand on a visa-free entry can convert their status to a valid visa by applying for options like the Non-O visa based on retirement, marriage, or education. They must have at least 15 days remaining on their entry stamp to do this. To qualify for a Non-O retirement visa, they will need to deposit 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account. Even under a visa-free entry, it is possible to open a bank account, although it may be more challenging. Alternative strategies include entering on a regular tourist visa, which allows a 30-day extension, providing a total of three months to figure out a long-term visa. Extensions and options may change due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Phill ******
how long are you planning on staying ?
Scot *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Phill *****
- possibly years waiting for the world to open up. Phill ******
@Scot ******
, elite visa , if you can afford it .Reply to
Phill ******
Reply
Bobby ********
As Tod has indicated, getting into the country on any short term visa does give you the opportunity to open bank accounts to commence the 65k/month foreign transfer. You MIGHT be able to eke a year out of the covid extensions, or ED/B visa extensions (it's a lot of messing around I realise), or IF normal border procedures return you can leave/re-enter for further extensions whilst your 65k/month transfers continue. Once you've got a year's worth you can then start the retirement visa process as Tod described
Scot *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
- OK now that seems a bit of a contradiction. If we are in on a visa free entry, it was our understanding before that you cannot open a bank account. Has this changed?Bobby ********
Scot Smith. No contradiction. You can open a bank account on tourist visa, just a little harder. Many people go from tourist visa onto both O(50+) and O(married to a Thai). The only way to do this is to get money into a Thai bank account. It may entail visiting a number of branches, and the advice I always give is take a Thai person with you!
Scot *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
- a visa free entry is not a tourist visa. Are you using it as the same?Bobby ********
@Scot ******
. It's actually a "visa exempt" entry. It's a tourist entry.Scot *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
- OK, but there is no visa.Bobby ********
Scot Smith. Correct
Scot *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
- but a bank account may be obtained without a visa?Bobby ********
Scot Smith. Yes, not as easy but with perseverance it can be done.
Scot *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
- how are the covid extensions being done in Thailand now? We are all being kicked out of Malaysia this week.Bobby ********
Scot Smith. You get 60-day extension once your current visa or exemption expires. You have to rock up at your immigration office and pay 1900 baht. At this point May 29 is the last date to apply, but if borders are still largely closed, it will probably be extended
Scot *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
- so you can get it extended every 60 days currently?Bobby ********
Scot Smith. Yes. But it's a good idea not to use it as a long term strategy, as it could be stopped at any time
Scot *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
- 800k baht should be good incentive for a bank, but maybe not.Bobby ********
Scot Smith. It helps but it's not the deal breaker. I suggest you ask the question as a new topic in the group, and you will get advice which is the best bank/branch to try.
Reply to
Bobby ********
Reply
Tod *********
"Is there a lesser visa to go for"? :/ nope,
You could both come in on real 'regular' tourist visas (that'd stamp you in for 60 days) and then you could get a 30 day extension on that and that's 3 months to figure out a long term visa strategy.
You could both come in on real 'regular' tourist visas (that'd stamp you in for 60 days) and then you could get a 30 day extension on that and that's 3 months to figure out a long term visa strategy.
Bobby ********
Put 800k baht in a Thai bank account and apply for Non-O "retirement" visa. Your spouse can apply for a dependent visa attached to your retirement visa
Scot *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
- I didn't think we could open an account on a visa free entry.Tod *********
Just so you're clear
IF they both come in on a visa exempt entry only the person with the funds in the account in their name can apply for an in country 90 day Non-O visa based on retirement. :O
Their spouse cannot apply for a 90 day Non-O visa based on being married to a foreigner getting a retirement visa inside the country. :/ They don't issue that Non-O 'piggy back visa' for that reason "trailing spouse on retirement" :(
They should apply for 90 day single entry Non-O visas from the thai consulate in Kuala Lumpur before they wing their way here
OR
they should BOTH meet the financial requirements to get Non-O's in country on their own as two stand alone visa/extensions
@Bo***
(and @Sc**
too) IF they both come in on a visa exempt entry only the person with the funds in the account in their name can apply for an in country 90 day Non-O visa based on retirement. :O
Their spouse cannot apply for a 90 day Non-O visa based on being married to a foreigner getting a retirement visa inside the country. :/ They don't issue that Non-O 'piggy back visa' for that reason "trailing spouse on retirement" :(
They should apply for 90 day single entry Non-O visas from the thai consulate in Kuala Lumpur before they wing their way here
OR
they should BOTH meet the financial requirements to get Non-O's in country on their own as two stand alone visa/extensions
Bobby ********
Tod Daniels. Sorry if I gave the wrong info. I was looking at it from the perspective of having an OA retirement visa and I got my wires crossed with the O visa. Can you have a trailing spouse on an OA visa?
Tod *********
@Bobby *******
you CAN on either the O or the O-A but what you can't do is get the trailing spouse Non-O visa issued inside the country when the other person is on a retirement visa/extension :/ The "trailing spouse to someone on a retirement visa/extension" is the only reason they WON'T issue a 90 day Non-O for inside the country. You get it before you wing your way here.
If one person is getting the O-A before they come their spouse should apply for a 90 day Non-O at that same time
While I don't know for a fact, I doubt they can do this because they're not Malay citizens and as a rule you can't get an O-A from a consulate other than the country your passport comes from or where you hold legal permanent residence)
Scot *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
- I think we can at the Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur. That however is why I posted as I did, I wanted to know what we can do on a visa free entry.Reply to
Scot *******
Reply
Scot *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
- is there a reason to attach her that way instead of going both retirement visa? Also is there a lesser step visa that can be obtained a bit easier which will allow more time to switch to retirement visa, perhaps another full year visa or 6 months etc? Just checking options. Thank you so much for your information and help.Bobby ********
Scot Smith. You can both apply for retirement visa but it doubles your financial stake. So you'd be applying for two individuals who would need 800k baht each in a Thai bank account. If money is no object it's the simplest method. Full year visas are B (business) if you have a job or a business, ED if you are studying at a recognised institute. You can eliminate the requirement of 800k in the bank by using the monthly foreign transfer method of transferring 65k baht (again each if you don't want to pursue the trailing spouse method). This money MUST be transferred from another country. This is my preferred and is what I do. The 65k is yours to spend immediately you get it, whereas the 800k is essentially tied up forever and a day. I should add that before you can apply this way you have to have 12 months worth of transfers, so it's a longer process.
Reply to
Bobby ********
Reply
Ken ***********
You can convert to a Non O based on retirement or marriage or education or volunteer visa. You must have at least 15 days left on your entry stamp
Reply to
Ken ***********
Reply
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