Retirement Visa- In the US or in Thailand?

[joekicker 53]

Is it now definite that you can come in on a tourist (30 day) visa and then get a 'retirement' visa issued in Thailand or was the above poster's experience a one-off?

 

It's definite that someone did it. This is a problem for newcomers to Thailand, understanding that everything is possible -- but that it may not happen.

 

Get a non-immig visa before you come. Why wouldn't you?

[m_right 0]

It's definite that someone did it. This is a problem for newcomers to Thailand, understanding that everything is possible -- but that it may not happen.

 

Get a non-immig visa before you come. Why wouldn't you?

 

 

Because you can't always get one. They don't give them to you just because you ask. Have to have a reason for no-img visa. Being a tourist does not qualify.

 

 

http://www.pattaya-immigration.org/visas.p...ick&lang=EN

[joekicker 53]

Are you mixing up immigration with getting a visa? Visas are issued only by the foreign ministry.

 

As the site says very plainly:

 

Firstly, applicants have to apply for a non-immigration visa at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in abroad before their entry into the Kingdom.

 

 

 

AFTER you do the above, you can enter Thailand and start your work with the immigration folks.

 

If you come in without a visa, all bets are off AS THE IMMIGRATION PEOPLE SAY. You might get the tiger, the tiger might get you.

[Emil 0]

Are you mixing up immigration with getting a visa? Visas are issued only by the foreign ministry.

 

As the site says very plainly:

 

Firstly, applicants have to apply for a non-immigration visa at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in abroad before their entry into the Kingdom.

AFTER you do the above, you can enter Thailand and start your work with the immigration folks.

 

If you come in without a visa, all bets are off AS THE IMMIGRATION PEOPLE SAY. You might get the tiger, the tiger might get you.

 

Joe,

 

I posted my experience earlier on this topic and last year I didn't have any proplem getting my retirement visa at the office in Jomtien having only the 30 day entry stamp.

[m_right 0]

Firstly, applicants have to apply for a non-immigration visa at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in abroad before their entry into the Kingdom.

AFTER you do the above, you can enter Thailand and start your work with the immigration folks.

 

I guess I just got lucky doing it here. Plan on renewing here again in one month.

I tried to get non-immigration visa before I came and they said no. Instead I got a tourist visa. After I got here I changed to retirement visa which is a type of non-immigration visa.

[joekicker 53]

I'm not running down anyone who succeeded, and it's very possible the next person might succeed as well.

 

This is Thailand, and the rules strictly apply at all times, except when they don't.

 

Immigration folks are very nice, and if you're not a total prick you're likely to get very good treatment from them -- not just professional, but kind and helpful as well.

 

But do know, in case you run into an immigration guy or gal who had a fight with someone earlier in the day, that the rules are to get a visa, and you will definitely have less paperwork and running around if you get one. You might get sent out of the country to get a visa.

 

As is stated many times on this board, the 30-day permission to enter Thailand is NOT a visa of any kind. You may be able to finesse it, but you should be aware of the situation.

 

 

Instead I got a tourist visa. After I got here I changed to retirement visa which is a type of non-immigration visa.

 

Part of our problem is this word "visa". Technically, it should only apply to the stamp in your passport given by a Thai consulate. But immigration uses it all the time to describe what are actually EXTENSIONS OF PERMISSION TO STAY and BMs use it all the time (very wrongly) to describe the 30-day thingmy they get at the airport when they don't have a visa stamped in their passport.

 

I'm not complaining so much as explaining why sometimes it's difficult to get across what's happening. Your tourist visa (above) was an actual visa. The "retirement visa" isn't technically a visa, but a category of permission to remain, and extension thereof.

 

To get a so-called "retirement visa" (permission to stay as a retiree) you first have to have an actual non-immigrant visa. The immigration folks handled that, good on them and good on you.

 

After you have a non-immigration visa, there are about... I'm trying to remember I think it's 11 sub-categories under which you can stay. The most familiar on this board are people working (with work permit), retiree and sponsored by Thai spouse. The single effect of all of these is that you can stay one year, and renew, and never HAVE to leave.

