Visa Confusion

[Mason45]

Hi all, after living in Thailand for 20 plus years I'm still not sure the difference between a Non O and Non OA visa. I know I can get a marriage visa but the <deleted> we have go through I go the easy way out and pay for a Non O visa. The company I go through run a business which would be accepted in a farang country, all above board after 10 years.  Seriously why do long term expats have to renew every year especially as we have to do 90 day reports. Yes you guessed it money again. If I wasn't married I'd be looking elsewhere.

[tonray]

OA: obtained in your home country. valid for 1 year

        1) requires Medical Certificate

        2) Requires criminal background check

        3) Requires 40/400 health insurance

         4) requires 800 K in home country bank

 

         will give you one year per entry, good for almost 2 years if you plan your final entry well

 

O: 1) Requires 800K in Thai bank

     2) Good for 90 days only

 

After 90 days must file for annual extension

[ubonjoe]

A Non-OA visa can only be applied for at a Thai embassy or official consulate in your home country and it allows a one year entry when used.

A non-o visa can be issued at any embassy or official consulate or a honorary consulate. It only allows a 90 day entry.

Since you have certainly gotten a new passport since you started your stay here there should be a stamp on the first page of your passport that states the type of visa you used and the old passport you had.

Here is an example of the stamp.

 

[Mason45]

5 minutes ago, tonray said:

OA: obtained in your home country. valid for 1 year

        1) requires Medical Certificate

        2) Requires criminal background check

        3) Requires 40/400 health insurance

         4) requires 800 K in home country bank

 

         will give you one year per entry, good for almost 2 years if you plan your final entry well

 

O: 1) Requires 800K in Thai bank

     2) Good for 90 days only

 

After 90 days must file for annual extension

Thanks tonray, so I'm legit. I'll keep on going with the flow and enjoy myself which is a good excuse to have a holiday in Pattaya.

[Mason45]

19 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

A Non-OA visa can only be applied for at a Thai embassy or official consulate in your home country and it allows a one year entry when used.

A non-o visa can be issued at any embassy or official consulate or a honorary consulate. It only allows a 90 day entry.

Since you have certainly gotten a new passport since you started your stay here there should be a stamp on the first page of your passport that states the type of visa you used and the old passport you had.

Here is an example of the stamp.

 

Firstly sorry Ubonjoe I couldn't find the quote key. As you stated you're right on the money again, so I'll just keep on using my agent until the rules change "again". Stay safe and thanks for your advice.

 

Edited June 16, 2021 by ubonjoe
moved reply to quoted text

[Tanoshi]

Are you living full time in Thailand?

If yes, your not applying for a Visa each year at an Immigration office, your applying to temporarily extend your permission of stay, which is a permit.

 

As a general rule Visa are issued by Thai Embassies/Consulates.

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter another Country generally must first obtain a visa, which is placed in the traveller's passport, a travel document issued by the traveller's country of citizenship.

Certain international travellers may be eligible to travel to another Country without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel.

When planning travel abroad you may need a visa issued by the Embassy of the country they wish to visit. In this situation, when planning travel abroad, learn about visa requirements by country.

 

Having a visa allows you to travel to a port of entry, airport or land border crossing, and request permission of the Immigration entry clearance officers to enter the specific Country.. While having a visa does not guarantee entry, it does indicate a consular officer at an Embassy or Consulate abroad has determined you are eligible to seek entry for that specific purpose. Ultimately Immigration clearance personnel are responsible for admission of travellers to the Country, for a specified status and period of time. The Immigration departments also has responsibility for immigration matters while you are present in the specific Country.

 

[Old Croc]

With the O-A you have to announce your intention to stay long term and apply for a visa before leaving your home country.

Before visa issue you have to prove you have more than sufficient funds to support yourself for a year, are medically fit and have a clean criminal record. Documentation is required.

The reward for applying in such an open way, is that you are blamed for hospital debts accumulated by some fly-by-night tourists, and will have to buy dodgy high cost, low value health insurance from a select band of Thai companies owned by who knows.(!)

 

To get the O  you you can arrive at a border without a visa and state an intention of staying a short time as a tourist. You could be a skint, wanted criminal with aids and elephantiasis, but will be allowed to enter. You can later be allowed to extend for 12 months as a retiree.

Your reward is that you are considered more trustworthy than the suspicious O-A characters and therefore will not need to buy the health insurance. 

Edited June 17, 2021 by Old Croc

[Regyai]

1 hour ago, Old Croc said:

With the O-A you have to announce your intention to stay long term and apply for a visa before leaving your home country.

Before visa issue you have to prove you have more than sufficient funds to support yourself for a year, are medically fit and have a clean criminal record. Documentation is required.

