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Answered8 years ago

What is the start date for a Non-Immigrant O-A Visa in Thailand when considering personal shipments?

Non-Immigrant O-A visa Visa application process Personal shipment rules Thailand retirement visa Financial requirements for visa Visa validity

Marty ********

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asked Feb 13, 2019

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I could be confused about this. Please advise. I am still in the USA and was ready to file for a Non Immigrant O-A to move to Chiang Mai to retire permanently. I am 71, can easily meet the 65K per month income burden to a Thai bank.

I am in the process of selling house and everything here but going very slow.

My understanding for 1 duty-free personal shipment to Thailand, I must have my shipment arrive within 6 months of getting the above mentioned visa. My question is: what determines the start date for that VISA. Is it the date I arrive in Thailand, or a DATE that the Thai Consulate in LA establishes when I apply, or ?????

I already have tickets for a round-trip to BKK and back (3-29 to 4-29) but will not be able send that PERSONAL shipment by then, so I will just do a Tourist VISA on arrival.

Is there a better way to do this?

Answer summary

The start date for the Non-Immigrant O-A visa is determined by the date the visa is issued by the Thai consulate, not by when you enter Thailand or when your personal shipment arrives. The visa is valid for one year from the issue date, allowing for multiple entries. It's recommended to apply for the visa once your travel plans are finalized to avoid wasting its validity. Additionally, be cautious with the visa-free entry, as it only permits a 30-day stay, which may not cover your travel plans.

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Joe ***********

Joe ***********

When purchased at a Thai Consulate the financial qualification is the Equivalent of 800,000 Baht in the US Dollar. I would be surprised if an alternate of 65,000 Baht a month is an option

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Joe ***********

Joe ***********

- I guess the last time I looked was nearly 4 years ago

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Tod *********

Tod *********

@Joe **********

yep you're right it's NOT written that way. My friend applied in Chicago using a bank statement that showed rental income and social security deposits, it was over the 65K baht a month and they accepted it. Now whether the other consulates in the US would or not I have no idea..

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Joe ***********

Joe ***********

- I have just never see it written in the online description. So I am surprised.

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Tod *********

Tod *********

Most consulates in the US will let you show a bank statement that shows at least $2100USD in deposits a month (it can be ANYTHING, pension, SS, SSDI, rental income etc)

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Tod *********

Tod *********

Unfortunately as far as shipping stuff here duty free, you're gonna hafta post on another group.

This is just a thai visa advice group. Sorry about that.

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Marty ********

Marty ********

OP

see that was what I was thinking. Most probably, I will get the NON O-A a month or 2 before I arrive and must include a copy of it with my shipment to be eligible for the ‘duty-free’ status. That means I may not even enter the Kingdom until maybe 3 months after my VISA is issued but guarantee that I will have that 6 month window in my ‘favor’.

Even though my comments mention ‘shipping’, it is the VISA information that will determine my application date for the NON O-A and how that will affect the logistics of shipping date, my arrival in the Kingdom, and how much of my first year will be lost.

This group has answered all the questions and ‘cleared the fog’ for this ‘1st time VISA’ 71 year old, future Thailand retiree. Thank you.

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Paul ********

Paul ********

I have just moved here and am going through the process of an International removal and your stuff must enter the country less than six months after you enter, not when your Visa was issued at the consulate.

1

Marty ********

Marty ********

OP

yes, I knew that. The shipping was contingent on the ‘effective start date’ of a NON O-A visa. I wasn’t asking for any shipping information. Thanks though.

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Mark *******

Mark *******

The exempt entry (entering the kingdom without a visa) is only 30 days. With your travel dates you might end up on overstay by 1 or 2 days depending on when you arrive in Thailand. Recommend you purchase a single entry tourist visa from the consulate in America which will get you a 60 day stamp when you arrive.

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Robert *******

Robert *******

Arrive 30 March plus 29 days is 28 April, this makes it one day overstay if he leaves on 29 April.

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Mark *******

Mark *******

Overstay will be more than 24 hours because they count the day you arrive as one of the days.

You 'could' overstay and pay the fine when you leave but, I would not recommend it.

An extension is more expensive than a tourist visa and more time consuming. I recommend you get a tourist visa in the US before you come and you will get a 60 day stamp when you enter. No stress, no hassle.

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Marty ********

Marty ********

OP

I wrote the wrong date for my arrival in Thailand.

I leave the USA on March 29 but arrive in Thailand March 30 and leave Thailand on April 29 so that still gives me an overstay of less than 24 hours????

Should I not get worried about that or can I get to thailand and get an extension to 60 days, even though I will be leaving on the date as listed above.?

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Tod *********

Tod *********

remember on a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp you get stamped in for 29 days :O The day you arrive is counted as day ONE. But at worst you'll have an overstay of under 24 hours which doesn't have a fine OR an overstay stamp.

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Marty ********

Marty ********

OP

thanks Mark. I actually don’t arrive in BKK until March 30 and jump back on the return plane until April 29.

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Tod *********

Tod *********

The VISA is valid for one year from the date it's ISSUED. It has nothing to do with when you or your stuff arrives in thailand. This means you should apply for the visa when you have your travel plans sorted out because otherwise you're burning the validity of the visa down NOT being here.

The BEST thing to do is get the year long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A visa from a thai consulate there BEFORE you wing your way here. That visa gives you unlimited entries/exits for the year it's valid for AND each entry gets you stamped in for a whole year.

Given the HUGE changes to the financial requirements to get yearly extensions INSIDE the country the Non-O-A is a far better visa.

In the US you can get it from the thai consulates in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC.

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Marty ********

Marty ********

OP

thanks Todd.

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