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Will a Florida background check suffice for an OA visa, and can my wife obtain one with an expiring passport?
Thailand OA VisaBackground CheckFlorida Department of Law EnforcementFBI Background CheckVisa RequirementsVietnamese PassportThai EmbassyPassport RenewalImmigrationExpat Assistance
Sep 11, 2021
5 years ago
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTERA couple questions. 1.- We live in Florida, USA. Will a background check from the "Florida Department of Law Enforcement" be acceptable for a OA visa? Or will I need a FBI background check?" 2. - Wife has a Green Card, and a Vietnamese Passport. Her passport expires in July 2022. Will the Thai Embassy issue a OA visa to her, due to little time left on her passport? If renewing her passport before less than 6 months the cost is 3x. I have emailed the Thai Embassy, but no reply. Thanks in advance!
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is inquiring about the acceptability of a background check from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement versus an FBI check for an OA visa application, as well as the possibility for their wife, who has a Vietnamese passport set to expire soon, to obtain the visa given the limited time on her passport. Community responses suggest that while Florida checks may be acceptable, verification from the Thai Embassy is critical, especially concerning the need for a valid passport with sufficient remaining validity time. The responses also clarify requirements for providing proof of funds and mandatory health insurance specifically for the OA visa.
OA RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the OA 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 OA Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
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Pelle Erikssonā
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Luca G.ā
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I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
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Dick **********
No finger printing in the UK
Tod *********
That visa is good for a year, and unless I'm mistaken you need at least 18 months available on a passport to get an O-A visa stuck in.
Also remember you need as much time left on your passport as you're going to get stamped in for when you show up or you only get stamped in until her passport expires when she arrives here.
Also remember you need as much time left on your passport as you're going to get stamped in for when you show up or you only get stamped in until her passport expires when she arrives here.
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
Thanks for the replies. OK, But, she could get stamped in until the expiry date. Then, if she renews passport in Bangkok, then can go to immigration and have date extended, without having to leave country? Kathy ****************
@An**
if your wife is going on a OA Visa then she has to have her own money she cannot be on a joint checking account with you and use joint money as her income..Tod *********
@Kathy ***************
unless I am wrong they both CAN use a joint account in the US to show proof of funds for the O-A visas they're getting as long as the balance is double the amount required. I had a canadian couple (granted different country, different thai consulate) that used a joint account to get their O-A visas and double the amount was all they had to show in it
Henrik ****
@Tod ********
, that's correct also for Thai bank account. A shared bank account will give each person half the money. Reply to
Henrik ****
Reply
Tod *********
@Andy ********
she would have to meet the 800K baht in a thai bank account in her name only for 2 months before she applied AND she'd have to have a year health insurance by one of the 18 approved thai carriers for O-A visa extension insurance from this site ******************************************
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
Thanks for the info, we've got everything pretty much covered. The passport question was the most pressing. The cost to renew passport is going to be 3 times normal price to do early, reason for question. Unless the requirements have changed, we can use our US bank account for the OA visa application.Tod *********
@Andy ********
you can use your bank accounts back there as the proof of funds for your O-A VISA <- the sticker you get in your passport BUT
if you're going to extend that entry stamp inside the country you can't.
You would need to bank the required funds in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply AND you'd need the mandatory health insurance for a year from one of the approved 18 thai carriers that issue O-A insurance
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
Thanks! Got the insurance covered. Now, just to get all info to the Embassy, get the other associated stuff. and, get there. Thanks for the help, info!!Reply to
Andy *********
Reply
Tod *********
Clearly spelled out on the website what forms of background check are accepted
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Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
I was a bit confused on the "Bureau of Investigation only" bit. Florida does not have a State Bureau of Investigation.Kathy ****************
@An**
I can definitely recommend the Marriott at Merlin Beach if you do the Phuket sandbox it was absolutely a wonderful quarantine stay and the price was half of what we paid for asq last fallTod *********
@Andy ********
yep, you use what ever background check system approved in your stateThis is what google told me
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Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
We got two separate background checks from FL. Just didn't use them because of the 2020 Samut Sakhon & then this April's covid restrictions that were enacted. Didn't see much of a reason to come if everything closed. So, never sent them to the Embassy.Tod *********
@Andy ********
they aren't gonna work, I think they have to be within 90 days of when you apply, so get them againAndy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
Yes, we realize that.Reply to
Andy *********
Reply
Andy *******
That background check will work. I didn't do any fingerprints
Kathy ****************
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kathy ***************
Just so I'm understanding - The Embassy requires fingerprints? I know the NC SBI required fingerprints to run a background check. I do not see anything on the Thai Embassy site about including a fingerprint card. (as of yet, still looking)Kathy ****************
@An**
We had to send ours to the embassy when we got our OA retirement Visa along with our background check..Reply to
Kathy ****************
Reply
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andy *********
Thanks!Reply to
Andy *********
Reply
Kathy ****************
We were told SBI or FBI for the background check, we used the state.. You must he fingerprinted also, that can be done by a separate agency...
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks for the reply. Previous OA, we were living in NC, and for the NC SBI check, fingerprints were required. Here in FL, there is no "SBI" it's the "Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement". Got a check last yr, and no fingerprints required here. Didn't know if this was a acceptable check for the Embassy.
Kathy ****************
@An**
not for the DC Embassy... We are in NC and had ours done there.. Checks must come from State or federal level we were told..Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kathy ***************
It's been a while since our last visa - covid kept us here. Are you saying the "Florida Dept of Law Enforcement" background check will not be accepted by the Thai DC Embassy? Sorry for all the questions, but so much has changed.Reply to
Andy *********
Reply
Steve *******
I dont know about the check. Your wifes visa will be issued but she only be stamped into Thailand for as long as her passport is valid
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks, didn't know if it would go on the Green card date, or her Passport date... Sent email to Embassy, no reply yet. If we go and renew her passport in Thailand, then would have to go to Immigration for a new date stamp, or would have to leave country?
Reply to
Andy *********
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