Changes in Retirement Visas!!

[M & M]

Well us over 50's aren't getting away unscathed either regarding the Visa changes.

Mike and I went over to Phuket Town last Friday to apply for our extension of our Type "O" to the Type "O-R" Visa...

As of the 1st of October (we arrived here on the 28th September) a retiree has to show that a sum of 800K Baht has to be in the bank for 3 months before the Visa is granted...prior to that one just had to show the money in the bank for the day that one was applying for the Visa...but apparently some people were taking out loans and repaying them immediately the visa was granted thus not having the funds in the Bank at all...this new law is to stop those people.

With how busy we were finding our feet, somewhere to live and transport along with getting Robert to school and my health problems we didn't get the money in the bank 'till the 20th October (at this time we weren't aware of the changes which occurred on the 1st of October) which posed a problem as three months after this is 20th January which is 4 months after we got here and we thought we would have to do a visa run...however, there must be a clause in the Visa rules that says if you show a receipt from the bank of the money being transferred from another country...in our case Australia...then the Visa can be granted after two months...Not good enough just to show your Bankbook with the 800K Baht and a letter from the Bank stating that the money has been transferred from Australia...have to show a receipt of it being transferred from another country...we were told by the head shonky at Immigration to come back on or after the 20th of December with a copy of the receipt of the transfer of the money from Australia and they would grant the Visa...I sure hope that the same guy is there and is true to his word...or it will be a bit of a problem.

However, we had no problem with Robert's Education Visa...there have been no changes to this one...thank heavens.

Just thought I would post this as it may be of interest to anyone over 50 wanting to do what we have done.

Marcia

[Rex7777]

But you don't necessarily have to have 800,000 baht in the bank if you can prove a monthly income. Certainly, people retiring in Thailand must have an income from somewhere.

Rex

[Patrice2704]

Thanks for the info Marcia....Am planning to go to retire in January. I will go with a 3 months visa and then apply locally for the retirement visa...Does that mean that I need to make the 800'000 transfer prior to my arrival to LOS?...
Thanks again for very useful info

[Nanook]

Originally Posted by Patrice2704

Thanks for the info Marcia....Am planning to go to retire in January. I will go with a 3 months visa and then apply locally for the retirement visa...Does that mean that I need to make the 800'000 transfer prior to my arrival to LOS?...
Thanks again for very useful info

In addition to Patrice's question, I assume this 800K B, has to be on a Thai Bank account? And Only after it is there for minimum 3 months, one can apply for this retirement visa? Any idea, how long that will be valid?

Maybe stupid question, but I am new on this subject, but I am very much considering this as welll.

Maybe any BM can hint me where to find more info on this subject? Thanks.

[stevem]

Originally Posted by Nanook

Maybe any BM can hint me where to find more info on this subject? Thanks.

Google "Thai Immigration" or try "Thai Retirement Visa"

[Dodger]

Can you show them it was 3 months prior in Aussie bank account and then give them the bank transfer certificate? if not just do the mini bus visa run to Ranong (1500bht) and show them in 3 months time.

[Crustasian]

In the good old days it was well known for various Ex Pats to borrow the money and have it just to appear for the Visa renewal.The immigration now have cracked down as Marcia says.Another loophole closed.

The good news is that for people with a monthly or annual pension being sent in for living in Thailand they will accept that instead of a cash sum.For a single person they require income of 60,000 Baht per month.If married to a Thai it's only 40,000 Baht per month.

What you have to provide to the Immigration Department is a certificate of your pension plan that has been validated by your Embassy/Consul.It has to state how much your pension is worth.

They are also able to accept a smaller pension off set by a lump sum on deposit in a Thai bank.

[Denver]

Originally Posted by Crustasian

They are also able to accept a smaller pension off set by a lump sum on deposit in a Thai bank.

That's a good to know Crusty. My pension isn't quite the 850GBP they require a month. I can definately deposit a reasonable sum into a Thai account.

Good info and thanks.

[K2]

Originally Posted by Crustasian

They are also able to accept a smaller pension off set by a lump sum on deposit in a Thai bank.

However - according to TV.com you should make sure that money is deposited to your account at least 3 months BEFORE you head to immigration. An make sure you keep the transfer of funds documents for your records as you will need to show the ORIGINALS (plus copies) when youa pply for you visa. (Also useful to keep the transfer documents - since you also will need them if ever you need to send your money OUT of Thailand in the future on any manount over USD 10k).

[Crunch]

beginning to think the only way i'll ever get my bigass over there to live is as an english teacher

[Denver]

Originally Posted by K2

However - according to TV.com you should make sure that money is deposited to your account at least 3 months BEFORE you head to immigration. An make sure you keep the transfer of funds documents for your records as you will need to show the ORIGINALS (plus copies) when youa pply for you visa. (Also useful to keep the transfer documents - since you also will need them if ever you need to send your money OUT of Thailand in the future on any manount over USD 10k).

Even more good info, noted with thanks Kev.

D

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by Denver

That's a good to know Crusty. My pension isn't quite the 850GBP they require a month. I can definately deposit a reasonable sum into a Thai account.

Good info and thanks.

You can also have a combination of money and certified income..

I had heard it was 65k per month (unmarried to a Thai) and 35 for married but I am sure Crusty has the local interpretation..

So if you have 50k in per month.. leaving a shortfall of about 200 and also show 300 or so in the bank they can work it.. Helps to have a little extra buffer when doing it this way.. Also presumably a bottle of jonny walker makes all the difference..

the 3 month prior thing has been coming.. The system was abused for ages..

I assume a tor tor 3 would show the overseas remittance equally well as the letter / proof of transmission from the overseas bank.. I was told a tor tor 3 was wanted on the 800k these days..

