USA passport holder. Want to retire to Thailand later this year. Age 62, financial is not an issue. Felony record from 46 years ago. If filing for non-immigrant O visa in USA, is there a criminal background check required and/or will I be denied the retirement visa. Degreed professional in medical field and no legal issues since I was age 16. Thanks for any legit insight or personal knowledge.

Quick question about potential problems w/criminal background checks, and getting approved for a Thai Retirement Visa. Here’s the situation: this person (let’s call him Joe) had a Federal, not US state, drug felony conviction about 40 years ago. The offense was a non-violent one, he served his time, and has had a spotless record since. Joe’s been very successful at business and would love to retire to Thailand. (He'd have no problem paying for an Elite visa if needed)

And no, his record cannot be expunged or pardoned. Its permanent.

Is there anyone here with either 1) direct experience in this matter or 2) is a real Visa professional? Traveling there on a regular tourist visa does not appear to be a problem but its hard to get answers on residency.

Hi, I have another question! I have a job offer for English teaching in Thailand now :D. I need to bring a criminal check paper and a notarized copy of my degree. How do I get the criminal check document considering I'm American but currently living abroad in Iceland? Do I go to the American embassy here?

Also, what does a notarized copy of a degree mean? Is it just an official, unopened transcript from my university (which is also in America)?

Hi, I'm currently living in CM but returning to the UK next month and will need to get a thai police check for work purposes in the UK. Does anyone have experience of the process, could advise? Thanks.

Recommendations on getting a police clearance certificate.

I have a job in a different country coming and need a criminal background check. I am American and have been in Thailand for about a year on covid visa, tourist visa, and some visa exempts. My question is the optimal way to go about this? Should I go myself or is it better to go through an agency? I don't like in Bangkok but will be there for a day to hopefully deal with everything next week.

Really appreciate any advice of how I should go about this or, if you have done this before, what you wish you had known previously thanks!

I have a question: I'm fly to Laos to get my education visa. I'm getting through the muay thai gym that I train at. I was looking in the embassy website to make sure I had all the paperwork that I need and I saw something about bringing a criminal background check....

I asked the people at the muay thai school about this and the person I've been work with to get the visa and they all said they've never heard of having to bring one in order to get the visa. Does anyone know if that's something I'd need to get?

Hello, currently teaching in England but moving to a school in Thailand in August. I am applying for a Non Immigrant B visa but I'm not sure which Criminal Check I need to provide to the Embassy as supporting Documentation. As an individual I cannot get an Enhanced DBS, just a Basic DBS or a Standard DBS. Will one of those be okay or do I need to get an ICPC from ACRO instead? Advice will be much appreciated. Thanks

Planning to retire in Thailand. What kind of criminal background check is necessary? Can it be State or FBI? Please help.

Newbie here. US citizens applying for a non o-a visa. Where I get a notarized criminal back ground check?

UPDATED WITH FURTHER INFO

Hi everyone.! I just landed in Phuket last week from the US on a 60 day tourist visa and will now be applying for a 1 YEAR RETIREMENT VISA. I need advice on these questions….

1. For the residence lease/contract requirement, is there a minimum time that I must be under contract when I apply like 30 or 60 days? Or if I’m applying for a 1 year visa, do I need a 1 year contract? The reason I’m asking is that I want to travel to other parts of Thailand once I receive my visa and I may find another location which I might prefer over Phuket.

Will a one month prepaid hotel stay work for the resident address requirement?

2. For the required criminal background check, I had my local municipal police department in the US run it and give me a form on letterhead stating that my record is clean, which I then had notarized. Will that fulfill the requirement? If not how can I get one from the US while I’m here? I sure don’t want to have to fly back to fulfil this part of the process.

3. I am on US Social Security which meets the minimum financial requirements for a 1 year retirement visa, but since the US Embassy will no longer certify income, which is listed as a Thai requirement, what are my options that would qualify?

Before I arrived last week, I had my social security income verification printed and then notarized by a state certified notary. Will that be acceptable?

I can contact social security and have them start depositing here once I open a Thai account will that qualify by itself once they see it on my bank statement? (I don’t have the 800,000 to deposit in place of monthly income verification).

Thank you in advance for your advice and experience!

Mike