What are the options for US citizens regarding visa types and extensions when arriving in Thailand for retirement?

Thailand Visa US Citizen Visa Retirement Visa Visa Extension Non-Immigrant O Visa Tourist Visa Visa Exempt Entry Phuket Sandbox

Jul 1, 2021

3 years ago

Christopher ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Background: I am going to take advantage of the Phuket Sandbox and I have a "as of now current" list of all the requirements from another group. I plan to apply for the retirement visa once in Phuket (I have a good answer to what is required from another post, but feel free to share again).

Question: For visa options for arrival as US citizen and length I can stay on each, including extensions = and can I convert to the retirement visa? I guess the first part I can see on the consulate websites but the extension and conversion questions I'm not sure.

1. visa exempt entry for a 45 day stay. Can it be extended or converted to another visa like retirement? This would be easiest since I likely wouldn't need to send my passport to LA consulate. Maybe the exempt can be extended by 10 days as I seem to remember?

1. Tourist visa - so I apply for that by doing application online and sending in my passport, once I get it back I can start the Phuket Sandbox process. Can I convert to retirement visa? With extensions what is the max time I could get?

1. Non-Imm B letter invite from my law firm, they say I'd get 3 months and can convert to Non-imm 0 easily (if meeting all requirements). Is the 3 months extendable at all?

I'm not really planning to get a retirement visa from USA as the process, at least to me, seems more complicated with doctor visits, tests and such, plus the insurance requirement.

Thank you!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The inquiry pertains to the various visa options available for US citizens entering Thailand, specifically focusing on converting to a retirement visa. It outlines the benefits and limitations of arriving on a visa-exempt entry (45 days, extendable), a tourist visa (60 days, extendable), or a Non-Immigrant B visa with a 3-month duration. Key insights indicate that the visa-exempt entry can be extended for an additional 30 days, while the tourist visa can also be extended and potentially converted to a Non-O retirement visa if specific requirements are met. Additional financial requirements for maintaining a retirement visa and its extension are discussed.

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.
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George *************

By the way, the financial requirements for a retirement extension can be met in a number of ways. By far the easiest is to have your embassy confirm that you are in receipt of a pension that pays excess of 65,000 baht/month. As you are a US citizen your embassy has decided not to do that for you. The second easiest is to transfer a lump sum in excess of 800,000 baht into a Thai bank. The money must be in Thailand to get a Non-O visa for retirement purposes in Thailand at the time you apply.

Every year, including your first, that you apply for a retirement extension you must have in excess of 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account for 2 months prior to applying for the retirement extension.

Thereafter, you must meet the following requirements for as long as you wish to stay in Thailand on a retirement extension:

800,000 baht in account 2 months before the application

800,000 baht in account 3 months after application

400,000 baht minimum balance required all year long.