What are my options for extending my NON-O visa after two years in Thailand?

Jan 14, 2023
2 years ago
Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
What to do after my 2nd year of my non-oa visa. I am a us citizen living in Thailand almost 2 years now. What do I do next? I have a thai bank account but not really wanting to move all my money to Thailand. I get reimbursed for all atm fees so I keep most of my money in the US.

Do I need to leave and come back in? Start a non o? Are there any other options? Not going back to the US any time soon. Thanks in advance for any advice.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
As a US citizen living in Thailand on a NON-O visa for nearly two years, you have a few options for extending your stay. You can apply for a new NON-O visa either by leaving Thailand and re-entering on a visa-exempt basis or by satisfying the bank balance requirement of 800,000 THB. If you consider future residency, switching to a marriage visa (if applicable) may offer benefits and lower financial requirements, as marriage visas allow for work and could lead to permanent residency. You may also have the option of applying for a wealthy pensioner LTR visa if you meet the financial criteria.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Chris *****
Just on the of chance you have a million in usd assets or 80k income a year, you can get the wealthy pensioner LTR, really convenient if you are that wealthy.
Robert ************
STEP-BY-STEP DO-IT-YOURSELF INSTRUCTIONS -- APPLYING FOR RETIREMENT STAY AFTER ARRIVAL IN THAILAND (Must be over age 50): i. You may arrive either Visa Exempt (currently 45-days), or on a 60-day Tourist Visa. ii. Then, immediately after your arrival, you must promptly open a Thai Bank Account, and transfer 800,000 Baht into Thai Bank Account (if married, some Immig. Offices like CM, accept Joint Account with 1.6 Mil. Baht. Also Note, that either Passbook Savings or Fixed Deposit is acceptable, but not Investment Account. Finally note, that some Immig. Offices, but not all - e.g. CM, require proof of foreign source of funds. WISE is an inexpensive, easy & reliable service to transfer funds). iii. Then, you apply for a 90-day Non-O Visa at local Thai Immigration Office. If on Visa Exempt, you use Form TM87, if on Tourist Visa TM86. You are required to apply with minimum 15-21 days remaining on permitted Stay, depending on Office (Chiang Mai, requires 21 days). Requirements: TM87 or TM86 (Note: Fear not, only 1-page Form simple to fill out in English with only basic info., name, address, passport info., arrival info, and stated purpose: "For Retirement"), Must be Over Age 50, 2000 Baht, Copy of all relevant pages of Passport (i.e. Facepage, and Entry Stamp); copy of TM30 (that is the required arrival form that is either completed by your Hotel or Condo, or you do yourself at Immig. Office w/i 24 hrs of arrival); copy of proof of residency (Rental Agreement, or Hotel Reservation -- some offices may not allow if only staying at a HOtel); and most importantly proof of the money in Bank (Copy of Bank Book, and a certified Letter from the Bank usually costing 100 Baht). Above is all simple and straightforward, so no need for spending money on a Visa Service. iv. If all docs. in order, Immig. Office will put a Sticker in your Passport that you are "under consideration", and a date to return to pick up your Visa Stamp (prior to your Stay expiration). v. Next, when you have 30 days remaining on the Non-O (and your Bank Money has "seeded" 60 days -- i.e. stayed on deposit), you go back to Immig. Office to apply for the 1-yr Retirement Extension. Requirements.: TM7 (Req. for Extension of Stay); 1900 Baht, and all other same docs. as above (newly updated of course). And, you will receive 1-yr Extension of Stay -- usually same day, if you arrive in morning. Note: For both processes above, your Bank Passbook Balance must be updated same date as application, and the Bank Letter should be no more than 7 days old -- easiest just to do both same day just before going to Immig. Office). vi. Finally, you should/must get a Re-Entry Stamp -- easiest/best to just do immediately after you get your 1-yr. Extension stamp. It can be single Re-Entry for 1000 Baht, or 3800 Baht for unlimited multiple Re-Entry. The Re-Entry Stamp allows you to leave and return to Thailand, without invalidating your 1-yr Extension. If you fail to do that, then your Extension of Stay is nullified, and you must start the process again. (IMPORTANT: If you want or need to leave Thailand while on the initial 90-Day Non-O, same thing -- must get Re-Entry Stamp.). Hope that is all clear.
Kool *******
Are you married by any chance?
Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
no. But could be soon.
Kool *******
@Terry ******
here is something to consider if you are thinking about making Thailand your permanent home. With a retirement visa of any kind you can never get permanent residency, as you can not work on a retirement visa.

With a marriage visa extension, the type O based on Thai wife, you can work and get a work permit. The basic requirement to get permanent residency, so you can quit dealing with immigration, is working and paying Thai income tax for three consecutive years, and being you're married to a Thai, wages only have to be at least bt40,000 a month, bt80,000 a month if you're not married to a Thai.

The financial requirements for a type O visa extension based on Thai wife is half of what the lump sum retirement visa is. Marriage visa is much better than any retirement visa.
Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
thank you. All things to consider
Steve ********
You should have started the 65k monthly transfers just over a year ago. This would have avoided the need to transfer 800k. However, other than returning to your home country and starting a new OA, you have no other choice than to move the money
Brandon ************
Your only options are 800,000 baht in a Thai bank, or go back to the US and apply for a new OA for another 2 years.
กะลาสี *****
If you have been transferring at least 65K THB for the past 12 months, you might be able to get a non-O, pending on which immigration office you use.
Robert ************
@Peter ***************
"Almost Right". You do need to leave Thailand to void the O-A. But, YES YOU CAN get Non-O Retirement inside Thailand after re-entering Visa Exempt. See my Step-by-Step Instructions posted below.
Peter ****************
Yurek Hunt. Almost right. From OA to O , you cannot do that in Thailand. You have to break the OA chain so to say. You have to leave Thailand and then you can get a non imm O in e.g Laos, Cambodia etc. at a Thai Embassy, OR come back to Thailand on visa exempt and buy a non imm. O in Thailand.
กะลาสี *****
@Peter ***************
if you get O visa from Laos, Cambodia, etc, does it require you to leave the country every 90 days?
Peter ****************
@กะลาสี ****
Only with a non imm O MULTI Entry. Normaly after a Single entry, you 'go' for a year extension.
Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@กะลาสี ****
haven't done that
กะลาสี *****
@Terry ******
then you'll need to transfer 800K if you want a non-O or you can always use an agent.
Will ************
If you start a Non-o then it’s 800k in a Thai bank for the 1yr extension. If you renew non-oa inside Thailand then it’s 800k in a Thai bank
Jackie ***********
@Will ***********
and health insurance from a thai broker
Terence *********
Jackie ***********
Visa Connect วีซ่าคอนเนคท์

095 669 1988

*****************************************
Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jackie **********
thai insurance company
Jackie ***********
@Terry ******
cheapest route, go to an agent. Shop around, might cost you 20k baht
Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jackie **********
every year?
Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
20k agent costs every year?
Jackie ***********
Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jackie **********
know any in khon kaen?
Jackie ***********
@Terry ******
@José ************
do you know a visa agent in khon kaen?
Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jackie **********
I have health insurance already
Jackie ***********
@Terry ******
insurance from the USA? Or insurance that you bought in Thailand?
Stuart *********
If you’re not looking to head back to the US anytime soon then probably best to do a border bounce and come back with a visa exempt and start a Non O application. No need for the insurance requirement for that one. Still have to have 800k in a bank though
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