Thread: Need Clarification Re O-a (retirement) Visa

FYI, I was not required to present any banking info whatsoever to receive my O-A. What I did present was a letter from the U.S. Social Security Administration stating my monthly income, and a letter from a foreign client stating that he paid me a small sum each month for work done by Internet. This totaled up to the required monthly income of 80k baht. Both of there were "notarized"...sort of. As the "people" signing these docs were not present, what the notary gives is a sworn stamped letter which attests to the fact that I handed them these things. YES it's sort of a joke. But in my first foray into this arcane business, I can tell anybody...as long as you can find some way to make a plausible case that you have some income and your nose is not falling off from leprosy, you're probably going to be oK. I spent weeks searching for labs to do elephantiasis tests...in the end, it was all a waste, and unnecessary.

Thanks todd

First post

I am submitting an application for Non-Immigrant O-A next week at the Los Angeles consulate. I'll be dropping off my application in person as I live in Los Angeles.

I have all of the requested documents including income statements from 2 pensions, bank account, police report and medical certificate. These will be notarized 'true copies' of originals. The rest, application, picture page of passport and personal data form etc will just be 4 copies.

I will let everyone know the results.

The non-immigrant o-a was issued and while I was there I asked about notarization. Yes LA consulate requires the submitted documents (income/bank verification, police report and medical certificate) be notarized as 'true copies of the original.

A bit of an update on notarizing an O-A visa application at the LA consulate: I went through this process myself in Aug 2015, got all my paperwork together (original plus 3 copies) and went to the SSR Services agency across the street (which I had dealt with previously on other matters). They scrapped the copies of the medical, police, and income statements, notarized the originals, and made 3 copies of each which now showed the notarization stamp. This took $35 and 15 minutes, and they checked the rest of the paperwork as well. I took it across the street to the consulate, everything sailed through in another 30 minutes, and I was done. The notary stamp read “A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the document to which this certificate is attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of that document.”

^

Firstly it is not a hassle, it's a peace of piss if one has his shit sorted.

Secondly not all of us want 800 K baht dying in a Thai Bank account when it can be earning real money invested else where.

That's just two reasons.

^What Terry said...

Unless I'm wrong, the LA is the only consulate in the US which requires notaries on the documentation you submit. Not one other embassy/consulate which issues Non-OA's does it..

FWIW; that Non-OA visa is good for a year, every time you enter the country you're stamped in for a calendar year. Exit/re-enter just before the year's validity of the visa and you get another year FREE. (Although you'll need a re-entry permit to keep that stamp for the second year alive IF you exit the country)..

It's NOT that much more hoop jumping, and it pays off in spades. I'm just surprised more people don't get it.

When I did mine a year ago the only part where I came unstuck was with the Police Clearance.

The filth told me it would take 3 weeks to process, it was nearly 3 weeks to the day before it arrived in the Mail.

Once I had that I sent it all off to the Thai Embassy in Canberra and a new shiny O-A arrived back within the week.

Next year I will have that Police clearance submitted a month before I arrive back in Perth and it will be waiting for me.

Send it all off and a new Visa will come back within the week.

Further more the police clearance is valid for 3 months and will be accepted by the Embassy up until then .

You intend to get a new O/A every year? Why not get extension to stay.no crim check needed.

^

No, I intend to get a new O-A every Two years.

I will activate my second year by leaving Thailand and returning a day before it expires. I travel back to Perth twice a year so it's all too easy.

Once back in Thailand I'll buy a new Mulit-Entry permit and I'm good to go for another 12 months.

Just do 90 day reports and it's all good.

I found my OA great, no fuss upon arrival and it gives you a load of time too sort out what people tell you and what is fact in regard to future visa's ... The time spent getting the OA is well worth it...........

^

Of course it is the best option for those who travel back to their home country.

If one does not travel back then get the O type in Thailand.

It's not hard to work out once one gets a handle on how it actually works.