Lancelot

I did it Lancelot's way.  From my financial institution in the US to my Bangkok Bank account in Thailand via Bangkok Bank in NYC.

Mesquite,

I am happy that everything worked smoothly for you. I will probably continue to use Bangkok Bank, mainly for the ease of transfering money to Thailand.

All the best,

Lance

PS-BKK bank just started charging me 3 baht when I use my (BKK bank) ATM card to withdraw baht at "foreign" ATMs. Anyone else experienced this?

If Immigration raises the retirement annual  bank balance to 1,500,000 Baht, I will probably move on. 1.5 million is just too much.

Actually, I live on much less than 800k.

Chok dee!

Lance

But to tell "whining PC white girls" to crawl back under their rocks is not only insulting it is also hypocrytical. If you read a lot of the posts from the men on this forum, you will find them to be "whining" as well!

Hey Board,

I have been lurking and reading the comments with interest and some suprise. Why do we farangs ( I am a farang guy from the USA) travel half way around the world to hurl "gender" insults at each other?!?

Sure farangs have bigger bodies (than Asians) and we (men and women) sometimes have a few extra pounds. So what? The last time I was in the US, I could not believe the number of "well nourished" people, including kids.

Anyway, In my opinion, Thais are a handsome people, so why shouldn't farangs and thais be attracted to each other? (assuming Thais like us in equal measure ) I am attracted to Thai ladies, so why shouldn't farang women have a Thai BF?

Anyway, I think I'll chill and let the board "brawl" continue

All the best,

Lancelot

My Bank Charges me just one pound 50 pence

(GBP1.50 = about US$ 2.50) for each withdrawal

Is it possible that similar Services are available

in USA ??

********

To "SEND" money to wife or G/F - you could

open a separate "B a/c" or "No.2 a/c" and give

the Debit Card for that a/c to wife or G/F.

You then set up a monthly Standing Order

for the Bank to Transfer the Monthly Allowance

from your Main Account to No.2 account.

Roger,

Yes, I can use my Net Bank ATM card to withdraw baht from any ATM in Thailand (at least I've never been denied so far.)

Net Bank does not charge me for the withdrawls, but some Thai banks (sometimes) charge 3 baht.

About the "bar girl" account; sometimes the obvious escapes me. Of course, just open a seperate account and give the ATM card to one's GF.....

Simplicity at its best!

Lance

Lancelot says that he uses netbank and they can do the transfer.  He also mentions that they accept email and will explain what to do.  I found that my USA bank BankOne also has a SWIFT code (I gather that the SWIFT code must be known for both banks to do the transfer).  I found mine by doing a google search using "SWIFT" and my banks route code in the search but getting it from the bank would be safer.  The actual transfer cost around $40 at NetBank.  

Board,

I use Net Bank (NB) to transfer funds to Bangkok Bank (BKK.) I can initiate a wire transfer by e-mail and the money is deposited into my BKK account on the second business day.

I found a way to reduce my fees from NB to BKK. I do a "domestic" wire from NB to BKK (New York City.) Then BKK NYC transfers to BKK Thailand. The fees are:

1) NB to BKK NYC $15 (domestic wire)

2) BKK NYC to BKK Thailand $5

3) BKK Thailand incomming wire fee, maximum of 500B

About $32 USD depending on the BKK Thailand incomming wire fee.

Bangkok Bank gave me the Swift codes and Net Bank walked me through the e-mail ordering a wire transfer.

Having said all that, there has to be a cheaper way to transfer funds into Thailand. Perhaps if one uses an "affilliate" bank (affiliated with a Thai bank) in one's home country, it is cheaper. I read on various boards about guys sending monthly stipends to Thai girlfriends and they surely are not paying $30 USD in fees for each transfer.

All the best,

Lance

PS-Bangkok bank is sometimes difficult to deal with (they refuse to give me Internet Banking because I do not have a work permit (I'm retired, how can I work?) I've heard good things about BAnk of Asia.

Can anyone comment on service/experiences at Bank of Asia?

Today I went out to Chiang Mai Immigration with all my paperwork.  Every thing went smoothly and the lady said she would stamp in my passport that I need to come back in 10 days, presumably to pick up the retirement visa. ........

