Is it better to apply for a retirement visa in the UK before moving to Phuket?

@Peter ********

most people get their O-A visa as close to when they're comin' here as they can in order to get the most time in country out of it.

I know that there is no down side (other than you're burning up the validity of the visa itself) by getting it way before you come here. As long as you enter on or before the "valid until" date you're stamped in for the amount of time that visa allows (which on an O-A visa is a year).

The postal visa service relies on sending a postal order for the fees (varies depending upon the type).

I assume most will not leave it too long to exercise the visa but there must be some, who, for unforeseen circumstances, delayed their departure (from the UK specifically). Has anyone done so beyond the 3 month mentioned?

it's at best ambiguous...

@Tod ********

I defer to your superior knowledge but there is a note (in the 'estimated date of arrival' section of the application form. I assume most people will apply with a little contingency.

@Peter ********

I do not see on the website where it says you must travel within 3 months of getting a year-long, multi-entry Non-O-A visa

@Peter ********

that is NOT correct. The year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A visa is good for a year from the date it's issued so in theory you have a whole year to enter thailand and get stamped in for a year on that visa.

A SINGLE entry Non-Immigrant Type visa (NOT an O-A) is good for 90 days from the date it's issued and you must enter thailand during that 90 days to get stamped in.

here's an example of a Non-O-A visa. You can see it has a "valid from" date of the 10th April 2018. It has an "valid until" date of the 09th April 2019. That means as long as the holder enters the country ON or BEFORE the 09th of April 2019 they will be stamped in for a whole year.

You must travel within 3 months from the date of issue)

The application form clearly states that:

To answer my own question and guidance for others: ACPO police clearance is £45 for standard service (10 working days not including the date of receipt and dispatch) and £80 for Premium Service (2 days not including the day of receipt or dispatch). The links are all on the London Embassy website:

James Power. How easy is the police bit, how much does it cost and how long does it (usually) take?

Thank you. I'll manage with another METV this upcoming trip but next time...

@Peter ********

correct.

...and every time you enter you get a whole new year up until the visa expires and thus it's the best part of 2 years?

A year-long, multi-entry O-A visa is good for a year from the date it's issued. That means you have one year to enter the country and get stamped in for a year.

You do a 90 day report when you're in thailand for 90 days. So your first 90 day report is due 89 days from the date you first stamp into the country on that visa. (They count the day you arrive as day 1)

that would be for getting an extension of stay INSIDE the country NOT getting a visa from a thai consulate in their country before they come here.

Thanks much Todd.

You could try getting a doctor to sign this certificate in thailand and use it in the US

Arrived back in Thailand yesterday a day before the last entry date and got stamped in for another year 🎉🎉🎉 so basically if you time it right you get two years from a one year visa. Lookout for me in 11 months asking how you do an extension!!!

@Lou***

, it certainly IS a visa worth it's weight in gold once you have it. (y)

You get unlimited entries to thailand with every entry getting you stamped into the country for an entirely new year for the validity of the visa (a year from the date it's issued).

The reason I suggested getting the the O-A visa from your country BEFORE you wing your way here is because you don't need to bank ANY money in thailand for at least two years. :O

David Broadfoot I did mine in Canberra 2018

David Broadfoot it was this year in March.

David Broadfoot K. i was just asking, i really don't want to do that. i just have, ummm, considerations that have to be taken into account. ah, wasted youth. would that i would have known then what i know now. alas, poor rorick, is not to be. Ta. jb.

David Broadfoot thanks DF. appreciate the advice. best. Ta. shalom cheers aloha, jb.

@Tod ********

ok, sorry. will do. thanks. jb

@Jackie *****

Did you click the link I provided?

It tells you how to apply for a back ground check and it's all the thai consulates in Vientiane or Savannakhet want they don't check anything else.

You need to start your own thread to ask more questions which are NOT related to the topic the O/P started.

@Tod ********

do u know what, how they check. like i said, long time ago (over 20 years) i went afoul of the marijuana laws in the US. if i file in the US that would definitely show up. does the check in consulate in ventiane do global checks, like Interpol, or what? would i, maybe be better served just keep getting tourist visas and just leave it at that? i have seen here that people have stayed for years just using those avenues. any advice is greatly appreciated, as always. jb

David Broadfoot I had mine signed by a JP in Australia for no cost.

@Jackie *****

If you are going to apply for a 90 day Non-O visa at the thai consulates in Vientiane or Savannakhet based on being over 50 (retirement) you need to get a police back ground check from thailand at this place. They BOTH require it and a medical certificate to issue that visa.

David Broadfoot thanks david. yes, i am clear on this now. i just freaked out a little bit wen tod says need to do in home country. first, do not want to go back to home country. too many shootings. second, for reasons, i don't want checks. nothing too serious, but with thai you never know. so O will be the one for me. no worries. can do in ventiane which is close by me. thanks again. i read this forum every day. just like to know what is going on with the different kinds of permissions needed to stay here in LOS. which is what i want. Ta. shalom cheers aloha, jb.

@Claudine *******

Here's the PDF for the medical certificate used by the UK consulate. Seeing as it's just a form I think it'd work for the US consulates too.

David Broadfoot Thank you

@Tod ********

What are they looking for with the medical cert.?

Are pre-existing health complications an issue or is it mainly an Std check?

David Broadfoot yes, my vernacular was incorrect. i will be doing O. thanks. but is a ways off, yet. i just was confused by tod's explanation about having to do in my country. but i read and found out, again, about O. so all good. thanks again. jb

@Tod ********

i will be doing the non imm O. yearly. kinda freaked me out for a second there. i have probs with the checks. O will work better for me, at least.

K, thanks again for the clarification. jb

Actually I was incorrect

@Jackie *****

, you can get Non-O-A visas from a thai consulate in a country that isn't yours IF you hold legal residence status there.

@Tod ********

K, thanks. jb

@Jackie *****

You can ONLY get an O-A visa from your home country and they ALWAYS require a police background check and a medical certificate. :)

tod, when you get those visas in your home country, they are more likely to ask for medical\crminal background checks. is this correct