chang beer

Hi. Finally got my retirement visa but forgot to get my multi entry visa. I believe they charge around 3,900 baht for them. My question is can I apply for multi-entry-exit visa anytime while my 1 year retirement is good? or is there a time window in which to get it?

Once I get my multi entry exit visa can I leave and return anytime as I wish? Or do I need an exit visa...a permission to leave at the immigration again? I'm confused. 1st time doing this. There is no time limit as to how long I can leave the country for? or is there one?

On the 90 days reporting. When I applied for my retirement visa, I didn't have a lease agreement with anyone. Just living month to month in a hotel so a friend who assisted me ended up as the leaser,my land lord sort of speak and put his name and address down as the host renter. So when I return to immigration for the 90 days reporting, I only need to put down my current address or do they want me to supply them with a lease agreement again? In which case I have to go back to my Pal and get his address correctly. Is it safer to use the address on my retirement application or does it really matter if you have a current address even when I don't have a lease.

thank you

BEER

Hi. Hope I'm doing this correct. For the second time I'm leaving for a side trip to Singapore and other south east asian countries before my 3 months reporting.

I left the first time after being in Thailand for 2 months and again I'm leaving after 2 months of being here.

I was told that I do not have to report at the immigration of my current address, if not living here for 3 months.

Should I go to immigration anyway?

thanx

Chang beer

Spoken like a true Gentleman.

Thank you UbonJoe

Moosehead Beer

Hi. So I have an O-A visa which is good till next August 14. I was due to do the 90 days reporting sometimes in November..3 months from the date in which I received my O-A visa.

I left Thailand and just came back from Singapore. So my passport says I'm good till next September 15 which gives me an extra month on my O-A visa.

Is this 90 days reporting from the time I returned from Singapore a few weeks ago? Remember I have yet to be here initially for longer than a month.

And if I were to leave again for example for a 3 months in SEA,does it mean that I won't have to renew my O-A visa for 3 additional months on top of what I have? Meaning it extends again for another 3 months?

thank you

Carlsburg Beer

My o-a is good till July of next year.I'm due to report on November 1st if I'm here. So as long as I receive an exit permission before leaving, im ok to return ie 5 months later, around February and report to immigration? Like paz says I don't have to do anything if im not here in Thailand.

Thanx

Beer.

Dumb question here. Now I'm here on o-a visa in Thailand. I intend to travel throughout Asia. Do I lose my o-a visa if I'm not here to report every 90 days?

Thank you

Beer

Dumb question here. Now I'm here on o-a visa in Thailand. I intend to travel throughout Asia. Do I lose my o-a visa if I'm not here to report every 90 days?

Thank you

Beer

Hi there. I'm in the process of doing the on immigrant O-A visa. One of the things we have to obtain is a criminal record. Wow. Didn't think it was going to be this difficult. I thought just walk into the local police station and get a print out.

I just found out that I have to submit a finger print image and request it from way up north in Sacramento. wow.

I know I have to do an O-A visa. There's no way around that for a reason.

Did you by any chance obtain criminal record other ways?

thanx

BEER

Just got my medical record and a bank statement today. Thought this was going to be a walk in the park.

Hi. Was told by my travel agent that one way ticket will be accepted if I'm coming with a non immigrant O-A visa here from Los angeles Thai consulate.

thank you kindly

Sierra Nevada Beer

Hi. Have a question for you. I've noticed in the past that if one has a slower wifi connections,Magic Jack tend to sound distorted and breaks up a lot.

Have you had success using your Magic Jack in your hotel rooms in Thailand and Philippines?

And like what it proudly advertise, that your calls from abroad shows up as a number that one has from America where I purchased it and registered.

I like to make an important call and I want it to be crystal clear.

thank you

Chang Beer.

Hi. So basically all American expats retirees are reporting for FBAR every year? I think people who have lived in the kingdom of Thailand for a while ....10 years with the funds already in Thai banks are alright?

