What should I do if my Non-O retirement visa application is asking for hotel reservations and insurance documents?

Non-O Visa Retirement Visa Thailand Immigration Visa Requirements Health Insurance Private Residence Tourist Visa

Sep 19, 2023

a year ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello,

I just applied for Non-O (based on over 50) retirement 90 day Visa to enter Thailand from the United States. 

For place of stay in Thailand I listed my wife’s house and address and her name as the owner. (My wife has dual Thai and US citizenship) I also submitted my retirement medical information. 

The Thai consulate LA came back asking for All hotel reservations with my name clearly stated. They also asked that my insurance documents must be signed and stamped by my insurance company. 

My questions:

1. How do I show I am staying at a private residence with my wife, maybe an invitation letter from her?

2. Do I have to have insurance for the Non-O (based on over 50)? I have read many posts stating it’s not required. 

Or can I just buy a policy to cover the first 90 days?

3. Is it easier to just come on a 60 day tourist visa and apply for the Non-O at my local immigration office. I already have the 800k in the bank.

Thank you

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user has applied for a Non-O retirement visa (based on being over 50) to Thailand and listed their wife's residence as their stay. The Thai consulate requested evidence of hotel bookings and signed insurance documents. They seek advice on providing proof of stay as a private residence, whether insurance is mandatory for the Non-O visa, and the feasibility of entering on a tourist visa instead. Community advice suggests that an invitation letter or hotel reservations can serve as proof of stay, that insurance may be necessary depending on the type of visa application, and that opting for a tourist visa may reduce complications with the application.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

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James ********

I believe that the OP has his answer. Thanks all for your helpful replies.

Comments Closed

a year ago

Arun *******

Some people are so quick wanting to show their knowledge, that they don’t even read the query, which has already answered their advice

a year ago

Bob **********

If you can open a bank account and get the 800 k in there in two months before applying I’d do it here but your married why not go that route only 400 k needed

a year ago

James ********

@Bob *********

he already has the 800,000 Thai baht in a Thai bank account.

a year ago

Reply to

James ********

Robert *******

3. It might be or it might be a pain in the ass.

It all depends IF your local Immigration Office is allowed to perform this conversion into a Non Immigrant O visa, if not if means travel and book hotels to stay near an Office which is allowed.

Most easy option is to provide the documents and get the visa before travel, not sure why you choose for retirement as you also have the option of being married with a Thai Citizen.

And based on marriage has less financial requirements if you apply for the 1 year Extension of Stay.

a year ago

Jeff **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Robert ******

I tried the marry option last year. The local court would not accept our marriage license. We even had the original document with blue county court stamp and signature. That process was a pain and ended up with nothing.

a year ago

Reply to

Jeff **********

Brandon ************

It's very difficult to get a bank account on a visa exempt or tourist visa so take that into account. If you don't already have a bank account then entering with a non-O will make getting one easier. Otherwise you may end up paying for someone to help you open an account.

a year ago

Tod *********

@Brandon ***********

he said in his post

𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟴𝟬𝟬𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸. I took that to mean he has it banked here already

a year ago

Brandon ************

@Tod ********

oops I must have missed that. 😵‍💫

a year ago

Reply to

Brandon ************

Tod *********

𝟭. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿?

Invitation letter, copy of her thai i/d, her thai house book listing of where you're staying

OR

just make a hotel booking with an online service you can cancel after you get the visa approved

𝟮. 𝗗𝗼 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗢 (𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟱𝟬)? 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱.

When you buy the Non-O visa in the US based on retirement you DO need to show the proof of mandatory insurance coverage

𝗢𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟵𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀?

Yep you can do that because that visa only lets you in ONCE for 90 days

𝟯. 𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝟲𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗢 𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟴𝟬𝟬𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸.

Yep that is a FAR easier option (y) (y)

Buy a single entry tourist visa, come in, get stamped in for 60 days and then get everything together and go apply for first the 90 day Non-O visa (for 2000baht) at your immigration office then when that is running down to 30 days or less apply for the year extension base on retirement (for 1900baht)

a year ago

Jeff **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Thank you for the advice. I looked at of the insurance options. So far I only see coverage for O-A, O-X and STV visas. Don’t think we have a copy of the house book with us here in the US. Looks like the 60 day tourist visa is the way to go. Think I can cancel the Non-O and apply for the tourist visa.

a year ago

Reply to

Jeff **********

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