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What are the steps for switching from an OA retirement visa to an O visa in Thailand?

Thailand Visa OA Visa O Visa Visa Application Process Retirement Visa Visa Extension Re-entry Permit Thai Immigration

Sep 17, 2022

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

I’ve been reading and still have many questions. Please help me with my planning & reasoning. 

I’m currently on an OA retirement vi￼sa from the US. I’m planning to switch to an O visa granted within Thailand. 

Does each of these visas have equal validity and standing? I certainly would not want to have to go back to repeat the many steps to reapply for the OA visa.

￼

To Apply for the O visa: Would I have to leave Thailand and return after my current OA expires?  I was not planning on going to my home country to apply for a visa there.  Does it matter where I go? 

In the Proces: would I need to get a visa of some sort from a Thai Consulate perhaps in Cambodia or Vietnam?  Advantages? Easy better SE Asia place to apply for visa— if one is needed? 

Or can I just enter on the regular 30-45 days granted upon arrival? 

Since I’ve got the money in my Thai bank already.  When could I apply for the 90 day non O visa? Do I get to skip any steps?

Then after 2 months I would need to apply for a Year O extension? Is that essentially expanding a 90 day visa into a year O visa?  

And.. Once it is at that type of O visa. 

I’d need to apply for reentry (if I want to leave country and not lose my visa)? 

And, eventually, 45 day before expiration,  I could extend that O visa for another year. And repeat?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post discusses switching from an OA retirement visa to an O visa in Thailand, seeking clarity on application validity, necessary steps, and visa extension processes. Key concerns include whether the O visa carries the same validity as the OA visa, the need to exit Thailand to apply for the O visa, and the required documents. The response indicates that one must leave Thailand to apply for the O visa, possibly at a consulate in neighboring countries, and outlines the steps to transition to a 90-day Non-O visa, followed by the yearly extension process.

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.

Tod *********

and on that note we are done.

if you want your thread re-opened message me

Sorry to have deleted your comments but the questions you were asking were not related to this thread.

IF you have questions about how an OA visa or O visa works make your own post.

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Ellie *******

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Ellie *******

You can apply for a new 1-year extension, and it is not entry from the visa anymore. '2 year' means from Non-OA directly.

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Mark ********

clarify 3 months please..have to extend every 3 months?

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Ellie *******

, Visa itself is valid for three months for you to enter Thailand using that visa. When you enter Thailand using that visa, you are stamped for 90 days of being permitted to stay (A single entry Non-O visa is used and not valid anymore as of when you are stamped for 90 days). When that 90 days are up, you apply for a 1-year extension.

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Paul *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I was told you need to apply for O visa— year extension before the 90 day visa ends? True?

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Ellie *******

, right. The last day you can apply for a 1-year extension is the "permitted until" date on your current stamp.

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Ellie *******

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James ********

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James ********

OR if you have 800,000 Thai baht and can transfer it to a Thai bank account in your name only... WHY are you getting the OA visa?

Do yourself a favor ... enter Thailand Visa EXEMPT and transfer the 800,000 Thai baht into your Thai bank account and apply for the Non O Visa as retiree and the One year extension of stay as retired. .

NO police check required

NO health insurance required

NO medical tests required

That keeps it simple year after year.

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Philip *****

thanks ! But wonder if will it be better if I apply O visa within Thailand then.

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James ********

The first has expired BUT you can return to your home country and obtain a new OA.

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Philip *****

thanks but my first OA visa would have expired already by the added one year.

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James ********

OR as MANY Expats do... Return to your home country and obtain a new OA visa.

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James ********

then you must have the 800,000 Thai baht in your Thai bank account ...Along with proof of the required health insurance to obtain a One year extension of stay as retired with your OA based retirement Visa.

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Philip *****

thanks. This means I can stay in Thailand for 2 years without extending my OA as long I continue to have the medical insurance valid. So what happens after the one added year stamp if I want to continue to stay?

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James ********

OR as you asked... Yes you can transfer internationally 800,000 Thai baht in your name only Thai Bank account at least two full months before the ending date of your permission to stay in Thailand.

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James ********

first... IF you are just now getting the OA visa... you are stamped in for One year on arrival into Thailand... And IF you Bounce out of Thailand AND re-enter Thailand before the end of your OA visa validity...you will get One added Year STAMP into Thailand. So long as your required health insurance is valid.

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James ********

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James ********

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James ********

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James ********

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Tod *********

you have a pretty good grasp of it

Yep you have to stamp out on the OA

come in on a visa exempt entry (or a tourist visa if you want to)

get your bank letter, documents, etc and go apply for the 90 day Non-O visa for 2000baht,

It goes under review (usually for 2 weeks) you go back and get the new 90 day stamp and Non-O inked in.

Then you wait until you have 45 days or less left on that and you get the bank letter, documents etc and apply for the year extension for 1900baht

and you're correct,

after you get that you buy a multiple re-entry permit for 3800baht. So all in you're at 7700 baht immigration fees

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Tod *********

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