What are the pros and cons of 90-day O vs 1-year OA visa for a US retiree planning to stay in Thailand?

Good luck with the OA visa. WAY too many hoops to jump through. I gave up. Now looking into the METV and if I decide to stay in Thailand longterm, will switch to the retirement visa. Also keep an eye out for the DTV new category that is supposed to be implented soon. 🤞

You can only stay 90 days in japan for American

Where did you get your money lending licence? 🫣

We're in FL, and on our 3rd OA visa. FL criminal background check is easy, done by mail, and about $35. We get our insurance through AXA, costs about $1500/year for us both. Think the visa fee is $200. My Dr. in NC was east to get the medical cert from, FL doctor wants me to get a tuberculosis test, and says she won't do another exam. After the visa 1st year, you need to get a re-entry stamp.

It's much easier and cost less to simple fly here as a tourist, which doesn't require a visa for USA, and

then for a small fee you can find many visa agency's that will, in a few hours, get you from their office, where they will prepare all documents, to the bank and to immigrations. Based on your plans, you need to have them add a multi entry stamp, so you can leave and come back on the same visa. It's going to be much less trouble and time to just do it here. I go through this process every year and just finished my third time which took only one hour this time from start to finish and most of that was in transit.

Get the Non O.

The OA has a mandatory Thai insurance requirement.

I entered Thailand on 6 month multiple entry tourist visa. This allows you to stay 60 days each time you enter (but you can ask for 30 day extension each time you enter Thailand when you get close to end of 60 days ). This might be your best option to consider since you won’t be living here full-time.

It's much simpler to apply once you're in Thailand and insurance not required, unless there's a compelling reason to apply feom US. That's what I did.

This map shows you which consulate you apply through.

Over 50. US citizen. Current income from multiple sources - investments, small w-2 income, and interest received from lending money.

𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐒 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝.

I plan on spending 4-6 months a year in Thailand, 4 months in Japan, 2 in usa and take short trips around the world. I don't mind getting health insurance in Thailand (currently looking at AXA).

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐎𝐀 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞.

I'm currently back in the US. Looking at Non-O retirement and Non-OA retirement or possibly METV. Ironically the Chicago and DC consulates show different wording for the requirements than each other.

𝐄𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄-𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞.

What are the pros & cons to 90 day O vs 1 year OA?

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐎 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝟖𝟎𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐛𝐚𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐎𝐀 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟏-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫.

Any experience with Chicago vs DC?

𝐀𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲.

Both consulates require a bank account with a minimum balance but doesn't specify if the account can be outside of Thailand (don't really want to park a bunch of cash in Thai back account if possible plus since I'm not there can't set one up)

𝐓𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐎 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝟗𝟎 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟏-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟖𝟎𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐛𝐚𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐎𝐀 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐄𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟏 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝟐 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐎𝐀 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐚.

If in the US you need to use the evisa system and the consulate based on your ‘residence’. You can’t just apply where you want