I start receiving my USA Social Security in May ‘23. I can get a confirmation letter from the SSA showing that my payment is in excess of the required 65k baht. Am I required to show 12 previous payments, or is a commitment letter from the SSA sufficient? I prefer to use income as the basis for my O-A visa.
TLDR : Answer Summary
For US citizens applying for an O-A visa in Thailand, a commitment letter from the SSA showing that your Social Security income exceeds the required 65,000 baht is not sufficient. Immigration authorities only accept official bank statements or proof of monthly transfers from overseas that meet the financial requirement, specifically a 12-month summary for extensions. Alternatively, you can apply for a retirement visa extension (type O) after having a minimum of 800,000 baht in your bank account for at least two months. It's advisable to choose the O retirement visa rather than the O-A visa due to potential issues with health insurance validity affecting visa duration in the first year.
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.