Answered3 years ago
What is the difference between Non-Immigrant O and Non-Immigrant O-A extensions issued in Thailand?
Hi. I'm confused. I'm on a 1-year retirement extension issued INSIDE Thailand. Is this called Non-immigrant "O-A", or is it simply Non-immigrant "O"? (The stamp in my passport only says "Non-Imm", no letters.) Thanks for any advice!
Answer summary
The post seeks clarification on whether a retirement extension issued inside Thailand is categorized as Non-Immigrant "O" or Non-Immigrant "O-A". Commenters clarify that since the extension was obtained within Thailand, it is classified as a Non-O visa. They discuss additional details, such as the requirements for health insurance distinguishing the O from the OA category, and explain the process for obtaining a one-year extension of stay.
48 repliesnewest first
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
Bennett ********
OPHi all. I'm going to turn off comments on this post. I don't want it to get ugly. Thanks to all for input and advice, much appreciated!
Gregor **********
I am surprised that so many members of this group are struck stooopid. Maybe they want to be "real americans" . . . . ."we are the best, but we have no fucking idea about the World outside of the US" . .we are proud to be Stoooopid
Teresa ***********
Non O Retirement visa. My husband renew it yearly for 7 years now. You are required to do notification every 90 days (online or drive through) . In case you want to travel outside Thailand... get a reentry
Gregor **********
@Teresa **********
you don't "renew a retirement visa". . . all you do is renewing your yearly "1-year extended stay permit". You discontinued to hold a visa 7 years ago
Marty *********
The wording of the question was a little confusing to me. If what he is talking about is an EXTENSION of his visa the the way to tell the difference between an OA and an O visa is if they required health insurance to get the extension. An OA visa extension requires health insurance. An O visa extension does not require health insurance.
Bennett ********
OP@Marty ********
Thanks. I applied inside Thailand, no insurance required. I was merely asking literally what it’s called - O or O-A - because it was a question on a form I had to fill out.
Patena ********
@Bennett *******
thank you 🙏🏼Patena ********
@Bennett *******
Hi, how does one obtain a 1 year extension of stay permit ?We just have exemption as we arrived one week ago.
Bennett ********
OP@Patena *******
You apply at immigration for the Non-O 90 day visa, then when approved it converts to a 1-year retirement extension. You must be 50 years old, & have 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account. Some other requirements. There is a lot about this in this facebook group.Gregor **********
@Bennett *******
what you are on, is a "one year extended stay permit". You are NOT on a visa anymore. The 90-days Non-Imm-O visa itself, from out of which you received the "1-year extension of stay permit based on retirement" did expire when you entered Thailand. However I must note, that Thai Immigration does not differ between a stay permit and a visa. For them it is all the same, regardless that this is technically wrongBennett ********
OPAnd I used the term extension in the post. Just was confused on its label.
Rob **********
If it was issued inside of Thailand it will be a Non O, as a OA can only be issued in your own country.
Ta ************
Pardon me for being a noob, what does an O stand for?
Ludwig ***********
@Ta ***********
it’s the “other category” including retirement and marriage, as opposed to the categories specifically listed (study, work…).Ta ************
@Ludwig **********
Thanks for clarifying
John **********
@Ta ***********
otherTa ************
@John *********
Thanks!Bennett ********
OPThanks everyone!
Matteo ***********
Yours it's NON-O Retirement Visa
Gregor **********
look. In case you don't believe me. Ask the question in the "Thai visa advice" group. Thai visa "Guru" Tod Daniels will tell you EXACTLY the same as I am telling you. if you still insist in your STOOOPID reprisals, you should get whipped for imbecility, like the do in Singapore
Steve ********
@Gregor *********
There's no need to ask in any other group. Thai immigration call it a visa extension. They are the government department issuing it and you're telling me they're wrong but a "Facebook Farang" is right? Ok. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Gregor **********
@Steve *******
exactky: Thai Immigration calls it a "visa Extension" . . .. when ya look it up closely, Thai Immigration has only extended your stay permit . . . STEVE: you are STOOOOPID. sorry to say but you are utterly stooopid , can't help you , you have a deficit in your educationGregor **********
@Matteo **********
wrong. what he wants to say, he is on a "one year extended stay permit". He is NOT on a visa anymore. The 90-days Non-Imm-O visa itself, from out of which he received the "1-year extension of stay permit based on retirement" did expire at the very moment he entered Thailand and got stamped a 90 days stay permit.