I wonder if I have an O-A visa or an extended B visa.  I guess it really doesn't matter, unless I want to buy a condo or apply for residency.

Mesquite,

Congrats on receiving your Visa. So is it a retirememnt Visa or anothe type?

Can you buy property on a retirememnt Visa?

Lance

I am unconvinced that the O visa will be available within Thailand. Posts seem to indicate to the contrary, but personally I don't believe it.

Dr Pat,

I will be happy to meet you and show you the stamps in my passport, proving that I changed my Toursist Visa to 90 day Non-Immigrant Type "O" (received in Thailand.)

Starbucks at Sukumvit?

Lance

I have my money in two accounts (at the same bank).

One is a savings Account the other a Fixed deposit.

In their letter to Immigration the Bank lists details

- a/c number & balance - of the two accounts.

Roger,

Does Immigration hassle you about having money in two different bank accounts? I ask because interest rates are so low, that I have been thinking about investing part of my required 800k (THB) bank balance in some fixed income Thai mutual funds.

Bank of Asia seems to have some bond funds that pay better rates of return with acceptible risk. BUT....... I wonder how the nice folks at immigration will "interpret" a bank statement with two or three different accounts (totaling 800K THB.)

Any comments? In your (and the Board's opinion) good or bad idea?

Thanks,

Lance

PS-In any case, I am considering changing to BOA; BKK Bank -my current bank- is not very user friendly. They will not give me Internet Banking, even though I have 800k deposited with their firm. Reason? Only foreigners with a work permit can have Internet Banking access? Grrrrrrrrrrrrr! I can't have a work permit because I am retired! I wrote a letter of "appeal" to the President of BKK Bank, but, to date, no reply.

May pen ray, TIT!!

In regards to your getting your visa in Thailand do any of the following apply?

The following applicants may apply for this type of visa in Thailand:

Applicants undergoing Health Rehabilitation Programs in hospitals or Health Centers. These organizations will apply on behalf of the individual applicant.

Applicants who are spouses / parents / children of applicants above.

Applicants through agencies or organizations approved by the Office of the Immigration Bureau that have applied for a visa on their behalf. The above mentioned applicants must have qualifications stated in I.

____

LRimmler,

In answer to your post:

1) N/A (Not applicable)

2) N/A

3) N/A

I am single, no dependents and just muddled through the whole process by myself.

BUT my Thai GF helped me alot when I went to Immigration AND information gained from this forum and the Thai Visa Dot Com site was a VERY helpful!

Thanks Board,

Lance

So i've decided to just apply for a tourist visa double entry.

Hukster,

If you can, try to get a 90 day Non-Immigrant, Type "O" Visa in the USA.

If I could redo my Retirement Visa "Saga" I would DEFINATELY try for a Retirement (or even 90 day Non-Imm Type "O") Visa in the US.

Just my opinion,

Lance

 

Lancelot, you mentioned that "bank wire fees are too expensive" and that you use Net Bank to wire the money - Are they cheaper with wire transfers or did you use another means to get the funds into your BKK bank account?

LRimmler,

Yes I used wire transfers to transfer the funds to Thailand. BKK Bank has a branch in New York City so the fees are:

Domestic Net Bank to BKK Bank NYC Branch - $15 USD

BKK Bank NYC Branch to BKK Bank, Thailand - $5 USD

BKK Bank, Thailand - Maximum of 500 Baht

Total - about $32 USD, depending on exchange rates.

Net Bank's International Wire transfer fees are about $40 USD, then one still has th BKK Bank fees.

I only have one US bank account (Net Bank) so I am locked into their fees. Net Bank will not make an "ACH" (electronic debit) and I could not get BKK Bank to initiate one on my behalf (maybe the difference in banking protocools?)

Anyway, I only plan on making one money "wire" transfer a year so I just write off the fees to a cost of living in the LOS.

One offset is that I receive the "wholesale" exchange rate when using a wire. Depending on the amount transfered, the better exchange rate can totally offset the (wire) transfer fees. (exchange rate as compared to regular ATM withdrawls with my Net bank ATM card)

All the best.

Lance

I just realised that if you entered Thailand

on 19th February with a 60 day Tourist Visa,

it must have already EXPIRED when you

visited Immigration on 23rd April ????

