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How can I switch from an O-A visa to an O visa upon returning to Thailand from the USA?
Feb 1, 2022
4 years ago
Jess ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI need some help please, I am currently in Thailand on a multiple entry retirement O-A Visa, which is valid till May 31 2022 . I need to do my next 90 day reporting around March 20. After that i am going back to USA my home country for about 5 weeks to take of things then return to Thailand in late April .I am wanting to get an O-visa instead of renewing my current O-A visa , what would be the best way to come back into Thailand and get an O visa ? Thanks for any help :)
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user seeks advice on transitioning from a multiple entry retirement O-A Visa to an O visa after returning to Thailand from the USA for about five weeks. They need to complete their 90-day reporting around March 20 before leaving and want to understand the best approach to obtain an O visa upon their return in late April.
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- Use the trusted Thailand 90 Day Reporting Serviceto get your in-person report done and mailed to you for as low as 375 THB (even if the online system doesn't work for you).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Steve *********
To OP, if your O-A Visa is still valid when you return (i.e. before May 31st), you may have problems in getting the airport Immigration giving you a 30-day Visa Exempt, rather than using the still valid O-A again for a full 12 month PtS.... But if you're already in your 2nd year (or on an extension) then simply leave without a Re-entry permit to cancel your current PtS, and the 30-day VE will be the only choice for them.
Tod *********
IF you can bank the 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only I'd say come in on a 30 day visa exempt entry and then immediately go to the immigration office and apply for an in country 90 day Non-O visa by showing you transferred the 800K baht in to your account here from abroad.
Doing it that way means you only need the 50K USD covid insurance to get back in (not the
Doing it that way means you only need the 50K USD covid insurance to get back in (not the
******
and then the 50K covid insurance required when you buy an O visa in the US).Kristen ********
@Tod ********
if we enter on the 30 day visa exempt, open bank accounts apply for the 90 day non-O immediately, can we apply for the 1 year extension as soon as the money has been in our accounts for 2 months? Or do we have to wait the full 90 days? This coming trip we will be in Thailand 10-11 weeks. Trying to figure out if we apply this time or next trip in September. And if we do wait to apply how many times can we renew the 30 days? I know it has changed since we left in November. We can't apply for a 60 day tourist visa as we are not flying direct from Canada to Thailand. Many thanks.Tod *********
@Kristen *******
you get here, you open the thai bank account in your name only you transfer in the 800K baht from abroad, you immediately go apply for the Non-O visa, and after you get that you wait until your funds are seasoned the 2 months required and you have 30 days or less left on the 90 day stamp you got when they gave you the Non-O visaEllie *******
@Kristen *******
30days tourism extension is one time deal. You will be able to apply for an extension when your current stamp remains 30days (45days at some IOs such as Bangkok, ChiangMai, etc) or LESS.You can apply for TR in Canada even if you travel through another country as long as you enter Thailand within 90days of visa validity.
Kristen ********
@Ellie ******
thanks Ellie, on the website it says flight from Canada to Thailand and we are spending 2 weeks in London, but I will give it a shot!Reply to
Kristen ********
Reply
Jess ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI have a follow up question about 30 day visa exempt entry, when i apply for thai pass in USA for my return trip to Thailand.
Benjamin ******
@Jess *******
We don't take Thai Pass related questions in the group, but what's the visa related question?Jess ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Benjamin *****
It is a Visa question , lol. I didnt mean to post what you just read a min ago. My question is I am in Thailand, with a non OA retirement visa. Going to USA for a month then returning to Thailand and i want to Get O retirement visa. WillI be able come into Thailand witha 30 day visa exemption without have a return ticket , when I , apply for the Thai Pass to come back on my return flight from USA To Thailand ?Benjamin ******
@Jess *******
The airline will *probably* want a return ticket, and passport control *may* want to see a return ticketJess ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Benjamin *****
is their another way to this without showing a return flight . So i can get my O visa ?Benjamin ******
@Jess *******
I believe you can enter on a 60 day tourist visa, and they won't ask for the flight backJess ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Benjamin *****
i still be able to apply for a Non O visa once in Thailand ? With having a tourist visa ?Benjamin ******
@Jess *******
Yes you can. You'll have to apply for an in-country Non-O Visa based on being over 50 first, and then you can apply for a one year extension of stay based on retirement.Jess ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks for all the help, much appreciated :)
Reply to
Jess ********
Reply
Ellie *******
@Marty ********
If OP doesn't meet the requirements for entry Thailand on Non-OA, he cannot use Non-OA to enter Thailand even if it's valid or he has a re-entry permit anyway.Marty *********
@Ellie ******
Why can’t he re-enter on his non-OA?Ellie *******
@Marty ********
OP does NOT want to enter on Non-OA.Marty *********
@Ellie ******
He already has an OA valid until May 31st. I know he doesn’t want to continue it but since it is multiple entry until May 31st he can’t get a different visa while he has a valid visa.Ellie *******
@Marty ********
You need to meet requirements to enter on Non-OA such as insurance. If you don't meet the requirement, you cannot enter Thailand using Non-OA. In that case, he may enter Thailand on visa-exempt.Marty *********
@Ellie ******
OK. So that is an interesting question. If he has a valid visa until May 31st but doesn’t have insurance (which wasn’t mentioned in his post) then he can’t enter Thailand but the visa is still valid. He just doesn’t have insurance. Does not having insurance cancel an OA? Can he get a non-O outside the country if he has a valid OA? Can he enter visa exempt?Ellie *******
@Marty ********
he can enter on visa-exempt schemeMarty *********
@Ellie ******
Interesting. That means these days arriving with an OA but not having insurance means you can enter visa exempt.I remember when I was in the 2nd year of my OA with a multiple entry permit that I couldn’t kill the OA until I was past my permission to stay date. There was no insurance requirement at that time.
Reply to
Marty *********
Reply
Chris ****
@Marty ********
depends if he has a re-entry or notMarty *********
@Chris ***
An OA is a 1 year multiple entry visa already.Reply to
Marty *********
Reply
Jess ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you for the help
Reply to
Jess ********
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