Smiles
November 29th, 2006, 12:40
On my return to Vancouver last week I dropped into the Thai Consulate-General office and received all the documents required to make application for the Thailand 12-month Non Immigrant Type O-A Visa.
This is not the only way to receive a Non Imm 12-month visa, but it seems to be the easiest way for my own personal circumstances: once I have it, that's it ... no cross-border nonsense every few months. Once granted the 12-month visa the only bureaucracy which should be encountered would be a visit to an immigration office or police station every 3 months to get the visa stamped. I have heard from a good and reliable friend (actually more than one) that this stamping process is pretty much a breezy formality.
This type of visa can only be obtained outside of Thailand, and even then not in every country on the planet. Canada is obviously one of the annointed, as is the US, Britain, and I'm assuming, most countries in the European Community, and 'others' (though of that I am not 100% sure). For those countries where this type of visa can be applied for, the rules below would be the same, save the visa fee which would of course be in that country's currency, but equivalent to $200 Canadian.
The Thai gentleman who seemed to be in charge at the Vancouver Consulate was most congenial and friendly and answered a lot of my questions regarding some of the perceived ambiguity in the wording of the instructions (quoted below from the Consulate's website).
The necessary forms were all together in a nice little package and he pointed out which ones required a stamp as well as a signature. The stamp rigmarole seemed very important to him and I was glad to hear this, as I would like very much to not have this stuff sent back to me for further bureaucratic chasing simply because I didn't get (or understand) the proper procedures. One only wants to go through this once.
Anyway, I thought this procedural stuff may be of interest to those on the Board who are seriouisly thinking of retiring (semi-retiring) in Thailand ... are 50-and/or-over ... have enough cash in the bank ... have the minimum monthly income ... can prove they're not a murderer or pedophile ... don't have leprosy ... and aren't already persona non grata in Thailand.
One-Year O-A Visa for Retirees
This type of visa will be issued to applicants aged 50 years or above wishing to take retreat in the Kingdom for a period of at least one year.
1. Requirements for Obtaining a One-year O-A Visa
The applicant must be 50 years of age or older by the date of application [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Applicants cannot be prohibited from entering the Kingdom [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Applicants must having no criminal record against the security of
Thailand or the country of his/her nationality, or the country of his/her residence. [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Applicants must be of the nationality or resident in the country where his/her application is submitted. [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Applicants must not have prohibitive diseases as indicated in Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535). [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Applicants cannot be allowed to work in Thailand [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
2. Documents Required to Apply for a One-Year O-A Visa
A passport valid for no less than one year and a half at the time of application [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Three Visa Application Forms (with three passport-sized photos of the applicant taken within the past six months) certified by a lawyer or notary public.[/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
A personal Data Form (i.e. "Additional Visa Application Form for "O-A" Long Stay) certified by a lawyer or notary public.
[/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
A bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to no less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (original copy) indicating a monthly income of no less than 65,000 Baht. Alternatively, applicants can make a deposit and provide an income certificate indicating a total income of no less than 800,000 Baht a year. All financial statement must have the signature of the bank officer. Any bank statements require a letter of guarantee from the bank (original copy) as well (this document must be valid for no more than 3 months).
[/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
A criminal record check indicating that the applicant has no criminal record in the country of his/her nationality or residence (this document must be valid for no more than 3 months). [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
A medical certificate issued from the country in which the application is submitted, showing no prohibitive diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535) (this certificate shall be valid for no more than 3 months and must display a stamp or seal from the issuing office). [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
3. Fee for O-A Visa
CAD$175 per applicant
4. Other instructions for O-A Visa Applicants Once in Thailand
The alien shall report to the competent authority after 90 days in the Kingdom, and report every 90 days thereafter with the immigration officer in the alien's residence area, or report to the police station in the alien's residence area if there is no immigration control there. (In order to report to the competent authority by mail, the alien shall do as follows: Forward the Report Form (To Mo 47) together with a copy of the passport pages showing the alien's photo, personal details, and the latest arrival visa stamp and include a self addressed envelop with sufficient postage affixed. This must be forwarded 7 days before the due date. This package should be mailed to the Immigration Bureau, Sathon Tai Road,
[/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
At the end of the one-year stay, a visitor who wishes to extend his/her stay must submit a request to extend the period at the Immigration Bureau with documented evidence of money transfer, or a deposit account in the Kingdom, or an income certificate, of the amount of no less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate plus a deposit account indicating a total amount of no less than 800,000 Baht a year.
Sathon District, Bangkok 10120. In the case of conducting any following reports, the Reply Form for the previous report shall be enclosed as well.) Copies of any previous such Reports should also be included.[/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Hope those thinking about this will find this useful.
