What are the advantages of a marriage-based visa versus a Non-O A visa in Thailand?

Aug 23, 2019
5 years ago
Amir *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Good day L & G,

Just trying to get my head around the difference between marriage based visa vs O-A type ... putting the financial requirements of both aside ... what are the advantages of one against the other ...? I will hit my 50s in a few yrs time and assuming current rules remains unchanged thus my concern ... Thanks all
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post compares the Non-Immigrant O-A (Long Stay) visa and the Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage to a Thai citizen, focusing on their key differences and advantages. The O-A visa allows for unlimited entries and one-year stays with extensions up to two years, while the O visa allows for multiple entries with a stamp validity of only 90 days per entry. Additionally, applying for a retirement extension (O-A) is generally quicker and involves less paperwork compared to obtaining a marriage extension (O visa), which takes longer for approval.
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David *******
Retirement extension is also easier to get in that you can get the same day you apply where as Marriage extension takes a month to get approved. Also loss paperwork for a Retirement Extension.
Amir *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David ******
Thanks David ... actually i was asking in regards to the mentioned Visas not extensions ... extensions are entirely different ... but thanks any way ๐Ÿ˜Š
Tod *********
Okay this is ONLY the difference from VISA to VISA (O-A to O), and NOT extensions of stays you get inside the country. That's soemthing else entirely.

Aside from the financial requirements (and the police report background check you need for an O-A) the difference between a year long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A (Long Stay) visa and a year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O visa based on marriage are;

-An O-A and an O visa are both good for a year from the date they're issued

-An O-A visa is good for unlimited entries during that year with each entry getting you stamped in for a whole year

-An O visa is good for unlimited entries during that year with each entry getting you stamped in for 90 days

-The maximum in country time you can wring out of an O-A visa is TWO years (in one year increments) .

-The maximum in country time you can wring out of an O visa is 15 months (in 90 day increments)
Amir *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
My concern was about the VISAS not the EXTENSIONS Tod ... Thanks
Amir *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Thanks ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป Tod ... crystal clear to me now ... appreciate your reply
Tod *********
Note the above has NOTHING to do with in country extensions of stays, the differences I listed are for VISAS you get from a thai consulate outside the country.
Robert *******
Seeing that you hit your 50s in a few years I would say read the website of the Embassy where you like to apply, keep an eye on this page when there are questions about the Non Immigrant O-A (Long Stay) visa or about the Non Immigrant O visa based on marriage with a Thai citizen. Some people claim that Immigration rules changes daily, to tell you the difference between two visa's over the next few years will be polishing the crystal balls to many times.
Amir *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
Thanks Robert .. clear
Robert *******
Okay, a difference is that once you get divorced you can not have the Extension of Stay based on being married, benefit of the Non Immigrant O-A visa it is based on being over 50 years of age and knowing people only get older that would not change.
Amir *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
Thanks ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป a million Robert, i do appreciate your reply ... been going through all that what you mentioned, as iโ€™m currently under marriage status - 1 yr Extension - for the time being, just wonder if any gentleman here have experienced both visas who would crystalize the difference ... Thanks again ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป
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