mlkik

My flight is on the 6th July so when should I apply for my METV ?

I wouldn't leave it to the last minute. If you apply in person they are issued the same day. If you apply by post it must be to the embassy in London. They say to allow 3 - 5 working days.

Example: If it's issued on July 1st the 'enter before' date will be Dec 31st. If you were to make your last entry on Dec 31st, and extend that stay by 30 days, it would give you until March 30th 2017.

I will be 50 March 15th so on that basis do I have enough time on my visa to convert to stay for retirement reasons ?

Using the above example.

If you entered on 31 Dec and are fifty on March 15 it would not seem likely that there would be enough time to secure an "O" visa conversion unless you were very lucky.

Better to plan on obtaining an "O" visa after March 15 from Vientiane or Penang.

Would it be easier for me to return to the UK and apply for the visa here ?

My flight is on the 6th July so when should I apply for my METV ?

I wouldn't leave it to the last minute. If you apply in person they are issued the same day. If you apply by post it must be to the embassy in London. They say to allow 3 - 5 working days.

Example: If it's issued on July 1st the 'enter before' date will be Dec 31st. If you were to make your last entry on Dec 31st, and extend that stay by 30 days, it would give you until March 30th 2017.

I will be 50 March 15th so on that basis do I have enough time on my visa to convert to stay for retirement reasons ?

I would like to do a same day application. Do they do same day in London ? I live in Norwich so this would be the closest for me.

My flight is on the 6th July so when should I apply for my METV ?

I am spending 3.5 weeks in Thailand in April and coming back for 2 months. On 7th July I had planned another holiday but have now today decided that in July this will be when I make the move for good. Why come back and waste more of my life in the UK ? As far as I can work out in going in July a METV with extensions will get me through until 15th March when I am 50 and apply for long term stay on grounds of retirement.

Is this do able ?

Yes it is but if you want to maximise the visa make sure you buy it as late as possible as they are valid for 6 months from the issue date. Your last entry must be on of before the 6 month 'enter before' date.

I thought that the six months starts from the first time you enter Thailand and the clock starts ticking as from the first entry ?

I am spending 3.5 weeks in Thailand in April and coming backto the UK for 2 months. On 7th July I had planned another holiday but have now today decided that in July this will be when I make the move for good. Why come back and waste more of my life in the UK ? As far as I can work out in going in July a METV with extensions will get me through until 15th March when I am 50 and apply for long term stay on grounds of retirement.

Is this do able ?

I will not be 50 until mid March 2017 and will go to Thailand September 2016. This is why I will need the METV.

You could get a single entry from the UK and then after that another one from Laos, this should see you through until March

So do you suggest the single entry and then extending if for 30 days and then from Laos getting another single and extending it ? If I go in September it will be rather tight as I am 50 mid March and there will not be much room to play with.

I am greatful for all advice as it is a bit scary at the moment on what to do.

Sounds like the METV would be you're best option if you can get it.

I don't think two SETV's will be enough but that depends on your travel dates. You might need to do a border hop at the end of the second SETV to get a 30 day visa exempt entry as you need to be 50 and have at least 15 days left of your stay to do a conversion.

I have enought cash in my UK bank account for the METV and can get a letter from my employer stating I am employed and on unpaid leave and an expected return to work date. I will then email my notice once the long stay on retirement grounds has been issued.

I will not be 50 until mid March 2017 and will go to Thailand September 2016. This is why I will need the METV.

You could get a single entry from the UK and then after that another one from Laos, this should see you through until March

So do you suggest the single entry and then extending if for 30 days and then from Laos getting another single and extending it ? If I go in September it will be rather tight as I am 50 mid March and there will not be much room to play with.

I am greatful for all advice as it is a bit scary at the moment on what to do.

I will not be 50 until mid March 2017 and will go to Thailand September 2016. This is why I will need the METV.

AS a UK citizen the following is required for an METV application. This is taken from the Thai Consulate website

1. A completed application form with 2 identical professionally printed photographs (45mm high x 35mm wide);
2. A current passport with validity of over 6 months beyond the date of application;
3. Proof of resident status in the UK or Ireland (Passport or UK/Ireland residence card) along with a photocopy;
4. Original bank statement of the applicant showing a balance of at least £5,000 (for 6 months) or a print-out with official stamp of the bank.
5. A letter from the applicant’s employer (in the UK and addressed to the Royal Thai Consulate) stating length of service and expected return to work. If you are self-employed your self-assessment form.
6. A photocopy of the confirmed air ticket to Thailand;
7. A photocopy of the hotel reservation confirmation in Thailand.