Cheers ...
This is not the only way to receive a Non Imm 12-month visa, but it seems to be the easiest way for my own personal circumstances: once I have it, that's it ... no cross-border nonsense every few months. Once granted the 12-month visa the only bureaucracy which should be encountered would be a visit to an immigration office or police station every 3 months to get the visa stamped. I have heard from a good and reliable friend (actually more than one) that this stamping process is pretty much a breezy formality.
This type of visa can only be obtained outside of Thailand, and even then not in every country on the planet. Canada is obviously one of the annointed, as is the US, Britain, and I'm assuming, most countries in the European Community, and 'others' (though of that I am not 100% sure). For those countries where this type of visa can be applied for, the rules below would be the same, save the visa fee which would of course be in that country's currency, but equivalent to $200 Canadian.
The Thai gentleman who seemed to be in charge at the Vancouver Consulate was most congenial and friendly and answered a lot of my questions regarding some of the perceived ambiguity in the wording of the instructions (quoted below from the Consulate's website).
The necessary forms were all together in a nice little package and he pointed out which ones required a stamp as well as a signature. The stamp rigmarole seemed very important to him and I was glad to hear this, as I would like very much to not have this stuff sent back to me for further bureaucratic chasing simply because I didn't get (or understand) the proper procedures. One only wants to go through this once.
Anyway, I thought this procedural stuff may be of interest to those on the Board who are seriouisly thinking of retiring (semi-retiring) in Thailand ... are 50-and/or-over ... have enough cash in the bank ... have the minimum monthly income ... can prove they're not a murderer or pedophile ... don't have leprosy ... and aren't already persona non grata in Thailand.
One-Year O-A Visa for Retirees
This type of visa will be issued to applicants aged 50 years or above wishing to take retreat in the Kingdom for a period of at least one year.
1. Requirements for Obtaining a One-year O-A Visa
The applicant must be 50 years of age or older by the date of application [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Applicants cannot be prohibited from entering the Kingdom [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Applicants must having no criminal record against the security of
Thailand or the country of his/her nationality, or the country of his/her residence. [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Applicants must be of the nationality or resident in the country where his/her application is submitted. [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Applicants must not have prohibitive diseases as indicated in Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535). [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Applicants cannot be allowed to work in Thailand [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
2. Documents Required to Apply for a One-Year O-A Visa
A passport valid for no less than one year and a half at the time of application [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Three Visa Application Forms (with three passport-sized photos of the applicant taken within the past six months) certified by a lawyer or notary public.[/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
A personal Data Form (i.e. "Additional Visa Application Form for "O-A" Long Stay) certified by a lawyer or notary public.
[/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
A bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to no less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (original copy) indicating a monthly income of no less than 65,000 Baht. Alternatively, applicants can make a deposit and provide an income certificate indicating a total income of no less than 800,000 Baht a year. All financial statement must have the signature of the bank officer. Any bank statements require a letter of guarantee from the bank (original copy) as well (this document must be valid for no more than 3 months).
[/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
A criminal record check indicating that the applicant has no criminal record in the country of his/her nationality or residence (this document must be valid for no more than 3 months). [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
A medical certificate issued from the country in which the application is submitted, showing no prohibitive diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535) (this certificate shall be valid for no more than 3 months and must display a stamp or seal from the issuing office). [/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
3. Fee for O-A Visa
CAD$175 per applicant
4. Other instructions for O-A Visa Applicants Once in Thailand
The alien shall report to the competent authority after 90 days in the Kingdom, and report every 90 days thereafter with the immigration officer in the alien's residence area, or report to the police station in the alien's residence area if there is no immigration control there. (In order to report to the competent authority by mail, the alien shall do as follows: Forward the Report Form (To Mo 47) together with a copy of the passport pages showing the alien's photo, personal details, and the latest arrival visa stamp and include a self addressed envelop with sufficient postage affixed. This must be forwarded 7 days before the due date. This package should be mailed to the Immigration Bureau, Sathon Tai Road,
[/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
At the end of the one-year stay, a visitor who wishes to extend his/her stay must submit a request to extend the period at the Immigration Bureau with documented evidence of money transfer, or a deposit account in the Kingdom, or an income certificate, of the amount of no less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate plus a deposit account indicating a total amount of no less than 800,000 Baht a year.
Sathon District, Bangkok 10120. In the case of conducting any following reports, the Reply Form for the previous report shall be enclosed as well.) Copies of any previous such Reports should also be included.[/*:m:1hv7eb7g]
Hope those thinking about this will find this useful.
Cheers ...