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Is it advisable to switch from an O/A Retirement Visa to an O Visa based on having a Thai spouse in Thailand?

O Visa O-A Visa Retirement Visa

Nov 25, 2019

6 years ago

Paul ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I went to Chanthaburi immigration the other day prepping for an extension on my O A based on retirement and the guy in charge told me to do the O Visa based on having a Thai spouse. Said it was cheaper (guessing he meant money in the bank) Also no health insurance requirement. Is it a good idea to change from the OA to an O??

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user inquired whether to switch from an OA Retirement Visa to an O Visa due to suggestions from immigration regarding the benefits of the O Visa, such as lower financial requirements and no health insurance obligation. Commenters confirmed that both visas allow for a 1-year stay with re-entry permission and a 90-day reporting requirement. They discussed the specifics of each visa, noting that converting to an O Visa could eliminate the health insurance requirement, which may vary by immigration office.

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6 years ago

Paul ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Requirements for OA retirement Visa at Chanthaburi Immigration

6 years ago

James ********

@Paul *******

this must be for Non O Extension for retirement. O-A is not mentioned and only available in home country.

6 years ago

Carl ***********

@Paul *******

you cant get an OA Visa in Thailand only in you home country? Please correct me if I'm incorrect

6 years ago

Gregor **********

Paul Potter and the requirement 800,000 for the last TWO months before and 3 months AFTER application is not added yet, it says 3 months which used to be required for repeated EOS based on retirement applications, not for the first time. This is an OLD piece of paper, that's why the health insurance requirement is not mentioned. And nothing was mentioned as for the topic of your talk with them was conversion of your O/A to a Non-Imm-O visa based on marriage, no health insurance is needed for this. Actually, the Immigration officer offered & suggested to you a nice way out of the insurance requirement which he seems to be willing to do . . it is a "conversion" and not done by every Immigration in Thailand. You can call yourself lucky, You can 60 days later do the Extension of Stay based on thai spouse once you fullfill the requirements mentioned in the handout list, the 400,000 THB need to have been 2 months in your account

6 years ago

Robert *******

And the health insurance requirement is not added yet

6 years ago

Gary *******

it doesn't ask for insurance as a requirement on this form?

6 years ago

Reply to

Gary *******

Paul ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Requirements for spouse Visa at Chanthaburi Immigration

6 years ago

Robert *******

That is a short list, makes live easy.

6 years ago

Reply to

Robert *******

Barry *******

Now that is the answer I require.

6 years ago

Robert *******

he got the advice at an Immigration Office, he has or can ask again for the hand outs with teh latest and updated requirements to compare the lists. But feel free to contact that Immigration office and post a picture of these hand outs so people living in different areas can read what is needed at this specific office.

6 years ago

Reply to

Robert *******

With both you get 1 year of Stay and you need a re-entry to travel to keep this 1 year alive. With both you need to do 90 days reports if you stay 90 days inside Thailand. There are differences in requirements at application, as you mention one is not cheaper than the other one. Cost of Extension of Stay is 1.900 Thb. You have to see which requirements suits you the best.

6 years ago

Paul ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Robert ******

thankyou

6 years ago

Reply to

Paul ********

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