I have a question about going from the non-immigrant OA to the non-immigrant O visa and doing the process by yourself instead of through an agent?

Currently, I’m on the non-immigrant OA, but at the end of my first year if I want to switch to the non-immigrant O, I have learned that it’s best to briefly go to a neighboring country and re-enter on the non-immigrant O 90 day to start the process cleanly.

My question is — since I will already have the banking history established in Thailand, what will immigration be looking for with regard to my residence when I apply for my first extension of stay? Will a TM 30 from an Airbnb be sufficient or will they insist on me showing long-term lease? Looking for first-hand knowledge, so please reply if you’ve actually done this yourself because it would be more helpful, since I’m not looking to go through an agent at this time? Many thanks. 

Changing from OA to O status when applying for a stay extension.

Hello, first of all, thank you for the information shared in this group; it has greatly helped me understand the visa / stay extension system.

My plan is to arrive in Thailand with à non-immigrant OA visa, open a bank account, and deposit 65k Bath into it monthly for one year. After one year, i intend to apply for a one-year stay extension (TM.7) and a change of status from OA to O. I have searched this group and elsewhere, but i haven’t been able to find a description or forms related to this status change (OA to O). Could you help me understand how it works? Thanks!

Update : I understand that the best way is to leave Thailand and return with an O visa. Thank you for your help.

First, I wanted to thank all the contributors over the last few months to my various questions. They’ve made my entry on the non-immigrant OA very smooth, and I’ve think it was largely due to you. So many thanks! Now onto the next challenge😅.

So, as stated, I’m on the non-immigrant OA, but after learning what I have on these boards, I’d like to switch to the Non O (retirement) rather then doing extension of stay at my one year. I’m aware I can get that free second year but this post isn’t about that.

When I was at immigration last week, they told me not to use an agent to switch from OA to O without leaving the country. I don’t know if they are cracking down on this, but she told me it isn’t legitimate from their point of view. She said that I could pop over to a neighboring country and then re-enter on either a non-immigrant O (90 day), or a tourist visa and then convert it when I’m back in the country. So my questions are related to these two methods. Based on what she told me, I should leave the country just before my visa expires, and then I’m able to start the process of one of these other two methods. 

Is the process easier one way or another? I’m inclined to come in on a tourist visa and just do the non O application once I’m in country since I’ll already have my money seasoned in the bank due to the OA that I’m on now. So I’m wondering what the requirements are for that method?

Or, is there any benefit to coming in on the Non O (90 day) if I’m applying from Vietnam through evisa? If memory serves, one of the questions is asking for proof of the residence of the country you are in, and I don’t know what I would be able to provide if I was just visiting Vietnam for this purpose?. The agent told me I did not have to return to the US, so would it even be possible from a neighboring country to apply for the non O, given that they require some sort of residential proof from when I’m there?

Any input on either of these two methods would be helpful? And yes, I’m looking to do this on my own since I’m learning a ton by doing all of these various things without an agent. Thanks

Hi, I obtained my non-immigrant OA retirement visa last March in France. Now that I'm settled in Pattaya, have a 12-month lease, have opened a bank account, and my insurance is about to be renewed for another year, what should I do before my visa expires? Should I stay on the OA visa or apply for the O visa? What do you advise?

Hey Guys,

Coming in on a non-immigrant OA and opening a bank account at Kasikorn. Just wondering if banks in Thailand allow you to open an account that accepts both USD and THB, or is it strictly THB? If they do allow you to hold both currencies, is that a problem for immigration when it comes to renewals? I ask because of the poor exchange rate we are currently living with. Thanks in advance. 

Sorry if this has been covered, but I am entering on a non-immigrant OA visa, and my intent is to book a condo or hotel for one month to get TM30, so I could get a COR from immigration to open a bank account without having to get a long term lease at this time. My question is, does it matter for immigration whether my TM30 comes from an Airbnb or from a hotel? Will it make any difference to them whatsoever in terms of getting a COR? And will it make any difference to a bank when I present the COR to open an account? just trying to mitigate any unknowns? Thanks

Will getting a TM30 from a 1 month AirBnb stay be sufficient to get a COR from BKK immigration for the purposes of opening a bank account with my non immigrant OA?

I was wondering if anyone knew the minimum requirements for getting a Certification of Residence from immigration in Bangkok? Would they do it with a TM 30 from an Airbnb or a TM 47 from a hotel, and what would be the minimum stay allowed by the immigration officer to obtain this?

The goal is to use the COR to open a bank account. I know this is atypical as most would already have a lease , but the reason I am asking is that I am entering the country on a non-immigrant OA for retirement, but because I have a sick parent, I will only be in Thailand for the first three months straight before needing to go back-and-forth to deal with her healthcare. In a perfect world, I would choose to not commit to a one year lease initially and was hoping that getting a COR from immigration would allow me some latitude to open a bank account?

Has anyone done the COR with minimal requirements? Thanks in advance. I’m trying to avoid using an agent if possible. 

Hello, I plan to go to Vietnam in the 10th month of my first year on a non-immigrant OA visa. I will stay in Vietnam for 3 months. When I cross back into Thailand, will my visa expire? Or will it be renewed for a second year? Thank you.

Hello everyone, I was just wondering if any of you had an issue opening a bank account with a non-immigrant OA visa secured in your home country (but without a long-term lease in Thailand?) I know the OA does not require a long-term lease as part of its approval process, but does the bank require a long-term lease before opening?

Thanks!