Will the Nong Khai immigration office issue a visa change from tourist visa to non-immigrant O so that after 90 days you can get a one year extension based on retirement? A friend of mine went to Nong Khai and was told that he would have to go to Ventiane, Laos for the non-imm. O. Does anyone have any first hand experience with this? I was hoping to use this approach to stay in Udon and not have to leave Thailand to get a retirement visa.

Just what exactly is the procedure for getting a non-immigrant O and the 1 year extension based on retirement? I mean what do the folks at Nong Khai immigration require? Appreciate the help.

You have to go to Vientiane to get a 90 day non-immigration "O" visa first then apply for your extension. 90 day non-immigration "O" visa can only (from my knowledge and experience) be obtained outside the country. Please plan to stay overnight at a hotel there in Vientiane, Laos. Good Luck to you.....

Pop's

Tutone,Pops is correct,You can only obtain a Non-Imm O From A Royal Thai Embassy OR Consulate OUTSIDE of Thailand........NO Other way to go,I'm Afraid.....

However, people have reported that they have obtained 12 month retirement extensions after entering on a 30 day entry on arrival.

The obvious problem is the 3 month money in the bank issue.

Have a look on ThaiVisa - they have a far wider range of visa "experiences" than you will find on UdonMap.

The following is from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

3. Channels to submit application

Applicant may submit their application at the Royal Thai embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in their home/residence country or at the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Thailand located on Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Sathorn District, Bangkok 10120. Tel 0-2287-4948 (direct) or 0-2287-3101 - 10 ext. 2236.

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493

Papa I would read that page you have linked to with extreme caution. It seems to be contradictory, and well out of date.

For example, point 1.4 talks about having the nationality of the country where the visa application is lodged.

There is also no mention of the 3 month requirement for bank accounts.

Also, whilst the MOFA is responsible for issuing visas overseas, I understand it is the function of Immigration in Thailand.

And finally, a non A-O is not the same as a non O.

First, it's my understanding that the OP is ultimately going for an extension based on retirement. While I'm no expert I believe he technically requires a Non Immigrant "O-A" visa, not a Non "O" as some have suggested.

Second, from other posters submissions on ThaiVisa it seems that the Non "O-A" may only be obtained from one's home country, not a neighboring country. Also, I posted the quote from the MFA as it references the Bangkok immigration office as a place to submit an application for the Non "O-A". It also provides a phone number to which it would behoove the OP to call and obtain the required information for himself rather than rely on contradicting information

That is exactly my point. The page you have linked to contains contradictory information, and should therefore be treated with caution.

Similarly, I would treat any advice received over the phone from them (or Immigration for that matter) with caution.

747man wrote:Tutone,Pops is correct,You can only obtain a Non-Imm O From A Royal Thai Embassy OR Consulate OUTSIDE of Thailand........NO Other way to go,I'm Afraid.....

I've been waiting until everything was finalized to set the record straight. Today I received my non-immigrant O visa from the immigration office in Nong Khai. It can be done. I had my tourist visa converted to the non-imm O. Here"s how. Fill out forms TM 86 and 87. You can download from Thai Immigration web site. I did not see those forms at the NK office. Have a letter from your embassy showing income of at least 65,000 Baht a month or bank statement showing 800,000 Baht. Your bank book must be currently up to date and accompanied by a letter from the bank showing current balance. Even if you use the letter from the embassy NK still wants to see a bank account. You need to show proof of residence such as a rental contract and a signed copy of the owners blue book. Nk requires a medical certificate attesting to your good health. I got mine at Wattana Hospital. Don't worry, if you've got a pulse, you're okay. Finally a recent photograph and 1900 Baht. You must apply no less than 21 days before your current visa is due to expire. Have all of the originals and copies of everything. Oh, and don't forget your passport with copies of all pages and your departure card. If everything is in order they will give you a date to return and issue the 90 day non-imm O. Then before the expiration date you can return and get a one year extension based on retirement. Thereafter you only need report every 90 days for address check and can renew every year. No more visa runs and if you want to leave LOS make sure you get reentry permit or otherwise your visa is voided and you have to start over.