Roger,

I re-checked my passport stamps and I see that I first applied for my Retirement Visa on March 25. Khun Pallop said that I would have to change my Visa to a Type "O", Non Immigration.

Khun Pallop made me extended my February 19, 2003 "Penang" Tourist Visa on March 25.

I returned to Immigration on April 23 and received my 90 day Type "O" Non-Immigrant Visa.

I again returned to Immigration on June 19 and received my Retirement Visa and got a multiple re-entry stamp.

So, I wasn't over on my 60 day Toursit Visa; I just omitted that information on my posts.

Sorry!

Lance

I went to room 303 and the guy on the information desk, Kuhn Pallop, told me he wanted to see 800,000 baht in the account. I only had 10,000. He did not care about evidence that a monthly transfer was set up and did not even look at my bank statements. ..........I had the money wired to my TFB account with one hangup. American banks use a routing number and everybody else in the world uses a SWIFT number. The Thai bank had no idea what I was talking about when I asked for a routing number and my Amex man in San Diego had never heard of a SWIFT number. ..............

1. The document the bank gave me for 100 baht. This was all in Thai except for my name. It had my account number and balance on it.

First Kuhn Pallop had me get a 30 day extension on my tourist visa. Then he needed a document from TFB that proved the money came in from outside of Thailand. He called my bank and arranged for that. I got that and filled out the visa conversion paperwork. He looked it over, took the 500 baht fee and gave me a receipt with an appointment date about a month from then. At that time he said he would give me the retirement visa.  When I returned at the end of the month what I actually got was an O visa that was valid for three months.  

You cannot convert a Tourist visa directly to a Retirement visa.  

He told me to come back in three months and I could convert to a Retirement visa at that time.  

Zen,

My experience with Khun Pallop was similar to yours, except that I do not have a monthly pension transfer (I do not get Social Securiy and bank wire fees are too expensive.)

My US bank is Net Bank; the NB rep gave me wire transfer instructions via e-mail (including a swift code.) The money was posted to my Bangkok bank account the next business day.

Khun Pallop does not accept my BKK bank letter certifying my bank balance (cost me 200 baht), so I return to BKK bank and get another certified letter (all in Thai) saying about the same thing, but on green stationary (another 200 baht)-this document makes Khun P happy and he continuses processing my application.

Khun Pallop made me extend my toursit Visa for 30 days before he would process my 90 type "0" Non-Imm Visa.

Khun Pallop told me to return "around" April 23 to get my 90 day type "O"; I returned on on April 22 and he tells me "Please come again tomorrow. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I am polite but wonder Huh?!? But the next day, April 23, I get the 90 day type "O' Non-Imm, no problem. Khun Pallop tells me to return on June 23, room 102 for the Retirement Visa (which I did on June 19 and finally received my R Visa.)

Yea, Khun P is inconsistent!

All the best,

Lance

Just to confirm what Lopburi has written:

The dates on your Tourist Visa Sticker

show that you have 90 days during which you

are permitted to ARRIVE in Thailand.

Roger & Lopburi,

Thanks for the clarification.

Lance

Lancelot....ensure that you get a multiple entry re-entry permit before you travel outside Thailand.

Dr Pat,

I did get my multiple re-entry stamp on the same day that I was granted my Retirement Visa. Thanks for the reminder.

Only 1,000 baht more.

Lance

It is interesting that Lancelot was able to get a Retirement Visa in Thailand without a police report and medical check.  I just had a friend apply for a Retirement Visa in LA and multiple (5) notarized copies of each document were required but he did not have to transfer anything to a Thai bank

Nope, they never asked for a police report or a physical and I sure as heck din't volunteer to provide any additional documents.

But they did examine my bank information VERY carefully.

Lance

LRimmler, Roger & Dr Pat,

One additional note about the 90 day tourist Visa I received in Penang. When I crossed the border by van (from Malaysia) back into Thailand, Immigration stamped my Visa for 60 days. At the time I didn't notice it, but later, at Immigration I asked about it and was told: "Pay 500 baht and extend Visa for 30 days." I tried explaiing that Penang gave me a full 90 days, but (BKK) Immigration wouldn't budge.

