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What are the steps to apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa after my Non-Immigrant OA Visa has expired?

Non-Immigrant O Visa Non-Immigrant OA Visa Visa Application Process Visa Extension Thailand Immigration Expat Visa Rules

Henry *******

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asked Jun 24, 2020

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Hello everyone,  I'm looking for info as to what's involved in applying for a  non-imm O visa. I'm retired and currently on non-immigrant OA visa which now has expired. My understanding is that I must leave Thailand and return on a visa-exempt.  That will allow me 30 days...  so what's after that?  I do meet all the requirements to extend my current OA but I'd rather apply for an O.  Thanks in advance.

Answer summary

The user seeks information about applying for a Non-Immigrant O visa after their Non-Immigrant OA visa has expired. They are currently on amnesty and considering applying for the Non-O visa instead of extending their OA visa. Community responses clarify that the user can apply for an extension on their OA visa while still on amnesty, but to apply for a Non-O visa, they need to be on a 30-day visa exempt entry or a proper tourist visa. Additionally, the discussion highlights the differences between the Non-O and Non-OA visas, noting that the Non-O visa does not require health insurance and can be applied for while in Thailand, whereas the Non-OA must be obtained outside Thailand.

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Marc *********

Marc *********

What is the advantage of non-O over non-OA?

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Henry *******

Henry *******

OP

BTW, regardless of whether it's an initial application for an OA or an extension of the OA, health insurance requirements applies in both cases.

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Marc *********

Marc *********

Yeah, so I still don't know what the advantages are of either visa. I have a Thai bank account so I should go for non-O?

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Henry *******

Henry *******

OP

Non-OA requires health insurance and visa only available outside of Thailand. Non-O does not require health insurance and visa only available inside Thailand.

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Henry *******

Henry *******

OP

The financial requirements are same for both OA or O

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Ivan ************

Ivan ************

for an extension, yes. But for the initial O-A visa, you don't need money in Thailand, and in normal times you can get almost 2 years out of one.

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Henry *******

Henry *******

OP

@Ivan ***********

Correct, for the initial OA, you don't need money in a Thai bank but you will still need to meet financial requirements before the Thai embassy will issue you the OA visa. Upon successfully obtaining your OA visa, the first year is multiple entry but the second year is not; however, you can purchase a single re-entry (1000 baht) or a multiple re-entry permit (4000 baht) during the second year of your OA

1

Henry *******

Henry *******

OP

Non-OA can only be obtained outside of Thailand while non-O is issued inside Thailand. Insurance must be obtained from approved insurance companies in Thailand which I think there're only about 6 of them.

1

Marc *********

Marc *********

Why would the Thai government give non-O instead of non-OA? Why do both visa's exist? In any case, I do have health insurance (but not Thai but that is not much money) so that issue doesn't matter for me. Is that the only difference?

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Henry *******

Henry *******

OP

currently, non-O doesn't have health insurance requirements.

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Henry *******

Henry *******

OP

Thanks very much Tod. That filled in the confusion for me. Much appreciated to all.

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Tod *********

Tod *********

Just so you know, you need to be on a 30 day visa exempt entry, a 60 day tourist visa entry OR a 30 day extension from one of those to apply for an in country Non-O visa. You can't get it from ANY other entry or visa type and you can't get it from amnesty.

Depending on the immigration office you need between 15 and 21 days left on one of the three stamps I mentioned (30 day V/E, 60 day tourist, or 30 day extension) because the application goes under consideration before you go back and get the Non-O visa and a new 90 day entry stamp inked into your passport. THEN you wait until you have 30 days or less left on that new 90 day stamp before you can apply for the yearly extension based on retirement. It is a 3 step process and takes 3 visits to the immigration office to do (1-apply, 2-go back and get the Non-O, 3-wait and then apply for the year)

2

Tod *********

Tod *********

, okay so you're saying your year long entry stamp that you got from using the O-A visa expired (AFTER March 26th) and now you're on amnesty right?

If that is the case you are correct, you CAN apply for a yearly extension on that expired O-A entry stamp up until the amnesty ends on July 31st

2

Henry *******

Henry *******

OP

Thanks

Daniels. The extension of my OA is my back up plan. If fact my OA has expired while I was waiting to fly home so I'm still here on amnesty til July 31. And judging the current situation, it doesn't seem likely that I would be able to leave and return on a visa-exempt before July 31st, so my OA extension maybe my only option. I'll post my question again if and when I apply for an O visa. Its a little confusing reading the info leaflet from immigration on requirements for an O visa. It seems to suggest that I need to apply for an extension of 30, 60, or 90 days while I'm still on a visa-exempt. I was just confused as to why I can't directly apply for the O visa (TM87) immediately upon arrival on a visa-exempt.

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Henry *******

Henry *******

OP

... and I can apply for the extension as long as it's in process prior to July 31. Can anyone offer a comment on that?

1

Bobby ********

Bobby ********

. If your OA has expired, you can't get an extension of stay.

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Henry *******

Henry *******

OP

that's interesting. I was told I could under the amnesty by the CM immigration and they gave me 2 packages: one for an O visa and a package for my extension.

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Tod *********

Tod *********

yep, I know another person whose O-A VISA expired before they could bounce out and get a new year entry stamp and now their current year entry stamp expired too and they are also on amnesty. They are in the process of getting the health insurance then will apply for the yearly extension seeing as they already have the funds seasoned the correct amount of time . The key is they need to apply for the year extension BEFORE the amnesty plan ends.

1

Bobby ********

Bobby ********

. That's ok then. I wouldn't be game to let an OA (probably the best visa to be on at the moment) lapse onto Amnesty, as in theory your visa is expired. But if you're confident you can keep it going, I'd be at immigration today doing it!

1

Tod *********

Tod *********

Just so you're clear, what you're not gonna do NOW is bounce out and back and come in on a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp. I doubt you'd be able to do anything close to that before Sept or Oct IF then. And remember no one knows what the new entry requirements might be for foreigners comin' in once they do open the country up :(

So for me the "I'd rather apply for an O" is a non-starter and you're way better off IF you're in the country, IF you're still on an entry stamp from your original O-A visa and IF you meet the requirements to just get a yearly extension on it and fool with "getting an O" next time around

3

Alan *******

Alan *******

you been away Tod? I think others have been manning the fort 😁

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

IF you meet the requirements (have the 800K baht seasoned the correct time and have the mandatory health insurance) why not just get an extension on this current entry stamp from your O-A visa?

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