Retirement qualifications and visa extensions

[torrenova 644]

Whilst looking for something else, I came across this website http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/services/visa...haivisainfo.htm from what appears to be the US Embassy.

 

The point I query is this:

 

Any applicant with a Thai spouse must show 800,000 Baht in bank deposits and a 65,000 Baht monthly income to prove that he/she can provide adequate support.

 

I understood that if married to a Thai, the qualification was way less than Bt65k per month and only Bt400k in an account. Whilst I thought this was crazy (less money needed for 2 people rather than 1) I did not hear about any change to this rule.

 

Also, this website states that:

 

After arrival in Thailand, a tourist visa may be extended only twice. On the first occasion, immigration officials may extend the visa for an additional 30 days. On the second occasion, the tourist visa may be extended for another 15 days – for a total of 105 days. There is a 1,900 Baht fee for each extension

 

There is no automatic right to an extension either for 30 days (though this is near 100%) but you may only get 7 days if you request a further extension.

[redwood13 56]

Yes, this is erroneous. In any case it was "Updated on : March 16, 2006" so it's not at all current given the changes since 1 Oct. 2006.

 

Current visa financial requirements for marriage to a Thai is a statement from your Embassy showing an income of at least Baht 40,000 per month - or letter of guarantee from a foreign employer, that you are an employee, salary, position, years worked - or proof of this amount as Thai income by you or your wife [can be a combination of the farang and wife's incomes] with the last three months of Phor Ngor Dor.1 (Personal Income tax form filed on a monthly basis) and Phor Ngor Dor.91 ( Filed on a yearly basis in March)

 

Per Greg at SunBeltAsia:

 

"The key is allowing to make a statement from the embassy that you get a income over 40K per month. Each Embassy has guidelines what is acceptable for proof."

 

And further re the British Embassy:

 

"Bring everything you can involved with your finances to the UK Embassy... checking acct, savings accts, pension, income tax returns, wife's salary, rental contracts from tenants, dividends."

 

-redwood

Edited April 17, 2007 by redwood13

[Gary 4,119]

Thailand is of the opinion that two can live cheaper than one. It sounds a little strange when you first hear it but I know for a FACT that it is true.

 

 

 

The rules for a retirement visa remain the same, 800,000 in a Thai bank or 65,000 per month income. The marriage visa has changed. The guys who already had visas based on 400,000 in a Thai bank are grandfathered in and can continue that way. Any new marriage visas require 40,000 baht per month income.

 

If you are legally married and qualify for a retirement visa that is a far easier way to go.

[dacah 0]

Gary,

 

Thank you, as always, for your valuable contribution

 

Good Stuff

[kev0184 12]

Thailand is of the opinion that two can live cheaper than one. It sounds a little strange when you first hear it but I know for a FACT that it is true.

 

The rules for a retirement visa remain the same, 800,000 in a Thai bank or 65,000 per month income. The marriage visa has changed. The guys who already had visas based on 400,000 in a Thai bank are grandfathered in and can continue that way. Any new marriage visas require 40,000 baht per month income.

 

If you are legally married and qualify for a retirement visa that is a far easier way to go.

 

the above is not correct, check out www.thaivisa.com, as redwood 13 states, it is now 40,000 mth joint income and no requirement for money in the bank, this topic on there is widly covered with people who have obtained the visa under the new rules.

[Eneukman 1]

If you are legally married and qualify for a retirement visa that is a far easier way to go.

 

Agreed. If I ever get married here, I would continue on this basis as it seems to be easier and a lot less hassle.

 

Alan

[Gary 4,119]

the above is not correct, check out www.thaivisa.com, as redwood 13 states, it is now 40,000 mth joint income and no requirement for money in the bank, this topic on there is widly covered with people who have obtained the visa under the new rules.

 

 

What is not correct? You need to prove 40,000 baht per month income. The 400,000 baht in the bank no longer meets the requirements unless you were grandfathered in. The requirement is 40,000 baht per month regardless of where it comes from.

[Emil 0]

The rules for a retirement visa remain the same, 800,000 in a Thai bank or 65,000 per month income.

 

I had heard that those figures are on a sliding scale. That is if you have a monthly income of around 35,000 then you only needed about 400,000 in the bank.

[joekicker 53]

You don't have to speculate. You can simply read the English translation of the immigration laws, with all schedules and sub-rules. In English:

 

It has been translated by Thailand's best known international law firm.

 

http://www.tillekeandgibbins.co.th/Publica...ation_order.pdf

 

aka

 

http://tinyurl.com/v3yju

[Gary 4,119]

I had heard that those figures are on a sliding scale. That is if you have a monthly income of around 35,000 then you only needed about 400,000 in the bank.

 

 

You're right. I should have said either or a combination of the two. I really don't know anyone who tried to use the combination of the two.

[redwood13 56]

You don't have to speculate. You can simply read the English translation of the immigration laws, with all schedules and sub-rules. In English:

 

It has been translated by Thailand's best known international law firm.

 

http://www.tillekeandgibbins.co.th/Publica...ation_order.pdf

 

aka

 

http://tinyurl.com/v3yju

 

Problem is Immigration officers don't always know the rules, don't follow the rules and sometimes will tell you they don't care about the rules

 

And by the time the rules are posted on the internet changes have either been made or are in the works. For example iitem 7.4 re obtaining an investment visa by purchasing a condo valued at 3M baht was revoked many months ago.

 

To me "speculate" simply means to be thinking in terms of a Plan B prior to visiting Immigration, so that when that initial visit goes wrong you've got alternatives in mind. Sometimes this only means going to a different office

 

-redwood

[bangsaenguy 37]

Just got an extension based on retirement at the Sriracha office.

800k in the bank for three months was sufficient. Much better option.

 

If you ask for an extension based on marriage,immigration may start nosing into your personal life. It happens. I'm sure you have nothing to hide, but most of us like privacy. These guys can come to your house, etc.