And this 90 days stay permit got extended for one year. The stamp in his passport says “1-year extension of stay permitted until…” and the reason for which he received the extended stay permit, will be a small stamp that says “retirement”
However I must note, that Thai Immigration in their own Thinglish does not differ between a stay permit and a visa. For them it is all the same, regardless that this is technically wrong
Matteo ***********
@Gregor *********
Alright ok, you've been very precise. Yes that's what it is technically. So it is a 1 year Extension of a NON-O Retirement Visa. done 👍Gregor **********
Steve. Your are STOOOPID! The appliction to a "Permanent Residence" in Thailand is a totally different thing
Steve ********
@Gregor *********
It's ok I've found it. A stay permit is permanent residence. 🤣🤣🤣🤣Steve ********
@Gregor *********
There's no such thing as a STAY PERMIT. Send me a link to a Thai government website which uses the term STAY PERMIT. I've already provided the Thai immigration website which states VISA EXTENSION a couple of dozen times. Put your money where your mouth is or shut the fuck upGregor **********
@Steve *******
I am in close touch with the diplomatic team of my Embassy. Their stance is the same I am telling here. The Thai Immigration talks ass out of the mouth. They DON't extend visa. They only extend stay permitsGregor **********
@Steve *******
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 "can't grasp terminology" . . . . Dude, ya gotta get real. You must have missed something during your education.Gregor **********
@Steve *******
English is my second mother language, I shook hands with Bobby Kennedy and you are the "arse" who is speaking 😂 🤣 😂 poor puppy. My sponsor was a highly decorated 1-star General of the US Army . . what kinda gutter kid are you?Steve ********
@Gregor *********
You talk out of your arse, but I realise English is not your native language, so it's little wonder you can't grasp the terminologyGregor **********
@Andy *******
when you are on an extension of stay you have received "out of a former Non-O visa", Immigration will only move the "extension stamp" to your new passport. They were never allowed to move a "visa sticker" or nowadays Visa stamp. Immigration can only move their OWN stamps, which are the entry stamps and the extension stamps. Immigration does NEVER extend a visa, this is technically not possible - regardless they call an extension of a stay permit a " visa extension". Immigration is unfamiliar with the fact that a visa and a stay permit are TWO different technical terminations of a different situation. You ENTER a country with a VISA, and you will receive a stamp which is a STAY PERMIT ("admitted until" and in the upper right corner there will be a small stamp of a hand written entry about the visa-type the stay permit is based upon!) and from the date of entry on - if you entered with a single entry visa - you are in Thailand on a stay permit and NOT on a visa. Only if you entered with a multi entry type visa, the visa remains valid until its expiry . . HOPE YOU FINALLY UNDERSTOOD because I am sick of discussing the matter with people who act like stubborn bricksGregor **********
@Andy *******
I reckon it is VERY SAD that you seem to be mocked for the pitfalls of terminations. Let me explain! That's because a Non-Imm-O/A visa is a multi entry type and stays valid until the visa validity expiry. However a single entry 90 days Non-Imm-O visa will be stamped "USED" upon entry, and you will be in Thailand on a 90-days stay permit. Dig? Just read your entry stamps, guys. DON'T discuss with an expert if you are not sure about your gibberish . .
Andy ********
@Gregor *********
just read your comment and unfortunately you are wrong. An extension of stay on a non immigrant O has different requirements to an extension of stay on a non immigrant O-A.When you get a new passport then immigration will transfer your current visa into the new one. The transferred stamp will detail the visa type, O, O-A or whatever visa you are currently extending.
Maybe next time it will be best to check before you start disagreeing with more knowledgeable than yourself.
Gregor **********
@Steve *******
you couldn't be more wrong. Just let it sink in, pal. no worries, some day or the other you gonna understand itGregor **********
@Steve *******
actually it would be VERY EASY to prove that I am right. Just look at the stamp of a guy on a "retirement extensions of stay". The stamp says: "extension of stay permitted until . ." and a date. NOWHERE it says that this stamp is a visa. If you and Immigration were right, then show me WHERE on the stamp it says that it is a visa? A VISA CANNOT BE EXTENDED, PERIOD! It clearly states that the "stay permit" got extended. The "reason" of the extension of the stay permit is an extra stamp or handwritten note, says either "retirement" or "married"Gregor **********
@Steve *******
Yes, Thai Immigration is wrong. They are too lazy to correct their confusion. A visa is not the same as a stay permit. Period!Steve ********
@Gregor *********
So Thai Immigration have got it wrong, but you've got it right? Oh dear, you need to stop drinking so early in the day 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Gregor **********
@Steve *******
a "visa" is a title which allows you to ENTER a country. A stay permit is a title which allows you to STAY inside the country.