Until very recently do not believe offices outside of Bangkok were handling this conversions process.

Only one form should be required, depending on if you have a visa to change (TM.86 Application for change of visa) or you have a visa exempt entry (TM.87 Application for visa) (with 21 days or more remaining).

The cost is 2,000 baht for either of the above forms.

After 60 days you visit again and submit a TM.7/copies/photo and 1,900 baht (with financial proof) to obtain the one year extension of stay for retirement.

Tutone, to my knowledge, you are the first that I know of, who has received a Non-Immigration "O" visa from Nong Khai. If you have read this thread and others pertaining to Non-Immigration "O" visas, you will see that most have had to travel to Vientiane, Laos to obtain the Non-Immigration "O" visa. I have sat in the immigration in Nong Khai and heard the officers there tell foreigners to go to Vientiane and get a Non-Immigration "O", of 90 days first. You are one of the lucky ones to obtain it at Nong Khai, congratulations on obtaining it at Nong Khai.

Things have been changes at immigrations in Nong Khai, so most of the information on Udonmap.com have been correct and related from past experience. You will also find that other immigrations offices are and will do things different. I for one have never had any problems dealing with immigrations in Nong Khai, far from it. They have been very helpful with my extensions for the last 4 years.

I think that Thaivisa.com threads deal mainly with the visa obtained in Bangkok, so the information may or may not work at Nong Khai. Also there is always that very last requirement, that the officers at immigration may ask you for other documents of proof. So, researching is required before going in to the deep end, sorta of.

Again, "CONGRATULATIONS" on obtaining the Non-Immigration "O" at Nong Khai.

Pop's

tutone wrote:Will the Nong Khai immigration office issue a visa change from tourist visa to non-immigrant O so that after 90 days you can get a one year extension based on retirement? A friend of mine went to Nong Khai and was told that he would have to go to Ventiane, Laos for the non-imm. O. Does anyone have any first hand experience with this? I was hoping to use this approach to stay in Udon and not have to leave Thailand to get a retirement visa.

Just what exactly is the procedure for getting a non-immigrant O and the 1 year extension based on retirement? I mean what do the folks at Nong Khai immigration require? Appreciate the help.

There are two ways to do this (visa change from tourist visa to non-immigrant O), one is to go to Bangkok immigration, the other way is to leave the country. period. I took the Bangkok route, but the cost is about the same for both trips. So, its either two days in Vientiane or two days in Bangkok, I prefer Bangkok.

Note: Since the rumor's of changes and the need to go to your local immigration office, it could happen that Bangkok will send you back to NK, but my money is on NOT!

Note 2: If you do go outside the country, I have seen people being refused the Non-O and only given another tourist visa, this happen to someone sent to Savannakhet by the Mukdahaan office. Guess he had a prior Non-O at sometime in the past.
Either way Good luck!

Hi,
Been to NK immigration this morning, just got back.
On asking if they would issue a "O" visa they stated that you have to obtain a "O" visa outside of Thailand, they do not issue a "O" visa in Thailand. when you have a "O" visa they will transfer it to a "OA" visa, retirement visa as we call it, with all the usual B--l S--t. that go with it, this will cost 1900B and will last for 5 years, with the usual 90 day trips to NK imm. to verify address.
Don't shoot the messenger as this is what i was told in N.K. imm. at 0930Hrs this morning.
Cheers Doug.

douglas wrote:Hi,
Been to NK immigration this morning, just got back.
............................. this will cost 1900B and will last for 5 years,

Gee, sign me up for that 5 years visa.

douglas wrote:with the usual 90 day trips to NK imm. to verify address.

or mail it in

Every site talks how NK has changed, the only change I see is that they smile as they sink it deeper!

1. Non Immigrant OA visas are not issued inside Thailand - only at a Consulate in country of residence. So whoever told you that was mistaken or you did not understand correctly - what they can do in Thailand is the non immigrant O visa single entry only - after that only extensions of stay are done. And the visa costs 2,000 baht - extensions of stay cost 1,900 baht.
2. They (extensions for retirement) do not last five years - you have to extend every year with the same information/proof and 1,900 baht.