Immigration made me extend my 90 day Toursit Visa (stamped for 60 days at the border) before they would process my 90 day type "O" Non-IMM Visa. My GF asked around and it seems that stamping one's Visa for 60 days (at the border) is standard practise.

If/when I go abroad, I am currious if Immigration will try to screw with the date on my Retirement Visa (Feb 19, 2004.)

Any one have any experience with this? (How Don Muang Immigration stamps one's passport upon re-entry to Thailand, if one holds a one year Non-IMM or Retirement Visa.)  

All the best,

Lance

So my question was where did you - "change my Visa to a 90 day, type O Non Immiggrant. "

Did they do that for you in Bangkok Immigration?

Which part of the Building/Room?

You seem to have made some kind of break-through here ...

Roger 13,

I changed my Tourist Visa to a 90 day Type "O" at the Bangkok Immigration office on Soi Suanplu. I forget the room number, but it was located on the third floor, the officer I spoke with is Khun Pallop.

I received my Retirement Visa at the same office (Bkk Imm on Soi Suanplu) Room 102.

All the best,

Lance

Are you sure that the visa from Penang wasn't a Non Immigrant O Visa. There is no such thing as a 90 day

Tourist Visa.  A Non Immigrant Visa is a 90 day stay.

Dr Pat,

I am looking at my passport and the Vias 'sticker" I received at Penang. It says:

Type of Visa - Tourist

Category - TR

Fee - 33 RM

Issued at - PENANG

Date of Issue - 19 Feb, 2003

Date of Expiry - 18 May, 2003

All the best,

Lance

Hi Lancelot

In terms of the other documents you  needed:

Did you go to your local police station to get a document stating you had no criminal record?

What sort of check-up did you receive from your doctor to satisfy your medical exam?

Did you transfer your 800,00 baht to a thai bank outside Thailand?

Thanks.

TC

Did you go to your local police station to get a document stating you had no criminal record?

What sort of check-up did you receive from your doctor to satisfy your medical exam?

Did you transfer your 800,00 baht to a thai bank outside Thailand?

TC,

About your questions:

1) No, I did not have (and was not asked) for a letter from the police.

2) No physical exam or health documentation.

3) Yes, they made me transfer 800k into Thailand (from my home country) My first transfer was when I received my 90 day Non-Imm Type "O" Visa; the second (smaller) transfer was to bring my Thai Bank account balance back up to 800k (and I received my Retirmement Visa)

Hi Roger,

I received my Retirement Visa at the Bangkok Immigration Office.

I think it is better if one can obtian a Non-Immigrant Type "O" Visa abroad, but it is possible to get one in Thailand (I know because I did it that way.)

Anyway, good luck to you. Let me know how it goes, ok?

Lance

George,

Thanks for the information! Hopefully my second year renewal will be easier!

Again, thanks for your reply.

Lance

Hi Board

I am a 50 year old American and on June 19, 2003; I received my One Year Thai Retirement Visa. Finally!

But I think I did everything the hard way.

First, I arrived in Thailand on January 25, 2003 and received a 30 day tourist Visa at Don Muang. On February 19, 2003 I received a 90 day Tourist Visa at Penang, Malaysia.

On April 23, I took my documentation and (letter to certify transfer of 800,000 baht to a Thai bank account) went to the Bangkok Imigration office to apply for my Retirment Visa. They told me that I had to change my Visa to a 90 day, type O Non Immiggrant. Did that. Next I was told to return to Imigration on or about June 23 to receive my Retirement Visa.

Fast forward to June 19, 2003.

I arrived with financial document (balance og 800k baht) and after waiting in line for about one hour, I received my Visa. BUT, the Immigration officer started my year on FEBRUARY 19, 2003 (Date of Penang Toursit Visa.) Huh!?! I couldn't figure this one out, but I didn't argue.

My questions for the board are:

1) Has anyone else had the first year of their Retirement Visa started on the date they first arrived in The Kingdom?

2) At the second year renewal, did anyone have to transfer another 800k Baht to their account or can you just "top up" your account to 800k? I really don't think that I will spend 800k per year.

3) Has anyone successfully applied for the one year Retirement Visa from abroad?

4) About the 90 day reporting requirement, is there a fee? Do they mark your passport to certify that one has reported? If not, how does Immigration know that the farang has dutifuly reported?

Thanks for your feedback!

Lance