Just wondering.

thanks knowledgeable guys

Sierra Nevada BEER

OH BOY!

BEER

Copy that Langsuan Man. Yeah. Los Angeles here. and used my address in Patty for my bank account. I guess I could use any of numerous apartments I lived.

I got that about returning home next year on O-A after reading a reply from one of the members Ubonjoe here from another post.

thanx

BEER

OK. I already have ACH set up so there's no hassle in transferring 800,000 bht anytime, but I like to proceed with the transfer as soon as I arrive and not while I'm still here in the states.

Only concern I had was to carry ATM card around with that much money in it.

I'll simply open a savings account and transfer funds between accounts. Unless the bank has a system of replenishing account when one is depleted? Like at my stock brokerage firms with a checking account and a brokerage account. I don't think so.

So. Get there on a single or multiple entry tourist visa and start the process immediately after I arrive.

One more question about O-A visa if I choose this route that is. I'd like to return to U.S for a week or two in March. This shouldn't be a problem right?

thanx guys. Ubon and Jingthing

Yeah Ubonjoe. 4 copies of my criminal record,4 copies of bank statement with a letter,4 copies of medical certificate all notarized,4 copies of application,4 copies of personal data and finally 4 copies of my passport, a trip to the local police station,Bank,Chuck Schwab,,my Doc and $200 in money order.

That just about covers it,I think.

I might just do this. I don't know. Can't wait till my pension kicks in.....

Thank you Sir.

chok dii

BEER

Thanx UbonJoe. I was dead set on non immigrant O-A till I found out about criminal record, medical certificate notarized and future home address that I don't even have yet for the application. So I started thinking about just applying for retirement visa there.

BUT I might still do the O-A

I wanted to take the most painless route,if you know what I mean.

I don't know. I have a few more months to figure this out.

chok dii

BEER

Hi Ubonjoe

I am still not sure what you asking about doing.

If you already have a Bangkok Bank account you can transfer funds to it by ACH from in any bank in the US.using this routing number 026008691 to your account here.

You don't need online access to your account here to do it.

For more info she this page on Bangkok Bank website: http://www.bangkokba...ndsfromUSA.asp

This is to return funds to home country.

As many of you know. One only has to keep funds in Thai bank for period of 2 to 3 months in order to qualify for financial requirements-retirement visa. Most people simply leave the funds there and use it up or return the funds to home-farang country.

So to transfer funds back to country of origin.

thank you

BEER

Hi there. Are there any Americans here who move funds between Bangkok Bank and his American bank for the purpose of financial requirements for retirement visa?

I am with Bangkok Bank and am able to move funds via ACH because there is a branch here in New York city. Only able to do so since this is within U.S. Not WIRED if you know what I mean with charges!

The reason I ask is I had a hell of time....struggles to move funds via telephone call to the branch in Thailand!!!!! Not here in the States. They won't accepts calls here in U.S to move funds around. And was told that I can't sign up for online banking for the bank since I'm not there living in Thailand.

They will save me a lot of time if they allow me to do online banking.

Do you just leave that required funds in Thailand indefinitely for the purpose of retirement visa or do you move it back to American bank etc as soon as financial requirements are met? And are you able to do online banking with them for this reason?

thank you

BEER

Hi. I've decided to get an O-A retirement visa for now. My question is during the 2 years that one receives before changing to a regular retirement visa,can one come and go as he wishes to neighboring countries? I'd like to travel through out S.E.A. Another thing is I'll be returning to the states during this 1st year for a week or two set up my pension with my union. Is this alright?

You are probably saying get a multiple entry tourist visa first and when I'm there in Thailand for good then apply for retirement visa?

I'd prefer to get this out of the way so I don't have to do border runs and stuff! if you know what I mean.

thank you

chok dii

NancyL "One reason different people are posting different things is that different immigration offices have different rules. So, OP -- where do you plan to live in Thailand?"

