pab

Actually Lite Beer, I needed a health certificate last week at the immigration office at Phusing (near Lao border) for my 3rd annual extension. This was not required last year but the officer showed me that this rule has been in place since January 2008.

I find this rather hard to believe as it is the first time I've heard of it. Any other reports?

The certificate cast me all of 30 baht from a doctor at the private hospital in Si Sa Ket. Actually when he was told what it was for he simply asked me to wait 2 minutes and the nurse came out, I paid the money got the certificate and left.

The immigration office at Phusing is a one man show but extremely helpful and quite laid back. So I would recommend anyone requiring these services who live in the Si Sa Ket/Ubon area to use his services. Despite his happy and laid back nature he was very insistent re the medical requirements this year. Fortunately, I had called him the previous day and he forwarned me about this requirement.

I think his question is if you are using a combination of income and bank account, does the bank account part have to be seasoned for 3 months just like if you were using 100% bank account?

This is coming from sunbelt asia , they also did the paperwordk for my mother, and it worked. but it is quit easy to do it yourself. we find out ofcource later.

<h1 class="style67 style91">Retirement Visa </h1> Sunbelt Legal Advisors will complete all the required paperwork and accompany you on your trip to Thai Immigration to insure the process is completed properly, and without additional costs or confusion.

To be eligible for an extension of stay permit based on retirement you must be 50 years of age, show funds or pension that equate to 800,000 baht (note: any pension claims MUST be certifed by your embassy to be applicable.), and a provide a valid health certifcate which can be obtained from any Thailand hospital or clinic.

Basic Requirements:

• 50 Years of age or older

• 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank account (90 days)

OR 65,000 Baht pension OR a combination of both.

Immigration Order 7.17

Type Criteria Required Documents 7.21 Retirement

Each time of permission shall be granted for a period not exceeding 1 year.

(1) Foreigner shall obtains VISA for temporary stay and,

(2) Shall not be younger than 50 years old and,

(3) Having evidence showing the monthly income not less than 65,000 Baht or,

(4) Having the records of saving money in the latest 3 months of account book of any Bank in Thailand not less than 800,000 Baht or,

(5) Having annual income combined with the saving money in the Bank not less than 800,000 Baht from on the date submitting the application.

1. Application form

2. Copy of passport of the applicant

3. Evidences of having income, such as pension or interest of saving money, or dividends etc. and/ or,

4. Certified Letter of having a bank account with the Bank in Thailand and the passbook of the account.

Health certificate not needed.

Actually Lite Beer, I needed a health certificate last week at the immigration office at Phusing (near Lao border) for my 3rd annual extension. This was not required last year but the officer showed me that this rule has been in place since January 2008.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php

Many thanks for the info lopburi. I like many others on this forum always appreciate your knowledge, expertise and input.

The sad fact is that if Thailand wanted retirees here on PR it would be available.

So the 1 year renewals will continue I'm afraid.

"

I now know that you are correct re this issue. However, if I applied for PR under the "retirement" option rather than "supporting a family"option, then we should adjust the advice provided on our Thaivisa site because it does NOT mention tax requirements for the preceeding 3 years, only (and I quote) - äpplication form TM.9. Health certificate from a hospital, certification that the applicant has no criminal record in his or her overseas domicile. This must be certified officially. Official marriage and birth certificates (for accompanying family members). CERTIFICATION OF INCOME (e.g. pension), map of residence and copy of passport showing a total of 3 years travel history to Thailand.

Only certification of income that I can and do provide every year to the Thai immigration police. No mention of tax records....yes I know it seems like a lost cause but the information did give me a false sense of security.

On a final note, to try and clarify this for myself and not bother others, I have tried many times recently to visit the Thai Immigration Police internet site (www.imm.police.go.th) but it seems to be unavailable now. Any others had this experience? Thanks again for the help...and yes I will just keep applying every year, although from Si Sa Ket this is not that convenient.

If you have been here on multi entry non immigrant O visa entry (90 days per visit) that will not qualify for PR. You must be here on immigration issued one year extensions of stay. It is really not clear which you have been using.

