Answered4 years ago

When can my wife apply for a non-immigrant O visa as a trailing spouse?

non-immigrant O retirement visa trailing spouse visa application process expat in Thailand Thai immigration rules

Adam *******

asked Oct 9, 2022

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I will turn 50 soon and intend to apply for non-immigrant O, and 3 months later a 12 month extension of stay based on retirement. I have a non-Thai wife who is 1 year younger and wants to stay in Thailand with me. 

I have read that she firstly has to acquire a non-immigrant O outside of Thailand in order to piggyback on my retirement extension as a trailing spouse (until she turns 50 when she has to apply for her own retirement extension). 

My question is: when exactly can she apply for her non-immigrant O? Together with me when I apply for my first non-immigrant O or after I have acquired my 12 month retirement extension?

Thank you for any advice or insight.

#trailingspouse

Answer summary

The individual plans to apply for a non-immigrant O visa upon turning 50 and seeks advice on when their non-Thai wife can apply for her non-immigrant O visa as a trailing spouse. There are two potential options: both can apply for their visas together outside Thailand or the individual can apply first in Thailand and then the wife can follow later after the extension.

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James ********

What are your passport nations?

4 years ago

Adam *******

@James *******

UK (me) and Japan (wife). We can apply at out local consulate in Japan but the embassy/consulates in Japan tend to make it more difficult than SE Asia with extra documents and requirements, unfortunately.

4 years ago

Ellie *******

@Adam ******

, right, they require a lot of documents. But those are non-nonsense, no-hidden-surprise, and super straight-forward consulates. If you can sort the documents as they say, process would be an easy one.

4 years ago

Ellie *******

you have a couple of options.

1. you two apply for Non-O retirement and Non-O trailing spouse in your country together. Once enter Thailand, you can apply for 1-year extension together. The easiest option for timing-wise of your series of applications.

2. you apply for in-country Non-O retirement inside Thailand, then apply for a 1-year extension based on retirement. Once you are on 1-year extension your wife can apply for Non-O trailing spouse at the Thai consulate. So she has to manage to stay until then.

BTW, she can stay on Non-O trailing spouse extension even after she turns 50 if you want.

This is a rough comparison of retirement options.

4 years ago

Adam *******

@Ellie ******

Just to confirm, my wife could apply for a 90 day non-O outside of Thailand once I have my 12 month extension, then she would go to an immigration office inside Thailand before her 90 days are up to get another 9 months extension? Then the following year we could both apply together in Thailand to extend our respective 12 month extensions? Thank you.

Ellie *******

, right, exactly

Adam *******

Thank you very much, that is very helpful.

4 years ago