Does the air ticked have to be a return ? I plan on converting the visa and staying in Thailand on the basis of being 50 and retirement.

As far as the hotel reservation is concerned can I just reserve a hotel for a few days or not ? I intend renting a condo with my girlfriend and do not want to stay in a hotel.

You have to wait till 50. You do not need to leave los every 90 once you have your extension. You need to a 90 day report . At central immigration for convert you need to show your funds came from abroad. If you wish to exit los you need to obtain a reentry permit. You can also obtain your non o outside thailand. Place like Vientiane. Only mention if that happens to suit your travel plans

I intend on renting out my UK home and moving to Thailand in September. I will be 50 mid March .

Nice play. Good luck. Welcome to thailand

Thanks, I was married to a Thai for 22 years and lived with her in the UK. Now divorced and met someone else it is now time to do what I have been telling people for the last 22 years that I would do.

You have to wait till 50. You do not need to leave los every 90 once you have your extension. You need to a 90 day report . At central immigration for convert you need to show your funds came from abroad. If you wish to exit los you need to obtain a reentry permit. You can also obtain your non o outside thailand. Place like Vientiane. Only mention if that happens to suit your travel plans

I intend on renting out my UK home and moving to Thailand in September. I will be 50 mid March .

I intend applying for a METV and when I am 50 I want to stay in Thailand the reason being retirement. Do I understand correctly that at the time I am 50 I can go to Jomtien Immigration and convert my METV into something that allows me to then stay for another year and then I would need to renew ?

Well, that's a tourist visa.

You can convert that to a 90 day O visa but last I heard you need to go to Bangkok for that, but maybe Jomtien will send it to Bangkok for you, not sure of the current local policy.

Then with that 90 day O visa (obtained IN THAILAND) during the last 30 days of that stay, then apply for annual extension based on retirement at Jomtien.

You will need proof of financial qualifications for BOTH applications. That's two things. First, conversion to O. Second, annual extension.

You can then keep applying for annual retirement extensions as long as you stay in Thailand. (For life under current rules.)

I have 1 million in a Bangkok Bank account that I will not be touching. This was transfered by TT from a UK bank account. Would I have to wait until I am 50 before I convert my METV to a 90 day O visa.

Also when I am granted an annual extension do I have to leave the country every 90 days ? Or just report my address to Immigration ?

I intend applying for a METV and when I am 50 I want to stay in Thailand the reason being retirement. Do I understand correctly that at the time I am 50 I can go to Jomtien Immigration and convert my METV into something that allows me to then stay for another year and then I would need to renew ?

No I did not ,thanks for the info. So can I get the extension at Jomtien and do I do this at the end of the 60 day period ?

So on the METV application form do I put that the length of stay will be 60 days ?

I was under the impression that I could convert the tourist visa once in Thailand and met all the conditions of the O/A visa.

Up until last year I had been married for 22 years to a Thai and living together in the UK. I am now divorced and last September met someone else,I went back to Thailand to be with her in January and have flights booked to be with her in April and again in July.

At the beginning of October I would like to move to Thailand and live their permanantly. I will be 50 in March 2017 and would like to apply for the Retirement visa.

On my last trip to Thailand after visiting many different banks I managed to open a savings account with the Bangkok Bank. The person incharge of opening accounts allowed me to open an account at her discretion because I had previously had an account with them and they found my passport details on their system.

I have 1,000,000 baht in this account and have savings in my UK account. I plan on keeping and renting out my house in the UK. I can take unpaid leave for up to 12 months and my employer would write a letter confirming my employment and expected return date. However once I am issued with the Retirement visa I would hand my notice in.

I have several questions regarding how to go about making the move and they are as follows.Thank you for any replies as I am sure these things are often asked.

Can I apply for the retirement visa while in Thailand on the METV ? If so when is the soonest I can apply for it. I am 50 mid March next year.

I understand that with this METV I would have to leave Thailand for 48 hours before returning. I will be living in Pattaya so what would my best option be for doing this ?

The application form asks to provide a hotel reservation confirmation however I plan on renting a condo and living there with my girlfriend. Can I put this on the application form or would it be better to book a hotel for a few days so that I can submit the confirmation ?

The application form also asks how long do I intend on staying in Thailand. Sould I put 60 days as this is the maximum allowed on each entry ?

Hi my name is Matt and I was married to a Thai lady and we lived together for 22 years in the UK. We are no longer together and I have found a new partner and wish to live in Thailand with her. I am here to seek advice on how to go about this and hope this is the right site for me to gain the knowledge and confidence for this to go smoothly. Thanks.