Answered8 months ago
What are my options for changing my visa from a Non OA based on marriage to a Non O based on retirement in Thailand?
Hello. I entered Thailand from the USA 12 years ago on a Non OA visa based on retirement. Five years ago, I changed my yearly extension from retirement to marriage. Now, I would like to change my visa status from a Non OA based on marriage to a Non O based on retirement. Some additional details to consider: 1) Last month, I wire transferred 400K baht to my Thai bank account (SCB) which now has an 800K baht balance. 2) I have a Yellow House Book. 3) My current yearly extension expires in July. 4) No problem travelling, if needed. 5) Still happily married! What are my options? I appreciate all knowledgeable responses. Cheers!
Answer summary
The user seeks guidance on changing their visa status in Thailand from a Non-OA based on marriage to a Non-O based on retirement. They have 800K baht in their bank account and want to know if they can switch without exiting Thailand or applying for a new visa. The community response suggests checking with the local immigration office, as practices may vary, and provides insight into the general process, including financial requirements and possible insurance obligations.
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Chris *******
Not all offices will allow a change of extension from "thai family" to "over 50".
Check with your local office first.
You may have to leave and kill the extension and start the process over again.
Check with your local office first.
You may have to leave and kill the extension and start the process over again.
Graeme *******
Why change my understanding is it is just the amount of money held in Thailand bank that differs plus cannot work on retirement and require insurance , so I guess the retirement visa will cost more.
Marty *********
Graeme Drake Some of us are actually retired retired and I am sure he understands the work requirements since couldn’t work for the first year or two on the OA visa. He is seeking an O visa which doesn’t have an insurance requirement. The process to extend a retirement visa is quicker and somewhat easier.
Graeme *******
Marty Pollard yea same as me retired.
Brad ********
My first thought was if it’s not broken why fix it?
Do they do the home visit?
Do they do the home visit?
Marty *********
@Brad *******
The paperwork and process is a bit easier for a retirement extension. There is usually no home visit. You can complete the extension same day in a couple of hours.Brad ********
Marty Pollard fair enough the marriage visa suits our purpose till age kicks into lower income expectations or we transition away from being photogenic as the main focus.
Marty *********
I had an OA for 6 years. Now I am on an LTR.
You are the first person I have seen to use the OA as married. Just curious . . . were you required to have health insurance for your 1 year extensions?
Regarding the switch to non-O. Just guessing but I think you will have to leave and return to kill the OA extension. You already have a bank account so the rest of the process should be straightforward - get an O and then extend 1 year.
You are the first person I have seen to use the OA as married. Just curious . . . were you required to have health insurance for your 1 year extensions?
Regarding the switch to non-O. Just guessing but I think you will have to leave and return to kill the OA extension. You already have a bank account so the rest of the process should be straightforward - get an O and then extend 1 year.
Brandon ************
@Marty ********
there isn't a non-OA anymore, so they weren't on a marriage non-OA. They were on a marriage extension, which never requires insurance. But if they've gotten annual extensions unbroken from an original non-OA entry, and they want to switch back to extensions based on retirement, the insurance requirement would still exist for retirement because of how the line of extensions started.
Marty *********
@Brandon ***********
A better explanation than I got years ago. I had people saying the OA turned into an O if you extended as married.It was just an academic question on my part. I had Thai insurance back then and still have it and used it for my LTR.
Rick **********
OP@Brandon ***********
Correct. Which is one of the reasons why I want to change to a Non O. Thanks!Greg ***********
Rick Lunstrum I think you have already been allowed by your Immigration to change to an extension based on a Non-O (which you never had) - without the need of having applied to an inital Non-O visa! Immigration is allowed to make individual decisions, so I guess they skipped your need to invalidate the Non-O/A based extension, and allowed you to change the reason of your extension from O/A Longstay to "marriage" these 5 years ago (was it during the pandemic? this would explain such a leniency)
Rick **********
OPThanks for your response. Medical insurance was not required when I did my extensions based on marriage.
Greg ***********
Rick Lunstrum there NEVER was a Non-Imm-O/A based on Marriage. If during the recent 5 years Immigration never asked you for a health insurance when you applied for the annual extension, then obviously you was allowed to switch from the extension based on a former Non-O/A Longstay Visa, to an Extension based on the marriage to a Thai wife, which normally is based on a Non-Imm-O Family Visa. They let you skip the Non-O Visa application. So all you have to do now is switching the "REASON" of the extension from marriage to retirement. I strongly suggest you visit Immigration and ask them on how to proceed. You may not even need to exit the country
Marty *********
Greg Alexander The OA visa was only for retirement. When the OA expired you could get a 1 year extension for either retirement (with health insurance) or a marriage extension (with no health insurance). Your extensions are always tied to your original visa meaning if he was to switch back to retirement (which he NOT doing) then he would need insurance. He is looking to get a new visa, the O.
Rick **********
OPAndreas Mueller Thank you for your informative post! I will definitely follow up with Hua Hin immigration. Regards
Marty *********
Andreas Mueller There was no grandfather rule. I got my OA in 2017 and insurance was required for my 1 year extensions after 2019.
Andreas *********
Rick Lunstrum you did not have to show any insurance, because when you got your first Non-Imm-O/A Visa 12 years ago, and later the 1-year extension, there was no insurance requirement. After the mandatory insurance was introduced, you profited from the "grandfathering rule" and still not required the insurance. I think you can change the reason of your next extension from marriage to requirement without having to exit Thailand, if you fulfill the financial requirements. Visit your Immigration and ask them
Rick **********
OPThanks for the response. When I changed my extension to based on marriage, Hua Hin immigration never mentioned the Non O Immigrant Family Visa application. I will check with them on switching my "REASON" of extension back to retirement.
John **********
If I'm understanding this correctly the base visa you are on is still a Non-OA visa so you will still be having to provide appropriare nsurance for your annual extension of stay? If that's the case to change from a Non-OA basis to a Non-O basis you have to leave Thailand, without a re-entry permit to void your current permission to stay and go to a nearby consulate and apply for a 90 day Non-O visa based on being over 50, return to Thailand and when down to the last 30 days or so apply for a 12 month extension of stay based on retirement
Rick **********
OP@John *********
Correct, I'm still on the original Non OA. Understand about leaving Thailand w/o re-entry permit and apply for Non O. Upon my return to Thailand after receiving my Non O from abroad, will I still have to wait to the last 30 days, even if my 800K baht in my Thai account will have seasoned for over 6 months?John **********
@Rick *********
yes you'll still have to wait to apply for the extension. At most immigration offices you can only apply in the last 30 days, a few allow you to apply in the last 45 days. Ask your immigration office what they allow.
Graham ******
Rick Lunstrum If you are still on the Non-:OA you cannot leave and get a new Non-O as the Non-OA has not yet expired, you can do this if you are on an extension not the initial Non-OA
Greg ***********
Graham Seal he already is on a 1-year extension based on a Non-O/A visa that expired 6 years ago. He needs to exit and invalidate the extension in order to be able to apply for an initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa. . . (Post Scriptum: there is something else which I just realized - he was allowed to skip an application to a Non-O married visa)
Michael ********
No issues but double check with local office, when i was on extension for marriage office in samat sakorn they asked if i wanted to change as had more than 800k in bank.
P.S its Non O extension not OA thats a visa from resident country
P.S its Non O extension not OA thats a visa from resident country
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