charliebadenhop

Not actually sure what is being asked...

I have paypal accounts in three different countries.

You cannot transfer funds from the acct. of one country to the account of another country.

I think this is due to intl. banking laws.

If you wanted to send money TO Thailand from a paypal account in Thailand, you might be able to do this with no transfer fee, as that is what I do when I sometimes send money to a friend in Manila. I click something like "sending money to a friend or family member" and there is either no transfer fee, or something about 50 cents US.

If you are going to be switching from one currency to another in order to get access to the money, then yes of course, you will not be getting the best possible rate.

Does this help?

Thanks for this info!!

Just what I was needing to know!

Joe, I looked at the link you suggested a week or so ago. http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15398-Issuance-of-Visa.html

I don't even see a mention of OA.

But for the O it says that an individual only has to show B20,000.

So what is that about?

I believe you when you say B800,000 but wondering why that is not stated on the link you suggested.

Will I need to be showing proof of residency in Thailand?

And then AFTER getting this visa for 90 days, when I go to extend it for reasons of retirement, is that when I need to show B800K?

Or will I need to show the 800K in Vientiane, but NOT as having been in the bank for at least two months?

No need to prove a clean criminal record, and no need for a physical?

Thanks again!

One more thing that I forgot to write before...

Went to Immigration here in Chiang Rai yesterday with my landlord, who is a savvy Thai lady.

We got the guy I was hoping to get. He processed my last two extensions and has been friendly.

He said to wind up changing over the reason for extension to "retirement" I would need to leave the country, no matter what.

So that is part of the reason I am asking if I can't do this in Bangkok.

If you applied for a OA visa you would to show money in a bank in Japan (or here would be accepted) or proof of income or a combination of the 2 totaling 800k baht.

You are an extension of stay based upon attending school. You ED visa has already expired and means nothing now other than it gave you a non immigrant visa entry.

To change the reason for your extension from attending school to retirement you will need to meet the financial requirements on the date your apply. If using money in the bank it would have to be there for 2 months. You could do the change as soon as you have the money in the bank for 2 months. You would not have to wait until your current extension expires.

There is no change from a O to a OA visa. You just apply for an extension of stay based upon retirement.

OA visas are not done here they are only done at embassies and official consulates.

So, I am going to Japan either in late April or early May

I will have enough money in the bank there, BUT you are saying that I will need to show that the money in my bank account in Japan will have to be there two months prior to applying?

If so, that is a problem.

You wrote IF using money in the bank it would need to be there for two months. Since you say "if" is there any other way to meet the financial requirements without showing proof of money in the bank?

What about this option-

I have about $1,000 a month in income from both the US and Japanese government. If I could make up the balance by showing income from my investment account, would I then no longer need to worry about showing any money two months prior?

And then...

I am still not clear.

Are you saying there could be a way to make things work by going to Laos or another country close by?

What I am really trying to avoid is needing to travel back to Japan a month or so after having just been there.

If I had the 800K here in Thailand for two months prior to applying, is there any way to change over in Bangkok?

Thanks again, for all your help!

Regards,

Charlie

Hi Joe,

We are creeping towards the finish line! Thanks so much.

You wrote-

You have a bit of a catch 22 situation in Japan to apply for a non-o visa. First they will not issue you a visa unless you are a citizen or resident of Japan. Second since you are a resident they will not issue you a non-o visa because of that and will only do the OA visa.

//

Charlie asks-

And to get an OA while in Japan I would need to show money in a Thai bank in Thailand?

Joe asked:

I assume you have an extension of stay you got from immigration which is not a visa or are you leaving the country every 90 days because you have a multiple entry non-ed visa.

I am on an ED visa, with an extension.

Charlie replies-

I have to leave in April because I have some business to attend to.

Joe writes again-

If you have an extension of stay you could possibly change the reason for your extension from attending school to retirement. You would need to meet the financial requirements for the extension on the date you do the change. To do this you would need a letter from your school stating the date you are no longer attending classes and do the change on that date. You would have to check wit your local immigration office to see if they will do it.

//

Charlie replies:

This could be excellent if possible.

A couple of questions please.

1. I would NOT need to have the money in an account two months prior to the change? (IF the change is possible)

If so, this would be perfect.

My ED extension ends on Aug. 19, and I could easily have money in my account prior to that.

2. A bit confused still! :-)

You wrote "You cannot change from one non immigrant visa class to another."

Am I correct in thinking that the ED visa is a Non-Imm ED visa, and then you get extensions?

How can I change over to O or OA if indeed a person cannot change from one non-imm class to another?

Again, thanks so much for your kindness!

Regards,

Charlie

Hi Joe,

I went to this link on the Thai Visa site

http://www.thaivisa.com/non-imm-o.html

Maybe I missed it, but I did not see mention of someone who is over 50. The info on the link seems to point towards specific circumstances such as being a parent, or a coach, etc.

