Is the Non-O-X Visa the best choice for an American retiree married to a Thai citizen planning to live in Thailand?

Non-O Visa Non-O-X Visa Thai Immigration Visa Extension Thai Retirement Visa Visa Requirements Multi-Entry Visa Financial Requirements Thai Citizenship Real Estate Purchase in Thailand

Aug 22, 2022

2 years ago

Dave *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

62year old American traveling w Thai wife to Thailand and i have my 60day visa lined up and will extend it another 30 days for a total of 90 days.  (She’s got dual citizenship).  We r using the trip to buy a new home and a condo in Samui for retirement.  

After the trip we will return to USA and It’s my understanding that the best visa for me going forward is the “Non-O-X” 10 year (5 plus 5 extension)??   I’m assuming the Non-O-X is also Multi-entry???

Any Pro/Con’s to this visa over other visas I should consider?   I’m already on her Thai BankBook w over 3M Baht deposited so we already got the financial requirement covered.   And we r using the money I’ve got in my account in USA to make the purchase of the house in Bangkok and condo in Samui so we won’t affect the 3M baht requirement in the Thai account.  I’ve also got monthly income of 300,000 baht from the states not including my social security which I prob won’t start taking until I’m 65 in 3 years.  

Is there a cheaper/better visa that I’m overlooking or is the Non-O-X Visa the best for my situation?   Pls advise.  Thanks!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The Non-O-X Visa, which allows for multi-entry and offers a long-term stay of up to 10 years, may seem appealing for an American retiree married to a Thai citizen. However, it comes with stringent financial and health insurance requirements, requiring annual verification and inability to pursue permanent residency or citizenship. In contrast, an O visa based on marriage might be more advantageous due to lower financial requirements, no health insurance mandate, and a simpler extension process, allowing for permanent residency qualification in the future. Additionally, the financial criteria for the O visa are less onerous, with only 400,000 Baht needed in a personal Thai bank account or a monthly income of 40,000 Baht from overseas.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

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Terry ********

Unless wanting to work, in preference I would recommend a non-O visa based on retirement as it is a lot less hassle to extend annually than the marriage visa.

2 years ago

Kool *******

@Terry *******

actually after the first year the marriage extension is very easy, if you saved copies of everything. The only upgraded documents needed the next year is updated bank records, and new pictures, with the retirement extension you need updated bank documents, so the only difference is new pictures. Everything else is exactly the same, unless you moved living quarters.

2 years ago

Reply to

Kool *******

Be fully aware that the financial requirement must be in a bank account in your name only. It can not be in a joint account. You also need a health insurance policy covering the whole time your visa is valid, at one year intervals, and you must go in every year to have your financial requirements verified, and the rest of the requirements verified. Even though the visa is for five years, you still must go in every year for repeated verification

For you, being you are married to a Thai, it would be better to get a type O visa extension based on Thai wife, with a re-entry permit. The financial requirement is only bt400,000 in your Thai bank account for two months before you apply, or extend it, not bt3million, or a monthly income from an overseas source of just bt40,000 a month, and after your extension is stamped in your passport you do whatever you want with the money. There is no requirement it stays in your account, except until two months before your next extension. There is no insurance requirement. No health check. No criminal background check, and, if you so choose you can get a work permit for any type of work you might choose to do. With the O-X extension you can only do volunteer work without pay.

Another very important element is that under an O-X visa, or any other retirement visa/extension, is that you can Never qualify for permanent residency, or Thai citizenship. You can under the type O Thai wife extension, when you meet the requirements. In your situation, and with your intentions, this fact could be very important for your long term plans.

With either visa/extension you still must go to immigration every year to either extend it, or verify you are still meeting the requirements. The type O based on Thai wife is just bt1900 few every year. The O-A is bt10,000 every five years, and you can only extend it once for another five years. After that it is unclear what happens, as it states only one extension, and as it started in 2016, no one has reached that ten year point yet.

These are all serious considerations. Also under both you still must do the 90 day address reporting, so you actually gain nothing with the O-X visa, and at ten years no one knows what happens yet. With the type O based on Thai wife you can extend it as long as you choose. There is no requirement limiting how many times you can extend it.

2 years ago

Peter ****************

@Brett ********

@Kool ******

, When having double amount (800k฿) in a joint bank account when married, thought that was also okay ? (pity to lock the money ofcourse, but thought it was possible to meet the conditions ?)

2 years ago

Kool *******

@Peter ***************

the only time I have seen that allowed is when both husband, and wife, are getting a retirement visa/extensions. Both over 50, and both getting retirement extensions. Also Peter, for the type O visa extension based on Thai wife, the money is only tied up in your account for three months max. Two months before your application, then lots of immigration offices also want it there until the end of the 30 days under consideration period. As soon as you get your one year extension stamp at the end of this 30 days under consideration, you can do whatever you want with the money, until two months before next year's extension application.

2 years ago

Reply to

Kool *******

Dave *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Kool ******

Thanks!!! This is a real eye opener. I really appreciate the advise. I originally was thinking about the Type O marriage visa but the wife mentioned the O-X and it seemed good on paper. But based on your advise I’m definitely just gonna do the Type O Marriage Visa. Seems easy enough and more feasible from a Financial Requirement standpoint of only 400,000B. Don’t wish to lock up 3M Baht either. THANKS FOR THE EXCELLENT ADVISE!!!

Does the Bank account need to be solely in my name or can it be joint account for the 400,000 requirement?? And can I get the Type O w a “multiple reentry” as we plan on traveling a few times a year around Asia? Is it better to apply for the type O while I’m in Thailand for my 90 day house hunting trip or do it back in USA when I come back to pack our household stuff for the move? Thanks again!

2 years ago

Dave *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I really appreciate the great info. Me and the wife been married a long time. Met her here in USA and got married in USA. We got 2 children aged 19 and 27 (dual citizenships). All this info u gave me will save me tons of time n effort. Much appreciated!

2 years ago

Kool *******

@Dave ********

the Thai bank account must be in your name only. When you get your type O extension then you buy a re-entry permit. One time is bt1000, and multi is bt3800, so if you do not plan on leaving Thailand more than three times a year then just get single re-entry permits. More than three times then get a multi re-entry permit at bt3800. I would do it in the states when you get ready to move. You get a 90 day type O visa that gives you time when you get to Thailand to get all the rest of your documents together. I would do it this way as a major part of it is documentation about where you live permanently, with pictures of both of you at your living location, both outside, and inside, with both of you in the pictures. Go to immigration with your wife in Thailand as they have a list of what is needed. If you got officially married in Thailand at the local Amphur then you just need those two marriage documents, the marriage certificate, and the registration document. If you got married in another country then the marriage certificate must be translated into Thai, and certified by the MFA that it is an accurate translation, then registered at the local Amphur I believe. This last part I am not sure of though. Immigration will help you. Keep copies of everything, as the following years all you need is new bank letters, and new pictures for your new extension. Always go to immigration with your wife for everything concerning your visa/extensions.

2 years ago

Brett *********

@Dave ********

type Non-O Spouse for 1 year is usually Multi. Yearly extensions need to simply get a multi re-entry permit each year and you are good to go

2 years ago

Brett *********

@Dave ********

bank account must be in your name only

2 years ago

Reply to

Brett *********

Joe *********