Applying for O-A retirement visa in NZ ...help.!!

retread · Novice Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 5

I am going to apply for an O-A visa here in NZ. How can I improve my chances of success, ie; I fit the crietria,eg; over 50 years, have a passive income and a medical pension, own my home in NZ, healthy bank accounts etc. (Police record could look better, i was a bit naughty 40 years ago.) Maybe a character letter from the local cop shop to cover that. Should I mention my arthritis and that i;m intolerent to the cold in NZ. I could get a doctors letter to support this ???
Should I mention a girlfriend in Thailand, and perhaps have copies of her ID card and her address ,etc. Anything at all to put the odd's in my favour.

Would really appreciate any ideas so as not to make the wrong move here, sometimes you can say to little , sometimes to much ???

lomuamart · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:01 am Post subject:

I'll try with this although I should stress that I don't have this type of visa, so don't take the following as gospel.
I would have thought that you'll have no problems with the application. You are old enough and I assume you meet the financial requirements necessary from The Embassy in NZ. (I would say also that Thailand and NZ have a good history together and that will almost certainly work in your favour as well).
I'd keep any covering letter brief, just encapsulating the evidence that you use to support it.
Certainly mention your g/f (Thailand likes it when one of their nationals is being "looked after").
I wouldn't mention the arthritis, or any other medical defect. It won't do you any good. All The Embassy will be concerned with is that you're not in the third stage of syphillis, have yellow fever etc etc. and your medical will bear that out.
I don't know about NZ, but in the UK criminal convictions are "spent" after a period of time (maybe 10 years), so possibly it's the same with you. After 40 years, I should think you'll get a clean record.
All-in-all, you should have an easy ride. Get over here, stamped in for a year and only need to report to Imm every 90 days. Easy. After that, you'll be applying for annual extensions in Thailand the same as everyone else. No need for medical or police reports then.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

lomuamart · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:11 am Post subject:

As an afterthought, take a look at this. You're probably well aware of it already:

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493
_________________
"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

chelsea · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:25 am Post subject:

Retread, re your criminal situation, here in Australia you can apply for a copy of your federal police clearance.
If your 40 year ago conviction still appears on your clearance, you can apply to have it "spent" and therefore removed from your record.
I would advise you check it before you make any mention of that on your application.
Cheers

_________________
Always Borrow Money from a Pesimist. "They Never Expect it Back"