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What happened with my dependent retirement visa application in Thailand?

Mar 29, 2025
4 days ago
Henry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello all! I wanted to follow up with the group and share what happened with my recent under 50 dependent on a retirement visa application… as a thank you to the people who replied and for the benefit of the people who follow behind me.

So, after my post on February 27th and reading the advice offered, my wife (over 50) and I (49) decided to try for the Non-Immigrant Type O visa with me as a dependent. We engaged a well known and advertised Thai legal firm (that was not Thai Visa Centre) to assist us with the e-visa application (and only the e-visa application, as we are moving to Hua Hin and not in their service areas for other assistance). To be clear, we didn’t realize Thai Visa Centre was a group admin otherwise we would have consulted with them! We paid a US$495 fee per person, as we figured that any assistance they could provide to “tip the scales” might work in our favor. That fee included our e-visa fees, so call it US$810 total for the service.

In our application, we provided all the necessary documents and the required proof of funds in our bank accounts (actual balances not investments, and well over the minimums, which I hope reinforced that we were not applying to avoid the minimum 2x800k baht deposits but solely on account of my age being not-quite-50).

Application was submitted on Monday, March 10th to the Los Angeles consulate. My wife’s retirement visa was approved 10 days later (March 20th), but the officer used their discretion to approve my visa as a Tourist visa. I inquired as to if it could be a multiple entry Tourist visa, but that would have required a new fee and a new application (and wait). We went back and fourth on that issue, but ultimately my visa (60 day Tourist, or the same thing as the current visa exemption policy) was approved on the 26th.

So, in short, we tried it and it didn’t work. The next officer at the same consulate may have exercised their discretion differently, but… I thought we had a pretty strong “application package” and still struck out. I share this with others to hopefully save them some time and money on their visa process.

I am coming to Thailand for medical services, so I will likely pursue the medical soft power DTV once I’m there and can make sufficient appointments (we tried DTV from the US, but couldn't make more than one appointment at a time until we see the doctors). I’m sure I’ll have questions on DTVs soon, but in the mean time I’m thankful for all the information and advice this great group has shared.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user shares their experience applying for a Non-Immigrant Type O visa as a dependent on their spouse's retirement visa. Despite submitting a strong application with all required documents, the user's visa was ultimately issued as a Tourist visa. They advise others on the importance of being aware of application processes and the possibility of pursuing a different visa type, like the medical DTV, once arriving in Thailand.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Sharon *******
Once you're in Thailand go & speak to your local immigration office. You may be able to change to an O dependant visa there. You will need to have your marriage licence legalised & translated to be able to do this.
Henry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sharon ******
Thank you! We will give this a try when we're on the ground in Hua Hin. Certainly more convenient than doing the DTV shuffle.

Our marriage certificate is currently being authenticated in DC now and then legalized by the Thai embassy also in DC, being handled by a courier service. Once it follows us to Thailand, we'll get it translated/legalized there too.
Jack ********
@Sharon ******
yes go to the main Hua Hin immigration. They are very helpful and it’s not crowded this time of year
Henry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jack *******
Thanks Jack! Are you in Hua Hin? Would you recommend using a visa service or doing it yourself at that office?
John **********
It's very difficult, if not impossible, to get a Non-O visa as a dependant of someone on a Non-O for retirement now. Some embassies will still do it if the primary person gets a Non-OA visa.
Kool *******
Were you aware that your wife's type O visa had to be approved first before you could apply for the trailing spouse visa? You can't apply at the same time, as it seems you did.
Henry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
I assumed the agent knew this and staged the applications to have it happen properly. You know what they say about assuming...
Bernd ***********
@Kool ******
the agent should have known this, should he ?!
Wayne *********
@Bernd **********
Any good agent should know. The wife should have got her visa then after receiving using her visa number the hubby should have applied for trailing spouse visa.
Pom ********
@Wayne ********
exactly. That’s how we did ours. No problem.
Tony **********
You can't apply for DTV in-country. You can possibly get your dependent visa when here.
Henry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *********
Understood, I planned to head to a neighboring country and apply/return.
Bob **********
@Tony *********
they applied for a non-o not a DTV
Tony **********
@Bob *********
I know, but then he said he might apply for DTV sheet he got here instead
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