Expat Income Requirements Changing?

[bkkguy]

I am very thankful I have an O long stay visa

the Non O visa is, and always has been, a short-stay visa - the permission to stay on arrival is 90 days

the Non O-A visa is, and always has been, a long-stay visa - the permission to stay on arrival is 12 months

don't be confused by the fact that you can do a 12 month extension of a permission to stay for retirement based on a current permission to stay from either visa - though the requirements are different

both the Foreign Ministry (embassies and consulates) and the Interior Ministry (Immigration Police) seem comfortable with this distinction at present - though the speculation is that this may change at some stage, and this is certainly possible

I'm fully aware of the fact that the "O" Visa requirements outlined on the foreign consulate sites pertain to those applying for this Visa in their home countries. The language has changed very recently which, in my opinion, could be part of a restructuring going on with the Thai Visa Program. .

I don't know about new - I have been told twice in the last 20 years by the consulate in Sydney that it is not their policy to issue a NON O visa for people wishing to retire in Thailand - this in their opinion is a policy of the Immigration Police in Thailand only - instead they suggest either applying for a Non O-A visa in Sydney, or enter Thailand on a Tourist visa and apply for a NON O visa in Thailand. the Honorary Consulate in Perth seemed to disagree with this, I am not sure about the embassy in Canberra!

Obviously different consulates and embassies have had their own interpretation of this at different times, as have different Immigration Police offices in Thailand, and there may well be a policy change happening now or in the future from the Foreign Ministry or the Interior Ministry but it all seems to be a bit unknown at this time, particularly in relation to NON O visas and extensions of permission to stay

and GB, despite your constant protestations, not everyone is in the same situation as you are, and even with the current insurance requirements for entry and extension of permission to stay with a NON O-A visa there are still a number of scenarios where a Non O-A visa may be a better choice - perhaps not for you but for other people, and they need to consider their requirements and read and understand the significant differences between the two visa classes and the differences between getting extensions on permission to stay based on these visa classes, if they actually even need to do this.

[goji]

....they need to consider their requirements and read and understand the significant differences between the two visa classes and the differences between getting extensions on permission to stay based on these visa classes, if they actually even need to do this.

It would be very nice if someone would do a nice logical Excel table summarizing the difference between all the different Thai visa categories.

• Ideally the authorities would do this, but it seems logical thinking is not important there.
• It's probably too much to expect visa agencies to do that, as they make a living from the confusion.
• If any of the expert expats fancy stepping up to the plate, it would be much appreciated.

[Dodger]

It would be very nice if someone would do a nice logical Excel table summarizing the difference between all the different Thai visa categories.

They rarely use tools like "Excel" in Thailand. That would make it too easy for people to see the discrepancies.

No Excel spreadsheet needed to describe the difference between the O and O-A visas being discussed. The only difference between the O and O-A that effects retired expats is that the O-A started requiring health insurance (3M THB) effective Oct 1, 2021, and the O doesn't require health insurance YET. With that exception, these two visa classifications are inherently the same.

[Manforallseasons]

GB, despite your constant protestations, not everyone is in the same situation as you are, and even with the current insurance requirements for entry and extension of permission to stay with a NON O-A visa there are still a number of scenarios where a Non O-A visa may be a better choice - perhaps not for you but for other people, and they need to consider their requirements and read and understand the significant differences between the two visa classes and the differences between getting extensions on permission to stay based on these visa classes, if they actually even need to do this.

Lucky you (:

[Gaybutton]

and GB, despite your constant protestations, not everyone is in the same situation as you are, and even with the current insurance requirements for entry and extension of permission to stay with a NON O-A visa there are still a number of scenarios where a Non O-A visa may be a better choice

Then I'll repeat my question: What am I missing? Give me an example of a scenario in which the O-A is a better choice than the O.

[bkkguy]

Then I'll repeat my question: What am I missing? Give me an example of a scenario in which the O-A is a better choice than the O.

I am much too polite to suggest that you may be missing the knowledge of the how the Non O-A visa works and the imagination to imagine how other people might use the visa - but I am sure you would be quick to dismiss any specific examples I give as unrealistic or irrelevant

so make some effort yourself and read up on the non O-A visa and try to imagine who might perhaps be interested in a scenario like spending two years in Thailand doing just 90 day reports and perhaps one re-entry permit application, no extension of permission to stay, no proving transfer of funds to Thailand

and remember, don't base your cost/benefit analysis just on your own ideas of value for money and convenience - unless you are just justifying your own personal choice - because even for people who want to "retire" to Thailand "forever" the difference between a Non O visa and extensions in Thailand, multiple Non O-A visas from your home country and even an Elite visa are based on other people's personal choices and shouldn't be dismissed just because you think you know better about what is best for them

[Gaybutton]

I am sure you would be quick to dismiss any specific examples I give as unrealistic or irrelevant

Most likely, just as I dismiss evasive responses like this one.

If you can't provide an example, not even one, just say so.

[bkkguy]

Most likely, just as I dismiss evasive responses like this one.

no, once you have decided you know the "right" answer you just dismiss anyone who disagrees with you

[Gaybutton]

no, once you have decided you know the "right" answer you just dismiss anyone who disagrees with you

Nonsense. I have been wrong many times and will probably be wrong many more times. When I realize I've been wrong I post and admit it - something I've never seen you do. Of course you're never wrong, are you?

And here you are, still evading giving even one example, but you'll keep coming up with these kinds of posts to try to get out of it rather than just admit you can't come up with anything at all to back your stance. If you can provide an example, let's have it.

[Dodger]

the Non O visa is, and always has been, a short-stay visa - the permission to stay on arrival is 90 days

the Non O-A visa is, and always has been, a long-stay visa - the permission to stay on arrival is 12 months

don't be confused by the fact that you can do a 12 month extension of a permission to stay for retirement based on a current permission to stay from either visa - though the requirements are different

both the Foreign Ministry (embassies and consulates) and the Interior Ministry (Immigration Police) seem comfortable with this distinction at present - though the speculation is that this may change at some stage, and this is certainly possible



I don't know about new - I have been told twice in the last 20 years by the consulate in Sydney that it is not their policy to issue a NON O visa for people wishing to retire in Thailand - this in their opinion is a policy of the Immigration Police in Thailand only - instead they suggest either applying for a Non O-A visa in Sydney, or enter Thailand on a Tourist visa and apply for a NON O visa in Thailand. the Honorary Consulate in Perth seemed to disagree with this, I am not sure about the embassy in Canberra!

Obviously different consulates and embassies have had their own interpretation of this at different times, as have different Immigration Police offices in Thailand, and there may well be a policy change happening now or in the future from the Foreign Ministry or the Interior Ministry but it all seems to be a bit unknown at this time, particularly in relation to NON O visas and extensions of permission to stay

and GB, despite your constant protestations, not everyone is in the same situation as you are, and even with the current insurance requirements for entry and extension of permission to stay with a NON O-A visa there are still a number of scenarios where a Non O-A visa may be a better choice - perhaps not for you but for other people, and they need to consider their requirements and read and understand the significant differences between the two visa classes and the differences between getting extensions on permission to stay based on these visa classes, if they actually even need to do this.

Well stated, and I couldn't agree more.