HarryAbel

On 9/26/2019 at 9:01 AM, mercman24 said:

so what do you want, a medal,  or someone with a brain will pay 12,500, to an agent and save 787,500 and no 400,00  in the bank,  gets exactly the same as you, wake up,  the whole country is corrupt its just a commodity, imagine you see  a CAR it costs 800,000 baht but you can get it for 12,500, now let me ponder a while, NO i am going to pay 800,000 as it makes me feel better , lol  best of luck with that one.

This Law Firm told me that it would cost minimum 25000 baht

21 minutes ago, Elzear said:

How long did that take you to do all those formalities ? Also I guess they can only be done in Bangkok, no ? 

It took some time, and several dreaded trips to Government Complex, that is located quite far away from city centre. I used Skytrain to Victory Monument and the bus #166 from there to GC (make sure to check that the bus goes to GC, since some of the #166 busses goes to other areas).  I don’t know if the process can only be done in Bangkok, I would not think so.

4 minutes ago, edwardflory said:

Never heard of a retirement"""visa""" or extension for 3 months

My memory may be letting me down, but in my passport I have a NON-O-RETIREMENT stamp for three months.

2 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

With your present Permission to Stay long-term retiree status, you will need to keep the money in your thai bank-account (= minimum 800.000 THB, 2 months before till 3 months after application for extension of stay, and rest of the time not under 400.000 THB even once).

I got the impression by what the IO told me that there where no need to keep any money at any bank account, once the extension was approved, I even asked about this specifically. Of course, I do not have this in writing. 

5 minutes ago, dotpoom said:

Can't get rid of the above...don't know how it got there...

   Anyway, to my point...I'm confused as to why you say you got the extention "early".....You waited two months after the money was lodged in the bank...that is the same amount of time as it takes everybody...not any earlier than others can do it?

Early - as in “not old enough to receive a monthly pension”.

1 hour ago, sfokevin said:

It would be helpful if the OP could expand on step #8... As many have reported this part being a nightmare if not impossible at their local immigration office

Not much to expand upon as far as I remember, and not difficult - it was a typical form, maybe the TM7, with a passport photo. I filled it in before I got a queue number. The IO went quickly through my documents and I had to sign some extra documents, all in thai script, that I guess makes me accountable for any misconduct. I got a receipt with my next appointment date stamped on it, ca 15 days. When back at that date I got my passport stamped, with a permission to stay for 3 months, while the 800K was in the bank.

Edit, sorry for not remembering the form name, I just explained my purpose to the information peeps, and they handed me the form.

8 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Right now, you are on a long term extension of a non immigrant permission to stay on the basis of retirement (retirement extension for short). You technically did have a retirement visa for a very short period when you did not have the passport in your possession. This was part of a procedure to convert your tourist entry into a 90-day non immigrant permission to stay. 

 

It is definitely worth understanding the difference between a visa and a permission to stay. Right now, the important point is that you are on a permission to stay which will be terminated when you leave Thailand unless you have a re-entry permit.

Thanks, I have a vague understanding that the terminology is important, I hope to get to grasp with it. I have the re-entry permit, and I am happy I did that right away.

17 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Yes, but don't feel stupid that you were not aware of that option.  The thai Visa jungle is difficult to navigate, and I admire how you managed it.

But indeed with a Non Imm OA retiree Visa there is no need for up to 2 years to park 800.000 THB in a thai bank-account.

And after that time you can simply re-apply for such a Visa in your home-country, so there will never be a need for the money-in-bank method or the complex proof-of-income method. 

An additional minor advantage is that with such a Visa, there is also no need for re-entry permits during the 1 year validity of the original Visa.

Maybe something to consider when you make a trip to your home-country?

I asked if I had to document the money again, but the IO told me that everything was finished, and no need to show any money again - until/if I apply for another extension, I guess. I might try your suggestion.

15 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

He is writing about getting a OA long stay visa (NON-OA) at a embassy or official consulate in your home country.

You have to show the financial proof when you apply for it there and show the money in a bank there.

See: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15385-Non-Immigrant-Visa-"O-A"-(Long-Stay).html

Those requirements are not exactly the same as those I had to follow. For instance, I had to submit documentation for a hotel booking that covered my entire stay in Thailand, and I did not have that.

8 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Hi HarryAbel,

I am just curious for the reason that you did not apply for a Non Imm OA Visa in your home-country

That's a much simpler route than what you did (applying for a Tourist Visa in your home-country and converting it in Thailand to a Permission to Stay as retiree), and it has several additional benefits (like no need for parking 800.000/400.000 THB in a Thai bank-account).

But seeing how meticulously you went through the complex process, there must for sure be a reason you opted for that route.

 

 

Probably because of inexperience, ignorance and stupidity. You are telling me I could have a one year visa ... err permission to stay, without showing the 800k? I am not married.

Edit: I remember I had to meet up in person at the embassy to apply for a retirement visa, and that was a no-go, because of distance and time. Only option available through snail mail was the tourist visa.

13 minutes ago, mahjongguy said:

" the visa-stamp in my passport says RETIREMENT, and the re-entry stamp says NON-IMM, what should I call my visa to be correct? "

 

The visa is stamped USED. It is no longer valid. The active stamps are now the Permission To Stay (your extension) and the Re-Entry Permit associated with the Permission To Stay.

Ok, thanks, got it. 

10 hours ago, worgeordie said:

First off,you are going to get multiple replies that it's not a retirement VISA,

but they all know what  you mean....good on you and without an Agent  to hold

your hand, others will find your post  helpful

regards Worgeordie

Thanks, the visa-stamp in my passport says RETIREMENT, and the re-entry stamp says NON-IMM, what should I call my visa to be correct?

9 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Well planned and explained. Hope you are enjoying your "retirement". Now for the yellow book and pink id card? 

Thanks, I went to the ampoe in my neighborhood to get a yellow book, but they did not accept my rental contract. If I change address to my girlfriends condo, I can have a yellow book at her ampoe, but I won’t do that.

7 hours ago, WhatupThailand said:

Also don't forget, Everything is up to the IO, where if he/she does not like your face.

You gotta provide hand drawn map to your Residence, Photos of you in Front of your house,

many more copies of anything all signed, along with a moon rock, ect.

Bottom line is that it's all about the MONEY.

Did not have any photos of me in front of the condo, nor was it requested

http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/download/form_tm7.pdf

maybe this

Had an elevated mole removed at 2011 Clinic, address: Thanon Sukhumvit 2011 in Bangkok. The clinic has a sharming local vibe. Did a perfect job, can’t see any scar. 500 baht.

Thanks for the replies, good info! I was granted 30 extra days (1900thb) and submitted the early retirement visa application (2000thb).

Hi, I came to Thailand 9. May on a two month tourist visa. I extended this visa with one month in Bangkok (to 6 Aug).. I went on a 4 days trip to Vietnam, but did not apply for re-entry before I left, so I entered again on a one month tourist visa on arrival (valid until 6. Aug). My situation now is that I am trying to apply for an early retirement visa, but I don’t think I have enough time until Aug 6. So I am thinking of doing a border run to get another 30 days tourist visa on arrival.

Anyone know if I can have another 30 days visa on arrival? I will by that time have stayed in thailand three months, except for the 4 days in Vietnam.

Thank you.