Non-immigrant type "o-a" application

Bond23, While an O-A visa is one option it is actually not the best choice.  Can I suggest you obtain a multi entry O visa in the US for visiting friends/family etc in Thailand.

When you enter Thailand you have a 90 day stay in the Kingdom. You then have two choices:

1. you can exit and enter Thailand ever 3 months (gives you a 15 month stay).

or

2. after 60 days in the Kingdom visit local Thai immigration office in CM and apply for a retirement extension (subject to conditions)to your O visa.

Gender issues do not enter into visa regulations in Thailand although the country does not recognise same sex marriages, so in other words you cannot use the marriage extension route on an O visa.

This is a very brief overview, all this information and a lot more is available on my blog

Thank you Khun Prachuap for your valuable information. I am trying to get a multiple entry type "o" now. I will visit your referenced blog and gain more wisdom from you. Kop khun kop,   David

David
You are welcome.  If you look under the Visa tab you will find most of the info you require.
Regards
Mike

to tefldon: "1. you can exit and enter Thailand ever 3 months (gives you a 15 month stay)."

Not sure I follow. Do you mean that you can only renew the non-O five times? Then what? I think I know people who have been doing this for over ten years. It doesn't apply to me, but I like to know about these things. Thanks.

A multiple non O visa is exactly what it says, you can exit and enter Thailand as often as you like while the visa is valid.
If you time it right and exit and return during the last week of the visas validity you will get another 3 month stamp hence 15 months.

O-A is option before leaving the states but requires more paperwork than applying for extension while in Thailand.  It does give you one year right off the bat without doing runs out of the country every 90 days.

Here is link for details on O-A requirements:
mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493

Below is requirement when applying for retirement extension while in Thailand.

2.22 In the case of a retiree:
Permission will be granted
for a period of not more
than 1 year at a time.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM);
(2) The applicant is 50 years of age or over;
(3) Proof of income of not less than Baht 65,000 per month (must be letter from Embassy); or
(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than
800,000 Baht as shown in the bank account for the past 3 months at the filing date of the application. For the first year, the applicant should have that amount in his bank account for not less than 60 days or
(5) Annual income plus bank account deposit totaling not less
than Baht 800,000 as of the filing date of application

As you can see if you have read through both applying in Thailand has fewer requirements.


You might want to read through some of the forums at this link: thaivisa.com/forum/

Hi Mike..my name is Peter..I travel to Amnat Charoen,in Isaan every six months to stay with my fiancee's family.We will marry when I retire to live there in 2012. I found your entry re visas really helpful but would like to know if I need  health care insurance or should I keep a stash for emergencies?..the local government hospital looks ok to me...what's your take on this?..regards Peter.

Peter, health insurance in Thailand is relatively cheap compared to the West. That said a lot depends on your age, when you join a scheme and indeed you might not be able to get affordable insurance if you are over 60(depends on your budget).

Thai public hospitals vary considerably but they are OK for minor stuff if you don't mind waiting. They are quite cheap compared to private hospitals, of which there are plenty, but private does not necessarily mean quality. You need to shop around.

Personally I do not carry health insurance but I do have money set aside for emergency treatment. A trip to a doctor costs around 200 Baht + meds + any tests they might do. Incidentally in Thailand there is no GP(general practitioner)system for doctors, so you will find lots of specialists, worth checking out their specialisation before you see them.

Medicines are quite cheap if produced locally(Thailand has a huge Pharmaceutical industry)but specialist stuff you might be prescribed in the West might well be very expensive or indeed unavailable.

Thankyou Mike...very helpful...Peter

I plan on traveling to Thailand in November and I plan on spending a number of months in Chiang Mai. I am 63 years old and at present and retired with an income close to $4000 a month. I am interested in being able to stay more than 60 or 90 days. Can I obtain a visa in the consulates of Thailand located in Spain? I am an American living in Spain for the last two years. I do not want to return to the United States in order to get a visa. Can I obtain a 90 day visa when I land in Thailand?

You should be able to obtain an Thai O visa(other) in Spain......all consulates and embassies have their own ideas about the rules......contact the embassy to see what your options are there.

If they will issue O visa there are no checks(financial or health or criminal)and this visa can be extended ONCE in Thailand in your case to a Retirement Extension.

You can read about all your options and the conditions that apply on Thai Talk (my Thai web-site) since there is no point in repeating it all here.

Hope that helps.

I am curious....

I am 55 and would like to visit thailand for an initial period of six months so that I could form an opinion.  With one trip out, you say one could stay six months.  I was wondering in that case if on arrival in Thailand one would need a return ticket for six months or is one limited to a three month return.......

A double entry tourist visa(6 months) should do the trick.  They may still be free(not sure).  You obtain this before travel from your local Thai embassy/consulate its NOT a Visa on arrival or visa exempt entry.

Tourist visas can also be extended at your local immigration post for a fee.