Thread: Renewing An O-a Visa - Questions

Hi everyone. I got my first Non-Immigrant O-A Visa on 27 October, 2014.

I have a valid re-entry permit which I intend to use - good through 21 September 2016.

But the O-A needs to be RENEWED.

If anyone else has done this recently, can you tell me if the process is the same as getting the original O-A? This was an excruciating process which had to be done through the Los Angeles Embassy, documents up the kazoo, medical tests...well, also up the kazoo, etc.

Can I just re-enter Thailand before my current re-entry permit expires, go to an immigration office and renew by showing my financials? What about an income affidavit from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok?

What should I prepare for?

Thanks a lot for your advice.

Originally Posted by reispr01

But the O-A needs to be RENEWED

Refered to as an extension to stay. Not renewed.
Can be done in Thailand at an Immigration office in your area. They will give you a one year extension to stay.

You will need proof of income of at least 65k baht per month.. Some offices accept the notorized US Embassy proof of income. Some ask for bank details as well. Other docs required.

Look here.


https://teakdoor.com/thai-visas-and-v...plained-6.html

Thanks much.

Can this be done at Savannakhet without all the financial proof?
Just a thought.

Originally Posted by Mr Moo

Can this be done at Savannakhet without all the financial proof? Just a thought.

I believe it can be done in Pattaya for 20,000 without the financial proof?

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by reispr01

But the O-A needs to be RENEWED

Refered to as an extension to stay. Not renewed.
Can be done in Thailand at an Immigration office in your area. They will give you a one year extension to stay.

You will need proof of income of at least 65k baht per month.. Some offices accept the notorized US Embassy proof of income. Some ask for bank details as well. Other docs required.

Look here.


https://teakdoor.com/thai-visas-and-v...plained-6.html

If he renews his Visa within Thailand it's only good for 1 year and then he must do it again.

The O-A Visa can only be gained outside Thailand and if played properly can be turned into a two year Visa.

MY O-A expires in October, played it for two years, I'm back of to Perth to get a new one.

Bit of a fook around but well worth it.

Correct me if I'm wrong on this.

Originally Posted by Mr Moo

Can this be done at Savannakhet without all the financial proof?
Just a thought.

No, both Savannakhet and Vientiane will ONLY issue single entry 90 day Non-O visas based on being over 50 and the BOTH require the same financial criteria as is needed at your local immigration office in country..

Also while there are "wink-n-nod", "say-no-more" agents who'll push visa extensions thru wiithout you meeting the financial criteria, I'd personally shy away from them.

Take this with a grain of salt of you want but I was told by a high placed source (or so they seemed) that they are in the process of scanning all the paperwork from visa extensions from all the offices into a single database.

Now if this is fact or not I dunno, but IF it is, it means they'll have access to all your previous extension application documentation and it'd be easy for them to see if you were a little light on paperwork for a previous extension.

I think the O/P is whining a little, that OA visa process is NOT excruciatingly arduous in the US or in fact anywhere. Plus there's NO visa out there that you can play the dates right and pull two years worth of trouble free exits and entries into thailand like that one.

As has been pointed out the O/P can apply for a yearly extension of stay based on being over 50 (retirement) at his local immigration office.
BUT
he should check with them well before this current permission to stay stamp expires to see if they're quirky as far as accepting the embassy letter, or if they require any other documentation.

This stuff isn't brain science or rocket surgery.. Sheesh Terry managed to stumble thru getting his Non-OA without a problem

^

It did take me a while to dial in exactly what one could Achieve with the O-A Visa and how to go about getting one.

But Todly,

You must take on Board that to us mere Mortals who ain't never done it before it is tad of a chore first time round.

Fok me,

Two years ago in Perth just getting all the paper work sorted correctly and in order gave me a headache.

Anyway, this time round I know the go and it will be a peace of Piss. Actually it's a wonder more punters don't just get the O-A on their trips back home.

I can understand the guys that don't leave Thailand but if you go home once a year ya mad not to get one.

It really is such a great Visa, the best part is that it completely bypasses having to deal with the Thai bullshit in country.

Just do ones 90 day reports and live happily ever after.

Oh shit yes, it's O-A based on retirement for me.

Originally Posted by terry57

Just do ones 90 day reports and live happily ever after.

Do you do 90 day reports online with an O-A visa or in person? Just inquisitive. Thanks.

^

I always do the 90 day reports in person at Lad-Prao IMMI.

Reason being,

Piss easy to get to on the MRT then short bus or Taxi ride, great day out with a poke around the shopping centre , never anyone there so in and out in 10 minutes and the main point is I walk out with the slip in my Passport and I know it's done.

Only ever need to do one as I exit Thailand just before the second one is due on my Bi-annual trips home.

It's all good.

Easy to play the Visa game if ya work things through a tad.

^ Okay that's you, but can others do it online?

^

Yep,

On line reporting has been in for a while now.

Originally Posted by Mr Moo

Can this be done at Savannakhet without all the financial proof?
Just a thought.

I do not know if this right, but i have been told that Savannahket id probably on of the easiest places to get O-A

Originally Posted by Happy Dave

Originally Posted by Mr Moo

Can this be done at Savannakhet without all the financial proof?
Just a thought.

I do not know if this right, but i have been told that Savannahket id probably on of the easiest places to get O-A

Um, yeah you were told wrong... You cannot get an OA visa in Savannakhet, Vientiane, Penang, KL, or anywhere else in S/E Asia.

Also you can't renew ANY visa, not an O, OA, B, tourist, or any other class. You get a NEW visa every time outside the country. You don't renew a year long multi-entry visa by border hopping, what you're doing is activating another 90 day entry..

You never renew your "retirement visa" inside the country. Extensions of stay based on being over 50 are issued for a year at a time, then you apply for a new one. They may be "daisy chained together" year after year, but you're NOT renewing anything, (no matter what clueless immigration officials and equally clueless foreigners call it).

An OA visa can ONLY be gotten at a thai embassy in the country where your passport is issued (or in some instances where you hold "permanent residence").

Right now all Savannakhet and Vientiane will do is issue you a 90 day, single entry Non-Immigrant Type-O visa based on being over 50. You need to show that you meet the financial criteria of either 800K banked or a letter from your embassy stating you have 65K baht a month income. After you get that you apply for your yearly extension of stay inside the country at your local immigration office.

Originally Posted by toddaniels

Right now all Savannakhet and Vientiane will do is issue you a 90 day, single entry Non-Immigrant Type-O visa based on being over 50. You need to show that you meet the financial criteria of either 800K banked or a letter from your embassy stating you have 65K baht a month income. After you get that you apply for your yearly extension of stay inside the country at your local immigration office.

Hmm, lets swap the sentences so it doesn't look like 800K is needed for the 90 day non-imm O visa.

Right now all Savannakhet and Vientiane will do is issue you a 90 day, single entry Non-Immigrant Type-O visa based on being over 50.
After you get that you apply for your yearly extension of stay inside the country at your local immigration office.
For the 1 year extension of stay you need to show that you meet the financial criteria of either 800K banked or a letter from your embassy stating you have 65K baht a month income.