What steps and documents are needed for obtaining a Non O Retirement Visa in Thailand after a visa exempt entry?

Oct 1, 2023
a year ago
Jeffrey *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I need some information for visa.

Stamped visa exempt on 13 September until 12 October

800k THB in Bangkok bank account since 15 August

US passport

Over 60 years age

What is my next step towards a Non O Retirement Visa??

And what documents do I need to prepare and take to Immigration on first visit.

Chonburi/Sattahip district

Thanks for your help
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TLDR : Answer Summary
To transition to a Non O Retirement Visa after your visa exempt stamp expires, follow these steps: 1) Apply for a 30-day extension at your local Immigration office to avoid overstaying. 2) Request a checklist for the Non O visa specific to your situation (over 60 years old). 3) Ensure that your bank account meets the requirements (800,000 THB) and verify if your immigration office requires the funds to be in the account for 2 months. If it does, wait until October 15 to apply with all required documents. 4) Prepare two recent bank letters: one confirming the account ownership and another showing the required funds came from an overseas source. After receiving your 30-day extension, and once your funds have seasoned if required, apply for your Non O visa, which will be valid for 90 days initially, allowing you to prepare for a one-year extension later on.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Nongnuch ********
Chonburi (Jomtien) Immigration is known for requiring 3 months seasoning time for the 800.000.- THB, when applying for the "one year extension of stay". And because they do so, they do NOT want to see that the money came from overseas. Visit the immigration office and make sure that my advice is correct. You will need a 30-days extension on your 30 days visa exempt, because you need to have a minimum of 15 days left on your stay permit, in order to apply for the "CHANGE" from a visa exempt entry to a 90-days Non-imm-O retirement visa, because the 90-days Non-Imm-O Visa will be stamped in your passport for 14 days "under consideration". For the application to the "1-year Extension", I think your banked money seasoning time will by then match the three months seasoning required by the Jomtien Immigration
Kool *******
As soon as you get your 30 day extension go to immigration with your two bank letters, not more than 7 days old, with one stating the account is yours, and the other one showing your bt800k+ balance came from an overseas source by direct transfer. Apply for your type O visa based on retirement. They should give you a 90 day type O extension, giving you time for the funds to season, and get the rest of what they require for your 1 year extension. When you have less than 30 days left on that stamp you go with new bank letters, and the other documents they requested, and apply for your one year extension. It is all very simple. Just make sure your money was direct deposited into your Thai bank from an overseas source. They don't accept cash deposits.
Jeffrey *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ko**
Can I go into any BK Bank branch, or only the one where I opened the account? Will the bank staff know what two letters I need, or do I request specifically a letter showing the account is mine and a second letter showing my bt800+ came from an overseas source by direct transfer?
Kool *******
@Jeffrey ******
I use the main Bangkok Bank branch on Silom. Go to the far right end of the counter. They will know the letters you need, but yes, the last part of your question is correct.
Jeffrey *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
thank you! I've never been to any immigration office, so I apologize for my simple questions, all my prior visits were <30 days. My search results returned other factors that do not apply or combine other issues that don't apply. Is TM 7 the correct form for requesting a 30 extension? Do all immigration offices use the same TM 7 form? Do I need to take copies of TM30, or other docs with passport? Thanks you so much.
Brian ***********
@Kool ******
I brought cash , exchanged it at a great rate and deposited it. No issues.

Done that twice now. Saved a pike of bank exchange fees
Kool *******
@Brian **********
for the very first time it has to show as coming from overseas, so there is a paper trail of where the cash came from.
Brian ***********
@Kool ******
I had no issues , Twice.

Yes I Have paper trail. Definitely . Never asked.

No PROBLEM..
David *******
First, you’ll need to go to Immigration to get a 30-day Extension on your Visa Exempt entry.

When you’re there, ask them what you need to get the Non O and see what they say.

Make sure the place you are staying at has registered a TM30 before you go.
Brandon ************
The next step is you go to your immigration office and ask them for the handout listing the requirements for applying for the 90 day non-O visa based on being over 50. At the same time you are going to apply for the 30 day extension for visa exempt, because you don't have enough days left on your existing stay to apply for a non-O visa (requires 15-21 days depending on the office).

Then you need to look at the list and see if this is one of the offices that requires the money to be in the bank for 2 months when you apply for the non-O visa. If it does require that, you need to wait until October 15th and then gather everything on the list and go back to the immigration office and apply for your non-O visa.

If your office does not require the money to be in the account for 2 months already, you'll take the list they gave you and go out and gather everything they require, and you can go back to the office and apply for your non-O visa as soon as you have everything.
จอนห์ *******
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