Liquorice

I've also assisted a number of Thai widows claiming bank funds (and pensions where applicable). According to Thailand Inheritance laws, a legal spouse is automatically entitled to the husband's assets, unless a Will states otherwise. Where a Will is in place, probate shouldn't apply, and the bank will immediately release funds to the widow (my experience). Different kettle of fish, even with a Will relating to Thai g/f. A Court Order will be required regardless.

There are two things you can do. 1. Make a Will leaving the funds to your g/f. 2. Add her to your FT account by way of power of attorney at the bank. Her name does not appear on any letters, the passbook or any statements in this situation. In the case of being legally married, if either one of the above is followed, the bank will immediately release funds on proof of a death certificate. In the case of a g/f the bank requires a Court Order to release the funds, but either of the above two steps shows your intent to the Court and very easy to obtain the Court order.

There is no retirement Visa. It's a Non Immigrant O Visa obtained for the purpose of 'retirement'. I assume you entered as a Tourist, either Visa exempt or Tourist Visa. In either case, you can only extend your current permission of stay for 30 days. To extend your stay for 1 year based on retirement (a permit, not a Visa) you must have Non Immigrant status, not Tourist status, hence you first need to apply for a Non Imm O visa at Immigration, which grants you a stay of 90 days. Within the last 30/45 days of the 90 days, you can apply to 'extend your permission of stay' for a further 365 days, subject to the financial requirements, which are 800K THB transferred from overseas to a Thai bank account in your sole name. The 800K THB only has to be in your account on the day you submit your application for the Non Imm O Visa. Procedure here; VE-TV to Non O Retirement.pdf To apply for the 1-year extension of stay, the 800K funds must have been in your account for 2 months prior to the date of submitting your application. There is no requirement to prove the funds came from overseas for the 1-year extension, using the 800 K THB in the bank method. If you haven't got 800K THB to deposit in a Thai bank, then an agent and whatever their fees, are your last resort.

Incorrect. @DrJack54 gave the correct advice.

You can do a power of attorney at the Thai bank, allowing you to conduct her banking affairs.

You can also print the Wise PDF transfer receipt(s) off that many Immigration offices also accept as proof of overseas funds transfer.

To apply for a 1 year extension of stay (a permit, not a Visa) based on retirement, you must have Non Immigrant status, not Tourist status. Your Aunt must first apply to change her status from Tourist to Non Immigrant and obtain a Non Imm O Visa from Immigration. Procedure here; VE-TV to Non O Retirement.pdf

The only difference I've noted is that certain Thai Embassies note in the remarks 'Employment prohibited' when the Non O was issued based on retirement. I very much doubt Immigration would be aware of that fact anyway.

Many foreigners previously met their now Thai spouses on visits to Thailand. At the time of applying for a Non Imm O, they are not married, therefore have to apply based on retirement. Once legally married, which is a change in circumstances, you can then change the reason of extending your stay based on Thai spouse/family. Certain Immigration officers simply resent the extra work when applying based on Thai spouse and give all manner of excuses. Extensions based on Thai spouses have to be approved by regional offices, therefore the Immigration officer accepting your documents for the extension is having his 'competence' of requirements' checked in effect. They hate to be told by an authority the application is incomplete, basically being incompetent and loosing 'face'. This is a universal list of documents that may be requested for an extension based on Thai spouse. Docs Extension of Stay based on Thai spouse.pdf

It doesn't matter on what basis he applied for the Non Imm O Visa. If legally married to a Thai, he can apply for an extension of stay based on Thai spouse. You can change the 'reason' for an extension from retirement to Thai spouse and vice versa provided you meet the requirements.

You could convert your TV to a Non B. https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/issuing-and-changing-type-of-visa/

Absolutely, but nobody checks, not the Embassy/Consulate, ECO at borders points, and you never visit Thai Immigration. I know of 3 that stay this way, 1 for over 10 years, but if caught, deportation and blacklisted.

You can obtain the Non Imm O ME Visa with just a copy of your wife's (or ex) TB and ID card, from Savannahket, if you get my drift.

Have you considered obtaining the Non Imm O ME Visa from Savannahket or HCMC? That would allow you to stay, albeit with border runs every 90 days.

Thanks for that update. Not recommended! Despite warning a friend last year, he gave his documents and Passport to a tout outside the MFA. To cut a long story short, only after the involvement of the Police and parting with 26K did he get his documents returned after 6 weeks-not legalized. He came VE for 30 days to get married, ended up having to apply for a 30-day extension and the additional cost of hotel and changing his return flight date.

To expand on what UJ stated. You can both initially apply for a 30-day extension to your current 60-day permission of stay. If your wife still isn't able to travel towards the end of the 30 day extension, you can both apply for a 90 day extension on medical grounds, (her as the patient, you as the carer), but would need a letter from a doctor stating she is unable to travel, and you are her carer.

A Tourist Visa permits a stay of 60 days on entry, which can be extended for a further 30 days. Arriving by air, there is no written order as to how many times you can enter, it's purely at the discretion of the IO.

You download the appropriate 'affidavit' from the British Embassy (single, divorced, widowed), then type yourself filling in the blanks. There is a translation office in the same building as the Legalization Dept of the MFA, who must legalize the documents. First and foremost, you should check the requirements at your local Amphoe office where you intend to register your marriage. Most Amphoe's will at minimum require an Embassy certified copy of your Passport information page, as well as an 'affidavit' of no impediment to marry, certified by your Embassy. These documents must be translated into Thai, then both the original and translations legalised by the Legalisation division of the Consular department of Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Typical documents required by an Amphoe. Passport. Intended spouses Tabien Baan and ID card. Embassy certified 'affidavit'', Embassy certified Passport copy and Thai translations, legalised by the Legalisation division of the Consular department of the MFA. The marital status of your intended spouse can be checked on their online database for any previous record of marriage, or divorce. If your intended was previously 'widowed', I would recommend she takes her ex husbands Death certificate as proof of her marital status. Next you must swear an 'affidavit' of no legal impediment to marry at your designated Embassy in Thailand. Each Embassy will have it's own procedure, but you will have to provide evidence of your current marital status, either 'single', 'widowed' or 'divorced'. Certain Embassies may have 'templates' for such that they request you download, print and complete the fields with the requested information. Do not sign – the 'affidavit. It must be signed in the presence of an Embassy official qualified to take such statements and witness. You will have to make an appointment at your Embassy to complete the procedure. Your Embassy may request additional documents to verify information stated in the 'affidavit'. I suggest you take the following documents to avoid any disappointment. Passport Completed 'affidavit' (unsigned). Any 'final divorce decree' or 'death certificate' of ex spouse. Intended spouse Tabien Baan and ID card. The Consular building of Thailand's MFA in Bangkok also has a translation office on the floor above from their legalisation office. You can arrange for translations and the legalisation of the documents to be returned to your home address by EMS, rather than wait around in Bangkok. Takes approximately 5 working days for return by EMS. Bangkok Legalisation Division Department of Consular Affairs 123 Chaeng Wattana Road Bangkok 10210 Call Center: Tel: +66 (0) 2572 8442 (Thai language only) OR +66 (0) 2 575 1058, +66 (0) 2 575 1059 (from 8.30 –14.30) E-mail: [email protected]