The reward for applying in such an open way, is that you are blamed for hospital debts accumulated by some fly-by-night tourists, and will have to buy dodgy high cost, low value health insurance from a select band of Thai companies owned by who knows.(!)

 

To get the O  you you can arrive at a border without a visa and state an intention of staying a short time as a tourist. You could be a skint, wanted criminal with aids and elephantiasis, but will be allowed to enter. You can later be allowed to extend for 12 months as a retiree.

Your reward is that you are considered more trustworthy than the suspicious O-A characters and therefore will not need to buy the health insurance. 

 

Eminently fair and laudable ????

 

Shame they withdrew the stick two fingers up to all of it option, with a bounce to the border every 30 days ????

[Peterphuket]

But, still I have a question regarding this, namely they are talking about NON-(o), what is the meaning of 'NON'?

And to be honest i also didn't know this after more than 20 years of staying in theLOS, and i have 'NON-O'

[Seeall]

22 hours ago, tonray said:

OA: obtained in your home country. valid for 1 year

        1) requires Medical Certificate

        2) Requires criminal background check

        3) Requires 40/400 health insurance

         4) requires 800 K in home country bank

 

         will give you one year per entry, good for almost 2 years if you plan your final entry well

 

O: 1) Requires 800K in Thai bank

     2) Good for 90 days only

 

After 90 days must file for annual extension

O = retirement visa right?

[Peterphuket]

2 minutes ago, Seeall said:

O = retirement visa right?

I don't believe that, i got 'O' before my retirement

[tonray]

2 minutes ago, Seeall said:

O = retirement visa right?

No.  Can be for purposes of retirement,  marriage or family.  If marriage or family the amounts are 400k vs 800k

[jackdd]

23 hours ago, Mason45 said:

Seriously why do long term expats have to renew every year especially as we have to do 90 day reports.

Because you failed to get permanent residency status.

 

21 minutes ago, Seeall said:

O = retirement visa right?

I think "O" stands for "other".

Edited June 17, 2021 by jackdd

[Peterphuket]

3 minutes ago, jackdd said:

Because you failed to get permanent residency status.

 

I think "O" stands for "other".

So NON-O for No Other?

[fishtank]

Non Immigrant Other.

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, jackdd said:

I think "O" stands for "other".

The other comes from this in section 34 of the immigration act.

"15. Other activities as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations."

[GroveHillWanderer]

19 minutes ago, fishtank said:

Non Immigrant Other.

This. Non-O is actually short for non-immigrant visa, type "O", Similarly for Non O-A.

 

For example, as stated on the Thai Embassy website:

 

Quote

If the applicant has appropriate qualification, the Embassy will issue a non-immigrant visa, type “O”, single entry with three month validity to the applicant.

 

[Jumbo1968]

On 6/16/2021 at 7:47 PM, tonray said:

OA: obtained in your home country. valid for 1 year

        1) requires Medical Certificate

        2) Requires criminal background check

        3) Requires 40/400 health insurance

         4) requires 800 K in home country bank

 

         will give you one year per entry, good for almost 2 years if you plan your final entry well

 

O: 1) Requires 800K in Thai bank

     2) Good for 90 days only

 

After 90 days must file for annual extension

A Non O 90 Day Single Entry Visa requires Health insurance now, it never did before, I obtained one from the London Embassy, the Health Insurance I had for my Certificate of Entry covered it.

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

A Non O 90 Day Single Entry Visa requires Health insurance now, it never did before, I obtained one from the London Embassy, the Health Insurance I had for my Certificate of Entry covered it.

That was added to the requirements when the started allowing those on non-o visas based upon retirement to enter the country last year due to covid 19.

It is only needs to be valid for 90 day to apply for a non-o visa since that is your length of stay.

[Jen65]

On 6/16/2021 at 7:53 PM, ubonjoe said:

A Non-OA visa can only be applied for at a Thai embassy or official consulate in your home country and it allows a one year entry when used.

A non-o visa can be issued at any embassy or official consulate or a honorary consulate. It only allows a 90 day entry.

Since you have certainly gotten a new passport since you started your stay here there should be a stamp on the first page of your passport that states the type of visa you used and the old passport you had.

Here is an example of the stamp.

 

Once again , wrong information .  O-A visa does not have to be obtained in your "home" country .   I am a UK national and both I and several other UK Nationals have obtained O-A visas at the Thai Embassy in Portugal .    It's possible some Embassy's are more flexible than others but it does  not seem to be "fixed in stone "   .   If you don't ask , you don't get !!!

[Chill27]

My original Non OA visa has now morphed into "Retirement" Visa.

I have non idea whether it's still a Non OA, an O or whether it's ceased to be either, and has become something different ie: Retirement!

 

If anyone could explain, I'd be extremely grateful?

