@Wannikea ********

thank you

@Marty ********

thank you Marty, I am not trying to ignore the advise everyone has given me. I was only trying to respond to the response to each person who was kind enough to answer and now it seems I am ignoring what everybody is telling me. Believe me, I want there to not be a background check and that all I have to do is go thru the e visa process since I do have everything else. I want to apologize if I gave the impression that I was ignoring the advice and information that you have given me. I am much appreciated you taking the time to answer my questions and ease my stressed mind.

@Marty ********

thank you Marty, I have a Thai baht and dollar accounts I’d opened ten years ago while I was going thru cancer treatment. So far I haven’t had any issues with my accounts being frozen or closed. I spoke to the bank manager about what my situation was a couple of days ago and he didn’t say anything about my accounts being in danger of being closed or locked while going through the process.

@Brandon ***********

sorry Brandon, I do appreciate your advise and the help you have given me. It was not my intention to dismiss your advise or anybody else’s. I was only trying to respond to the other responses and I believe why this may feel like I’m ignoring everybody’s advice. Again, thank you and please accept my apologies

@Jon ****

I was ten days short on my current visa. When I went to the immigration office to extend the tourist visa I asked and explained my situation and showed my bank information. There was no mention about not having enough time to process the non o visa having to have 30 days still left on my current visa. My money matured in the 29th of September and I was at the immigration office the next day. This is when I found out I would not be able to get it because my current visa would be expired by then.

@Maitin ******

I am hoping I can still process the non o while in the US. I didn’t know I would lose my accounts with Bangkok bank because I might get the DTV visa instead. Can I ask you to elaborate?

My ultimate goal is the retirement option. What I found out was that I could convert this visa to the non o while in Thailand eventually, like when it comes time to extend the visa? There is another person at the Thai consulate that can best answer my question about the background check but the are on holiday and will not be back until next Tuesday. Do you know if I can come back with the tourist visa, go to immigration and apply for the non o when I come back?

@Maitin ******

thank you Martin. The problem im having is the background check. If I must have it and I can get it done faster thru a private company that does background checks, I will do this but according to the person my sister spoke with at the consulate in Chicago, it has to be by local police or by the FBI. I lived in Kansas and apparently they don’t offer the background checks service there.

@Marty ********

I want to apply for the Non O visa but the background check the said was required for the application was the issue due to the US government shut down and background check is not considered a priority service by the FBI. This is why I thought the DTV could be an option for me and I can convert this visa to the non o while in Thailand. I am also exploring the possibility of applying for the non o visa once I return from the US with the visa in arrival but it’s my understanding that this may not be an option since this will be my second tourist visa in one years time. If I know I can apply again this way, I will definitely do that as soon as I get back but from my research, seems immigration frowns in doing this.

Thank you Brandon, I do have all the requirements for the non o visa except the background check.

I also checked with the Thai embassy in Laos which was my first choice but you cannot process this visa in a country you are not a resident of according to their website. Why im returning to the US before my current visa expires.

@Brandon ***********

you are absolutely correct about not being able to apply in person. My previous research was wrong so thanks to you I just double checked. Applying thru the e visa process is not a problem and I have the documents necessary.

My original question was regarding the length of course I’d need to enroll in with TSL language school so that my application will not be denied due to wrong information and get set back. My problem also lies with the fact that I already have a lease here and will need to meet that financial obligation while im in the US