 

Don't quote me on the 11, but something like that.

[m_right 0]

My tourist visa was issued by the Thai consulate in the U.S. I did not qualify for a non-immigrant visa (11 criteria) and did not have enough documentation to get the retirement visa. I had hoped to get the one year non-immigrant visa in the U.S. first because I believed what I read on the boards. I guess the Thai consulate doesn't read the boards. lol Time was important as I had a TG patiently waiting for me so I just took the 90day tourist visa.

Once I arrived Pattaya I did the work to get the retirement visa in Jomtien.

The best way would be to get the retirement visa before coming to LOS but if that is not convient or possible it can be done in country.

[joekicker 53]

You cannot obtain a one-year visa at a Thai embassy/consulate. They don't exist. You might get a 90-day non-immigrant visa which then can be extended by the immigration department after arrival in Thailand. You might get something less, but never something more.

 

When I say "90 days" I mean the time you are permitted to remain in Thailand, not how long you have to use the visa, which could be one year.

 

When you enter Thailand, you will be granted (at most) 90 days' stay. You will not be granted more on first arrival.

 

AFTER you have been approved for a one-year extension, then you can get a re-entry permit, go out of Thailand, and when you return, you will be re-validated for the remainder of the one-year you have left.

[Emil 0]

Let me add to my earlier post regarding getting my retirement visa, the only thing that the immigration officals questioned me on was that when he looked at my Bangkok Bank pass book it showed that I had only opened the account the day before as I was not aware that one needed a Thai bank account if they were qualifing by the 65,000 baht a month income. The immigration offical told me that I should have had at least 3 months of activity on my account, I told him sorry that I had just opened it yesterday and then he processed my application.

 

My recommendation to anyone considering moving over here or who frequents LOS is to open a Thai bank account.

[joekicker 53]

Emil, yes. Again, the actual law is that you have to have 800,000 baht or more in a Thailand account for more than 90 days plus an income of 65,000 baht or more to qualify for a new retirement stay. And again the immigration people come through to help.

 

(Those with older retirement visas are grandfathered with a lower, different requirement.)

[Eneukman 1]

Emil, yes. Again, the actual law is that you have to have 800,000 baht or more in a Thailand account for more than 90 days plus an income of 65,000 baht or more to qualify for a new retirement stay. And again the immigration people come through to help.

 

(Those with older retirement visas are grandfathered with a lower, different requirement.)

 

Not quite. My extension to stay is based purely on having had 800,000 baht in a bank account for a minimum of 90 days. My average inocme is well in excess of 65,000 baht per month, but it's too much hassle to prove it to the satisfaction of the British Embassy.

 

A monthly income of 65,000 baht per month is an alternative to having 800,000 baht in the bank. However, from what I can gather, Immigration will still want to see evidence of a bank account wth a balance of around 10,000/20,000 baht.

 

Alan

[joekicker 53]

You already had a visa last year when the requirements changed in October?

[Eneukman 1]

I entered Thailand on a non-Immigrant O visa (multiple entry) in June 2005. I did one "visa run" back to the UK for 2 weeks and returned to Thailand in August 2005. This was obtained from the Consulate in Hull, which is very user friendly.

 

In October 2005, I obtained an extension to my visa based on retirement for 1 year from when I last entered the Kingdom. I have since obtained a new 1 year extension in August 2006 and again August this year. I have never been asked for proof of my income.

 

Alan

[Pilot 0]

I just got my O-A multiple entry visa through the Thai Consulate in Portland, Oregon. It was no problem. I was in and out in 5 minutes. They were extremely helpful through the entire process. I was worried about the required medical certificate but they told me that I only needed a note from my doctor stating that I was not being treated for any of the listed conditions. Only about one month before I leave for a long anticipated retirement in Thailand.