I am not doubting your knowledge, it would just be great to read someplace that showed the "O" was for me, and the specific requirements.

My situation is this-

Going to Japan in early May, and I have permanent residence status there.

So I could apply for a visa, BUT I will not be able to have B800,000 in the bank by then.

What I would really prefer, is that I did not have to leave the country again soon after returning here in May.

You wrote the following Joe-

You can do a conversion to a non immigrant visa at immigration in Bangkok based upon qualifying for an extension of stay based upon retirement.

//

Are you saying I could convert my ED visa into a non imm O or OA in Bangkok?

As you well know, there are MANY rumors here in Thailand.

In the last couple of weeks I met three different farong here in Chiang Rai where I live, who claim that they converted either a tourist visa or an ED visa, and or a Spouse visa into a retirement extension, by going to the Immigration Office in Chiang Rai. Could that be possible or is it just some form of rumor?

My ED visa is up on Aug. 19th of this year, and I CAN manage to have enough money in my account here by June 19. Just wanting to then take the simplest path forward to getting a visa that allows for a retirement extension.

TIA!

Charlie

Hi Paz.

Is this thread not about retirement "extensions"?

I posted in this thread before, and wanted to carry on here.

You mention a Non-imm O visa and I don't see how I could qualify for that.

Hi all,

I posted a reply awhile ago and I see now that somehow it did not get published so here I go again.

There are Non-Imm O visas and Non-Imm O-A visas.

There is no such thing as a Retirement visa, only extensions for reason of retirement.

That is good to FINALLY get clear on, so thanks for that.

Next-

Let's see what I can further sort out.

As someone older than 50 years old, but no spouse, or other "special" situations like being a coach, I believe an O-A is my only clear choice when I want to get a Retirement Extension.

Is that correct?

I ask because, I am going back to Japan where I lived for a long time as a US citizen, but I will have all the various pieces together to apply in April, and I would HATE to have to go back to Japan again simply to apply for an O-A visa. I am currently living in Thailand on an ED visa.

No police report needed by me, is what I think I read, and yet...

On the Thailand Forum here it says-

1.3 Having no criminal record in Thailand and the country of the applicant’s nationality or residence.

– A letter of verification issued from the country of his or her nationality or residence stating that the applicant has no criminal record (verification shall be valid for not more than three months and should be notarised by notary organs or the applicant’s diplomatic or consular mission).

??? But yet no report needed? Is the Thai Visa page here out of date?

1.4 Having the nationality of or residence in the country where applicant’s application is submitted.

So no choice for me, I either have to apply in the US or Japan?

2. Required Documents

-A copy of bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht, or a deposit account plus a monthly income totalling not less than 800,000 Baht.

//

This one is confusing!

I thought I needed to show money in a THAI bank. No?

If needing to apply in the US or Japan, how is this handled?


– A medical certificate issued from the country where the application is submitted, showing no prohibitive diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No.14 (B.E. 2535) (certificate shall be valid for not more than three months and should be notarised by notary organs or the applicant’s diplomatic or consular mission).

Even though I am living in Thailand, is a medical certificate from a Thai doctor not good enough?

With no medical insurance any longer in Japan it would likely cost me a good deal to get a check-up there.

3. Channels to submit application

Thai Visa site says-
Applicant may submit their application at the Royal Thai embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in their home/residence country or at the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Thailand located on Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Sathorn District, Bangkok 10120. Tel 0-2287-4948 (direct) or 0-2287-3101 – 10 ext. 2236. Or applicant must submit their application at their local Immigration office.

//

This is also confusing as it seems to say I can apply in Bangkok or the area I live in?!

What is the deal?

Please excuse me if I am appearing to be brain dead!!

:-)

Hi Tommybhill,

Wondering how you came to know that Aikido is useless?

My understanding is that whether or not you get tested, and or hassled has to do with predominantly two factors

1. The immigration center that you go to.

My school said go to Center X and not to the one at Y because at Y they tend to hassle people.

I went as directed and had no problems at all.

2. The actual school you attend.

Seems like (and I cannot prove this) some schools have shoddy reputations, and the people behind the counter take a closer look at people attending such schools.

Also, as I wrote once before-

I decided that the best way to not get hassled was to learn how to read.

And yes, write one's name, even if you do so in a very awkward fashion.

If you can read all of the letters and read (with likely a bad accent) text that is put in front of you, I think it is clear that you have definitely been studying.

Don't know that I am particularly insensitive, but I have not had any problem with the air quality these last couple of weeks in Chiang Rai.

cb

I lived in Japan for 30 years, and get retirement benefits from the J. government.

