Answered6 years ago

What should my partner do if his Non-O visa is confusingly treated as Non-OA for COE application?

Non-O Visa Non-OA Visa Visa Extension Certificate of Entry (COE)Retirement Visa Thai Immigration

Johann ******************

asked Oct 16, 2020

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Hi All, my partner is trying to return to Thailand from overseas, initially his stamp on the sticker of his visa is Non-O to enter thailand which issued for 3 months, before visa expires he extended it for 1 year. He submitted bank statement, medical etc to the Thai immigration to get the visa. He was doing this for 4 years. We have the impression that since the visa was extended for 1 year his visa category changed to Non OA however when he apply for COE to the Thai Royal Embassy in London he was declined stating he has Non Retirement O visa. A bit confusing any advise what we can do?

Answer summary

The user's partner entered Thailand on a Non-O visa and extended it for one year. They believe this extension changed the visa to a Non-OA category. However, upon applying for a Certificate of Entry (COE) at the Thai Royal Embassy in London, the application was declined, stating he held a Non-O Retirement visa. Community comments clarified that despite the extension, his visa type remained a Non-O and that Non-OA visas can only be obtained outside of Thailand. The user is seeking advice on how to proceed given the confusion over visa categories.

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Johann ******************

Thanks all for the advise and clarification. Even though the misconception about visa category causes some setbacks we have still other options available. Cheers and have a good day everyone. Will now disable the comment.

6 years ago

Paul *******

Non 'O' visas based on retirement.. Are not yet allowed to enter the country.

6 years ago

Johann ******************

@Paul ******

Fully aware of this, thanks seeking advise for the confusing category.

6 years ago

Paul *******

@Johann *****************

what confusing category. ?

6 years ago

Johann ******************

@Paul ******

got the answers I need. Thanks.

6 years ago

Mark ******

I will let those that are more qualified answer but I have never heard of an Non-O visa (which he has used before) somehow magically changing to an Non-OA while applying for an extension in Thailand. A non-OA can only be obtained if applied for in your home country. It sounds like he was, and still remains, on a Non-0 visa.

6 years ago

Johann ******************

@Mark *****

this is confusing about Thailand in the category when you read it are as follows Non O - 90 days retirement visa which activated by going in and out of Thailand every 90 days

Non OA - 1 year long stay visa required 800k in the bank ( which what part of we submitted at the immigration in Thailand)

Non OX - 10 years visa divided into 5 years needs more money in the bank.

Anyway we are aware that you cannot change category whilst inside Thailand but I thought only applies for Non Ed or B or O however we didn't realized it does also apply for Non O to Non OA. Anyways thanks for the info, we will get in touch with the embassy to apply for new OA visa category. We have all the required documents ready.

6 years ago

Ron ******************

It sounds if he came in on an non imm O (90 days) which he used to get an 1 year extension. When he got the extension the visa type did not change it stayed an non imm O. Non imm OA visas are given outside of the country and is normally valid for 1 year and can be extended by another year through exiting and returning to the country just before the end of the first year.

6 years ago

Johann ******************

@Ron *****************

yes I am aware that he cane with Non O for 3 months, but we extended it for 1 year his stamped was actually 1 year long, submitted bank statement of with 800k in it, medical etc., so we have impression that is OA. Bit confuse now what we can do.☹️

6 years ago

Stan *******

@Johann *****************

Having 'an impression' is not the same as actually checking the facts. Go to the local embassy with the passport and check for certain.

6 years ago

Johann ******************

6 years ago

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

@Johann *****************

- Neither the Non Imm O Visa nor the 1 year Extension of Stay received became an O-A Visa or Extension. As others have said - it doesn't work that way. The non imm O and the non imm O-A are separate entities. The O does not morph into an O-A - case closed.

What you have is just a mistaken assumption. Actually no real harm done. The 1 year Extension of Stay based on the Non Imm O is still good for the one year from issuance with the same privileges and there is NO Insurance requirement as there would be with a Non Imm O-A Extension.

6 years ago

Bobby ********

@Johann *****************

. Follow advice given by

@Ron *****************

. He needs to cancel the O visa and apply for OA at embassy. The O visa for retirement is slowly being discontinued, which is probably why it has been refused. The only major difference is he will need to obtain the OA-specific insurance in addition to the covid insurance.

6 years ago

Ron ******************

@Johann *****************

you cannot change visa type by extending it. He stayed on a non imm O after extension. Both non imm O and OA can be valid for 1 year and can be extended for 1 year. Trust me he has an non imm O that was extended for 1 year. Best is to see talk to his local embassy and see if they will allow him in on his existing extension or will approve another visa type that will give entry into the country.

6 years ago