After you ENTERED, the visa is void.
You are in the country with a stay permit.
And in case Immigration extends it, they will extend your stay permit.
Immigration cannot extend a void and "USED" visa.
I sincerely hope the correct termination is AS CLEAR AS MISSISIPPI MUD now
Thai Immigration wrong termination, is not my cup of tea, it's theirs . . it's on THEM !
Steve ********
@Matteo **********
Don't listen to him. You're either on a "visa" or a "visa extension" in Thai immigration terminology, which is what counts!*****************************************
*****
Steve ********
@Gregor *********
Ok, so Thailand Immigration is wrong, but you're right. I think I'll go with the official title, not your invented one! 😂😂😂*****************************************
*****
Gregor **********
@Steve *******
That's wrong! No, it's not a visa extension. A visa cannot get extended at all! The visa is already invalid/"Used". It's a stay permit extension. It's just that Thai Immigration doesn't make a difference between a visa and a stay permit, although they are technically speaking not the same thingSteve ********
@Gregor *********
It's a visa extension. That's the correct term.Gregor **********
@Matteo **********
you are still in the wrong. It is a 1 year Extension of the stay permit that you received when you entered Thailand with a "Non-O-retirement Visa". The visa cannot be extended any more because it became invalid for use at the port of entry. The visa doesn't exist any more, and that's why it cannot be extended 😇 🙂John **********
It's most likely an extension based on a Non-O but it will depend on the original visa it's based on. If you obtained the original visa inside Thailand it will be a Non-O but if you obtained it in your home country it could be either so you'd need to check the actual visa rather than the extension stamp
Marty *********
@John *********
If it is an extension then they would have required insurance if it as an OA.Steve ********
It'll be a non-O
Bennett ********
OP@Steve *******
thank you!Activity
12 joined12
people
Related
25Can I apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa inside Thailand for retirement?
1.3k402mo
How can I apply for a Thai Non-Immigrant O-A Retirement Visa while living outside my passport country?
5.8k63303mo
How can I provide the 800,000 baht financial proof for my Thai retirement O visa if I just received my super funds?
2.7k24228mo
Can I apply for a Non-OA retirement visa upon entering Thailand on a tourist visa?
6.7k281478mo
What do I need to do to move as a retiree to Koh Samui, Thailand?
4.6k51358mo
Does the 800,000 THB required for a retirement visa extension in Thailand need to originate from abroad?
1.5k81710mo
Is medical insurance required for the Non-Immigrant O (Retirement Extension) visa in Thailand?
4.4k16641y
What is the process and cost for obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand upon turning 50?
1.8k11171y
What do I need to apply for a bank account and retirement visa in Thailand?
7.5k69621y
What is the process to apply for a Non-Immigrant O visa for retirement in Thailand?
1.6k12131y
What are the key points regarding extending a Non-Immigrant O retirement visa in Thailand and re-entry permits?
631341y
Can I apply for a retirement visa in Thailand using a different passport without leaving the country?
1.1k3172y
What are the financial requirements for extending a Non-O visa based on retirement in Thailand?
2.4k18192y
What are the steps to obtain a one-year retirement visa in Thailand?
3.1k26202y
Can I enter Thailand on a 30-day visa exempt and then apply for a Non-Immigrant O visa and a one-year extension?
3k20373y
What is the process for converting a tourist visa to a Non-Immigrant O (retirement) visa in Thailand?
3.5k10794y
Do I need to have been in Thailand for a certain period before applying for a Non-Immigrant O visa based on retirement?
1.7k11164y
What is the process for UK expats to obtain a Non-Immigrant O Visa and its extension in Thailand?
2k12225y
When can I apply for a one-year extension for a Non-Immigrant O visa in Thailand before returning to the UK?
1.3k8115y
How do I apply for a 90-day single entry visa and transition to a Non-Immigrant O visa in Thailand?
1.8k13145y
What are the steps to apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa after my Non-Immigrant OA Visa has expired?
2.6k22166y
Do I need health insurance when applying for a Non-Immigrant O-A visa based on retirement?
789367y
What should I know before going to Laos for a Non-Immigrant O Visa application?
3.6k30287y
What are the restrictions and reporting requirements for a Non-Immigrant O Multiple Entry Visa in Thailand?
771368y
What are the options and requirements for Australian retirees applying for a long-stay visa in Thailand?
3.4k31239y
Resources
Need help with your retirement visa?
#1 visa agent · 4,000+ reviews · 100,000+ expats served