Non-immigrant retirement visa O-A

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

I am seriously considering retiring next year and moving to Thailand (possibly the Philippines).

 

There are some issues regarding a one year visa to Thailand that I need to resolve in my mind before I make a final decision. I would appreciate any info from you with personal experience with this type of visa

 

1. On one thread I saw that you must leave the country after one year and re-enter. Can this be true? This could be very impractical for an elderly man, someone in the hospital, etc. Not a problem for me at 58 but as we age infrimaties take over making travel difficult.

 

2. What is the procedure for subsequent years? How do I re-apply?

 

3. I am under the impression that you cannot leave Thailand without written permission or this invalidates the visa. How fast can this permission be obtained say for family emergencies?

 

4. How safe is the Thai banking system? Are the funds insured like our FDIC in America?

 

5. My plan would be to come back in August and open an account at a major Thai bank and then have my bank in the states wire additional money to make the 800,000 baht deposit. In a few months I would apply for the visa. Can funds be in a CD or must they be liquid? I would tend to leave the 800k separate and transfer funds for living expenses to a separate checking account.

 

6. Which banks are best? Kassikorn seems big, with branches every where. I need to be able to transfer funds to it from the States.

 

7. Not specifically visa related but in a few years I can receive social security. Can that be applied for in Thailand and can it be mailed to me in Thailand or must I pick up my check monthly in Bangkok at the embassy?

 

8. What if I marry later to a Thai national? How will that affect my status?

 

I am certain to have more questions. Thailand is my first choice for a place to retire to. Your answers now and in the future will help me make an informed decision. I welcome any of you with this visa or knowledge of this to pm me with your experiences or share them here, both positive and negative. Even negatives do not have to be a show stopper if I am prepared for them. Mentors on this process are welcome!

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Norm

[joekicker 53]

1. On one thread I saw that you must leave the country after one year and re-enter. Can this be true? This could be very impractical for an elderly man, someone in the hospital, etc. Not a problem for me at 58 but as we age infrimaties take over making travel difficult.

 

Untrue. You never have to leave.

 

2. What is the procedure for subsequent years? How do I re-apply?

 

Each year you go to exend your visa. You go through roughly the same drill as the first year.

 

3. I am under the impression that you cannot leave Thailand without written permission or this invalidates the visa. How fast can this permission be obtained say for family emergencies?

 

Ten minutes. It's a "re-entry visa" and all immigration offices give them.

 

4. How safe is the Thai banking system? Are the funds insured like our FDIC in America?

 

About the same at the moment, yes. The big banks are very big and very safe, so far as any banks are safe these days.

 

5. My plan would be to come back in August and open an account at a major Thai bank and then have my bank in the states wire additional money to make the 800,000 baht deposit. In a few months I would apply for the visa. Can funds be in a CD or must they be liquid? I would tend to leave the 800k separate and transfer funds for living expenses to a separate checking account.

 

The funds have to be available, meaning in an ordinary (savings) account. You may be able to make other arrangements IF you talk to the immigration office you will be dealing with - but probably not if it's your very first time.

 

6. Which banks are best? Kassikorn seems big, with branches every where. I need to be able to transfer funds to it from the States.

 

Most of the banks are fine. Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn are the biggest. Krung Thai is a government bank so, in a perverse way, safer even though it's less solvent.

 

7. Not specifically visa related but in a few years I can receive social security. Can that be applied for in Thailand and can it be mailed to me in Thailand or must I pick up my check monthly in Bangkok at the embassy?

 

I'm sure they won't mail it or send it to the embassy.

 

8. What if I marry later to a Thai national? How will that affect my status?

 

It gives you MORE options of being sponsored by her for a spouse visa, as well as the retired visa.

 

Good luck.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

Untrue. You never have to leave.

Each year you go to exend your visa. You go through roughly the same drill as the first year.

Ten minutes. It's a "re-entry visa" and all immigration offices give them.

About the same at the moment, yes. The big banks are very big and very safe, so far as any banks are safe these days.

The funds have to be available, meaning in an ordinary (savings) account. You may be able to make other arrangements IF you talk to the immigration office you will be dealing with - but probably not if it's your very first time.

Most of the banks are fine. Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn are the biggest. Krung Thai is a government bank so, in a perverse way, safer even though it's less solvent.

I'm sure they won't mail it or send it to the embassy.

It gives you MORE options of being sponsored by her for a spouse visa, as well as the retired visa.

 

Good luck.

Thanks, Joe. Very helpful. My concerns are gone. I am going to move forward.

[jacko 8,822]

Joe covered it, but I would like to add.....

At first I was unsure if you would try to obtain the retirement visa in your own country..(Non Imm O/A)... possible but it is easier to do in LOS. Arrive on a Non-Imm O and convert it to a retirement extension.

 

Item 5. The funds have to have been available for 3 months, and I hear comments like 'they want to see you using the money'..rather than just leave it sitting. But I know of people who do just that, and have the money on a fixed term deposit, and get their one year extension just fine.