Pattaya

Hi. To the people who file at the Jomtien office.

How does it work there? Is what I summed up in the earlier post pretty much the norm?

So in a nutshell. Get to Thailand and go immediately to U.S consulate to get my proof of income letter then head straight to immigration in jomtien on soi 8 if I remember correctly and apply for Non-O and 2 months later to 1 year extension. And remember to keep a copy of my proof of income(pension)letter so I can later use it for 1 year extension.

Also bring a criminal record certificate or whatever the hell you call it from good old state of California. I'll get my medical check up there in Patty.

Is this about it?

I surely hope so

thank you so much guys... chok dii

BEER

Thank you again

BEER

So in a nutshell. Get to Thailand and go immediately to U.S consulate to get my proof of income letter then head straight to immigration in jomtien on soi 8 if I remember correctly and apply for Non-O and 2 months later to 1 year extension. And remember to keep a copy of my proof of income(pension)letter so I can later use it for 1 year extension.

Also bring a criminal record certificate or whatever the hell you call it from good old state of California. I'll get my medical check up there in Patty.

Is this about it?

I surely hope so

thank you so much guys... chok dii

BEER

Yes, most immigration offices allows your Tourist visa (TR60) to be converted to a Non-O.

When you do the conversion from a TR60 you will get a 3 months Non-O and after 60 days you will apply for the 1 year extension.

You will have to comply to the financial requirement for both steps.

In case of a pension the same Embassy statement can be used for both steps.

When using the bank account route a new Bank letter with updated bank book needs to provided for both steps. (no seasoning for the

( this is how Phuket immigration is doing it but other offices can have slightly different requirements )

Thank you MERJIN. (TR60) is the what one receives at the airport for one month right? Sorry to be so naive.

take care

BEER

Hi. Was thinking about traveling throughout Asia before arriving in Thailand when pension kicks in next year. I do not know when I'd finally arrive in Thailand however,country in which I intend to retire.I would then like to apply for a retirement visa while on one month tourist visa when I finally get there.

Is this possible?

Now you maybe saying that I need more time for the application to be cleared. Well. Can I extend my stay until my application clears by doing the border run or getting an extension?

thank you

BEER

OP, that's a good question, I wouldn't worry about the safety of the 800K baht.

But I would worry about the following two factors that are often overlooked by expats:

* foreign exchange risk and

* local inflation.

Example: Say exactly a year ago you exchanged USD to get your 800K baht. At the rate of USD/Bht a year ago, that would have been $27,304. Now a year later, your 800K in baht is worth $24,560. That's about 10% down. Of course it all depends on the timeframe. If you exchanged two years ago, your investment would be down 6.5%. If 5 years ago, you're up about 7%.

Also, inflation. The official rate of inflation by the Bank of Thailand, over the past 2 years, is 2%-3.5%. Half of that CPI weight is given to food and transportation. housing is another 23%. Discretionary items (ie. recreation, and a favorite with expats) is only a 5% weight. The point is the "real" inflation is much higher, safe to say 5%-10% a year, or even more. Now take that inflation rate and calculate it on a cumulative basis for as long as your 800K baht is sitting at the bank. If for 2 years, and at a modest 7% inflation, your 800K baht is now worth 690,000 baht. Nice eh?

Now, find a local bank that will pay 6%-10% interest rate on that 800K deposit, and please come back to report

edit: the above factors affect any investment, including buying a house for example.

thank you Zach

BEER

Edited by elzach, Today, 06:38 .

Hi. Call me paranoid but leaving funds in Thailand bank for retirement visa worries me. Do you worry that the market there in Thailand might crash and your funds might be lost?

Do I have anything to worry about leaving 800,000 bht in a Thai bank? What is the worst case scenario?

I know most xpats have no choice but to take this route.

I'm new to this so.

thank you

BEER

PS. or do you transfer funds back and forth as soon as you attain retirement visa?