When does the clock start on the Thailand retirement non-OA visa: at embassy issuance or immigration entry?

All I meant

@Sc**

was MOST people are getting the visa closer to when they fly. Whether you can or can't pull off the plan you have totally depends on the thai consulate in London and their "time line" for process the requests to enter..

@Scot ******

You probably will, but they more than likely won't give you a visa to do that in February.

Check out the Embassy website and go through the process they outline there

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@Scot ******

ask the UK...your OA visa is valid for one year...as

@Tod ********

stated.

But you will also need the CoE to enter...

@Jim ********

@Raimund ************

...how long is a CoE valid ? Is it 15 days... And if unused one needs to get a new CoE?

@James *******

if the poster gets his OA in February then its valid for a year, I dont know why

@Tod ********

you said he cannot use it in June or July, he can use it any time. All he needs to do is apply for a COE nearer his flight date. However I take the point why apply way in advance of his flight. A month before is ample time.

@James *******

the CoE is issued for a specific flight on a specific date and a specific ASQ. There is no validity time frame, only valid for this specific itinerary.

@Raimund ************

so how far in advance can one submit request for a CoE?

@James *******

you CAN appky for CoE weeks in advance, but honestly I would apply around 10 days prior departure. If something changes (i.e. flight cancelled), you have to have your CoE changed. At the moment you can not do that online yourself (nor simply apply for a new one), so you have to contact your embassy directly and ask for a change.

Turnaround time for CoE is quite fast, often only hours. But in the USA they wait until 3 days before your departure to issue it (to avoid changes after issuance).