 

[Jumbo1968]

6 minutes ago, Chill27 said:

My original Non OA visa has now morphed into "Retirement" Visa.

I have non idea whether it's still a Non OA, an O or whether it's ceased to be either, and has become something different ie: Retirement!

 

If anyone could explain, I'd be extremely grateful?

 

It’s an Extension of Stay, not a Visa but is commonly called a Retirement Visa.

[Chill27]

8 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

It’s an Extension of Stay, not a Visa but is commonly called a Retirement Visa.

Thanks, so it's still the non OA that has been extended and is now simply called "Retirement" ?

[BritTim]

48 minutes ago, Chill27 said:

Thanks, so it's still the non OA that has been extended and is now simply called "Retirement" ?

You entered Thailand using a Non O-A visa that has subsequently expired. The one-year permission to stay that you received when entering Thailand with the visa has subsequently been extended one or more times. The basis for the extension of your permission to stay is "retirement". You are not in Thailand on a "retirement visa". There is no such animal in Thailand. However, your permission to stay is based on retirement which is very similar in practice.

[Chill27]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

You entered Thailand using a Non O-A visa that has subsequently expired. The one-year permission to stay that you received when entering Thailand with the visa has subsequently been extended one or more times. The basis for the extension of your permission to stay is "retirement". You are not in Thailand on a "retirement visa". There is no such animal in Thailand. However, your permission to stay is based on retirement which is very similar in practice.

Thanks for clarifying.

As such, if you don't mind me asking, what rules apply to me regarding medical insurance and keeping money in the Bank ?

[Tanoshi]

1 hour ago, Chill27 said:

Thanks for clarifying.

As such, if you don't mind me asking, what rules apply to me regarding medical insurance and keeping money in the Bank ?

For 1 year extensions of permission of stay based on retirement from a Non Imm O-A Visa entry, you need the 400/40K Health Insurance from the Home - Health Insurance for Long Stay Visa in Thailand (tgia.org) website.

The financial requirements are;

800K THB deposited in a Thai bank for 2 months prior to the date of application, OR

65K THB monthly overseas transfers to a Thai bank, OR, an Embassy Income letter, OR a combination of funds and income totalling 800KTHB.

 

3. 548-2562. (2019)changed 327-2557 O-A Eng-Thai.pdf

(Scroll down for English)

 

[Tanoshi]

6 hours ago, Seeall said:

O = retirement visa right?

 

6 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

So NON-O for No Other?

Non Immigrant O Visa.

Non Immigrant = a person who enters a Country temporarily.

O = 'Other' reason of entry not listed under 1-14 of section 34 of the Immigration Act.

 

Section 34 : aliens entering into the kingdom for a temporary stay may enter for the below listed activities;
1. Diplomatic or Consular Missions.
2. Performance of official duties.
3. Touring
4. Sporting
5. Business
6. Investing under the concurrence of the Ministries and Departments concerned.
7. Investing or other activities relating to investing subject to the provisions of the law on investment promotion.
8. Transit journey.
9. Being the person in charge of the crew of a conveyance coming to port, station , or area in
the Kingdom.
10. Study or observation.
11. Mass media.
12. Missionary work under the concurrence of the Ministries and departments concerned.
13. Scientific research or training or teach in a Research Institute in the Kingdom.
14. The practice of skilled handicraft or as a specialist
15. Other activities as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations.

 

'Other' reasons for entry under item 15 include, To visit family or friends in Thailand, voluntary job, retirement, medical treatment, to attend judicial process, to work as diplomat's housekeeper

[Tanoshi]

5 hours ago, Jen65 said:

Once again , wrong information .  O-A visa does not have to be obtained in your "home" country .   I am a UK national and both I and several other UK Nationals have obtained O-A visas at the Thai Embassy in Portugal .    It's possible some Embassy's are more flexible than others but it does  not seem to be "fixed in stone "   .   If you don't ask , you don't get !!!

 

What @ubonjoe meant was you can only obtain a Non Imm O-A Visa from your Home Country or a Country where you have residency status.

Previously as a UK national you were also an EU citizen and had the right of residence anywhere within the EU. Since Brexit, you are no longer an EU citizen and unless you have 'permanent residency' status in Portugal, you'll now find the Non Imm O-A Visa is only available from the Thai Embassy in London.

Edited June 17, 2021 by Tanoshi

[fakser]

7 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

But, still I have a question regarding this, namely they are talking about NON-(o), what is the meaning of 'NON'?

And to be honest i also didn't know this after more than 20 years of staying in theLOS, and i have 'NON-O'

IT is Non immigrant visa

[ubonjoe]

Several  inflammatory posts meant to deflect the topic and the expected replies to them have been removed.