Now I have questions about the background check for the O-A visa. I’ve read it can be as simple as a letter from my local police station or as formal as an FBI check. Advice?

Hi, some questions about the OA retirement visa.

When you first apply for it, from your home country, you need a police certificate from your home country and monies in a bank.

(1) At that stage, initial OA issue, can the money be in a Thai bank account in Thailand or must it be in your home bank account?

(2) When you come to the end of year one, do you have exit the country and return to your home country or can you go instead to a nearby country to process and renew the OA visa?

(3) In year 2, do you still need to provide a police cert and if you do does it have to be from your home country again?

Thanks much.....

We had appointments in Vientiane to get a no immigrant visa. Guess what, we needed a police report and a medical certificate that no one told us about. Therefore no visa. Can we get a visa on arrival for 30 days and then extend for another 30 days and then go for our retirement visa.we have uk passports, help please at the moment we are in Vientiane and fly back Tuesday 22nd October. Immigration not open on 23rd will we be fined for not doing our tm30 within 24 hours.

OA visa success - London

My partner applied for an OA visa online through London early September. At the appointment to take in paperwork yesterday, they didn't ask to see originals or copies, just checked barcode and took passport. OA visa picked up a few minutes ago.

Dicuments submitted online were Thai issued medical declaration, ACRO police certificate, proof of UK address, 1 month current account statement showing required balance in UK bank, photo, copy of passporr, completed declaration.

Thanks for all the advice on this grouo that helped us apply online.

FYI. folks, in case some of you are unsure/unaware:-

The validity of Police Cert. according to the Thai Embassy, London, is three months IDEALLY.

The above is the direct translation of the answer I received just now via FB Messenger. See screenshot which is in Thai. Acro who issues theses certificates tells me that it is up to the embassy.

Has anybody had different advice or experience dealing with this particular embassy? I am planning to apply for a non O-A for my long-suffering fiance. We plan to arrive in Thailand with our little dog who luckily does not need a visa in early November.

An update that may help some people.

I did not met the new requirements for application of an extension against my OA visa.

As a New Zealander i decided to do my application for a new OA visa in Australia.

I had the advantage of previous living there and a AU bank account.

Arrived Perth, next day went to Post Office, completed Police certificate request, cost 54.30, this took 5 days to arrive at my stated address, (friends place).

Same time had passport photos taken, need three for visa application.

Next day went to medical centre for medical certificate, completed, note this can take a full day as you need to go to different places for different tests. Then go back to the doctor after 4 days to pick up certificate.

Printed bank statement showing sufficient funds.

Completed forms off Thai embassy website, three pages.

Went to “Notary Public” (lawyer) where 2 copies and original set were notarized, cost 150.

Courier all documents with passport and return courier envelop to Thai embassy, cost 275, arrived next day, embassy process took 3 working days, courier back 4 days due to weekend.

Total process time from arrival and back to Thailand took 2 weeks however return ticket date was a bit tight.

As a NZ’er the process using the AU Thai embassy was very simple, what i cant clarifiy is can you use another country bank statement, ie NZ bank.

Doing this means i only need living expenses here, not the full funds in baht. It also means there is no minimum funds kept, nor any maturity time for funds in the bank. And i will get almost 2 years from this visa without any concerns before i have to repeat the process. At the moment there is no consideration for medical insurance, but i have that in place anyway.

So i started the process for an A-O visa. Police cert arrives just 4 days after application. NHS doctors say they do not have the capacity to do medical certificate, too busy. They offered a copy of my electronic medical records in order that i can go to a private clinic. Private clinic say i must have x-ray and blood tests, no idea yet how much this will cost. Could i have had this certificate issued in Thailand on my last visit ? If so any reccomendations for a clinic or hospital near Jomtien that would issue it that is acceptable to the Thai Embassy in UK. Thanks in anticipation.

Non-B visa for teacher (university, not K-12) - which Thai consulates abroad do *not* require a police certificate? Most SE Asian consulates I have researched do, but I might have missed some?

Asking because police clearance in Thailand takes 30 working days (same in my home country of the Netherlands) and I'd need it sooner than that.

Hi, I am trying to get retirement visa. Have all requirements met, but embassy lady is hung up on a bogus trespassing arrest in 1982 that shows up on my criminal record. The charge was dropped, i didnt go to court or jail, but she still will not approve me. Anybody else have similar issue? Options?