Answered2 years ago
What should I say when asked about my purpose of visit to Thailand on a tourist e-visa while planning to apply for a non-O retirement visa?
I'm arriving in BKK on a 90 day multiple entry tourist e-visa in order to obtain a non-O retirement visa.
My question is, if asked for the purpose of my visit, do I admit this, or do I say I'm here on a holiday. Also, I'm bringing over 2 suitcases full of personal effects.
Thanks
My question is, if asked for the purpose of my visit, do I admit this, or do I say I'm here on a holiday. Also, I'm bringing over 2 suitcases full of personal effects.
Thanks
Answer summary
The conversation mainly revolves around the user's arrival in Bangkok on a 90-day multiple-entry tourist e-visa with plans to obtain a Non-O retirement visa. Participants advise that if questioned about the purpose of the visit, it is safer to say they are there for a holiday rather than revealing intentions related to future visa changes. They also discuss the implications of the visa type, clarifying that a tourist visa typically grants a 60-day stay upon entry, with options for extensions and border runs for longer stays. The discussion also touches on the necessity of certain documents for changing visa types and the process of applying for a bank account in Thailand.
31 repliesnewest first
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David ********************
Anyone advising Non O A visa before you arrive this requires 2 extra things
1, medical insurance
2, Criminal records check
Application for a Non O visa in Thailand not required crazy system.
1, medical insurance
2, Criminal records check
Application for a Non O visa in Thailand not required crazy system.
Steve *******
David Andrew Darlington Just get the Non Imm O in your home Country. Much easier than getting it in Thailand.
Nongnuch ********
@David *******************
actually, not so crazy a system. On a Non-Imm-O extension, you are required to keep 800.000 THB in your Thai bank account, and this money ensures that you never will become a financial burden to Thailand, not even in the case you become sick. A Non-imm-O/A visa requires the money in your home country bank account, out of reach for Thailand - and that's why you need the mandatory health insuranceDavid ********************
@Nongnuch *******
So one let's criminals in and the other doesn't that's not crazy ????Nongnuch ********
@David *******************
you are wrong 😉 . . . . a Non-Imm-O retirement visa can both be applied in your home country or in Thailand on immigration. You have a choice! In Thailand it can be achieved by the "change of visa type" from a tourist visa to the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O visa . . . . . .however a Non-Imm-OA visa can only be applied in your passport countryDavid ********************
@Nongnuch *******
and the difference is Non imm OA visa is applied abroad. Non imm O is applied in Thailand. Not many people understand this.
Nongnuch ********
@David *******************
yes, sure. A Non-Imm-OA visa application needs a police clearance. A Non-Imm-O visa application doesn't need itDavid ********************
@Nongnuch *******
it is required in the UK.Nongnuch ********
@David *******************
you are right, and this reminds me of my own experience . . . . . when I applied for my 90-days Non-imm-O retirement visa at the honorary Thai consulate in Essen, Germany, in 2007, they saw my tattoos, (including a "prison tear") and surprise! they wanted a police clearance on top of the application, despite it not being mentioned as a requirement on their website. It's the prejudices tattooed people have to endure. I got the "tear" laser removed a few months later 😉🙂 I wear long sleeve shirts since, when I visit authoritiesWill ******
Will they ask to see a return ticket?
Will ******
Nongnuch ********
@Will *****
the airline might ask for the onward travel proof. Immigration normally doesn't ask for an onward travel proofNongnuch ********
and, you will need a rental contract and a TM30 registration, or they won't allow you to apply
Nongnuch ********
and since you are from Australia, you will need to open a Thai bank account and transfer a minmum of 800.000.- THB onto it. You cannot use the income method, because your embassy does not issue an income affidavit any more. On SOME immigrations, they will ask for a 2-months seasoning of the 800.000.- THB for the application of the "change of visa type" for the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Visa (the police order does NOT state a seasoning needed for the visa, only for the extension of stay permit) So it is crucial that you visit Immigration and politely ASK for the handout of the requirements for a "change of visa type" from a tourist visa to a 90-days Non-Imm-O visa, and from this visa to the "1-year extension of stay permit" based on retirement
Pete *******
1) You won’t be asked
2) You do not have a 90 day tourist visa.
2) You do not have a 90 day tourist visa.
Andy ************
You'd have been better off getting the 90-day non-O visa. That way you get stamped in for 90 days, and some adminstration tasks would be easier (such as opening a bank account - almost impossible on a tourist visa unless you pay several thousand baht).
Zap **********
Tourist Visa is 60 days. Visa exempt if eligible is the same.
Michael ********
We bought over two suitcases with personal belongings, nobody questioned it when we arrived in September.
Jan ******************
If you have a tourist visa it only gives you 60 days upon entry, 90 days is only related to the visa's validity days after issue. You’ll not be asked for the purpose of your visit.
George ************
OP@Jan *****************
no. I have a 90 day multiple entry e-visa with 6 month validity. Yes. There is such a thing.
Nongnuch ********
@George ***********
you are WRONG. Wrong. Wrong. On a multi entry Tourist visa, you will get stamped in for 60 days on each entry that is made within the 6 months visa validity. There is NO 90-days tourist visa. You are confusing the visa validity period with the period of stay permit you get stamped in on each entry. This is a common mistake many people - including you! - make.
Peter ****************
@George ***********
Look what Jan says ! Watch out !! This mistake is made many times ! With this visa you can stay max 60 days with 1 extension it's 90 days. After that you have to border hop (out of Thailand, in and out to another country and come in to Thailand again. Then you get an extra 60 days which you can extend again with 30 days. So if you border hop one of the last days of the validity of y'r visa, you can do the same. So all together, you can almost get 9 months with this visa. But..you have to border hop.Jan ******************
@George ***********
Ok, six months multiple entries tourist visa then, but it still only gives you 60 days upon entry and you can apply for a 30 days extension at your local immigration.
Graham ******
Why didn't you get the Non-O before travelling as this would have made opening a bank account much easier?
George ************
OP@Graham *****
because I am arriving tomorrow
Brandon ************
@George ***********
you had time to apply for tourist visa so you would have had time to apply for non-O?Nongnuch ********
@George ***********
you only get stamped in for 60 days. You will need to open a Thai bank account right after your arrival in Thailand. you will need an agent to help you opening a bank account, because on a tourist visa, banks will deny opening an account for you. Then you will need to put a minimum of 800.000.- THB into your account, in order to be able to apply for the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O visa on Immigration. You could use a leglized income affidavit over a minimum income of monthly 65.000.- THB from your embassy, if your embassy still issues it. The timeframe for this application on most Immigration is, that you still have a minimum of 15-21 days left on your entry stampGraham ******
@George ***********
But you applied for a Tourist Visa so you had timeGeorge ************
OP@Brandon ***********
All my ducks were not aligned as I had hoped they would be with sufficient time remaining to apply in my home country and my flight is tomorrow.
William ***********
Never offer up information to any government official anywhere unless asked. Keep your mouth closed. Most people that get into problems is because they blab unnecessarily. If you do get asked just answer truthfully and to the point.
Erick ********
Welcome and relax. It’s Thailand. They probably won’t ask you anything. But if they do say holiday. It won’t be an issue. You’re going to love it here.
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