What I have been told by Bangkok Bank is that I need to get a direct deposit account in a Japanese bank here in Thailand, and that will suffice as "proof".

I cannot 100% verify this, but the bank said the same for the small amount of social security I get from the US government.

What I was told when I went back to Japan recently, is that the J. government will only do direct deposit with a Japanese bank here in Thailand, So for instance, they would not allow me to create a direct deposit account with Bangkok Bank.

I would love to know more!

I have been having problems off and on for the last week with TOT. Using fiber optic.

Went to see them today.

The guy said, "With all the fires burning at this time of year, some of the fires damage the fiber optic lines, and we fix the problems as soon as we possibly can.

???

I was a professional Aikido instructor in Japan for 20 years.

So, I think Aikido is a great art to study.

Your daughter can learn a lot in one year, and at the same time she will have just scratched the surface.

One class I have always loved teaching is "self defense for women".

A very rewarding class for the ladies, because they can fairly quickly develop skills that are effective in situations when men are over the top aggressive.

I would suggest you and or your daughter asking if there will be any practical self defense classes.

Joe, thanks as always for your kindness, and I am still a bit confused.

Now, from what you wrote I DO get that the money needs to be in the bank for 60 days when first applying and 90 days after that.

Ok.

But what you write next, confuses me:

You cannot apply for a retirement visa here in the country. You apply for an extension of stay based upon retirement at immigration.

//

As a concrete example- I am on an ED visa that ends in August of this year.

You are saying that I have to leave the country in order to get a Retirement visa?

​And when you say, "you apply for an extension of stay based upon retirement." I get lost....

If my current visa is up on August 15, then I need to have money in the bank no later than June 15 yes?

And then what...?

I leave the country and apply for a retirement visa while in another country?

Sorry if I am being a pain!

:-)

cb

Hi Joe,

sorry if I am dense, but just wanting to make sure I understand.

When FIRST applying for a retirement visa, the money needs to be in an account for a minimum of 60 days, but after that when one applies for the retirement visa a second or third time, etc. the money needs to be in 90 days in advance?

Not sure because you say "extension".

The money needs to be there once a year for either two or three months, yes?

Hi,

I asked this before when I got confused.

Money is needed in a bank account TWO months prior to applying, yes?

Recently someone said 3 months.

cb

Thanks for this post!

Very much appreciated.

Charlie

Really really hard to beat the service in Chiang Rai.

(I posted this the other day, but then never saw it on the site.)

ED visa extension.

Everyone very friendly, no "testing" of my Thai abilities, and including getting a reentry permit, I was in and out in 45 minutes.

The head of my school says that some immigration offices do definitely give students a hard time.

Charlie

UbonJoe,

You are always highly knowledgeable and I very much appreciate all the help you give.

The Siam Legal site says that money in the bank for retirement visa needs to be 2 months in advance of application.

Is that simply a careless mistake on their part, or....??

Thanks for letting me know that you do not lose days by going early!!

I have heard various anecdotal stories of people having trouble with their ED visa extensions, but do we really know that there IS a specific problem?

I have to extend my visa in about two weeks.

The school wanted to add a sheet showing a test I had taken and passed.

I said that I was most comfortable showing the amount that I can READ Thai. I placed "read" in caps because the teacher wanted me to show my ability to write Thai, and my writing is still horrendous.

So anyway, I have decided that I will go to immigration, and IF necessary I will show them what I can do, rather than getting freaked out by possibly being made to do what I cannot do.

I figure the worst that can happen is that they cancel my ED visa and I come in again under another visa.

To me this seems like a good strategy, because IF the immigration person is at all reasonable he/she will respect the fact that I have indeed been studying and learning. Proactively showing what I can do, rather than perhaps having someone pick away at what I can't do.

And if I get an unreasonable immigration person, well then it most likely doesn't matter anyway. I will "fail".

???

I have spoken to two farong who have bought some real estate in Thailand. Not for themselves and their girlfriend or wife, but simply land that they wanted for various reasons. Both guys told me the same story. They gave the money to a Thai person they hope they can trust. The moment the land is bought they gain possession of the "chanote" plus a document signed by the Thai person saying that he or she is turning the land over to (blank). The name of the person they are turning the land over to is left blank, and the date is left blank. Then the Thai person signs the document. The Thai person is given a commission.

So as I was told by both gentleman, it is supposedly close to impossible for the Thai person to sell the land or borrow money against the land without the "chanote". And if the farong wound up in a hassle with the Thai person, they would find another Thai person to take over the land, and of course they would need to pay another commission or fee.

Is this a deal that makes sense?

Thanks folks!

So wow, no ED or retirement visa people allowed to apply.

And people are still waiting five or six years later to know if they have been accepted?!?!

Seems a bit bizarre...