[brit]

Originally Posted by Crustasian

For a single person they require income of 60,000 Baht per month.If married to a Thai it's only 40,000 Baht per month.

Damn, now where can I find one of these 20k a month contributing wives

[K2]

Suppose should add for anyone married to a Thai sitation is similar:

If you have used the 400k in the bank BEFORE 01/10/06 then you can contune doing this - only new rule is that the 400k must be in the bank 3 months BEFORE you renew your Non-Imm (marriage based) visa for another year.

If you are newly married or have not applied under this 400k system before 01/10/06 this option is no longer available to you. You must show a income (combined) of 40k THB /month and not allowed to substitute money in tha bank in lieu of income deficiency.

I'm interested to hear anyone who has gone through this first hand.

[LivinLOS]

What... Stop the press..

Originally Posted by K2

If you have used the 400k in the bank BEFORE 01/10/06 then you can contune doing this - only new rule is that the 400k must be in the bank 3 months BEFORE you renew your Non-Imm (marriage based) visa for another year.

If you are newly married or have not applied under this 400k system before 01/10/06 this option is no longer available to you. You must show a income (combined) of 40k THB /month and not allowed to substitute money in tha bank in lieu of income deficiency.

I have to admit I read similar on another forum but throught the poster was mangling the info..

So now what about those that marry that dont have 'income' ?? Proveing income cant be done with many peoples salaries, they want proof from your embassy, thats only applicable to pensions and the like isnt it ??

So you live here.. Your married here.. Your not working here.. How the hell do you prove income when you have none ?? You have savings.. You can show savings to support yourself and wife.. But how do you prove a fixed income when you dont have one.

This applies to anyone who has any form of pension or wage thats not government issued type thing !!

Baffled again..

[K2]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

What... Stop the press..



I have to admit I read similar on another forum but throught the poster was mangling the info..

So now what about those that marry that dont have 'income' ?? Proveing income cant be done with many peoples salaries, they want proof from your embassy, thats only applicable to pensions and the like isnt it ??

So you live here.. Your married here.. Your not working here.. How the hell do you prove income when you have none ?? You have savings.. You can show savings to support yourself and wife.. But how do you prove a fixed income when you dont have one.

This applies to anyone who has any form of pension or wage thats not government issued type thing !!

Baffled again..

Basically if you cant come up with 40k income between the 2 partners then your stuffed (yes the foreigner needs his income certified from his/her emabassy)- doesnt matter how much money or assets you have in the bank (well you could have ~10 M Baht in the bank at 5% that would give you 40k/month).

Saw on Stick (before he pulled the plug) and on TV.com of people already been sent packing because can't meet the criteria or have not had the 400k in the bank not long enough.

Reckon eventually someone will go to Court of Human Rights (if there is one) - surely its pretty inhumane to separate a legally married couple or break up a family.

[LivinLOS]

But the issue here (that I see) is that the embassy can only 'verify' a tiny % of the incomes that it may be presented..

Unless its a government pension, or some government controlled job.. then what do they verify..

Also this now means that married guys need to be employed.. Says who !! yu can have 10 mil USD in investments but the government cannot 'verify' any income from that as you could lose it all overnight..

Maybe I am missunderstanding what happens with veryifying..

[Denver]

I'm age 45 and have a 'verifiable' UK military pension. 65k I can do but not 80.

I also have 'offshore' savings. I am hoping for a Non imm 'O' visa as I am five years short of the retired visa. It sounds like it could become a bit of a headache and I am definatly sticking to renting as opposed to buying a property until they can set some of these rules in concrete.

I moan about the immigration policy in my own country so feel it would be 'two-faced' to complain that Thailand is trying to get it's own act together.

Just as a matter of interest is a printed off 'screen shot' of your named account showing sufficient funds having been held for over three months viable? I suppose it all depends whose on duty at the visa shop at the time and which side of the bed he/she got out of that morning.

[K2]

Originally Posted by Denver

Just as a matter of interest is a printed off 'screen shot' of your named account showing sufficient funds having been held for over three months viable?

Denver - you are one of the best placed persons on here to answer that - its not what the Thai official thinks is ok .... that screen shot needs to be certified (in both our cases) by the Britsih Embassy - what do you reckon to that? The Thai official will expect to have an Embassy verified statement of income.

[Denver]

Originally Posted by K2

Denver - you are one of the best placed persons on here to answer that - its not what the Thai official thinks is ok .... that screen shot needs to be certified (in both our cases) by the Britsih Embassy - what do you reckon to that? The Thai official will expect to have an Embassy verified statement of income.

Sounds like a pain in the ar5e trip to Bangkok! If I knew what the stamp looked like I would be tempted to have one made! I didn't say that!

OK, thanks Kev, something to work on and appreciated. I'll see what I can find out.

D

[stevem]

Heard whispers of all sorts of changes coming in for these visas sometime ago, and was also a contributing factor in our decisions to leave Thailand. It gets to a point where it all just becomes too complicated and not worth the effort.

The thing is here in Oz, Australia makes my wife feel welcome, but cant say the opposite for Thailand.

[Denver]

Certainly doesn't give you a warm and fuzzy or welcoming feeling about the whole situation.

I guess if we want to take advantage of living and enjoying the LOS for what it is and offers us then we will have to take the rough with the smooth!

I have experienced this in several countries, trying to get work permits, business licences etc being ordered to the back of a queue I had been in since six in the morning when I had gotten to the front of the queue at ten o'clock because, I am guessing, I was the only white bloke there or the lack of language skill on thier or my behalf.

I have been in ex-British Dependancies (Cyprus, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Kenya) and see all the protocols and regulations they have in place for the expat community there and realise most of those 'hoops' to jump through were put in place initially by my country. I can't then complain when I am stood in 100 degree heat with 23 different pieces of 'official' paper in my hand waiting to be served.