[jacko 8,766]

You cannot obtain a one-year visa at a Thai embassy/consulate. They don't exist. You might get a 90-day non-immigrant visa which then can be extended by the immigration department after arrival in Thailand. You might get something less, but never something more.

 

When I say "90 days" I mean the time you are permitted to remain in Thailand, not how long you have to use the visa, which could be one year.

 

When you enter Thailand, you will be granted (at most) 90 days' stay. You will not be granted more on first arrival.

 

AFTER you have been approved for a one-year extension, then you can get a re-entry permit, go out of Thailand, and when you return, you will be re-validated for the remainder of the one-year you have left.

Would a non Immigrant O-A multiple (retirement visa obtained in your home country) not be valid for a one years stay in LOS? I have certainly seen them stamped thus! Obviously the 90 day reporting at the Immigration office would be required.

 

I am also getting an impression here that income of 65,000 baht AND 800,000 in the bank is required to get the retirement extension in Thailand..... surely that is OR!?

Edited November 17, 2007 by jacko

[joekicker 53]

Would a non Immigrant O-A multiple (retirement visa obtained in your home country) not be valid for a one years stay in LOS? I have certainly seen them stamped thus! Obviously the 90 day reporting at the Immigration office would be required.

 

jacko, here is the drill. You will hear of variations of this, of course, because this is Thailand and no rules or regulations are carved in stone. But this is what happens, whether in your face or behind the scenes:

 

You get a non-immigrant visa at a Thai consulate. The visa is probably VALID FOR USE within one year of issuance - not to be confused with how long you can stay in Thailand with it.

 

When you get to Thailand for the first time with the non-immigrant visa, the airport (presumably) immigration officer stamps the passport good for a 3-month stay in Thailand, counting from your arrival date.

 

The day it expires, i.e. after 90 days, (maybe a day or two before), you go to the immigration department and apply for a one-year extension. They take it under consideration, stamping your passport typically for another month or 6 weeks. You need to put in paperwork with the application of course.

 

You go back again after a month (say), and get a stamp permitting stay for the rest of the year that started on the day of your airport arrival.

 

When THAT runs out, next year, you basically repeat the above at the immigration department. And this time you get 1 month (about) and then the rest of the year again.

 

The first time you apply, immigration does its most intensive investigation of your circumstances -- bank account, income, status of wife, family, job, whatever you are claiming. After that, assuming you are a decent guy, the visits to immigration are very cursory and rapid, and you might even get the full year first time you go without the one month intervening.

 

This re-occurs every year thereafter.

 

If you want to leave Thailand but keep your "non-residency status" intact, you apply at immigration for a re-entry permit (and pay, definitely). This effectively just keeps your permission to remain in Thailand intact, with no change.

 

If you don't get a re-entry permit and you leave, your non-residency permit is broken and you get to start again at the top, at the back of the line.

 

PLUS there is the requirement to check in every 90 days, yep.

 

I am also getting an impression here that income of 65,000 baht AND 800,000 in the bank is required to get the retirement extension in Thailand..... surely that is OR!?

 

MY UNDERSTANDING is that it is now both. I don't KNOW that up to date, because I don't have such a visa, so please check. But it is also my understanding based on a comment by an immigration person to me just last week that the 800,000 baht in an account for three months is definitely needed. Again, this is NOT expert, so please do check.

 

One thing that is important, though:

 

You are going to get two kinds of personal stories in here on retirement visas because the requirements were changed in October of 2006. Those who already had visas have different requirments to those now getting their first permits. The requirements changed in October of last year, but those who already had a permit were grandfathered under the old requirements.

 

That is a SECOND excellent reason to check for official advice from immigration. Anyone who had a visa as of last September is under different requirements than a noob.

[webfoot 29]

Pilot,

 

That is good news to me since I live in Salem which is only a one hour drive to the Thai consulate in Portland I thought I would have to send off to Los Angeles for my visa but that makes it a heck of a lot easier if I can do it in person. Did you have to provide proof of income at that time as well?

