James207

"Even mentions doing them at police station.." Well going back quite a few years I was sure an expat friend talked about doing it a police station. The mariage visa definitely seems the way to go. I could opt not to draw so much down on the private penion and/or invested savings leaving more in the pot for a rainy day. I was concerned about draining more than I actually need then leaving it senselessly sitting in a Thai current account. My wife is a nurse so has a pretty good salary, for a Thai. In fact if I can go off topic again, my wife works for a Government hospital. I understand as a spouse of a Government employee I am entitled to health care in Thailand. Anybody else married to a Thai Government employee can confirm this?

In the case I mentioned in my first message I understand the operson concerned if having to prove they can meet the requirement to have 800,000 baht on deposit "AND" income of at least 65,000 baht. I thought it was "OR" not "AND". They can't meet the money on deposit hence the back hander. I still think that there is something fishy going on.

"A marriage Extension requires less money in the bank." Can I clarify that. Under a retirement visa it is 800,000 baht on deposit "OR" 65,000 baht deposited each month. For marriage visa what is needed in the bank and is there monthly income requirement? Also when checking a website it mentions having your Embassy in Thailand authorise a letter from the bank confirming money transferred from the home country. A bit surprised that the UK Embassy would do that. I intend to deposit all of my savings off shore otherwise they will incur UK taxes. Then I only pay UK tax on state and private pension. UK Embassy will not authorise foriegn interest payments made directly to a Thai bank account. Does anybody else have this problem?

Ok I rather suspect that if the person concerned could do it by post or online so queuing isn't an issue then something else is going on. I assume I could also opt for a marriage visa. Would that have advantages over the retirement visa?

I don't know whether what I am about to ask is permitted or not but I will have a go anyway. I hope to get a retirement visa next year and I thought the process was straight forward as was the 90 day registration which is done at a police station. I am getting third had stories that one retiree registers every 90 days at Immigration and pays a bribe, which is escalating, to avoid queuing. I rather suspect that something else is going on here. Is the 90 day registration at Immigration or the police station and is it straight forward or are back handers required? No offence intended but this is the story that I am being told.