 

There is a reasonable write up here...

http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com/visainformation.htm

 

 

 

Hard to beat Joe's response but I would like to say.... do it!

Edited February 24, 2009 by jacko

[bigdelta 46]

Have you considered Cambodia?

Business visa for Cambodia-multiple entry-never have to leave-$USD 275 per year.Just 2 days in PP and you're set for 1 year.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

Have you considered Cambodia?

Business visa for Cambodia-multiple entry-never have to leave-$USD 275 per year.Just 2 days in PP and you're set for 1 year.

No I haven't but that is not to say I wouldn't in the future. I have no knowledge of life in Cambodia so it is not an option for me at this time. Your information is stored and I appreciate the feedback. Options are a good thing!

[bigdelta 46]

No I haven't but that is not to say I wouldn't in the future. I have no knowledge of life in Cambodia so it is not an option for me at this time. Your information is stored and I appreciate the feedback. Options are a good thing!

mlc,I forgot to mention that you don't need a business for a Business visa.When you arrive ,just check (tick to brits) the business box on the arrival card.You'll be charged $5 more and before it expires,just go to any travel agent or barbershop and they will do the legwork for you for a song.Also,their visa takes an entire page,so go online and do an e-visa and use a shorter line on arrival and get a stamp instead.

[Eneukman 1]

I am seriously considering retiring next year and moving to Thailand (possibly the Philippines).

 

There are some issues regarding a one year visa to Thailand that I need to resolve in my mind before I make a final decision. I would appreciate any info from you with personal experience with this type of visa

 

 

5. My plan would be to come back in August and open an account at a major Thai bank and then have my bank in the states wire additional money to make the 800,000 baht deposit. In a few months I would apply for the visa. Can funds be in a CD or must they be liquid? I would tend to leave the 800k separate and transfer funds for living expenses to a separate checking account.

 

Norm

 

For your first application, the funds must have been in the account for a minimum period of 60 days and 90 days for subsequent renewals.

 

I remit funds once or twice a year and use the funds to live on.

 

I believe that it's very difficult for a foreigner to open a current account so you have no option but to open a savings account. Some people have been able to extend their visa by having the funds in a longer term savings account but there's no guarantee that Immigration will accept this for you. Once you have your visa, you could put the funds into a longer term savings account.

 

Alan

[biggles 509]

On the subject of retirement in the philippines, I was speaking to an american in AC and he has a "Residence card" for the philippines and his passport is stamped as a resident. The PI government have a scheme where you invest (currently) $US10,000 to get these benefits. you dont need a visa and you dont report to immigration under this scheme.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

For your first application, the funds must have been in the account for a minimum period of 60 days and 90 days for subsequent renewals.

 

I remit funds once or twice a year and use the funds to live on.

 

I believe that it's very difficult for a foreigner to open a current account so you have no option but to open a savings account. Some people have been able to extend their visa by having the funds in a longer term savings account but there's no guarantee that Immigration will accept this for you. Once you have your visa, you could put the funds into a longer term savings account.

 

Alan

Thanks Alan!

 

I will be in LOS in August to do just this.

 

Is it a nationwide banking network? Is an account opened in Jomtien the same as in Bangkok or Chiang Mai?

 

The reason I ask this is that I have been told, though no verification, that a branch ofiice in the Philippines is separate from the whole in case of branch failure. If a branch fails, in other words, you lose what is in the branch. The mother bank is not responsible.

 

I understand there is no FDIC type entity in Thailand.

 

BTW, I am definately moving to LOS next year. Yay!

Edited March 2, 2009 by midlifecrisis

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

On the subject of retirement in the philippines, I was speaking to an american in AC and he has a "Residence card" for the philippines and his passport is stamped as a resident. The PI government have a scheme where you invest (currently) $US10,000 to get these benefits. you dont need a visa and you dont report to immigration under this scheme.

Any idea where to find official info?

[js007 795]

Any idea where to find official info?

 

Just to a Google search on Philippine retirement. Actually, the $10K bit must be a recent change. It used to be $40K.

 

J

[biggles 509]

It is a recent change, only happened within the last few months which is why he took advantage of it. He did say it was up to $US50,000 in the past. There is an official web site for the scheme so it shouldnt be too hard to find, he mentioned the name but I forget it. Perhaps you could post it if you find it.?

[js007 795]

It is a recent change, only happened within the last few months which is why he took advantage of it. He did say it was up to $US50,000 in the past. There is an official web site for the scheme so it shouldnt be too hard to find, he mentioned the name but I forget it. Perhaps you could post it if you find it.?

 

http://www.gov.ph/faqs/retirement.asp

 

I found that in about one minute with Google. Maybe it's current.

 

J

[biggles 509]

Thanks for that. the web site says $20,000 for over 50's but he was quite definate that he paid $10k

[js007 795]

Thanks for that. the web site says $20,000 for over 50's but he was quite definate that he paid $10k

 

Maybe he had a pension? That would work and make the deposit only $10k.

 

J