 

I'm a little confused from some of the comments here. I thought you just needed to have a combination income and money in a Thai bank to equal 800,000 baht. From what I gather from some of the posters one would need 800,000 baht in a Thai bank and 65,000 baht income per month. Can you clarify?

 

Thanks, and from one Oregonian to another I hope you are enjoying the warm weather because it is raining and cold here in Salem.

[joekicker 53]

This is a very good translation of the new immigration regulations brought in last year.

 

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

 

Please note that regulations change, and practice may not always follow regulations.

[Emil 0]

A monthly income of 65,000 baht per month is an alternative to having 800,000 baht in the bank. However, from what I can gather, Immigration will still want to see evidence of a bank account wth a balance of around 10,000/20,000 baht.

 

Alan

 

From my understanding its not either or. If you only have an income of let say 35,000 baht per month then you would only need about 400,000 baht in the bank.

 

Reagarding the money in the bank requirement. I heard that there has to be a paper trail on the deposit. In ohter words I couldn't bring over 10K in travelers checks over 2 or 3 trips or remove money from my US bank through the ATM and deposits those funds in a Thai Bank. Again this is only 2nd hand info.

Edited November 18, 2007 by Emil

[Eneukman 1]

From my understanding its not either or. If you only have an income of let say 35,000 baht per month then you would only need about 400,000 baht in the bank.

 

Reagarding the money in the bank requirement. I heard that there has to be a paper trail on the deposit. In ohter words I couldn't bring over 10K in travelers checks over 2 or 3 trips or remove money from my US bank through the ATM and deposits those funds in a Thai Bank. Again this is only 2nd hand info.

 

That is correct. I certainly have not heard of any change where you needed BOTH an income of 65,000 baht per month AND a deposit of 800,000 baht for 3 months.

 

When I got my last bank letter, the letter highlighted the latest transfer of funds from my Isle of Man account. As you say, simply cashing travellers cheques and crediting them to your account would almost certainly not be accepted.

 

Alan

[jacko 8,766]

Oh well... this impossible one year visa.... which apparently does not exist, I must have dreamt of. Twice, because I was looking at my friend's passport, again yesterday, and his Non Imm O-A multiple. Valid for a year, and each time he has entered Thailand (3rd time now), he gets a stamp for a 1 year stay. He could get 2 years out of it if he plans well.

 

Whooooosh........ that woke me up. Lot of confusion out there this week, is someone from a visa company stirring the pot?

Edited November 19, 2007 by jacko

[joekicker 53]

Yes, pretty well all visas to Thailand from the foreign ministry are valid for a year, including single-entry tourist visas. Exceptions exist, and are up to individual consuls-general.

 

Yes, anyone who has been to the immigration department and successfully got a one-year extension will get his visa stamped for the year when he re-enters.

[Pilot 0]

Pilot,

 

That is good news to me since I live in Salem which is only a one hour drive to the Thai consulate in Portland I thought I would have to send off to Los Angeles for my visa but that makes it a heck of a lot easier if I can do it in person. Did you have to provide proof of income at that time as well?

 

I'm a little confused from some of the comments here. I thought you just needed to have a combination income and money in a Thai bank to equal 800,000 baht. From what I gather from some of the posters one would need 800,000 baht in a Thai bank and 65,000 baht income per month. Can you clarify?

 

Thanks, and from one Oregonian to another I hope you are enjoying the warm weather because it is raining and cold here in Salem.

 

 

I only had to bring a copy of my estimated retirement income from my employer to get my visa. I have -0- dollars in a Thai bank. They accepted everything at face value.

[BigDUSA 71]

Thanks for the 'heads up' on opening a Thai bank account. I take it since my wife and I will be applying for a retirement visa, we will need two bank accounts? Since we'll be in Pattaya next month easy to do.

[joekicker 53]

BigD a fairly recent but high-level new immigration rule means you and your wife are completely separate, and each has to meet all the requirements. This is only for retirement visas. There was a discussion of it a month or so ago.