UK citizen and passport holder, retired and living full time in Thailand.
O-A Visa and extensions since 2014. I tried to upgrade my health insurance coverage from 1 million to 3 million Baht, but was refused. Therefore I do not meet the health insurance requirements for a Non O-A extension. (I have International health insurance elsewhere).
Therefore when I returned from the UK from a holiday in December, I cancelled my Non O-A extension and insisted on a 45 day visa exempt, which was granted at Suvarnabhumi after considerable discussion. My plan was to apply for a Non O Visa in Thailand.
Today at Phetchaburi Immigration my application for a Non O was refused, because they insisted that I need to show that the 800,000 Baht came from outside Thailand. My 800,000 Baht has been sitting dormant in my Fixed Account since 2014 and I would have extreme difficulty showing the original source of the funds.
Therefore what should I do?
A) Phetchaburi Immigration suggested I leave Thailand and get a Non O in Laos. Is this the best option of nearby countries?
B) Transfer the 800,000 Baht to the UK and immediately transfer it back to my Thai Bank, showing evidence that the funds came from overseas.
C) Provide evidence of historical regular monthly income from the UK to Thailand via Wise. I guess they would require a 12 month statement? Would I require then to continue with monthly statements for a year after the Non O was granted? I want to return to the 800,000 Baht method as soon as possible.
D) Use an agent.
Any suggestions or comments gratefully received. I have a 30 day extension of my visa exempt until mid February.
Many thanks in advance.
TLDR : Answer Summary
A UK citizen living in Thailand faces challenges in obtaining a Non O Visa after being denied due to insufficient documentation of funds. The individual has several options including applying for the visa in Laos, providing proof of overseas income, or utilizing assets from their home country. Community comments suggest that getting the Non O from a nearby consulate might be the easiest solution, as well as using an agent to navigate the complexities with local immigration offices.
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.