Thanks for the input Lopburi and everyone else. To clarify I have been here on an immigration issued one year extensions of stay. I guess that for the last 3 years on my retirement visa the fact that I have not had to pay income tax is my stumbling block...seems to be quite unfair.

As all I want to do is take care of my family without the hassles of renewing visas every year and being subject to the vagaries of the government re reirement visa requirements.

It looks to me like the laws are framed to prevent retired folk like me from ever having a permanent residence here even though it is or home, we contribute significantly to the Thai economy and do our best to look after our families.

I am now retired and living in Thailand with my Thai wife and 2 girls. After 3 years here working with a work permit and with permissions for yearly stays in Thailand on a non-immigrant visa, I then retired and for the last 3 years have been granted permission for yearly stays on a retirement visa with a multiple entry non-immigrant visa (so we can visit my mum in Australia a few times each year). I was planning to apply for permanent residence at the end of this year based on the fact that I was "supporting a family" and already have the required financial requirements, marriage papers plus my yellow house registration book.

However, today I find on this forum that perhaps my years on a retirement visa will not qualify for PR. Why is this when they are "permissions for yearly stays in the Kingdom on a non-immigrant visa - exactly what the PR qualifications state. Any advice and explanation will be greatly appreciated.

What Jingthing says is correct. I've been here for a while on retirement extensions, and I have a stamp in my passport in Thai that says something along the lines of "Can renew for life" but it gives no special rights and I have to extend every year. Having said that, its fairly painless if you have the correct paperwork. They change the rules occasionally but in the past have always "Grandfathered" the rules relating to amounts in the bank.

There is a "Pinned" thread about Residencyand it is not straight forward.

I also are here on retirement visa extentions (now 4 years) but I am also confused a little as to why these retirement visa renewals that are "permission for yearly stays in Thailand on a non-immigrant visa"will not qualify for a PR. I am married to a Thai national with a family of 2 girls and I was planning to do this at the end of this year based on the "supporting a family"basis. Could you please explain why I cannot ever qualify for PR. Many thanks for your help

Hello Pab,

Unfortunaly my wife and me are still living in Holland, but we go "home" twice a year.

Home is about 10 minutes with the motercyc from Sisaket city, following the train track to Ubon R. Ban Nong Kheang it's called, "we"are with 4 of us in the village 1 german, 1 Canadian, 1 belgium and then me the cloggie, but we all live and work abroad as i call it ( home is were your hart is )

In April we will be home (aswell we have to bring dad's bones to the temple), so if you like can drop a mail if we are around.

I know there are more "farang" around who are retiring around Srisaket, the best change to meet them is in Suan Heang mole, and the market in the evening in the opposit of the railway-station, there is a terras were you can sit eat and drink, and most of the time there are at least 1 farang to find.

Many thanks my friend. Will follow your advice and hopefully catch up with you and your crew next April. Best wishes

Hello.

I am very new to this forum and to this part of Thailand.

In fact this is my first post to the Thailand forum.

I am originally from Australia after working in Asia for 16 years and in Thailand in particular (Bangkok) for the last 8 years.

I now have retired and live in the Si Sa Ket area - Amphur Wang Hin.

Been living with a lovely Thai lady for a long time and we have just finished building our new home. Have attached a photo and as many of you who have lived in Issan for a long time would no doubt already know - this has been an interesting and at times challenging experience.

However, my post is because I am interested in getting to know and meet some other farangs in this neck of the woods.

Thanks Cathyy and Rocky - greatly appreciated.

This is all new to me - even trying to negotiate the site in order to swend you both a reply tested my limited computer skills

Apologies if this topic is well known by others but I work in Bangkok 2 or 3 weeks every month but am a resident of Australia. Can I open a Bank account in Thailand? If so what do I have to do? I do not have a work permit and come into Thailand on an OPEC business card each month.

In addition, I am planning to marry a Thai lady towards the middle of next year and hopefully open a joint account as well. I want to move more permanently to Thailand at that time. After 1 or 2 years I plan to retire and continue to live in Thailand if at all possible.

Hopefully my questions are not too simple for people who have a lot more experience about living in Thailand than myself - thanks for any guidance you can provide re opening a bank account.