Answered5 years ago
What visa options are available for my wife as my dependent under an OA/OX retirement visa in Thailand?
Hi Visa experts, finally it's time for my wife and I to sort out our visas. We are both Australian, living in Syndey. I'm 51, so looking at either the OA or OX retirement visa as my option, which isn't the problem. My challenge is that my wife is 41, so doesn't qualify.
I've heard that she could travel on a tourist visa or STV and then go to Phuket immigration who will look at her as my dependant/wife (I believe) and will give the option to have her aligned/added to my OA/OX visa?
Or, amongst the brains trust on this site does anyone have any other ideas. I'm not looking at TE, Edu or volunteer visas unless that's our only option. We want to retire; we have our house in Phuket already and we are just looking for the simplest way to live legally.
Thanks in advance
I've heard that she could travel on a tourist visa or STV and then go to Phuket immigration who will look at her as my dependant/wife (I believe) and will give the option to have her aligned/added to my OA/OX visa?
Or, amongst the brains trust on this site does anyone have any other ideas. I'm not looking at TE, Edu or volunteer visas unless that's our only option. We want to retire; we have our house in Phuket already and we are just looking for the simplest way to live legally.
Thanks in advance
Answer summary
An Australian couple is seeking guidance on obtaining visas for retirement in Thailand. The husband qualifies for an OA or OX retirement visa at age 51, while his wife, aged 41, does not meet the age requirement. Suggestions include having her enter Thailand on a tourist visa or STV, then applying for a dependent Non-O visa based on the husband's retirement visa. However, it's noted that STVs are no longer valid for conversion. Recommendations include consulting Phuket immigration for further advice and considering investment or spouse visa options.
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Wayne ********
she can be a dependent on your retirement visa or alternatively get her a TE visa.. ThaiElite but 5 yrs is thb500,000....
Phill ******
@Wayne *******
wrong . as of the first of jan its 600 000thb .Wayne ********
@Phill *****
yes if u are a new member but if u are existing it’s the same price and even cheaper for a Elite Superiority Extension that’s got u stumped now right George *************
Yes, your wife qualifies for a dependent visa/extension based on your visa/extension. You will need to ask your Thai embassy/Phuket Immigration the best way to do that. In general if possible, it would be desirable to get your wife a Non-O visa (dependent) from your Thai embassy. It may also be possible for your wife to arrive in Thailand on a visa-exempt entry or Tourist Visa and then apply for a Non-O dependent visa inside of Thailand.
In Phuket the following is possible:
How to get a Non-O visa inside of Thailand, if that should be necessary:
The problem you will run into is that Thai Embassies and Thai Immigration don't seem to have a lot of mutual understanding of what and how the other party does things. Asking a Thai embassy about how extensions of stay work in Thailand is fruitless as they don't really know. Vice versa with Thai immigration and visas sold outside of Thailand.
In Phuket the following is possible:
************************************************************
How to get a Non-O visa inside of Thailand, if that should be necessary:
******************************************************
The problem you will run into is that Thai Embassies and Thai Immigration don't seem to have a lot of mutual understanding of what and how the other party does things. Asking a Thai embassy about how extensions of stay work in Thailand is fruitless as they don't really know. Vice versa with Thai immigration and visas sold outside of Thailand.
Wayne **********
OP@George ************
many thx George it sounds to me like the dependent option would be our likely way forward. In Australia I can get a five year OX visa without having to transfer 3m thb to my Thai account. According to the embassy I just have to show evidence of $150K AUD at the time of application (I know it seems to easy but that’s what they are saying). The only requirement is a decent level of health insurance, which I would do anyway. In relation to my wife, the embassy in Sydney isn’t offering anything apart from Visa on Arrival, TR STV, which do you think would be the easiest one to convert to dependent extension once we land? Many thanks again
George *************
@Wayne *********
Cool about the OX visa, don't know much about them. I would re-approach the Thai consulate and ask specifically if you get the Non-OX visa from them whether they will sell a Non-O (dependent) visa to your wife. That would be the easiest way forward. Explain what you are trying to do and ask them the best way to accomplish that (you on a non-OX and your wife piggy-backing off that visa as your spouse).
Second best is getting a Tourist Visa (60 days) for your wife or even settle for visa-exempt entry (45 days) and you don't have to even get a visa.
Stay away from the STV visa. It is definitely and absolutely not convertible to anything else in Thailand. It was never a good deal and is on its way to a timely natural death anyway.
To go into the reason that I say better for your wife to come to Thailand with a Non-O visa herself is that it's not really clear to me whether she can get a Non-O visa in Thailand for the specific purpose of getting an extension of stay for reason of being a dependent. You can get a Non-O visa in Thailand, BUT there seems to be some troubling wording about that the Non-O visa needs to come from outside Thailand for purpose of a dependent visa.
Finally, I would also contact the Phuket Immigration Volunteers (great group, very knowledgable and helpful) by email about how exactly to do what you are trying to do -- get your wife in a position to piggyback off your visa and they may have good advice.
*************************
Wayne **********
OP@George ************
that’s great advice and much appreciated. I’ll check-in with PIV group. Kool *******
If you are on a retirement visa she can get a spouse visa as your significant other. No problems at all. You also might consider an investment visa if you have no qualms about the cost of an OX retirement visa, as with the investment visa you can actually make a profit, and not cost any money in the long term.
Wayne **********
OP@Kool ******
thank for that, I would seem that the Embassy in Sydney will let me do the OX 5year visa provided I can show $150k AUD on an Aussie bank statement, so no actual requirements to invest it? Which seems to good to be true, so lets see what happens there. If I do get that OX one then hopefully its straight forward to do the dependent extension once we hit Phuket? Next, is the decision on what visa type she leaves Australia on? Visa on Arrival, TR or STV? Wayne **********
OPAh, okay. I'll take a look. When I checked with the embassy, they didn't mention that but they're quite good at giving conflicting advice :)
Kool *******
@Wayne *********
the STV visa has ended, and if it hasn't just remember, on an STV visa she can not get any other visa. Just apply for a type O 90 day spouse visa in Sydney based on your OX.
Steven *******
???? I didn't know it was possible to have a house with out married a thai wife, ???,
Frédéric ******************
@Steven ******
He haven't said that he was the official owner. He just mentioned that he had a place to live.Steven *******
@Frédéric ****************
i thought he say our house, but was just asking if it was possible to own a house without marriage thai lady. Frédéric ******************
@Steven ******
Even with a marriage you can't own land anyway. The only way is to create a company that will be the owner of the land on your behalf.
James ********
The STV visa is no longer an option as its not being issued. It's ending date is September 30th and it cannot be changed into any other visa inside Thailand.
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